The Waffle House on the Pier - Tilly Tennant Page 0,23

dating Declan. He was a popular member of the community, as Sadie and her family were, and when Sadie and Declan had been dating, many people in the community had openly expressed hopes that they would marry one day. They still said this, even after Sadie had broken his heart and left for university. It was no wonder really that Melissa looked so sour when Sadie was around. But then, it worked both ways because nobody wanted to see that the ex they regretted giving up every day had gone on to someone better than them. Melissa was prettier, sexier, better dressed and arguably more worldly-wise than Sadie, and nobody felt that comparison more keenly than Sadie herself. Melissa was almost thirty too, compared to Sadie’s twenty-six, and so she had experience and maturity on her side to go with everything else. She was at an age when she was probably ready to settle down – which Sadie hadn’t been when she and Declan were together. But it had been something he’d always talked of because he’d known from a much younger age than Sadie that family and stability were the things he craved and needed more than anything else. He’d always appreciated how good that kind of life could be, whereas Sadie, who’d already had it, had wanted nothing more than to turn her back on it and find adventure.

In fact, the one puzzling thing about Melissa and Declan was that after three years together they still weren’t engaged. What were they waiting for? Who was holding who back? Nor were they living together – though, according to Declan the last time he’d chatted to Sadie, that would soon change.

‘I think we’ve all been sort of busy,’ Georgia said.

‘I know how that feels,’ Declan said.

‘Still apologising to the trees before you chop them down?’ Natalie asked.

Declan grinned again. ‘You have to have a quiet word to explain yourself before you tackle the job,’ he said. ‘I think they understand it’s for the greater good.’

‘I still don’t see how cutting anything down helps the forest,’ Georgia said. ‘I’d feel so guilty if I had to do it.’

‘I don’t actually cut that many down,’ Declan said. ‘I suppose some of the things I do for the commission do seem a bit counter-intuitive to anyone who doesn’t know all the ins and outs of forest management.’

‘Don’t get him talking about his job,’ Melissa said, ‘not unless you have a month to spare so he can talk to you about what a crime it is that half of the bugs that ought to live there are becoming extinct.’

Sadie gave a small smile. When she and Declan had been together he’d been volunteering as a ranger and studying long-distance for the necessary qualifications to work in conservation. He’d often come to her house so full of excitement and passion for the subject, and for what his training would enable him to do, and she wished now that she’d taken more notice back then, offered more encouragement and praise. Instead, she’d been too wrapped up in her own plans to escape the bay and that had really been the beginning of the end for their relationship.

She tried to convince herself that this was how the universe had meant things to be, but sometimes it was hard. Like now, to see him so happy, so relaxed and content, handsome and mature. She’d had plenty of time to reflect, since her decision to come home to the bay, that she’d left a boy when she’d gone, but she’d returned to find him a man. A man, she’d been stunned to find, that she was still very much in love with. But by then it had been too late, even if she could have swallowed her pride for long enough to admit she’d been wrong to let him go – and that was one thing she’d been unable to do.

‘Sorry,’ he said, looking adorably sheepish. ‘Melissa might have a point there; I know I must bore her to tears most nights going on about work.’

‘It’s nice to do something you feel passionate about,’ Sadie said tightly, suddenly feeling the overwhelming urge to defend him.

‘Like you?’ he asked.

‘Well, yes…’ Sadie replied, though instantly she found herself on uncertain ground again. Hadn’t she just been mooting the possibility of giving up teaching? The profession she’d been training so hard for and given up so much to pursue didn’t seem so appealing these days and it made her feel sad to