The Waffle House on the Pier - Tilly Tennant Page 0,83
then, as the sun crested the horizon, the chattering of gulls on nearby cliffs. Just after the sun had bled through her bedroom blind she got up, dressed quickly and headed down to the pier.
The town was still quiet and sleepy, and Sadie had often thought that there was something melancholy about the way it looked so early in the morning, as if the soul of it had departed the body for just a little while and had yet to return. It was sort of like a toddler still stirring from a long night’s sleep, content to slowly and silently greet the new day, blinking out at the world but still confused by it. Only later, when it had woken properly, would it be a happy whirlwind of manic activity, of noise and energy and fun, making everyone around it happy too.
At the door of the waffle house, Sadie poked the key in and shoved open the door. Once she was in, she locked it again. She didn’t put on the lights – there was enough daylight if she opened a couple of blinds, which she did before going through to Gammy’s little office to find paper and pens in the absence of a computer and printer. She could have printed a sign at home, but she’d forgotten to do it before she’d gone to bed the night before and this morning she was afraid that the noise would wake the house so, instead, she wrote a note in blue felt-tip.
Sea Salt Bay Waffle House will be closed until further notice. We apologise to all our loyal customers, but we will be back soon!
A little optimistic? Maybe, and Sadie was beginning to feel in her heart that it was a little white lie, not only to herself but also to the people of Sea Salt Bay. Maybe the waffle house would open again but, even if it did, she was beginning to see that it wouldn’t be in its current guise. In fact, she was more certain than ever that it simply couldn’t be.
When she’d hung the sign in the window she sat at a table for a minute, head in hands. She needed time to think in peace, without someone breathing down her neck, demanding immediate answers. But even now, her thoughts were muddled and her heart wasn’t really in it.
An unexpected yawn caught her. There was nothing else to do here – nothing with any kind of time pressure anyway. If her misfiring brain would let her, the most sensible thing would be to try to grab a couple of hours’ sleep back at home. Her parents would be on their way out to the boat by now to get it ready for the day. Gammy would likely be awake, though they’d explained to her the previous night that the waffle house wouldn’t be open the next day because Sadie was unable to help out and inventing some excuse that she didn’t feel well. It wouldn’t be a stretch to keep up that pretence because fatigue was making her feel quite unwell anyway. It meant that Gammy would probably find something to do in the house – she liked to make herself useful where she could – and hopefully, in the house, she couldn’t get into too much mischief. Sadie could set an alarm and she wouldn’t sleep for too long and then she’d be around to keep an eye on things for the rest of the day.
It was as she was leaving that she saw Luke, almost racing down the pier towards the waffle house. She locked the door and then turned to him, squinting in the now bright sunlight.
‘What are you doing here?’ she asked. ‘Not that I’m not pleased to see you, but it’s early and—’
‘I was hoping to catch you; I need to talk.’
‘OK,’ Sadie began slowly, wondering what on earth would need such urgent attention. ‘I have a phone, you know.’
‘Yes,’ he said with a breathless laugh. ‘I know, but I can’t kiss you down the phone, can I?’
Sadie smiled and walked into his arms to claim what he’d promised. He smelt incredible and his lips were warm and responsive, and suddenly she didn’t feel quite so tired or despondent.
‘Is that all you’ve come for?’ she asked as they broke off.
‘Not really,’ he said, and for the first time since she’d started to date him he seemed a little anxious.
‘Then…’
‘I’ve had an idea.’
‘Oh. Well, is it something you can convey in small words?