Second Chances at Samphire Bay (Samphire Bay Village #1)

Chapter 24

Robin banged the door shut, then turned to face Ellie.

‘What exactly are you playing at?’ he asked wearily. He really didn’t have the time, energy or inclination to bother with her. His head was pounding after last night’s birthday bash and the last thing Robin needed right now was Ellie.

She looked at him coquettishly.

‘I just want to talk Robin, that’s all.’

‘About what?’ he demanded.

She fluttered her eyelashes. ‘Us.’

‘Us? There is no us ,’ rasped Robin.

‘But there could be.’

‘Are you for real?’ he replied incredulously.

‘Things didn’t work out for me with—’

‘Yeah, I gathered that,’ Robin cut in harshly. ‘And I’m guessing you thought, I know,’ he put his finger on his chin in mock contemplation, ‘I’ll go back to Robin after all this time and rip him off again!’

Ellie winced slightly, not quite expecting this reaction from Robin. Yes, granted he might be surprised to see her, a little bruised perhaps, but not this outrage and disdain he was showing her. Anger blazed from his eyes. She quickly changed tack – Robin was her last chance. She was homeless and skint; poetic justice really, that her solicitor boyfriend had proved to be even more mercenary than her. After being booted out of his house, he’d cleared their joint account and took everything he’d ever given her, even the jewellery, back.

‘I wanted to talk properly, to apologise, when I first saw you last night,’ she began.

‘You mean when you forced yourself upon me?’ he asked sardonically.

She pouted. ‘I mean before Jack frogmarched me out of the pub.’

‘Well good for him. If I hadn’t been so pissed I’d have done the same.’

Ellie faked hurt, but Robin had seen it all before and was wise to her tactics.

‘And it’s a bit late in the day for apologies, not that I need to hear any. I’m so over you.’ He stared her out.

A flicker of bitterness cast over her face. Evidently, he had moved on from her, she no longer had any pull on him like the old days. This wasn’t going according to plan. Not at all.

‘I suppose this is to do with her next door?’ She tipped her head in the direction of Jasmine’s cottage.

Robin frowned. What did she know about Jasmine? He folded his arms and remained silent.

‘I’ve read all about her in the paper. A real damsel in distress, you might say.’

Robin’s jaw tightened, but she carried on regardless.

‘And who better to be her knight in shining armour?’ she taunted sweetly.

‘Keep Jasmine out of this,’ Robin warned in a low voice.

‘I’ve heard about you skivvying for her, obviously playing the sympathy card, was she?’ Ellie asked with spite.

‘Right, that’s enough, get out.’ Robin opened the door for her to leave.

‘Oh, and by the way, I don’t think she appreciates me being on the scene, not with the way she was skulking outside the pub last night,’ she threw over her shoulder whilst leaving, ‘or the way she’s spying over the hedge right now.’ She gave a nasty laugh and marched off.

Robin watched his ex-girlfriend walk away, bold as brass, not a care in the world, and wondered how on earth he had ever loved her. Her words however did affect him. Ellie mentioning Jasmine being outside The Smugglers last night for one. Why hadn’t she come in and joined them all? And what was that about Jasmine spying over the hedge? Would Ellie’s presence cause that much interest? The sound of the front door opening interrupted his thoughts. Jack had arrived and wandered into the kitchen. They were due to start sanding down the floorboards, but Robin couldn’t summon up any enthusiasm at all.

‘Hi Rob, how’s your head this morning?’ Jack grinned.

‘Bad, and it’s got worse. Ellie’s just called round,’ replied Robin in a dull tone.

Jack performed a double take, which Rob would have found funny in any other circumstance. ‘You what? I don’t believe that woman,’ he snapped.

‘It’s OK, she’s finally got the message.’

‘Good. With a bit of luck, she’ll clear off Samphire Bay and never come back again.’

‘Hmm.’

Jack eyed Robin, who was looking anything but relieved.

‘You all right, mate?’ Surely he wasn’t about to rekindle any feelings for his poisonous ex?

‘It’s what she said.’

‘What?’ Jack brusquely asked, not liking the sound of where this was heading.

‘She said Jasmine was outside the pub last night, skulking.’ Robin turned to Jack. ‘Did you see her?’

‘No.’ He shook his head, then asked, ‘But why stay outside and not come in?’ They exchanged a puzzled look. ‘Unless, she had and saw you and Ellie kissing…’

‘I wasn’t kissing Ellie, she was kissing me !’ yelped Robin.

‘Yes, I know, but from Jasmine’s view at the door, it wouldn’t have looked like that, would it?’ reasoned Jack.

There was a short silence.

‘Of course, this does beg another question,’ continued Jack philosophically.

Robin’s head shot up.

Jack’s eyebrow rose. ‘Was Jasmine jealous?’

Meanwhile Jasmine was back in her studio trying to concentrate. She was at least comforted on seeing Ellie soon pass by the window again. The girl even had the cheek to give her a cheery wave! She’d plainly been aware of her all along and Jasmine assumed she’d probably sussed her out last night too, however engrossed in her phone she had pretended to be. Mindful of the way Samphire Bay operated, Jasmine knew full well how tongues wagged, particularly in the grocery shop with a very nosey shopkeeper. Jasmine pictured Trish telling all to Ellie with relish.

Giving up on work, she decided to seek out that tea shop for Bunty. Quite a few came up on the search, but one stood out from the rest. Of course, The Castle Café. Why hadn’t she thought of that? It was ideal, having lots of space inside and a pleasant courtyard in the Lancaster Castle grounds. There’d be lots going on around them, as there were craft shops in the grounds too, so no awkward silences. Not that she envisaged Bunty and Perry being at a loss for conversation, after all they had a lot to catch up on. She reached for her mobile and rang Bunty.

‘Bunty, it’s me. I’ve got the perfect venue. The Castle Café,’ Jasmine told her.

‘Oh yes, that sounds delightful. I’m sure Perry will know it.’

‘Even if he doesn’t, it’ll be easy to find,’ replied Jasmine.

‘Yes. Oh, I forgot to ask earlier, where were you last night BTW?’

Jasmine smiled at her use of abbreviation and paused before answering.

‘I… didn’t feel too well,’ she lied. It was a visceral reaction she instantly regretted, hating being dishonest with her friend.

‘Oh, darling, why didn’t you say?’

‘I’m fine now, just tired I think,’ she tried to ease Bunty’s concern, feeling guilty for not being honest and causing the woman undue upset.

‘I see,’ replied Bunty in a knowing voice.

‘Did you all have a good time?’ Jasmine tentatively asked.

‘Until an unwelcome visitor showed up.’ Bunty’s tone still held a touch of perceptiveness. Had the wise old dear seen through her?

Jasmine decided to wrap up the conversation. ‘Right… well, better get on.’

‘Bye, Jasmine, and thanks for suggesting a place to meet Perry. I’ll let him know.’

‘Bye, Bunty.’

Jasmine gave a heavy sigh, not entirely certain as to why she felt so wound up.