"I can"t recall, but the driver will know. Four miles, maybe a bit less."
Just now, when she was walking through the station, she recalled hiding from Dave as he went ahead of her. She had thought it might be upsetting to remember him, but it wasn"t, and so now she let herself completely relax.
"Your hotel is about five miles along the coast," the taxi driver informed Kathleen as he packed their cases into the boot. "I"ll have you there in no time at all."
As they drove along, Lucy recognised all the landmarks: the little shop on the corner as they turned out of the station, the lifeguard tower, and the flower-seller. It was all exactly the same as she remembered, and far from upsettng her, it made her feel alive. And whenever Dave came into her mind, she saw his handsome smile, and it made her heart give a little b.u.mp.
The taxi driver was a chatty sort. "On holiday, are you?"
"Yes, but only for a week, and then we"re looking to buy a business," Kathleen told hm.
"What kind o" business?"
"We"re not sure really, but maybe a ladies" clothes shop, or a knick-knack shop, where holidaymakers can browse and spend their money."
While she chatted, she smiled, because she had already made enquiries concerning small businesses on the coast, and there was one in particular that had struck her as interesting. Later, she would discuss it with Lucy, but she wanted them both to enjoy this holiday before even thinking of work.
On arriving at the hotel, Kathleen went into raptures about it. "Blimey Nora!" She looked at the cla.s.sy entrance, and the beautiful well-tended gardens either side, and even the porter at the door. "No wonder it cost an arm and a leg!" she remarked a little too loudly, which made the taxi driver smile, and Lucy chuckle.
As he collected the two suitcases, the porter gave Kathleen a little wink. "I reckon he fancies me!" she told Lucy as they went to the reception desk.
Turning round to see the porter shamelessly eyeing Kathleen, even Lucy had to agree.
The receptionist remembered Lucy. "Oh, how nice to see you back again," she said genuinely. "I recognised the name and, I"m sorry but we"re so busy I couldn"t put you in the same room as last time. You"re on the other side of the hotel ... on the floor below, is that all right?"
Lucy nodded. In a way, she was pleased about that.
"You are right next door," the receptionist informed Kathleen. Kathleen was pleased.
"I"m afraid the cafe bar won"t be open for another hour or so yet," the receptionist informed them, "but if you like, I"ll have tea or coffee sent up to your rooms."
Kathleen thanked her, but, "I thought we would unpack and take our time having a look round. What say you, Lucy? Do you fancy a walk along the front?"
"Yes, that would be nice." In truth, she was about to suggest the very same herself.
So, after collecting their room keys, they followed the porter to the lift. And when he insisted on taking them right to their doors, Kathleen gave Lucy a wink, and rolled her eyes in astonishment.
At the door, she was about to tip him, when he smiled and shook his head. "That"s all right," he said softly. "Maybe later." And his meaning was very clear, both to Kathleen and to Lucy.
"I told you, didn"t I?" Kathleen did a little jig in the corridor. "I said he was after me ... and who am I to refuse the man his tip!"
Lucy went into her room, in fits of laughter.
"We"ll meet up in ten minutes," Kathleen called out, and Lucy replied that she would be downstairs waiting, because, "I know you won"t be ready in ten minutes. More like half an hour." She knew Kathleen only too well.
Exactly half an hour later, Lucy got up from the chair in the foyer. Kathleen was dressed up as though she was off to a party. She had on a pretty green dress with swirly skirt, short sleeves and a revealing neckline. Her legs were bare and she wore white sandals.
"Oh, Kathleen, you look really nice."
"You look nice as well." Kathleen saw that Lucy had chosen to wear a blue, short-sleeved top, with a straight skirt and blue sandals. Her hair was brushed to a shine, and her eyes were especially sparkling.
"Come on, Lucy girl!" Kathleen led the way. "Let"s go frighten the locals!"
They went along the beach, and with every step, Lucy recalled how she and Dave had run along here, with her on his shoulders, and the two of them making fools of themselves. But it was too wonderful to regret, and so she remembered it with joy.
As they entered the cafe, Kathleen told her, "I"m hot ... how about we get an ice cream or something? What d"you say, Lucy girl?"
"Yeah! Let"s go for it!"
And they did.
They noticed one empty table in the far corner, and they made straight for it.
Sitting down, Kathleen stretched out her legs. "Is this the place you told me about?" she asked Lucy.
"Yes." Lucy was torn in so many ways. "This is it. Don"t you think it"s pretty ... set in the cliffs like this?"
"I do, yes! I think it"s very pretty, right on the beach and nestling into the cliffs. What else could anyone ask for?"
A moment later the waitress arrived. "Yes?" She opened her notepad.
"Right, Lucy girl!" Kathleen quickly glanced at the menu. "What takes your fancy?"
Lucy wasn"t quite sure. "You get yours, and by the time they bring it, I"ll have decided."
So, Kathleen ordered a banana split and a cup of tea.
Lucy continued to look through the menu as the waitress went to fetch Kathleen"s order. "I think I"ll have a banana split as well," she told Kathleen.
The girl arrived with Kathleen"s order, but before Lucy could say anything, a voice behind her asked, "Would the lady like an ice cream, topped with nuts and choc flakes?"
Lucy"s heart almost stopped, and when his hand touched hers she knew. "Dave!" She looked up and there he was the man who had stolen her common sense, along with her heart.
"h.e.l.lo, you," he said, bending to kiss her. "I"ve missed you ... so much."
Lost for words, Lucy felt like crying, she was so taken aback and so very happy to see him again. When he sat down beside her she thought she might be dreaming.
Kathleen, however, was beaming. "After you came home and told me about this "wonderful" man you met, I thought you two should get to know each other better," she confessed. "So I rang the hotel and asked if they would forward a letter to this man called David, who had been in the room four doors away from my friend Lucy Lovejoy. I sent my letter and here we are. Am I a miracle worker or what?"
Lucy dared not say a word, because if she did, she would surely break down and cry. And when Dave"s arm slid about her shoulders, she leaned into it, and it was like all her dreams had come true at once.
And then he was whispering in her ear, "I"ve got an idea. Why don"t you and me run along the beach, like we did before, and give the natives something to talk about?"
Lucy shook her head, laughing too much to answer.
Kathleen diplomatically left for a walk along the cliffs, leaving Lucy to bond with Dave all over again.
"If I behave myself, will you walk along the beach with me?" he asked her. And how could she refuse?
From the clifftop, Kathleen looked down and smiled. "You two belong together," she whispered.
Then she walked along a little further. She was enchanted by this place and she wondered, if she offered the owner enough money, whether he or she would consider selling that picturesque cafe to her and Lucy.
Once the idea had taken root in her mind, there was no turning back. So, without delay, she made her way back down.
Much later that evening, the three of them turned out in their best party wear to spend the evening in the open-air where a gala of music and dancing was about to start.
"They couldn"t have a more beautiful setting," Lucy told Dave as he led her onto the makeshift dance floor.
"And I could not have had a more beautiful dance partner than you," he whispered in her ear. "You look wonderful."
Lucy smiled at that. "Do you know, you are the first man ever to call me beautiful?"
His answer was a soft and loving kiss, and the whispered comment, "All I can say is, they must all be blind."
He gestured to where Kathleen and Billy the porter were dancing some way to the other side of them.
"Kathleen said he fancied her," Lucy said, "and she was right."
Later, they sat in the hotel bar, and chatted with Kathleen and Billy, who had the evening off work.
"I"ve got some news, Lucy girl!" Kathleen announced.
"What? Is it good or bad?"
"Both."
"Go on then."
"Well, I kind of took a fancy to that picturesque little cafe, and I wanted to talk to you about it, but you were too tied up with this handsome man who wouldn"t let you go. So ..." she took a deep breath, "... I bought it for us!"
After the initial shock, everyone congratulated her. Lucy was thrilled. "So now, we"ll need to start looking for a house. We can"t stay at the hotel for ever."
While Katheen thought about Lucy"s reminder, Dave slid his arm round Lucy"s shoulders. "You won"t need to find a house ... not if you marry me," he told her.
Lucy looked at him, astonished, and then she said, "But I can"t. I"m still waiting for my divorce to go through." She reminded him, shyly.
"I don"t mind how long I wait," he answered, "as long as the answer is yes."
"Then, yes." She laughed out loud. "I"ll marry you!"
Everyone burst out laughing, and Kathleen turned to Billy, "Seems like everybody wants to get married, so, what about you and me?"
"Are you free?" he asked cheekily.
"I am ... yes."
"Then I"ll certainly bear that in mind." He laughed.
The evening ended in happiness and great excitement.
A year later, the double marriage was arranged.
It was well attended, by Dave"s daughter and relatives, alongside Lucy"s children, and Martin and Paula. Paula was now fully recovered, and both she and Martin were wonderfully happy.
Kathleen"s uncle and a nephew came from Ireland to see her get married, along with Billy"s entire family of sixteen people, young and old.
Kathleen was shocked. "Blimey! I can tell you right now, we ain"t having an army o" kids to look after. No way!"
Four years later, the same people attended the double christening of Kathleen and Billy"s third child, alongside Lucy and Dave"s first son named David.
In quiet moments, when Lucy managed to hide away for a few minutes, she sat thinking of all the heartache and pain over the years.
But that was all in the past, and she could not possibly be happier than she was at that moment.
At last, she was content in herself.
And life was good.
Also by Josephine c.o.x.
QUEENIE"S STORY.
Her Father"s Sins.
Let Loose the Tigers.
THE EMMA GRADY TRILOGY.
Outcast.
Alley Urchin.
Vagabonds.
Angels Cry Sometimes Take This Woman Whistledown Woman.
Don"t Cry Alone Jessica"s Girl n.o.body"s Darling Born to Serve More than Riches.
A Little Badness Living a Lie The Devil You Know A Time for Us.
Cradle of Thorns Miss You Forever Love Me or Leave Me Tomorrow the World.