Hope Blooms in Tuppenny Bridge (Tuppenny Bridge #5)

Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

Starfish Sands, as it turned out, was a quiet little village on the North Yorkshire coast, not far from Filey. It seemed to consist of a few cottages, a shop, a hotel, and a pub, although on closer inspection they discovered the pub had been turned into apartments.

The Sea Star Hotel was still open, though—a modern building with lots of plate glass windows and chrome, and spectacular views over the sea, as they discovered when they took their seats in the sunny dining room.

Noah had been very quiet on the journey, which had taken almost two hours. He’d smiled when he saw her sitting at the bus stop and had been as welcoming as ever, but she thought there was something different about him.

When he turned on the radio, she noticed he didn’t sing along to any of the songs, which meant she felt unable to. Although, she had to admit she wasn’t feeling much like singing. She had a nagging sense of unease, and it occurred to her that maybe Noah had been having the same thoughts as she’d had yesterday. Had he invited her here to tell her it was over?

Not, of course, that it had ever really begun. Even so, she had a feeling there was something very wrong. He wasn’t himself, and she steeled herself for bad news as they perused the menu. Her appetite had deserted her, and she could tell he wasn’t particularly hungry either.

In the end they both went for sandwiches. Daisy thought they could have brought a packed lunch and eaten it on the beach. It would have been far cheaper and a lot less formal than this place.

Maybe, she thought, he’d decided to break up with her in public so she wouldn’t cause a scene? But surely, he knew her well enough by now to realise she never would anyway?

She watched him, concerned, as he nibbled listlessly at his sandwich, his mind seemingly somewhere else.

‘Is there something you want to tell me, Noah?’ she asked, unable to stand it any longer.

He looked startled. ‘Sorry? Oh!’ He shook his head. ‘I was miles away. Sorry.’

‘You already said sorry,’ she told him, managing a smile. ‘Just, you wanted to come here so I thought it must mean a lot to you, but you seem very distracted. Has something happened? Or did you—I mean, did you bring me here for a reason?’

‘A reason?’ He looked puzzled. ‘Like what?’

He seemed genuinely perplexed by her question, which was reassuring. Maybe he wasn’t about to end things then?

But you said you wanted him to. If not him, it will have to be you, remember?

Looking at him now, she couldn’t imagine ever saying those words to him. Yet again she found herself wanting to reach out and stroke the frown lines from his forehead. He looked so lost. So sad. She hated to see him this way.

‘What made you change your mind about the hike?’ she asked, deciding he needed cheering up. ‘Don’t tell me you chickened out! I knew those hills would be too much of a challenge for you.’

He smiled faintly. ‘You’ve got me. I realised I’d never make it up there, and I couldn’t face the humiliation. What can I say?’ He shrugged lightly then winced.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Oh yes, fine. Just a trapped nerve, I think. So, you’ve really never been here before? To Starfish Sands I mean, not The Sea Star Hotel specifically.’

‘No, I haven’t. To be honest, I’ve hardly been to the East Coast at all. We had one holiday that I can remember, but that was in Grange-over-Sands. Tom and I went to Blackpool a couple of times when we lived in Leeds, but apart from a couple of day trips to Scarborough when we were little that’s about it for travel. I know. Pitiful, right?’

‘Mum liked it here,’ he said quietly.

Daisy stared at him. ‘You came here with her?’ she asked. ‘How old were you then?’

‘Well, she left when I was seven so… We came here a few times. At first it was just me and her. We used to come for the day or, sometimes, as a special treat, we’d stay the night. We paddled in the sea, and ate fish and chips, and made sandcastles…’ He sighed. ‘Then one day we arrived here, and I discovered we had company.’

‘Oh? Who?’

‘The man she later married,’ he said wryly. ‘American businessman. It was like I wasn’t even there. They met up here a few times after that, using me for cover, I guess. They’d stay in their hotel room and send me off on my own to amuse myself. In a seaside village, in a caravan park full of strangers, with the sea on my doorstep. I was a little child! Can you imagine the danger I might have been in?’

Daisy watched him, her heart aching for him.

‘It wasn’t the same after that and I started dreading our visits. Not least because she’d always warn me all the way home not to say anything about that man. She cleared off to the US with him just after my seventh birthday. I haven’t heard a word from her since I turned sixteen.’

‘You must have some happy memories, though,’ Daisy said. ‘Otherwise, why would you come back here?’

‘I spent so many years pining for her,’ Noah said, pushing away his plate even though he’d barely touched his food. ‘I kept wondering what I’d done wrong. Why she didn’t want me. When Dad left it didn’t hurt me nearly as much. I was quite glad to see the back of him, to be honest. But her!’ He gave an abrupt laugh. ‘When I got out of the car earlier and looked around, all I could see was betrayal and pain.’

‘Then why come back here?’ she asked softly.

He considered the question for a few moments. ‘I think I was just wondering if you can turn something bad into something good. Could I come here today and see something different? Some hope perhaps.’

Daisy wasn’t sure what to say to that. All she knew was that, right now, he was in a very bad place emotionally, and she had no idea how to help him.

‘There’s always hope,’ she said, reaching for his hand.

‘Do you think?’

‘Bad memories,’ she said firmly, ‘can be replaced by good ones.’

He gazed at her, unsmiling, and she could see he was far from convinced.

‘Right,’ she said, pushing back her chair. ‘That’s enough of this. Let’s go and prove it.’

‘Prove what?’

‘That bad memories can be replaced by good ones. Let’s go and make some good memories of Starfish Sands. Come on!’

Noah’s eyes brightened as he smiled. ‘Seriously?’

She held out her hand. ‘Coming?’

He got to his feet and took her hand. ‘Lead the way.’

After settling the bill, they headed out into the car park.

‘Right,’ Noah said, ‘let’s follow the path down to the beach. It’s quite long and steep, though.’

‘After the hills we’ve climbed in the Dales that will be a piece of cake,’ she told him. She slipped her arm through his. ‘Ready?’

He nodded, and they began their descent down to the sands. Noah had been right, though. It was a very long, winding, and undeniably steep path. Daisy thought it would take some energy to climb back up again and marvelled to herself at the sight of two joyful spaniels running full pelt up the hill, followed by a couple of laughing children and, a few minutes later, by their red-faced and clearly flagging parents.

She thought Noah was slower than usual. He seemed to be moving quite stiffly.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked, puzzled.

‘Oh yes. Like I said, trapped nerve. I just hope I can walk back up here!’

‘If not, I’ll give you a piggyback,’ she joked, and he laughed, which made her heart lift.

‘Nearly there,’ he said at last. ‘Prepare to be amazed.’

They rounded the final corner and stepped onto the beach, and Daisy gasped. It was an incredible sight. A vast expanse of golden sand, an empty horizon, huge blue sky, and to the left, the long arm of Filey Brigg stretching out into the North Sea.

Apart from a few solitary dog walkers, three young families, and one or two couples, there was no one else on the beach.

‘They’ll all be at Filey,’ Noah said, nodding towards the Brigg when Daisy voiced her surprise at the lack of tourists. ‘Or in one of the other coastal villages round here. There’s not much for people to do here, is there? No amusements or funfairs. Not even crazy golf. And some people don’t like the fact that dogs are allowed here all year round. You know,’ he added, ‘you can walk to Filey from here. You just go along the beach.’

‘Seriously?’

‘Yep. Doesn’t take long either.’

Daisy beamed at him. ‘What do you think?’

‘Walk to Filey? Now?’

‘Why not?’

He frowned. ‘We’d need to check the tide times.’

‘Okay.’ Daisy looked around then pointed to an information board that was standing just behind them at the foot of the path. ‘Missed that because we were looking at the view.’

She pulled him over to the board and they studied the tide timetable that was pinned behind the glass.

Noah checked his watch. ‘We’d have time to walk it there, but we might not have time to walk it back.’

‘So we return by bus!’ She whooped with excitement, determined that this was going to be a day Noah would remember with happiness instead of sadness. ‘And just think, you won’t have to climb back up that path. You’re so slow today I think it would be dark by the time you made it up there, so that can only be a good thing, right?’

He hesitated, then his face broke into a smile. ‘Go on then.’

Daisy bent down and unbuckled her sandals, and to her delight Noah removed his socks and trainers.

‘We must be mad,’ he said, laughing.

‘Here.’ She opened her shoulder bag and dropped her sandals inside. ‘Put your stuff in here.’

‘Are you sure?’ he asked doubtfully.

‘Of course! There’s nothing in there to be damaged. Only my purse, sunglasses, and sun cream. Which, by the way, I meant to ask you about. Have you got any on?’

He nodded. ‘Yes. Put some on before we set off.’

‘Sunglasses?’

He patted his shirt pocket then put them on.

‘You see? You’re quite the experienced adventurer these days,’ she teased, putting her own in place. Taking his hand she added, ‘Ready for our next adventure then?’

The walk along the sands took less than half an hour, and it was glorious, even though it felt like quite an arduous task at times.

‘Do you know, walking on sand burns off double the calories than walking on another surface,’ Daisy told Noah, as they paddled ankle deep in the waves.

‘Really? Is that a fact or are you just hoping that’s the case?’ he asked her.

‘It’s true!’ She giggled. ‘Well, I think it is anyway. I’m sure I read it once.’

‘Here, let me take that bag,’ he said. ‘You shouldn’t be carrying it all this way.’

‘All this way?’ She looked back to where they’d started their walk and puffed out her cheeks. ‘Wow, it’s further than I realised. But look!’ she added, turning back towards Filey, ‘I can see the slope up to the seafront. Not long now. And no, you don’t need to carry the bag. It’s not heavy, so don’t be daft.’ She lifted her sunglasses and peered upwards. ‘Mr Blue Sky,’ she said, smiling.

Slowly, he put his arm around her shoulders. ‘Thanks, Daisy,’ he said quietly.

‘For what?’

‘For making new, happier memories of Starfish Sands with me.’

For a moment, she was almost sure he was going to kiss her again and her heart thudded with anticipation. But he didn’t. Instead, he dropped his arm and nodded towards the slope. ‘Come on then. Let’s go and get an ice cream.’

The beach became busier with people the closer they got to Filey. When they reached the slope, they sat down, brushing sand from their feet.

‘Ugh! This is the worst bit,’ Daisy said. ‘It gets stuck between your toes and it’s such a horrible feeling. Must make sure you’ve got it all off.’

Finally satisfied, they replaced their shoes and got to their feet.

‘Very peoply,’ Daisy said, observing the crowds not only on the beach but above them on the seafront.

‘It is. But when you look at this amazing beach are you surprised?’

This part of Filey was, Noah told her, one of his favourite bits. One day, he added, he’d love to take her for a walk along Filey Brigg itself, which was a long, narrow, rocky peninsula with high cliffs, stretching out into the sea. But not today as the tide was coming in.

Daisy shivered, realising the day was turning colder. She’d been about to remind him of that ice cream but thought maybe a hot chocolate might be a better bet now. This area of the seafront was busy, with amusements, shops, and cafés. There were boats on trailers all along the front, and young children carrying buckets and spades, nagging their parents for a stick of rock or money for the arcades.

She and Noah found an empty table in front of a row of beach shops selling a variety of food and drink. There were burger stalls, a seafood stall, seaside rock shop, ice cream, waffles, fish and chips… You wouldn’t go hungry here, that was for sure.

Even so, neither of them was hungry, and Noah bought Daisy a hot chocolate while he settled for a coffee. They removed their sunglasses and put them in Daisy’s bag, then sat in companionable silence for a while, sipping their drinks and people—and dog—watching.

‘I’d love a dog,’ Daisy admitted wistfully, admiring a handsome golden retriever that was sitting patiently by its owner, its head tilted to one side as it took in the sights with interest. ‘No chance in a flat, though. Plus, it wouldn’t really be fair with me being at work so much.’

‘I suppose not,’ he agreed.

‘Have you never thought about getting a dog?’ she asked curiously.

‘At times,’ he admitted. ‘It would be nice. I grew up with dogs, after all. Aunt Eugenie loves them. But, I suppose, like you, I’m thinking it wouldn’t be fair, what with my job.’

He didn’t mention Isobel’s feelings on the subject, she noticed, but didn’t remark on his omission. Why spoil things?

‘It really is lovely here,’ she said, looking around. ‘I can’t believe this beach! It’s amazing.’

‘I’ll take you up into the town after this, if you like,’ he offered. ‘It’s really pretty and not too commercialised. Or we can go for a stroll along the seafront if you’d prefer. It’s a very good walk, and the views are great, obviously.’

‘I’m easy,’ Daisy said, with a shrug. ‘I’m happy to go wherever you want to be.’

She looked up, smiling as the clouds rolled away and the sun returned. ‘Yay! Ooh, that reminds me, time to top up.’

She took the bottle of sun lotion from her bag and dabbed some on her face, chest, neck and arms before passing the bottle to Noah. ‘There you go. Better safe than sorry.’

He dutifully applied the lotion to his arms and face then handed the bottle back to her while Daisy rubbed the lotion into her skin.

‘You should do your neck and chest,’ she told him. ‘They can burn too.’ She frowned as she peered at the skin that was just visible under his shirt. ‘What’s that?’

Noah swallowed. ‘What’s what?’

‘You’ve got something on the edge of your collarbone. It looks like…’ She leaned forward, curious. ‘Can I see it?’

‘It’s nothing,’ he said quickly.

Daisy saw the look in his eyes, and something twisted in her gut. Nothing? Somehow, she didn’t think so.

Her hand reached out to move his shirt collar out of the way but she immediately dropped it when she saw the look on his face. She barely had time to register the shock and fear in his eyes, or the way he reared away from her instinctively, before he sat up straight and tried desperately to look as if nothing had happened.

‘What—what was that?’ she murmured. ‘You flinched.’

Noah’s face was pink with embarrassment. ‘Sorry. Just instinct.’

‘Did you think…’ Daisy’s voice trailed off as memories of her childhood flashed through her mind. The frequent slaps and smacks from her father had taught her to be on alert for a flying hand, and to be ready to duck at any moment. Noah had that same look about him. He couldn’t just say it was instinct. She’d seen the genuine fear in his eyes. He’d been expecting something awful to happen, and she couldn’t dismiss that.

‘Noah?’ she asked gently.

‘Shall we go on up to the town?’ he asked, looking away from her.

She carefully reached out and laid her hand over his. ‘Noah,’ she repeated firmly. ‘Look at me.’

‘I don’t want to talk about it, Daisy,’ he said quietly.

‘But we can’t just pretend?—’

‘Please!’ He turned to look at her finally, a plea in his eyes. ‘Can we just forget about it? I think we should get the bus back to Starfish Sands. The bus station’s in the town. It’s not too far from here. Come on.’

He clearly didn’t want to discuss the subject and she was torn between not wanting to push him and feeling she couldn’t possibly let this go. Suddenly a lot of things were beginning to make sense to Daisy: why he always seemed so sad, so vulnerable; why she’d been drawn to him from the first, sensing something within him that she now recognised as being something from her own past. She’d been beaten and bullied by her father for years. She knew what that felt like and she’d seen the same look on his face. Someone was hurting him, and she wanted to know who.

Though she had a pretty good idea of the culprit.

‘Come on,’ Noah said, getting to his feet. He winced again and she felt an icy coldness as she realised that maybe his “trapped nerve” wasn’t a trapped nerve at all. Oh, God! What had he been going through?

Somehow, she had to find out. How could she help him if she didn’t know what had been happening to him?

The main thing, though, right now was to make sure he knew he wasn’t on his own with this any longer.

She took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently, letting him know that no matter what, he had her now, and she would always be on his side.