did, and just for a second, before the memory of Mum’s diary tapped me on the shoulder and I checked myself, I very nearly gave in to instinct, threw my arms around him and told him that I loved him.
‘I haven’t read your letter,’ I replied, my voice every bit as husky as his. ‘The package only arrived yesterday and I haven’t opened it,’ I added, a little louder. ‘I didn’t even know there was a letter inside.’
‘I did wonder if I should give you more time,’ he said, a frown pulling his brows together, ‘but I was scared that you would move on once you knew that I knew where you were and I couldn’t risk that. I couldn’t risk losing you again, Tess.’
I didn’t know what to say. Dad hadn’t been an emotionally demonstrative father for a very long time and confessing that he was scared, of anything, was something I didn’t think I had ever heard him admit before.
‘I suppose you’d better come in,’ I said, opening the door wider.
I was mindful that George would soon be walking Skipper and didn’t want to add more fuel to my holiday story which was weaving its way among the great, good and downright grumpy of Wynmouth.
‘Although you won’t be able to leave your car parked there.’
If Charlie came bowling along on the beach tractor, he wouldn’t be able to get through the gap and that would cause even more talk than if George spotted me in conversation with an unknown man on the cottage doorstep.
‘It’s all right,’ Dad said, still standing in the same spot. ‘I don’t want to come in. I was rather hoping that you would come with me.’
I looked at him and raised my eyebrows. I knew it was a work day, and a miracle that he was so far from his desk, but if he had plans to get me to the office and clocked in for nine, then he was in for a rude awakening.
‘I’ll only keep you for a few minutes,’ he said, ‘and I promise I’ll bring you back.’
No plan to charge back to Essex just yet then.
‘All right,’ I agreed, thinking that now he was here, I really had no choice, ‘wait there.’
I padded back upstairs, pulled on some clothes and tamed my hair into a ponytail.
‘You’re looking really well,’ Dad smiled when, just a couple of minutes later, I locked the cottage door and climbed into the car. ‘That tan looks more West Indies than Wynmouth and it’s been years since I’ve seen you with so many freckles.’
That was most likely because it was years since he’d seen me without make-up.
‘And I’d forgotten how much your hair curls,’ he carried on. ‘It looks just like your mother’s used to before she started to straighten it.’
I wasn’t much in the mood to listen to him harking back to the good old days, especially when his reminiscing included Mum.
‘So, where are we going?’ I asked, shrugging off his seemingly light-hearted chat.
His small talk was rather unnerving. As a rule, Dad’s feet were firmly planted in the ‘if you haven’t got anything constructive to say, then don’t say anything,’ camp, but that morning for some reason he’d switched sides and the only reason for defecting that I could come up with, was because he was working his way up to saying something he wasn’t sure about. The chattiness was completely out of character and I didn’t like it, not one little bit.
‘There’s a café right on the beach I rather like the look of,’ he said, turning up the lane which led back to The Green. ‘I daresay you know it already.’
I did of course, but I didn’t ask how he did. The route into the village would hardly have taken him along the seafront and past Sophie’s door.
‘It won’t be open yet,’ I said instead, checking the time. ‘It won’t be open for at least another hour.’
But, unexpectedly, it was.
‘Good morning,’ said Sophie, when we entered.
Dad had ignored the ‘closed’ sign and walked straight in, holding the door open for me to follow him.
‘Morning,’ he said back.
‘What can I get you both?’ Sophie asked.
She didn’t appear to be quite her usual sunny self, but then it was still early. Not that I really thought the time would influence Sophie’s mood. She always had a ready smile and was full of cheer.
‘Just a coffee for me, please,’ said Dad.
‘And I’ll have the same,’ I said, ‘thanks.’
Dad and I sat opposite one another, in