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Honor felt Jago tighten his hold. They stood for a moment, listening to the wind die down, to the faint sounds of Christmas Eve revelry coming from The Old Anchor pub on the harbour and the clinking of halyards from the dry-moored yachts. And, over all the noises of the night, the never-ending rhythmic roar of the sea. She wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to the terror of waiting. Turning to him, she took his face in her hands. He smelled cold and of the sea. ‘I’m so glad you came back to me.’
‘Of course I came back to you. How could I not?’ He kissed her gently and then laid his forehead against hers. ‘I need to go and talk to Mum.’
She nodded slightly and released him.
After he went in, she stayed for a second longer, looking out at the glistening curve of tarmac as it snaked down the hill. She gulped in a huge, healing breath of salty air and sent out a silent prayer of thanks, to whoever or whatever was up there, that Jago had been sent back to her safely.
CHAPTER37
‘HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS’ – JUDY GARLAND
‘Mum?’ Jago stood on one side of the kitchen breakfast bar watching as Avril found a teapot and mugs. ‘I’m not sure I want a cup of tea. To be honest, I could do with a stiff drink.’
Ignoring him, she slammed down the mug in front of him. ‘How could you do it, Jago?’
He hung his head, feeling reduced to Merryn’s age. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘No, you’re not.’
He looked up and met her gaze. Biting his lip, he answered, ‘You know what? I’m not.’ He knew it would hurt her, but he wasn’t prepared to back down. Not after tonight when he’d seen just how vital the service was in Lullbury Bay.
‘You are so like your father.’
‘In that case I’m glad. I’m glad I’m like him.’
‘But he’s not here, Jago.’ Avril seemed to crumple in front of his eyes. She slid onto a stool and covered her face with her hands, quietly sobbing.
He went around and hugged her to him, hard. Her pain wrenched through him. ‘I know he’s not here, Mum. I wish with all my heart that he was.’
‘I miss him so much, Jago.’
‘I know. So do I.’ He held her until the sobbing quietened, then tore off a strip of kitchen roll for her to mop up her tears. Finding a bottle of Scotch, he half-filled two tumblers. Pushing one to her, he sipped his own and then toed across a stool and sat down. He drank his whisky and waited.
Eventually his mother reached for her glass, sniffed and put it to one side. ‘I don’t drink whisky.’
‘Drink it anyway.’
She took a tiny sip and grimaced. ‘This on top of all the Baileys I’ve had will make me bilious.’
‘You sound like Granny Pengethley.’
She gave him an old-fashioned look. ‘I do not sound like my mother-in-law! It’s just that the girls and I had a little celebration when we heard you’d got back.’
‘So I see.’ A smile twitched at his lips. ‘There’s none left and it was our Christmas Baileys!’
‘ItisChristmas,’ she said indignantly. ‘Besides, Lucie and Honor have been wonderful to me tonight, they deserved a drink. And, to my shame, I wasn’t very nice to them.’ Avril tutted regretfully.
‘I’m sure they’ll understand. It can’t have been much fun waiting for news.’
‘It had its moments. Where are they now?’
‘Jamie took Lucie home, or it may be that Lucie dragged Jamie home.’ An amused expression flickered across his face. ‘I think she had plans for him.’ He was reassured to hear his mother laugh slightly. ‘I think Honor is in the snug watching TV. Probably to give us some privacy. She’s thoughtful like that.’
‘She’s a nice girl, Jago. Is it serious?’
‘Too soon to tell but yes, I think it might be. I like her very much. We had to get through some stuff, but it’s all sorted now. Let’s put it this way, I intend to make it serious.’
‘What sort of stuff did you have to sort?’
