Edith’s fingers were clumsy as she opened the envelope, and she hoped Wyatt hadn’t noticed she was trembling. She pulled the card out and stared at it, then realised she was working with Wyatt, so she held it up for him to see.
‘What is it?’ she said, frowning.
Wyatt peered closer at the drawing. ‘Did Finn and Titus draw this themselves?’ He laughed, but she didn’t join in. ‘I think… it’s a coil of rope?’
Edith looked at it again. ‘Either that or it’s a really bad snake.’
Wyatt laughed again, and she felt her lips curl into a smile despite her nerves.
‘So where does that take us?’ she asked.
‘Where would you find rope around here?’ He rubbed his chin. ‘The harbour?’
‘Come on.’ She led the way up from the beach and through the village. Behind them, on the beach, she heard the shouts and laughter of the other teams and glanced behind her to check they weren’t being followed. Her shoe caught on something, and she stumbled, but Wyatt’s hand was there instantly, supporting her. ‘Th-thanks.’
‘No problem.’ He gently released her, and she shook herself. Her heart was racing, and she felt prickly from the shock, but she was conscious of the fact that another couple was now catching up with them, so she grabbed Wyatt’s hand.
‘Come on, let’s hurry!’
When they reached the harbour, they both scanned the area for obvious rope. There was a coil on the wall overlooking the harbour, so Edith let go of Wyatt’s hand and ran to it. Tucked into the coil of rope, she found another clue. The card inside showed a drawing of a book. ‘The Book Nook!’
‘Yes!’ Wyatt agreed.
They hurried to the bookshop and peered through the window and there, sitting in the middle of the display, was another envelope.
Inside, they were greeted warmly by Rosa, who was waiting behind the counter, clearly expecting people to turn up.
‘OK if I grab the envelope?’ Wyatt asked.
‘Of course!’ Rosa said. ‘And good luck.’
Envelope in hand, Wyatt held open the door for Edith, and they thanked Rosa then left the shop. Back outside, Wyatt pulled out the clue.
‘Are they sheds or houses?’ He squinted at the image.
Edith took the card and tilted her head. ‘I think so. And that’s… the sea. The houses are above the sea, so they’re… It’s the clifftop development!’
‘Where’s that?’ Wyatt didn’t know the area like she did, so she pointed across at the development of luxury houses. ‘Ahhhh…’
‘Quick!’ Edith said as she spotted another team wandering through the village towards the bookshop.
As they sped through the cobbled lanes then along the path to the development overlooking the sea, Edith tried to focus on the task at hand. It wasn’t easy. Wyatt was beside her, close enough for her to feel the heat of his skin, catch the clean scent of his cologne, and see the hairs on his arms glinting in the afternoon light. Had Titus and Finn paired them deliberately? It was exactly the sort of thing Titus would do. His intentions would have been good, she knew that, but it didn’t make it any easier for her or for Wyatt.
Still, here they were, working together again. What choice did they have? The wedding planner and the best man couldn’t very well make a scene in front of everyone. It would be unfair to the grooms and childish. They were adults; for the sake of their friends and a few hours, they could pull together and play nice.
Besides, it was a relief to focus on something other than the tight knot in her stomach and the ache of knowing she couldn’t have Wyatt the way she used to. He’d made it clear this time that he didn’t want her, and she had to find a way to live with it.
By the time they reached the top of the path, she was breathless. Wyatt seemed fine but he was a runner and his legs were longer. Plus, she reasoned, she was dealing with the added stress of emotional turmoil, so there were a combination of factors tiring her out.
Of course there were…
‘Where on earth could the clue be?’ Wyatt asked.
‘I have… no… idea.’ She shrugged, trying to catch her breath.
They walked up and down the street, scanning the houses and gardens.
And then she spotted a flash of white in a low hedge where the road led to the coastal path. ‘There!’ She pointed.
