FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA (7 page)

“I won’t be able teach until this season is virtually over. Mai isn’t qualified. Besides, she has the catering side to deal with. Polly won’t be here. The problem is we don’t have a sailing instructor.”

There was a short silence before Cassie spoke.

“We’ll just have to hire someone for a few weeks until you’re back on your feet again.”

“There’s not enough money in the kitty to do that for very long,” Tom pointed out. “The renovation and fitting out has taken more than we expected and now there’s the extra work the Health and Safety want for the new licence.”

“There is another solution,” Tom said slowly.

“You taught Polly and me to sail. You could do it until I’m out of this thing.” He thumped the arms of his wheelchair.

“That was different,” Cassie protested. “I haven’t sailed a dinghy for years.”

“You still have an RYA teaching qualification.”

He was looking directly at her, and Cassie had to take a deep breath. This was the very last thing she wanted to do…

Chapter Five

Cassie went up to her room after supper, Tom’s words ringing in her ears.

“You can do it, Mum. You know you can.”

But she had no intention of teaching sailing – even for a couple of weeks. They’d just have to sort something else out.

Upstairs Cassie switched on the radio and lay down on the bed, hands behind her head. She needed some time on her own, to think about what her father had said in the launch on the way home.

It was true. Twenty years of her life had gone by - not without her noticing, but certainly without her playing a leading part in it.

To the outside world she assumed she’d appeared whole. Tom and Polly’s mum, indistinguishable from their friends’ mothers, getting on with her life. But inwardly she’d never emerged from the lethargy she’d allowed to creep over her the day Miles was reported missing.

At first, it had been easier to live in the past with her memories and exist through the children, rather than get out and create a new life for herself. After a few years it had become an ingrained habit she seemed incapable of changing.

She reached over and picked up the silver-framed photograph from her bedside table and studied the young couple who smiled out at her.

The colours of this last photograph of herself and Miles were fading. Like her, the image was beginning to show its age.

Miles though had never grown old.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Yes?”

“It’s Anna. May I come in?”

“Of course.”

“Are you alright?” Anna asked. “It’s not like you to hide away in your room.”

“I needed some time to think. I’ve issues to sort out. It was something Dad said actually. He reckons it’s about time I started to get a life of my own.”

She sat back down on the bed and looked at her friend.

“D’you think the same?”

Anna nodded.

“I think you’ve missed out on a lot of things you could have done - would have done if things had been different. I’ve only been a widow for five years, but I know how hard it is to come to terms with it.”

“Do you still miss Harry?”

Anna smiled ruefully.

“Yes, of course. It’s no easier being on your own after twenty-five years of marriage than it is after seven. But life goes on and I think moving away from the farm will be good for me. Have you ever thought about moving away?”

Cassie shook her head. “No. Where on earth would I go? All my family and friends are here.” She sighed.

“I’ll have to try make my new start on home ground.”

“I hope you mean it, Cassie. You’ve hidden away from the world for far too long.”

Cassie stood up and straightened the bedspread.

“So, how was your day?” she asked Anna. “Did you like either of the houses? And how did your meal with James go?”

“The one in Castle Gardens is nice but too small. As for the house in town, I’m really tempted. Will you come and see it with me and give me your honest opinion?”

“Of course.How about tomorrow?”

“Great. We’ll take my car and I’ll treat us to lunch,” Anna said.

“So how was The Riverside tonight? Did you enjoy your meal?” Cassie asked again.

“James took me to The Seafarers.”

“Gosh that was pushing the boat out a bit!” Cassie looked surprised.

“I got the feeling I wasn’t the one he really wanted to treat. He spent most of the evening talking about you, how nice you are and how he regrets upsetting you.”

“I meant to phone him and apologise for my outburst,” Cassie said. “It wasn’t his fault at all. It was me over reacting.”

“Well he should be home by now. Why don’t you phone him? I’m sure he’d be only too pleased to be a part of your new start.” Anna laughed as she said it but her eyes were serious as she looked at Cassie.

James was home when she phoned a few minutes later and was pleased to hear from her, as Anna had predicted.

“I’m sorry I was so rude James.” Cassie got straight to the point. “I don’t normally snap at people. Please forgive me.”

“Consider yourself forgiven. I realise you’re under a lot of strain right now.” There was a short pause before he went on. “Would you like to have dinner with me Saturday evening?”

“That would be nice, thank you. There’s something I’d like to ask you then as well.”

“Ask me now.”

“No. It’ll keep. I’ll see you Saturday.”

As Cassie replaced the receiver she wondered whether her question for James would in fact keep. Or whether she would have changed her mind by Saturday and lost her nerve.

It was raining hard the next morning as Cassie and Anna prepared to leave for town. Cassie nearly suggested putting their outing off but Anna was so keen to show her the house that she didn’t have the heart to even suggest it.

Polly sent an e-mail just before they left which they read over Tom’s shoulder.

“My first night on
Clotted Cream
was wonderful. The self-steering is working a dream. Weather so far good, but there is a depression forecast. Hopefully I’ll be able to skirt around the edge of it. Turning for home about mid-day. See you all sometime tomorrow morning. Love Polly. P.S. Any chance of a curry for dinner tomorrow Mum?”


“If you’re e-mailing or speaking to her, tell her yes,” Cassie said, adding the ingredients to her shopping list.

“Right, we’re off to brave the rain. We’ll drop these brochures off to Rufus as we go past reception. See you later.”

Cassie and Anna ran into the Marina Reception Office both clutching a box of barge brochures. Rufus was talking to a large man dressed in expensive wet weather gear.

“Cassie, Anna, meet Doug Hampshire. He’s berthing his yacht down on Pontoon E for the next year.”

As Pontoon E was reserved for the largest, most expensive boats Cassie reckoned Doug must be the wealthy client Rufus had been so keen to sign up.

She smiled at Doug as he took her hand in a firm grip.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said. “I’m having an ‘Open Boat’ for a couple of hours on Sunday, as an opportunity to meet some locals. I hope you’ll both come? About 6.30. You’ll pass the word around Rufus?”

Thanking Doug, Cassie and Anna made a dash for the car.

“Nice man,” Anna said. “Wonder what his wife’s like?”

Cassie shrugged, but there was a warmth in his eyes that made her think she must be a lucky woman.

Once in town, Anna collected the key from the estate agent and took Cassie to see Glebe House.

Situated down a lane off one of the main streets, Cassie saw immediately why it appealed to Anna.

Built at the turn of the 19
^th
century it stood squarely in what had once clearly been an orchard, and through the rain Cassie could see several gnarled apple trees dotted around the large garden.

A high red-brick wall around the entire perimeter of the property encased it in perfect solitude from its neighbours, creating a little bit of countryside in the heart of town.

Once they were inside, Cassie turned to Anna.

“I can see you living here. It’s got such a wonderful feel about it - even on a day like today.”

The next hour flew by as they wandered from room to room, discussing the best way to redesign and decorate the house.    

They finished the tour of inspection in the kitchen. “The only thing I must have in here apart from the Aga is a dresser,” Anna declared.

“The only thing I must have right now is lunch!” Cassie said. “I’m starving.”

“Come on then. Let’s get the key back. Shall I make an offer d’you think?” Anna asked seriously.

“You’d be mad not to,” Cassie said.

Anna, as promised, treated them to lunch in the old coaching inn on the embankment. Before leaving town they did some shopping and then drove slowly home in the rain that was still pouring down.

As they drove into the yard Cassie was surprised to see Dexter’s sports car parked in front of the house.

“Lovely to see you Dexter,” she said. “Tom didn’t say you were coming. Are you staying?”

“It was a spur of the moment thing. And, yes, please if you can put up with me for a couple of days. I’m on my way down to Plymouth but I don’t have to be there for a couple of days.”

Supper that evening was a jolly affair. Tom was pleased to see his old friend and as they all gathered around the table, he and Dexter were soon deep in reminiscences about the times they’d sailed together and the races they’d won. 

Because Tom was hemmed in and unable to move quickly, it was Dexter who got up to answer the satellite phone when Polly called.

“No problems to report? Good. So we’ll see you tomorrow about mid-day? D’you want to talk to Cassie? Tom? OK I’ll give everyone your love. Take care out there,” he said.

“Everything is fine.” He turned to Cassie. “She’s planning on having something to eat then getting some sleep so she’ll be awake and ready to tackle the busiest part of the channel tomorrow. Sends her love to everyone.”

The next morning Cassie and Dexter were down on the landing pontoon as Polly motored up river. They both gave her a hand securing
Clotted Cream
alongside.

Within minutes the shore crew from Rule of Thumb Technology were on board checking out all the electronics and plans were made to begin loading provisions that afternoon.

“Did you have much trouble trimming the boat?” Dexter asked, looking at Polly’s slight frame and remembering how difficult it had been for him to balance the last boat he’d raced properly.

Polly shook her head.

“Not really. The only problem is, with the wind continually changing direction you know that you’ll be shifting it all back again within a few hours. Hopefully during the race itself the wind will be more consistent.”

“Probably be much stronger too,” was Dexter’s only comment as he picked up Polly’s sail-bag ready to go ashore.

That afternoon Polly and Dexter loaded and packed provisions into
Clotted Cream’s
hold with an easy familiarity. As they walked tiredly back to the house Polly turned to Dexter.

“Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it.”

Dexter glanced at her before replying.

“I gather from Tom that your boyfriend is worried about you doing this trip?”

Polly shrugged.

“Mum’s worried too. But she hasn’t said I shouldn’t.”

“And he has?”

Polly just pulled a face and didn’t answer.

“Are you and he engaged?” he persisted.

“No.” Polly shook her head. She didn’t feel the need to tell Dexter about the ring box hidden in her drawer - or about the doubts she was having over her feelings for Sebastian.

She’d enough to think about right now.

The next twenty-four hours were busy ones. Everybody in the boatyard and marina was roped in to help with all the preparations necessary to get Polly and
Clotted Cream
ready for their big adventure.

As Cassie told James over dinner at The Seafarers on Saturday evening, she found it hard to believe how quickly the race date was approaching - and how much work was involved.

“Honestly James there are far more regulations these days compared with twenty years ago. And the amount of paperwork is unbelievable.”

“A lot more people are involved, I suppose,” James said. “Like everything else, it’s big business these days too.” He glanced at her.

“How did Polly cope with her sea trials?
Clotted Cream’s
a big boat to manage single-handed.”

“Fine. Polly is very determined. She feels if Ellen MacArthur can race Open 60s, so can she!”

They were eating dessert when James turned the conversation.

“Well Cassie what was the question you wanted to ask me?”

Cassie put her spoon down and took a deep breath.

“You once asked me to go sailing with you.”

James nodded.

“Yes, I remember. The invitation still stands.”

“In that case, will you please take me sailing as soon as possible?” There, the words were spoken.

“Of course. Monday afternoon OK?”

“Thank you.” Cassie smiled.

“Can I ask what brought on the change of mind?”

Cassie was reluctant to tell him the truth – that she had some ghosts to lay. She didn’t want him to think she was using him.

“Oh, I just wanted to find out if I still remembered how to do it after all this time,” she said instead.

To her ears the reason seemed shallow, but James appeared to accept it.

“I don’t think you ever forget,” he said simply, placing his hand over hers in a comforting gesture that felt to Cassie suddenly too intimate.

To her relief, an attentive waiter appeared with the offer of coffee and she was able to reclaim her hand without undue fuss. As much as she liked James she wasn’t ready for any complications in their relationship.

“My social life suddenly seems to be taking off,” she said brightly.

“I haven’t been so busy in years. Here I am tonight with you, we’re going sailing next week and tomorrow it’s the ‘open boat’ party. Are you going?”

“Yes. Not really my sort of thing but I have to make an appearance. Doug Hampshire seems nice enough.”