Page 45 of Second Chance Summer
‘That sounds very much like a corporate statement,’ he said. ‘If you don’t mind me saying …’
‘Does it?’ She treated him to a self-deprecating smile. ‘I guess it’s hard to kick the habit. ItisOK, isn’t it?’ she added.
‘Of course. You’re my guest,’ he said, aware he also was putting on a front.
‘And you won’t mind me popping over to Bryher when I need to? I can get one of the scheduled boats to the other islands from there, so I won’t be under your feet all the time.’
‘It’s your holiday. You can do what you like. Please, make yourself at home while I collect some things from upstairs.’
He needed clean clothes. Although there was a laundry room at the retreat, he wasn’t sure he’d have time to do any washing. In search of clean underwear, he opened drawers, knowing he had an unopened pack of boxers somewhere …
Cursing under his breath, he opened the drawer at the bottom of the wardrobe. Inside was a tiny bunch of dried flowers tied with a blue ribbon.
His stomach clenched with sadness at the sight and the bittersweet memories they brought back – he still couldn’t bear to part with them.
Sam covered them with clothes again and went downstairs, forcing himself to focus on practicalities and activity. He put his clean clothes in a dry bag by the front door and popped into the kitchen, taking fresh milk, juice and a few other items from his fridge. The boat was already loaded with cool boxes of fresh veg, meat for the freezer at Stark and enough fresh fish from Rory to last a couple of days. Lily would be pleased.
‘The forecast’s good. We shouldn’t have a problem getting around,’ he called as she re-entered the sitting room.
Lily was nowhere to be seen but the curtains were blowing in the breeze through the open French doors.
He moved quietly forward and saw her outside on his terrace, surrounded by agapanthus, hugging herself as if no one else ever would.
Sensing his presence, she swung round, panicked at being caught looking vulnerable. He was struck by how slight she seemed, how drawn and isolated. Was this the woman of steel, the ‘evil bitch’ described online? Because, while he was upstairs, he had glanced at the social media comments … and wished he hadn’t. He’d wanted to confront every single one of the cowardly pondlife posting such vile comments.
Then he remembered she was the last person who needed a man protecting her like some misguided knight in tarnished armour. It was better to keep his distance: that way he couldn’t be hurt.
‘I hope you don’t mind. I needed some fresh air after this morning. And the view was so incredible, I stepped outside.’ She smiled. ‘I can’t see anyone but perhaps a long lens is trained on me.’
Sam was alarmed. ‘You think reporters would follow you over here to Bryher?’
‘I’m not that notorious,’ she said, attempting a joke. ‘No, they wouldn’t bother and the fuss will die down quickly. There will be new people to hound and troll soon enough.’
‘I don’t know how you stand it.’
She shrugged. ‘I have no choice. Or rather, I have to accept it if I want to be successful at what I do.’
‘I suppose so.’
‘You’ll have to deal with reviews from guests and the press, you know? You can’t run a place like Stark and not put yourself out there.’
‘I realise that. But maybe I hadn’t realised quite how much.’
‘Look, I am supposed to be on retreat, but I can give you some tips … but only if you want me to. Not as a businessperson, but as a – friend?’
‘A friend?’ he echoed. ‘I – I don’t want to add to your stress.’
‘It would be a pleasure.’ Her eyes sparkled. ‘If you think you can stand the heat?’
She’d disarmed him again, and he glimpsed the warmth under the exterior, a warmth he was seeing more of, more often. ‘Will it be as scary as being a contestant on theGreat British Craft Show?’ he asked, deadpan. Lily playfully punched his arm.
‘In all seriousness, I’d appreciate some advice. But first, shall we get you safely to Stark so you can settle back in? It’s been a hell of a day and it’s still only eleven a.m.’
‘Let’s hope it doesn’t hold any more drama,’ Lily said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
She still looked pale and the image came into his mind of her staring out at Hell Bay, hugging herself tight.
There was so much more she wasn’t telling him.
