Page 36 of A Second Chance in Seabury
‘I can’t believe Jason got you on a bike so fast,’ she laughed. ‘Weren’t you just saying last night that your legs wouldn’t handle it?’
‘Erm… I stand by what I said,’ laughed Hannah, doing the exact opposite and perching back on her saddle.
Jason grinned, hopping off his own bike with ease. Hannah shot him an envious look. Oh, to have the boundless energy and strength of being nineteen again!
‘Admit it—you enjoyed it!’ he laughed. ‘You’re a natural. Bet that’s you hooked, now!’
‘What brings you guys up here?’ said David, still looking mildly bemused.
‘Hannah wanted to bring your jacket back,’ said Jason, giving Sarah a knowing grin.
Hannah promptly wished she knew him well enough to give him a friendly punch for landing her right in it.
‘You didn’t have to do that!’ laughed David, shaking his head in wonder. ‘You could have just left it in the garden or something.’
‘To be fair, I probably would have,’ said Hannah, finally feeling strong enough to clamber off the bike and lean it against one of the fence posts. ‘But when I was looking for you, I noticed Bernard was missing and… well… and I kind of jumped to the wrong conclusion.’
‘You thought he’d escaped again?’ said David, with sudden understanding.
‘Yup,’ said Jason.
Hannah nodded, feeling more than a little bit daft. ‘Then I decided to go on a wild-goose chase to hunt you down and let you know.’
‘You know, things would be a whole lot easier if you two would just exchange mobile numbers!’ chuckled Sarah.
‘She has a point,’ said Jason, rolling his eyes.
‘I don’t know mine off by heart,’ said David, fiddling around in his pocket and pulling out an ancient brick.
‘And I don’t have mine with me,’ said Hannah with a rueful smile. ‘It’s at home somewhere, set to silent.’
At home.Huh. Those words had just tumbled out by accident… and yet, they’d felt kind of…right.
Hannah gave her head a little shake. She wasn’t about to start getting caught up with all that again right now. Yes, she wanted to talk things through with David… but not with the other twowatching them intently. Besides, right now, she had a rogue sheep to check up on.
‘Anyway, here’s your jacket back,’ she said, starting to strip it off.
David shook his head. ‘Keep it on for now. It’s windy up here. There’s no point in getting cold after your ride. Besides, it suits you.’
Hannah smiled at him and happily snuggled back into its depths. He was right, the breeze up here next to the lighthouse was fresh, and now that she’d stopped pedalling, she was in danger of getting chilly pretty quickly. Well… everything other than her face, which currently felt like it had been toasted in front of the fire like one of Aunty Millie’s favourite buttered crumpets.
Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Sarah and Jason exchanging a knowing look, and Sarah mouthingAWWW. It did nothing to ease the flush on her cheeks.
‘So… Bernard’s got a new home?’ she said, deciding that now was a good time to change the subject.
‘Yep. At least for now,’ said David, pointing across the little paddock in front of them, to where the missing sheep was now stuffing his face with grass as though his life depended on it. ‘I didn’t want him causing you any trouble or getting out onto the road again. Mike and Kate said he can stay here for the winter, and he seems happy enough.’
‘Not tried making a break for it yet?’ said Jason.
‘Oh, he’s scoped the entire perimeter,’ laughed Sarah. ‘But this fence was designed to keep Stanley from disappearing off to swim with the seals whenever Dad and Kate turn their backs for five seconds. If it can keep that hairy horror incarcerated, Bernard’s got no chance. Hey, do you guys want to come inside? They’re both at work, but I can make us all a cuppa.’
‘I’m up for it!’ said Jason. ‘Lizzie’s given me the afternoon off. Fancy a ride later now that your bike’s fixed?’
‘Definitely!’ Sarah nodded. ‘Mr Eaves, Hannah… cuppa?’
David glanced at Hannah, and she bit her lip, waiting for him to take the lead. He winked at her. ‘Thanks Sarah, but I need to head back down to town.’
‘Me too,’ said Hannah, quickly picking up on the hint. There was no way she was up for playing gooseberry between the teens.
