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“Puffins,” Trystan corrected her, turning the tiller to get them a little closer, then cutting the motor to bob quietly on the listless waves.
“I’ve never seen puffins before,” Beth whispered, staring out at the pair standing proudly on the rocks. She lifted her camera to her face and pressed the shutter button repeatedly. “Can you get any closer?” she asked, without looking at him.
He surveyed the water before shaking his head. “I’d rather not risk it.”
“That’s fine.” She squinted into the lens, adjusting the zoom before taking more photos. Then she lowered the camera and stared at the striking birds.
“I like puffins,” Ellie said. “They’re my favourite.”
Beth moved over, showing them the crystal-clear photos on the camera, then zooming in to show Ellie the distinctive bill with its triangle of blue beside the vibrant orange that perfectly matched its webbed feet.
They watched them for a while, before leaving them in peace to continue to Bryher. Soon, they reached Anneka’s Quay and Trystan killed the engine to drift alongside the stone boat ramp.
“You must be old enough to rememberChallenge Anneka?” he asked Beth as he tied up the boat. “The TV show with Anneka Rice?”
“I loved that programme,” she said, looking slightly wistful.
He reached out for Ellie to help her off the boat, then gave Beth his hand as she stepped off. “She made this,” he said, gesturing the ramp. “Anneka’s Quay.”
“No way? That was one of her challenges? I probably watched it.”
“They originally built a wooden jetty. It was replaced about ten years ago. She even came back to officially open the new one. She always causes quite a buzz on the islands.”
“I’ll bet. I’d be excited.” They set off walking and Beth gave him a sidelong glance. “When you asked if I was old enough to remember … doyouremember her coming here?”
“Which time?”
“The first time!”
“God, no. I’m not that old.”
She scowled in response to his teasing grin.
“I was joking. Kind of. It wasn’t quite before my time, but I was too young to remember it.”
Ellie took his hand and swung on his arm as they wandered up the boat ramp. “Are we nearly at your brother’s house yet?”
“Not really. We’re not even off the jetty.”
“How far is it?” Beth asked.
“About a fifteen-minute walk. Maybe a bit more.”
In fact it was about double that thanks to Ellie’s snail-like pace.
“Is it a shop as well?” Beth asked when they arrived at the lone building on the western side of the island.
“Yeah.” The pottery studio and shop were housed in a converted boat shed, and a weather-beaten cottage stood just over the sand dunes. Lowen’s plan had been to renovate the house, but as far as Trystan could tell he’d done precisely nothing to the place.
“Mostly he sells his pottery in a shop on St Mary’s, so I don’t think he puts a lot of effort into attracting customers here.” He suspected it was the opposite and he’d rather discourage customers. It definitely didn’t have a welcoming air. Until you got to the door with the list of opening times, it was difficult to tell if it was open to the public or not.
“We don’t need to stay long,” he said, pushing at the door.
“Don’t touch anything,” Beth whispered to Ellie as they stepped inside.
There was no sign of Lowen, which was normal.
“These are amazing,” Beth murmured as she wandered along the shelves, admiring Lowen’s collection.
