Spring at Lavender Bay: A delightfully uplifting holiday romance for 2018!. Sarah Bennett

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СКАЧАТЬ back in charge. Sam couldn’t see it happening, but his mum had begged him to patient, to give Paul time to adjust to the new reality of things. She knew Sam couldn’t stay forever, had promised they’d find a long-term solution for the pub soon. He had worked too hard on his training to be willing to settle for making pub grub for the rest of his days. Just a few more months, six at most, and then he could get his life back on track.

      A burst of laughter came from Pops’ table and Sam glanced over to spot Libby leaning against his grandad’s shoulder, laughing at some no doubt unsuitable comment from him. With her peacock hair and a heart the size of a lion’s, it was easy for people to gloss over what Libby had endured in her short life. Unlike the rest of them, she’d never had a chance to explore life beyond the bay and he found himself wondering what regrets she might harbour beneath her bold façade.

      Catching him staring at her, Libby jammed her hands on her hips. ‘What?’

      With a grin at the challenge in her tone, he crossed the bar to ruffle his hand through the bright strands of her hair, a gesture she claimed to hate, but always let him get away with. The spiky mop stood up in all directions after his ministrations. ‘You look like a bloody parrot.’

      ‘Cheeky sod.’ She poked her tongue out. ‘Did you come over here for something other than to bother me?’

      ‘Have you seen Beth?’

      Libby shook her head. ‘She went to make a call.’ Standing on tiptoe she glanced over his shoulder as though expecting to see her. ‘Isn’t she back yet? Let me go and find her.’

      Placing a hand on her arm to restrain her, Sam shook his head. ‘I’ll do it. Can you do me a favour and see if you can get Pops moving? I’ll be back in a minute to walk him back.’

      A familiar speculation glittered in her eyes. ‘I’ll look after Pops. You see to Beth.’

      ‘Libby…’ It was his turn to offer a warning. Really, she just needed to give it a rest.

      With an unrepentant grin, she turned towards the table and gave Pops a nudge. ‘Come on, it’s your lucky night, I’m walking you home.’

      Grumbling, Pops got to his feet. ‘I don’t need a bloody babysitter, girl.’

      ‘Oh, hush. We can raid the ice cream fridge at Dad’s on the way back.’ Libby reached behind Pops to help him with his coat.

      Trust Libby to have an ace up her sleeve. Pop’s eyes lit with anticipation. ‘Any Magnums?’

      She hooked her arm through his and Sam stepped forward to open the door for them. ‘Almond, or Double Caramel?’ Sending Sam a wink, Libby waited for Pops to negotiate the large step down onto the promenade.

      Leaning out, Sam watched them totter up the street, their conversation drifting back to him on a cold breeze.

      ‘You know the way to a man’s heart, girl. How come some young fella hasn’t snapped you up?’

      ‘No one wants me, Pops. I’m too much trouble.’

      ‘Bah, if I was fifty years younger, I’d snap you up. Lads today, don’t know they’re born.’ With a shake of his head, Sam ducked back inside; Pops could charm the birds from the trees.

      His mission to find Beth proved unnecessary. In the few moments he’d been outside, she’d reappeared in the bar and been collared by Walter Symonds, a local solicitor. He wasn’t a frequent customer at The Siren, but Sam knew his parents used him for business matters, and for the power of attorney agreement they’d set up when Pops moved into Baycrest, the retirement home at the top of the promenade. There’d been an almighty row about it, mostly caused by his grandad’s pride, but having encountered the realities of another resident with dementia, he’d soon changed his mind.

      Whatever Walter had to say to Beth had left her nonplussed, going by the pensive expression she cast at his retreating back. Sam stepped to one side as the solicitor approached the door. ‘Please pass my compliments to your mother, Samuel. Annie’s done the community proud today.’

      ‘I will, thank you. Have a good evening.’ Sam crossed quickly to Beth’s side. ‘What did he want? He hasn’t upset you, has he?’

      Beth raised a hand to rub one side of her face. ‘Mr Symonds? He’s asked me to call and see him tomorrow. I told him I don’t have the final costs together for the arrangements, but he said it’s not about that.’ She shrugged. ‘He was a bit cryptic, to be honest. At least he’s agreed to open the office early, I need to head back to London first thing. I’ve promised I’ll be in the office by lunchtime.’

      So soon? She looked dead on her feet. She hadn’t stopped since arriving back in the bay. Surely a day or two more wouldn’t do any harm? ‘You’re on annual leave, for God’s sake! What’s so bloody important that you have to drop everything and rush back?’ His concern added a harder edge to his voice than he’d intended, and he regretted the outburst the second he saw her stricken expression. ‘I’m sorry, the last thing you need is me adding to the stress of your day.’ He touched the back of her hand. ‘I’ll leave you in peace, give us a shout if there’s anything you need.’

      Her fingers closed around his for a second before her hand fell away. ‘I’m…I’m so tired.’ The words were barely a whisper, more an aside to herself than anything directed at him. She inched up the next couple of steps. ‘I’ve got a busy day tomorrow, so I’m going to turn in. Thanks for your help today.’ Turning on her heel, she hurried up the rest of the flight.

      Someone needed to take care of her. With Eleanor gone, they’d all have to pitch in to make sure Beth understood she didn’t have to cope with everything by herself.

Chapter Three

      ‘I’m sorry, can you say that again?’ The walls of Mr Symonds’ office seemed to close in around her, and Beth tightened her grip on the bag in her lap.

      The solicitor peered at her over the rims of his glasses. ‘Miss Bishop has left everything to you, Beth. The shop, the flat above and all its contents, the contents of her savings and bank accounts. Everything.’

      ‘But, why me? Surely there are some relations somewhere who are her proper heirs.’ She knew Eleanor had been an only child—something they’d shared in common—but she was sure there’d been mention of some distant cousins…

      ‘No one she’d had any contact with in a considerable period of time. Miss Bishop was of sound mind when she drew up her will, my dear, I can assure you it’s all entirely legal and above board. She put all her affairs in order last year.’ Mr Symonds removed the tortoiseshell framed glasses perched on the end of his nose and placed them on the blotter in front of him. ‘I assumed it was something she might have mentioned to you, given the closeness between the two of you. I didn’t mean to shock you like this.’

      Assuming his request to meet had been to deal with a few formalities and she’d be in and out, Beth had turned down Eliza’s offer to accompany her. A decision she regretted now. She tried to swallow away the lump in her throat. ‘We hadn’t spoken much lately. Things have been very busy, and I wasn’t aware she’d been unwell.’ When the doctor had talked her through the events leading up to Eleanor’s death, he’d mentioned her suffering from angina—something her old friend had singularly failed to mention to her. Whenever she’d asked after her health, СКАЧАТЬ