Page 105 of The Little Flower Shop By the Sea
‘OK?’ he asks, as I climb the last few steps to stand facing him, still holding his hand.
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘I feel very secure now.’
Jake looks down at our hands, still entwined, but he doesn’t let go.
‘How did you know this place was here?’ I ask, content for us to stay in this position.
‘Charlie told me about it. I often come here to sit when I need to think. I don’t know how he found it though, it’s quite tucked away.’
‘He told me about it too.’ I decide it’s best if Jake doesn’t know the real reason Charlie discovered the ledge. ‘It’s beautiful here, isn’t it? Very peaceful. You feel as though nothing else matters in the world when you sit here looking out at the never-ending sea.’
Jake looks at me. ‘That’s very poetic of you, Miss Carmichael.’
‘Well, I try,’ I say, winking at him.
‘So how did you get down on that beach if you didn’t know about the path, but you knew about the ledge?’ Jake asks. ‘That doesn’t add up.’
‘I think we’d better sit down, Jake, it’s a long story…’
While we sit on the little ledge together looking out at a perfect view of moonlit sea and twinkling stars, I tell Jake the whole story. Why I was on the beach, why I’d been in the cellar, and what I’d been looking for.
‘But who would lock you in?’ Jake asks, mystified.
‘I have no idea. Perhaps someone saw the door unlocked and thought they’d better secure it?’
‘Maybe,’ Jake says, still thinking. ‘So if the picture and letteraren’tin the cellar, then where are they?’
‘I don’t know. Perhaps Stan got it wrong. He’s getting old, his memory isn’t what it used to be.’
‘But from what you’ve told me, he seems pretty compos mentis. I doubt he’d have got something like that wrong – the pictures seem to mean a lot to him.’
‘Yes, you’re probably right. I’ll ask him next time I see him. Now,’ I say tapping my hand on his thigh. ‘It’syourturn to tell me why you’re AWOL from your party! A party which,’ I glance at my watch, ‘we had better return to. People will be wondering where the birthday boy is!’
‘Yes, I know.’ Jake turns his gaze to my hand, which is still resting on his thigh, so I hurriedly retrieve it. ‘We’d best be getting back.’ He starts to stand up, but I prevent him by grabbing his hand. ‘Ah-ah, you’re not getting away with it that easily, mister! I told you my story, what about yours?’
Jake sits down again.
‘I just needed some air, that’s all,’ he says, not sounding very convincing. ‘I’d had quite a bit to drink, I needed to sober up.’
‘You came all the way down here to do that? Why not just take a stroll in the castle grounds?’
‘OK, OK,’ he sighs. ‘If you want the truth, I needed breathing space. Some time to think.’
‘At your own birthday party?’
He nods. ‘It’s special times like this that make me think of Felicity even more. Whether it’s my birthday, the children’s birthdays, anniversaries – you know the kind of thing.’
I nod.
‘But tonight seemed different somehow. It struck me the most when I was dancing with Belle.’
Oh great. I could tell where this was going…
‘What did?’ I hardly dare ask. Please don’t tell me you felt guilty because you want a relationship with her.
‘I felt guilty.’
Here we go…I brace myself for the inevitable.
