AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘HonorsaysMerryn’sa real character,’Daisybent and said against her mum’s ear. ‘She’sin her class.Veryclever and full of energy.’
‘She’sgoing to be a bridesmaid, isn’t she?That’sgoing to liventhings up.Butshe’s been through such a lot in her short life,Ithink we can forgive some high spirits.Ooh, here we go, it’s all about to start.’
Abrass band, sitting in the shelter of the lifeboat house, had been playing something soft.Nowthey struck up a rousing rendition of ‘TheLord’sMyShepherd’.
‘Singup,Daisy.’Janprodded her with an elbow. ‘Thiswas your dad’s favourite.’
‘Thinkyou’re singing loud enough for the pair of us.’Daisyforced a grin as her mother sang loud and lustily, and very out of tune.
Atthe end of the hymn,Veritystood up.Atiny figure with dusty-brown hair, her clerical robes tugging and snatching in the stiff wind.Holdingdown her white surplice she began her address.
‘Deartownspeople ofLullburyBay.Dearvisitors.Dearfriends.MayIwelcome you to theBlessingof theBoatsceremony.Thisis an annual event where we give our thanks for the wonderful seaside place we live in, for the many opportunities it offers us: to fish, to work, for our leisure and enjoyment.It’salso when we give thanks for our wonderfulRNLIvolunteers.’Shepaused. ‘I’mgoing to keep this brief because it’s very cold andI’msure we want to retire to the warmth of theOldHarbourwhereClaudehas prepared hot chocolate and bacon rolls.Andthey’ll be much appreciated.’Oneor two people in the crowd cheered.Veritygrinned and then sobered.
‘Aswell as giving thanks, today we’re also naming our new lifeboat.’Sheflicked a glance atAvrilas if to see how she was holding up. ‘TheKenanPengethleyis named after an incredibly brave man who gave his all.Aftera lifetime of service given over to theRNLI,Kenanwent out on one last “shout” during which he tragically lost his life, not here inLullburybut in theRiverThames.Hegavehislife in order to save another’s.Inmemory of his sacrifice, we are here to name our new lifeboat after him as requested by his family who are now firmly rooted in ourlittle community.Itis a fitting tribute to a man who was devoted to all that theRNLIstands for.Somehere have probably needed our lifeboat’s aid, most of you will have fundraised for our lifeboat, or been involved in some way with our lifeboat station.Itis also rooted deeply in our seaside town.Kenanwas a brave man.Wehave many more brave souls here who give up their time, who give up their precious family life and so much more, to volunteer to help keep our waters safe.Weexpress our deepest gratitude to you all.’Therewas a ripple of applause and more cheers.
‘I’mnow going to hand over toMerrynPengethley,Kenan’sdaughter, to lead us in our prayers.’Shegestured to the little girl who stood, withVerity’sarm supporting her. ‘Maywe bow our heads and pray in remembrance ofKenan’ssacrifice.Afterwhich, we will hold a two-minute silence to remember all those who have perished at sea.’
Daisyclosed her eyes and listened to the young high-pitched voice recite a prayer and then lead them all inTheLord’sPrayer.Afterwardsthe silence was punctuated only by the distant wail of a herring gull effortlessly gliding a thermal in the sapphire-blue sky.Hermemories flashed back to her father’s funeral when the same prayer had been said.Alump formed in her throat.Itwas unbearably moving.
‘Thankyou very much,Merryn,’Veritysaid. ‘Thatwas a very brave thing to do and you did it brilliantly.’Standingin front of the table, she made the sign of the cross. ‘Ibless all those who sail in our beautiful but sometimes dangerous waters.Ibless the vessels they set sail in andIbless those who go to their aid.Godbe with you all.’Bowingher head in silent reflection for a moment she then turned and smiled broadly at the crowd. ‘Andnow, we have the presentation of the floral wreaths,’Veritysearched the crowd forDaisyand found her, ‘which have been lovingly made and donated by our resident floristDaisy, fromVaVaBloom!’Applauserippled through the crowd andDaisyblushed.Inunison and with military precision, the three wreathswere ceremoniously passed back from volunteer to volunteer until they reachedJamieon the boat.Helaid them reverently on-board.
‘Thankyou,’Veritysaid. ‘Andnow we’re going to hear fromKenan’sson.Jagois also a volunteer with ourRNLI.’
Jagostepped forward.Daisyheard the crowd take in a collective and sympathetic breath. ‘Thankyou for coming today,’ he began. ‘Myfamily has only been inLullburyBaya few months but we’ve been welcomed with open arms.Ican safely say the decision to move here was the best we’ve ever taken.Thereis a very special community here andI’mincredibly proud to be part of it and to serve it.Insome waysIwish my father was here to see this day.But, of course, if he was, this day would not be happening.TheRNLIwas his life, his work, his vocation.Hegave his life to it, and his life was taken too soon.Butnow, in a way, he will still serve, still be at our sides when we need him.’
Ather sideDaisyheard her mother sniff hard.Shesearched for her mum’s hand and gripped it hard.
Jagopaused and thrust a hand across his eyes.Daisycould see his throat working.Eventuallyhe took a deep breath and said, ‘SoItake enormous pride in naming this boat theKenanPengethley.Mayall who crew her serve her well and return home safe.’Hepulled off the ceremonial cloth covering the boat’s name. ‘TheKenanPengethley!’
‘TheKenanPengethley!’the crowd echoed.
Thebrass band struck up theNavyhymn, ‘EternalFather,StrongtoSave’.ThistimeDaisydidn’t need her mother to nag to encourage her to sing out.Shejoined in with gusto. ‘Ohear us when we cry to thee.Forthose in peril on the sea.’
Asthey did so, a team of kitted-up crew members,Jagoincluded, climbed aboard the newly named boat and the tractor rumbled down the slipway, releasing the navy-and-orange vessel into the water.
‘Thankyou all for coming,’Veritycalled out. ‘That’sall for this year.Andnow let’s get ourselves warmed up and mayGodgo with us!’
Thecrowd began to disperse, most heading to the pub on the harbour butDaisyandJanstood watching the boat as it navigated the harbour entrance and sped out, bouncing hard on the choppy open water.Theywatched until it became a tiny speck far out to sea where it stopped to cast the wreaths.
Jansucked in an enormous breath. ‘Getsto me every time,’ she said in a quavering voice.
Daisyhugged her. ‘Metoo,Mum.Metoo.’Sheknew, for her mother, it brought back memories of a much more personal loss.Justas it had for her. ‘Now, it’s freezing out here,’ she added briskly. ‘Whatdo you say to some ofClaude’sspecial bacon butties and hot chocolate?’
Chapter Four
June’sweather dramatically improved and with the sunshine came the tourists, the weekenders and the second homeowners.Tradepicked up.FollowingMia’ssuggestion,Daisytried out a few carefully handwritten signs.
SpecialOffer!Buythese alstroemeria to show her your devotion!Alsosymbolises wealth, prosperity and fortune.
Daisywasn’t sure if she’d sold any more flowers but it was certainly a conversation starter and customers seemed to linger in the shop more.Andif they lingered, the chance was they’d spend.Asmall bunch of carnations, the odd pot plant, some cactus feed, it all added up.
Shehad little time to ponder on the mystery that wasWalterHamiltonand his long-lost love.IfindeedWalterwas his name.Ifindeed that was the story behind his order.Shewas busy and that’s the way she liked it.Ifthere was a gap in her life, she didn’t leave herself enough time to think about it.Shemade sure she was so exhausted that she simply worked, ate to live and slept like the dead.
Thissummer would see the wedding ofJagoPengethleyandHonorMartin.Jago, local artist andRNLIvolunteer andHonor, deputy head at the primary school, were hugely popular figures in town.Itwas going to be a major event.Daisywas fond of the couple and wanted to get everything just right.Shewas only too aware it would also be a showcase for her business, an added pressure.
Asthe days grew warm and sunny and the happy couple popped in and out with their wedding plans, even she had to admit a longing for something undefined.Forsomeone to love her enough to send her anElizabethBarrettBrowningpoem.
Shedelivered the bouquet of tulips, along with the poem, as instructed, on the tenth.Thistime she took in more details of the house.Itwas lovely,Victorianat a guess with small-paned leaded windows and an eccentric-looking turret on one side.Althoughit still gave her the creeps, she was beginning to appreciate what a beautiful house it was.Thecar, an old but immaculate dark-greenFordFocus, sat on a laurel-hedged drive and looked as if it hadn’t moved since her last visit.Althoughthere was room enough for several cars on the long drive, theFocushad been parked close to the house, giving the impression it wasn’t used.Shesqueezed past it to the garden gate and walked around to the back porch.Asbefore, it was unlocked so she propped the flowers against the kitchen door.Itwas a warm day and she worried they would droop so she looked around for something she could put water in.Spyinga plastic bucket and an outside tap, she filled the bucket and then straightened and paused for a moment to appreciate the gardens; they took her breath away.Avast lawn stretched into the distance with a magnificent border of towering conifers.Birdsongfilled the air and it all felt very peaceful, almost like something out of a fairy tale.Allit needed was a scampering spaniel running around; a dog would love a space like this.Butall was still, completely abandoned and slightly unnerving.
