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We were at the start of our next adventure and didn’t have to be bound by other commitments, so we made plans to head to the UK. The surfing would suck, but I had another plan in mind.
“Baby Surfer, I don’t know what you’re up to, but why are we staying here?” Finnan looks at the same cottage I first came to years ago on a summer holiday. The same place that still haunts me.
“Look, this beach is cool. It’s not that popular, and the spring tides are with us. It won’t be too bad for some time off.”
“Yeah, we all agreed to a break, see family and that. But I don’t see your family in this little place, do you?” Finnan crosses his arms and stares me down.
“No, but it’s all good. Mum was going to go mad with us underfoot. And we’re off to Ireland next. It’s not a big deal.” I’ve been saying that to myself for days and convincing myself that I wasn’t mad, thinking I could come back here and see Zennor again. Hell, it’s been five years or so, and in all that time, I’ve never had any kind of communication from her.
I gave up on the postcards after the first few months. We were moving around so often that sending her one every time we arrived somewhere new was stupid, and it made me feel like a fool. But it didn’t mean she left my thoughts. And perhaps my luck would hold out, and she’d still be here.
“Fine. But I’ll get the story one way or another.”
“There’s no story,” I lie.
“Whatever, man. Are we going to surf?” He looks at me like I’m that kid again on the beach after our first wave.
“Sure.”
The waves are pretty decent, and we enjoy the freedom and simplicity of being in the surf—a lot colder than some of the places we’ve been, but you had to love the water whatever, right?
Molly’s stands on the sidelines, beckoning us after a session in the waves.
I almost hold my breath as we pick a bench outside and rest our boards against the fencing. My imagination plays out Zennor walking out to greet us, but that’s not on the cards today.
We order, or rather Archie orders, because I can’t stomach going inside to see Molly just yet. I let the boys talk about the next steps after visiting Finnan’s family in Ireland. There was time before the winter window for big waves struck.
This year we’d be heading to Nazaré, Portugal, as we were finally on the right side of the equator and planned to keep an eye on what Mavericks and Jaws were doing. It might not be as big with swells as last year, but we also hadn’t surfed G-Land in Indonesia. There were places just waiting to be surfed.
“Okay. Spill. You’ve been staring at the doors to the shop since we got here. Every time someone comes out, I can see you look up and then watch your face fall.”
I stop chewing and look up at Finnan. They’re all looking at me with a cut-the-bullshit expression on their faces.
“Fine.” I drop the last bite of my burger back to my plate and finish my mouthful. “I met a girl here before. I don’t know if she’s still about.”
“And you think she’s going to magically walk through the doors?” Finnan jokes, and the boys all laugh at my expense. “Baby Surfer, you might charge big waves, but you need to stop pining for this long-lost love.” He shoves the last of his fries in his mouth while shaking his head at me.
“She’s not some long-lost love,” I lie again. Terribly.
“Fine. Then go in and ask about her. I’m assuming she’s the girl you sent all those postcards to? And has she ever got in touch?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean…”
“Go in and ask. Put yourself out of the misery.” He shoves me, and Archie and Bear just encourage him further.
“Fine. Fine.” I stand up and head to the door. It hits, and I’m back to being that wide-eyed kid with nothing but dreams in his head.
The shop hasn’t changed, and I make my way to the counter. I’m not sure Molly would recognise me, but the woman serving isn’t her or Zennor.
“Ah, hi. I’m looking for someone. Do you know if Zennor Williams is still in town?”
“Sorry, I don’t recognise that name.”
“What about Molly, the owner.”
“She’s not in today, but she’ll be working tomorrow. Can I leave a message?”
I think about what I could say. Wonder if she’d even remember Zennor and me.
