Page 26 of The Shape of Your Heart
But he pre-empts me. ‘I’m guessing this feels kind of strange for you. I was half expecting you might change your mind. I would have understood.’
A feeling of relief comes over me. ‘To be honest, up until I opened the door, I had it all planned out what I was going to say to you. Then you gave me those…’ I glance towards the flowers. ‘For a few seconds, I forgot. And now…’ I sigh. ‘The truth is, it does feel strange. Part of me wants to go out with you, but there’s another part of me that feels it’s wrong – which, I know, doesn’t make any sense…’
‘But it’s understandable,’ he says. ‘How about this for a plan? There’s a pop-up bar in one of the coves tonight – about half an hour’s drive from here. If going out for a drink is too much to get your head around, think of it like a business meeting – about my garden, over a drink or maybe two. I’ve been thinking about what you said – and I have some ideas to run past you.’
I’m silent for a moment. ‘OK.’ I pause. ‘This isn’t about you, by the way.’
He nods. ‘I know. It’s about coming to terms with what’s happened to you.’
That he understands makes all the difference.
‘Give me two minutes?’
Going upstairs, I put on some lipstick and find my favourite sandals and a cardigan. Then before I change my mind again, I go back downstairs.
‘OK. I’m ready.’ I hesitate. ‘Thanks – for understanding.’
He smiles. ‘You’re welcome.’ He nods towards the door. ‘Shall we?’
* * *
The cove is one I haven’t been to for some time, nestled between gently sloping cliffs. When we get out of the car, the sound of music drifts towards us, as does the smell of fish and chips.
A rush of nostalgia hits me as I remember another night, another cove with a pop-up bar; but before it grows more vivid, I push it away.
‘Are you OK?’ Nathan looks concerned.
I nod. ‘I think so.’ Hesitating, I feel I need to try to explain. ‘I’ve been to so few places over the last year. Coming here’s bringing back memories.’ I shake my head. ‘I’m sorry. I really didn’t intend to be so all over the place. Maybe I should have stayed at home.’
He seems unfazed. ‘We’re here now. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink – and then if that’s what you want, I’ll take you back.’
We follow the narrow path that leads to the beach. The air is still warm, the sand soft underfoot as the path opens out. There aren’t many people here but with the music and the setting sun, I can feel the ambiance soaking into me.
Reaching the bar, Nathan looks at me. ‘What would you like?’
‘I’d love a beer.’
He turns to the guy behind that bar. ‘Hi. Make that two.’ He looks around the beach, his eyes settling on the fish and chip bar, before turning to me again. ‘Have you eaten?’
‘No.’ My eating habits have become somewhat irregular – pizza for breakfast, cornflakes for tea, that kind of thing.
‘Do you like fish and chips?’
The smell of the food is irresistible. ‘I do.’
Ignoring my protestations, he orders two portions before we take our drinks over to one of the tables. As we bask in the last of the day’s sunlight, that we’re sitting on a beach instead of in a pub puts me at ease.
‘This is nice,’ I tell him. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome. I don’t suppose there will be many more evenings like this. Summer’s nearly up, isn’t it?’
‘I think there may be a storm on the way. I was watching the sea earlier. It gets kind of restless before the weather changes.’ I pause, looking at him. ‘You said you’d had some thoughts about your garden?’
‘Yeah.’ He smiles at me. ‘You won’t believe this, but I’ve been doing a little research. It was what you said about the healing properties of herbs… I like the idea of growing more of them, maybe in raised beds with gravel paths in between. And like you said, in corners. The other idea was to encourage wildlife. I’d like to give something back.’
As he speaks, I feel my enthusiasm growing for this project.
‘I love it.’ I pause, because he ought to know. ‘I’ve been making a list of plants for your tropical garden. But you’re going to need wood and gravel for your vegetable garden – maybe we should talk about costs.’
