‘I’m so pleased that the sun has decided to put in an appearance,’ she said, puffing out her cheeks as she handed over a heavy box to one of the many people who had turned up to help. ‘When I watched the forecast at the beginning of the week, I thought we were going to be celebrating the longest day under a blanket of cloud!’
‘Oh blankets,’ tutted Hope, scouring her list. ‘I knew there was something.’
A few of the hardier souls were planning to sleep out under the stars and Hope had collected a big box of blankets and sleeping bags for anyone who forgot to bring one.
‘They’re all still at the pub,’ she tutted, sucking the end of her pen again.
‘I’ll go,’ I said. ‘You stay here and hold the fort.’
‘Thanks, Tess,’ she said, taking out her phone and waving it about. ‘I would text Sam and tell him but there’s absolutely no signal down here.’
It was only a short walk back from the stretch of beach where we’d decided to set up to the Smuggler’s but, given the problems Sam had been having with his leg, he was going to drive his car down as far he could. Not only was he saved some uncomfortable steps but he was also ferrying a few things he had been keeping at the pub. The box of blankets could go in with those.
Having decided that as everyone was going to be at the beach anyway there was no point in staying open, he was just locking up as I arrived.
‘All right?’ he frowned, when he spotted me.
‘Yes,’ I said, ‘everything’s running like clockwork, but Hope remembered she hadn’t got the box of blankets so I said I’d come and get them.’
‘I’ve just loaded them into the back of the car,’ he said, wincing as he picked up the chalkboard from the path.
‘Here,’ I said, ‘let me take that.’
‘No,’ he snapped, pulling it away. ‘I can manage. I’m not completely useless.’
I took a step back, my face burning with embarrassment. I realized I had made a mistake, but there was no need to bite my head off about it.
‘I’ll go back then,’ I said quietly.
‘You might as well come in the car with me now you’re here.’
After his uncharacteristic flash of temper, I wasn’t sure I much wanted to.
‘Just go around the back to the car park,’ he said, before I could object. ‘It’s unlocked. I won’t be a minute.’
I did as instructed, but he took so long I was beginning to think something must have happened. I was just about to go and look for him when he bumped through the beer garden carrying a guitar case. I could see he was struggling to manoeuvre it but knew better now than to interfere.
‘You might have helped,’ he muttered, climbing behind the wheel once he had managed to balance it on top of everything else stacked on the backseat.
‘Why would I do that?’ I shrugged. ‘You could manage. I mean, it’s not as if you’re completely useless, is it?’
He looked at me and I was relieved to see him crack a smile.
‘Sorry,’ he said, shaking his head.
‘No worries,’ I smiled back, accepting his apology. ‘Do you play?’ I asked, nodding at the case and feeling relieved that the moody moment had passed.
‘Nah,’ he said, securing his seatbelt, ‘I thought I’d just bring it with me so we would have something else to sit on.’
I leant across and lightly punched him on the arm.
‘Has no one ever told you that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,’ I tutted.
‘Funnily enough,’ he said, locking his gaze on to mine as he turned the key and started the engine, ‘they have.’
I felt my heart rate quicken and the inside of the car seemed to shrink around me. Finding myself in such close and confined proximity to him was making my temperature rise. It didn’t seem to matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t shrug off my feelings for him.
‘Do you mind if open the window?’ I murmured, looking away and trying to locate the right switch. ‘It’s a bit warm in here.’
‘It’s this one,’ he said, his hand reaching for it, just a millisecond after my fingers found it.
We pressed it down together and then his hand closed around mine. What was he doing?
‘Tess,’ he said, making me feel even hotter.
I couldn’t look at him.
‘There’s something you should know . . .’ he began.
‘Are you two now going to the beach?’ asked George, his head shoved so far through my window he was practically in the car.
‘Yes,’ I told him, pulling my hand free and thinking that he really did have the most amazing timing, ‘yes, we are.’
‘I would offer you a lift, George,’ said Sam, ‘but I’m out of space.’
‘It’s all right,’ I said, quickly hopping out. ‘You get in George. I don’t mind walking back.’
‘Well as long as you’re sure,’ he said as Skipper hopped nimbly into the footwell. ‘I know it’s not far, but I’ve got this cool-bag of snacks from my sister and it’s heavier than I thought.’
With the bag balanced on his lap, he buckled himself in and Sam pulled away.
‘See you in a minute!’ George shouted out of the window.
‘Yes,’ I called after him, as I looked down at my hand and realized that those inconvenient feelings I still harboured for my new best friend’s boyfriend just might be reciprocated, ‘I’ll see you there.’
Chapter 21
In my defence, I did what I could that evening to keep extra busy and out of Sam’s way. To begin with, it wasn’t too difficult because seemingly everyone who lived within and around the village had turned out to celebrate and I was easily lost among the throng.
However, after the cheering, chanting and drum-banging which accompanied the setting sun as it left behind a sky beautifully streaked with gold and rose-coloured clouds, most of the crowd began to dwindle away. Everyone was full of the delicious food Sophie had provided and Hope’s cookies, which had gone down a storm, along with a measure or two of the far from innocuous punch, and staying out of sight became considerably harder.
‘Tess, would you mind helping me hand out the sparklers?’ Hope asked as it began to get dark. ‘I don’t want to leave lighting them too much longer because I think Mum’s punch is a bit stronger than usual.’
No one was falling-down drunk, but I could understand her concern about offering around mini explosives to revellers who weren’t quite in full control of their faculties. I was beginning to feel a little light-headed myself.
‘I think you’re right,’ I said. ‘I’ve only had one cup and I’m already feeling it.’
Hope, taking in my chilled-out aura, rolled her eyes and smiled.
‘Come on then,’ she said, handing me a few of the packets. ‘Let’s see if we can find any takers.’
It turned out that everyone wanted to light a sparkler and make a wish and there weren’t quite enough to go around. I was willing to forgo the pleasure of burning one, but Sam wouldn’t hear of it.
‘Here you go, Tess,’ he called, when he noticed I wasn’t joining in. ‘They were your idea, so you can’t miss out. Come and share mine.’