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CHAPTER 25
Mist and fog had rolled off the sea in the night, and Maya awoke on Easter Monday morning to a much duller day. Over breakfast, they decided to go for a walk across to Penryn Point.
“Harbour porpoises were spotted a week ago,” Rose said, placing cooked breakfasts in front of Sam and Maya. “You might see them if you’re lucky.”
Heather and Tom said they would stay behind with the two little girls, which gave Maya the uncomfortable impression that they were deliberately trying to leave her and Sam alone. Sam did his best to dispel any awkwardness, joking he’d be her tour guide. Rose insisted Maya didn’t need to ‘check out’ and could leave her belongings in the room until she was ready to leave.
When they were ready, Sam led the way, taking the coastal path to the right of the beach. If they had time, their aim was to walk as far as the promontory called The Rumps. The path crossed land belonging to the National Trust and was typical Cornish coastal landscape: hilly and uneven and perfect for grazing sheep. First, they followed a public footpath passing a row of cottages and holiday homes with long narrow gardens, overlooking Kittiwake Cove’s beach. Maya admired the houses and their perfect location, looking out over the ocean. Today, the water looked greener due to the cloud cover. Then they followed the road round, finding the next footpath, which was accessible from the end of the beach when the tide was out, through rockier terrain with short grass, thistles, heather and wild spring flowers lining their way. They crossed a stile over an ancient slate wall that enclosed a field. It had felt chilly when they’d set out, but as they strolled along, arms swinging, they soon warmed up, especially when the path led them uphill. Before long, their jackets were unzipped, and the children were running on ahead.
“Stick to the path,” Maya called to them, scared that they’d fall at some of the narrower parts of the track that ran closer to the cliff edge. In places, there were freshly-dug rabbit holes and molehills.
“They should be all right,” Sam said, walking beside Maya. They were both slightly out of breath, having climbed a particularly steep stretch of the path. “I used to walk along here a lot as a kid.”
When they reached Penryn Point, they could see The Rumps further round to their right. The view was stunning, even on a cloudy day. On the horizon, a break in the cloud was visible; blue sky was coming. But would it reach them this afternoon?
“I don’t suppose I can convince you to stay longer?” Sam said, looking out to sea.
“No, I’m sorry, I do have to get back,” Maya said, catching Sam’s gaze, the wind blowing the strands of hair off her face. She liked spending time with Sam, but would it be wise to fall for him?
Sam nodded. “Come on, we’d better catch the kids up, or they’ll beat us to The Rumps.”
“When do you go back to work?” Maya asked as they started walking again. She had to keep her nose to the ground now, watching every step, as the path had become very uneven. She was glad she’d worn her walking boots, which kept her ankles supported.
“I’ve taken the week off to cover the school holidays. Heather had Chloe for me all last week.”
“You know, if you ever need help with childcare, please ask. I don’t mind having Chloe.” The offer was out of her mouth before she’d truly thought it through.
“That’s kind of you. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem really. I tend to find it’s easier with more children. Less bickering between the siblings.”
“Yes, that’s one problem I don’t get only having Chloe. But she can do her fair share of moaning. She definitely appreciates Amber and Lewis’s company,” Sam said pensively. “And so do I.” There it was again, Sam’s smile that reached his eyes.
They came to a steep downhill part and Maya, not concentrating, suddenly tripped over a jutting rock. There must have been loose stones or earth, because the dry ground slipped away from under her feet, making her lose her balance completely.
Sam quickly grabbed her arm, his grip firm, stopping her from stumbling to the ground and making a prat of herself. Her heart raced with the shock. “Thank you,” she said, once she’d regained her footing. “And there was me worried about the kids.”
Sam still held her arm. “Are you okay?”
Maya nodded and he let her go. “Here, let me go ahead, and I can help you on the trickier bits.”
Maya let Sam pass, then followed behind him. In some of the more awkward parts, he held out his hand, which she gratefully took to help her climb down. His hands were warm, his hold strong. He always waited until he was certain she had her footing before letting her go. The gesture was so innocent, yet his touch sent a sizzle of excitement through her, so that she felt bereft the moment he let her go.
By the time they reached The Rumps, the clouds were thinning, and the sun was trying to poke through in places. The three children had beaten them there, and were waiting patiently, sitting on the rocks.
So high above the sea, looking out over the ocean and back towards Kittiwake Cove in the distance, the views were spectacular. With little shelter to protect them, the wind blasted off the Atlantic. Maya zipped her jacket up, reminded of the old folktale she was told as a child. The North Wind and the Sun wanted to prove which of them was stronger by making the traveller remove his cloak. The more strongly the North Wind blew, the tighter the man drew his cloak around him. Whereas when the Sun shone, using its gentle warmth, the man removed his cloak, and so the Sun won. Maya felt she could do with the sun trying to remove her coat rather than the wind trying to force her off this rock.
With a small pair of binoculars, Sam looked out to sea in search of porpoises or seals, but he shook his head.
Eventually, feeling the cold of the wind, they started their descent back down the point they’d climbed.
“Down there, I did once spot seals. Two of them.” Sam pointed to some rocks below, waves crashing and swirling around them. Maya could see a cove unreachable by man, unless by boat — a perfect haven for seals.
“Will we see seals now?” Amber asked.
“It was around early June, but they can be seen any time of the year. We can have a look, but they are hard to spot.”
They walked off the path, closer to the edge but on more even ground. Maya took Lewis’s hand, fearing he would fall. Five pairs of eyes watched the rocks below, where the water splashed, swirled and broke.
