A Perfect Cornish Escape by Phillipa Ashley Page 0,39
latest papers in a ring binder, she reminded herself that application for the presumption of death wasn’t an ending, it was the beginning of the next part of her life.
It didn’t make any difference to her vow to never forget him, and her love for him would always be rock solid. Maybe, with everything behind her ‘officially’, she would also find it easier to look to the future with fresh hope. It was surely what Nate would have wanted, because he’d loved her too …
As she had many times before, she resorted to her garden for solace. It was a beautiful evening, with the sun glinting on the harbour far below, where all manner of craft bobbed up and down on the high tide. The evenings were drawing out rapidly and summer was just around the corner. Porthmellow would soon be thronged with tourists, which meant there would be more of a need than ever for the Wave Watchers. It was a constant battle to find enough people, as some had had to give up due to ill health or had moved away. Fresh pairs of eyes were not only welcome but vital.
She tugged some bindweed from the hedge and watered the tubs she’d planted with Tiff, enjoying the fragrance of the honeysuckle growing up the fence. The salty air wasn’t the ideal environment for some plants, but others thrived in it, like the clusters of agapanthus which had yet to emerge. By mid-July, their stunning blue-violet heads would burst into flower, giving the garden an exotic air.
She decided to fetch some plant food from the garages and saw Lachlan doubled over outside one of the units. He was in his running kit, breathing heavily and glistening with sweat. He didn’t see her at first so she slowed down her approach so as not to startle him.
He straightened up and tapped the FitBit on his wrist. Marina decided to call out to warn him she was around, to avoid startling him. ‘Evening,’ she said cheerfully, though inside she was very unsure of the reception she might get.
He was still out of puff so she spoke for both of them. ‘I’ve come to fetch some Baby Bio,’ she said, in the absence of anything else, and smiled. ‘Don’t worry about replying.’
‘It w-would be h-hard to answer t-that anyway.’ His polite smile morphed into a grimace as he regained his breath.
She turned the handle on the garage door. ‘I’ll leave you to recover,’ she said as he waved an apology at her. She walked inside, finding the plastic bottle in less than a minute and exiting, expecting him to have left, but he was still there.
He was upright now, hands on hips. ‘Marina? I wanted to apologise for what happened at the fundraiser …’ He paused again, whether to get his breath or be cautious, she couldn’t decide. ‘And for not acknowledging you since then.’
‘It’s fine. Don’t worry.’
‘I don’t want you to think I’m being an arse or I’ve been avoiding you. You must have been wondering why I freaked out when that coastguard helicopter flew over the harbour?’
‘First, I don’t think you’re an arse.’
He smiled though it was more of a grimace. ‘That’s very generous of you.’
‘And you don’t have to explain about the helicopter if it makes things worse for you. Aaron told me you’d been in an accident. I don’t want to invade your privacy.’
‘You’ve not invaded my privacy.’ He faltered. ‘You’re one of the people who hasn’t invaded it. People are curious, you see, as to how I came by these …’ He touched his cheek fleetingly. The exertion had made the scars redder and more livid.
‘It’s none of my business.’
‘But you have wondered?’
‘No …’ She checked herself, sensing that polite evasion was probably not what Lachlan was looking for. ‘OK. Yes, I have wondered what happened to you, but you shouldn’t feel forced to tell me or anyone. I know how people can be if they think someone’s an object of curiosity. The outright stares, the whispers in shops, the conversations that stop when you walk into the pub, the pity, spoken and unspoken …’
He held her gaze. ‘Aye.. The pity. That’s the killer.’ His eyes were beautiful, and she thought she recognised something behind his expression. It was a knowledge that life could never be certain again. ‘You sound as if you know what you’re talking about,’ he added.
‘You mean with Nate?’
He nodded. ‘Aaron told me a little more about the circumstances. It must have been