The Runaway Woman (34 page)

Outside, the wicker tables and chairs made a very welcoming sight.

‘Where shall we sit …?’ Dave paused, looking at Lucy in disbelief. ‘Well, I never! I’ve just run across the beach with a beautiful woman over my shoulder … and I don’t even know your name!’

With the widest, warmest smile, he looked down on her face, held out his hand and said softly, ‘Let’s start again, shall we? I’m Dave … Dave
Benson.’

‘Ah! Well, hello, Dave Benson. I’m very pleased to meet you.’ Lucy held out her hand and introduced herself in a jovial manner. ‘And I am Lucy Lovejoy.’

Dave gave a cheeky wink. ‘Lovejoy, eh? Well, that’s very apt, I must say. Yes … I like that. How do you do, Lucy Lovejoy?’ He shook her hand again. ‘And, may I say, I am very pleased to meet you as well.’

Just then, Lucy noticed that
the people at a nearby table were watching them with interest.

She blushed bright pink. ‘Let’s sit down,’ she told Dave quietly. ‘We’re causing a scene.’

Dave now noticed the couple, and when he smiled at them they got up and left. ‘See! That’s the way to get rid of nosy parkers.’

Lucy laughed, but fearing the couple might overhear her laughter and mistake it for rudeness, she covered her mouth
with the flat of her hand, although tears of laughter sparkled brightly in her eyes.

Dave leaned closer to her. ‘Now then, Lucy Lovejoy, let’s concentrate on the menu, shall we?’

He handed it to her, while putting on a stiff, though pleasant manner. ‘May I ask, what would you like from the menu, madam? I can heartily recommend the chocolate ice cream topped with nuts and choc flakes. Or if you
prefer, how about a dish of fruit topped with strawberry ice cream? But if you’re really hungry, we do a wonderful cheese and bacon on toast.’

Trying hard not to giggle, and feeling just a bit embarrassed, Lucy played along. ‘Oh, now let me see … oh, yes. I think I would like a portion of … mmm … yes! The chocolate ice cream, please, with choc flakes and nuts on top. Oh! And could I also have
a wafer, please?’

‘Of course, madam. Thank you.’

Smiling broadly, Dave spoke in a soft, suitably officious manner. ‘One chocolate ice cream, topped with nuts and choc flakes, and a wafer on the side. And would madam like a drink of sorts?’

‘Yes, please, I would love a ginger beer … if you don’t mind. Thank you.’

Lucy played the game until Dave gave a very waiter-like bow from the waist. ‘Ooh!’
He made a pained face. ‘Sorry, madam … only I just felt the most uncomfortabe twinge. Anyone would think I’d been carrying a very heavy weight over my shoulder.’

‘Hey! Are you saying it’s my fault if you’ve got a twinge? I didn’t ask you to throw me over your shoulder like a caveman. That was your idea.’

Dave looked shocked as he told her stiffly, ‘Maybe it was, madam. But I must say … you certainly
seemed to enjoy the experience!’

He then departed in a mock-huff, taking the order, written on a piece of scrap paper that he found in his trouser pocket.

Behind him, Lucy again had to put her hand over her mouth to smother her giggles.

What am I doing here? she asked herself. I’ve been carried off by a madman!

Even so, she had not felt so free and happy in a very long time.

For a fleeting
moment she gazed up at the skies. Then she looked along the beach, and in her mind’s eye she saw her parents, right there.

One minute they were strolling hand in hand along the beach, and the next they had spread big, white towels on the sand. Then they sat down together and lovingly watched, as she and Paula made wobbly sand castles by their feet. In the unfolding memories, her parents seemed
impossibly young, and so very much in love – laughing together and holding hands, just as she had seen them many times as a child.

Since losing them, she had often closed her eyes and thought of them, and inevitably she had shed tears. Now though, as they invaded her senses, so wonderfully happy together, she could not feel sad. Instead, she felt blessed. And so very grateful to have known and
loved them; those two, very special, unforgettable people.

In that precious moment, as she was thinking of them, she knew that somehow, they too were thinking of her. Suddenly, something inside her had changed. ‘They really are here,’ she murmured. ‘They want to show me how they are now together, for always.’

For some wondrous, inexplicable reason, Lucy believed it was true, as sure as day followed
night, and she felt calmer, and very much stronger in herself. In that uplifting moment of acceptance, it was as though part of the weight and sadness was lifted from her. It was a disturbing, yet oddly reassuring experience.

Even so, she was still frighteningly uncertain as to where life might take her from here.

On returning, Dave noticed that she was in a quieter mood. ‘I haven’t upset you,
have I?’ he asked. ‘I hope I haven’t embarrassed you.’

‘No!’ Lucy assured him emphatically. ‘You haven’t done anything wrong. To tell you the truth, I haven’t had such fun in ages.’ She wagged a finger at him. ‘You really are a bad influence, Mr Dave Benson!’

He smiled graciously, and a moment later, having placed the ice creams on the table, he gently leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
‘Thank you for making me feel special again,’ he whispered.

Lucy blushed, and thought it best not to say anything, though she felt a warm glow of acceptance. And when he held her gaze for too long a moment, her heart gave the merriest little skip.

They ate their ice creams and chatted about things in general, such as the pleasantness of the hotel, and Lucy said it was lovely being so close to
the harbour and the beach. And Dave agreed, and then he bought them each another drink, and Lucy said it was so peaceful here, she wished she could stay for ever.

What they did not discuss was how they were drawn to each other, and how one seemed to bring out the best and craziest in the other. Yet Lucy dared not dwell on her deeper feelings for this stranger – such dark feelings, strictly forbidden
– and rightly so.

When Lucy fell silent, Dave quietly studied her face. He thought she was the loveliest person, inside and out. ‘Penny for your thoughts,’ he asked softly.

Lucy looked up. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. I was miles away.’

‘Yes, I could see that.’

‘I was just thinking … about things in general.’

‘Lucy?’

‘Yes?’

‘I hope you didn’t mind me confiding in you … about the car accident and everything?’

‘No! Not at all. After what you’ve been through, you must need someone to listen.’

‘You’re very kind, but it won’t happen again, I can assure you. Like Nancy said, there comes a time to move on and leave the sadness behind. No good can ever come from dwelling in the past.’

Lucy suddenly felt very lonely. ‘Dave?’

‘Yes, Lucy?’ He gave a cheeky smile. ‘Am I about to be chastised?’

‘No! I need
to get back and wash off the sand. It’s got between my toes. It would be nice, though, to walk back along the beach?’

‘Sure! On the way I need to dip my toes into the sea.’

‘Can I ask why?’

‘Because I haven’t dipped my toe in the sea, not since I was a little boy.’

‘OK! Fine by me.’

Some few minutes later, after Dave had insisted on settling the bill, the two of them set off, clutching their
shoes.

As agreed, they walked along the beach, and very soon Dave led Lucy right down to the water’s edge.

He was the first to venture into the water. ‘Brr!’ He gave a little shiver. Having rolled up his trouser legs, he walked right out, with the water lapping at his ankles. ‘It’s not as warm as I thought. Come on, Lucy Lovejoy. It’s invigorating. Be brave.’

Tiptoeing across the crunchy sand,
Lucy nervously dipped one of her feet into the playful waves. ‘Whoo!’ She jumped back. ‘You lied! It’s freezing.’ Even so, she was eventually standing beside him, with both feet in the water. ‘You’re right,’ she acknowledged, ‘it
is
“invigorating”.’

The two of them were like children, swishing their toes and running along the water’s edge, until they were opposite the hotel where, oddly silent,
they set about wiping their feet with two handkerchiefs found in the bottom of Lucy’s bag.

When they were virtually dry and feeling more comfortable, they put on their shoes, also in silence.

In stark contrast to when Dave had Lucy over his shoulder, and they had laughed and screeched as they ran down the beach, they now strolled along the stone walkway, deep in thought, although, much to Lucy’s
surprise, Dave very tenderly took hold of her hand as they crossed the road.

She made no protest because what was there to protest about?

At the hotel entrance, Dave brought her to a halt.

‘Can we see each other again later?’ he asked softly.

‘That would be lovely,’ Lucy told him shyly.

‘Good.’ His smile was unusually intimate; a smile that set Lucy’s heart racing.

‘The problem is, I need
to wash and change, and then it’s quickly off to my first meeting. I suspect that could run on a bit. Then it’s straight on to the next and most important meeting of the day.’

Lucy was disappointed. ‘Don’t worry if you’re too busy,’ she said regretfully. ‘Your work must come first.’

‘Oh, no! I definitely mean to see you tonight – if that’s all right with you? But I don’t think I’ll surface until
quite late. So, I was wondering, how about I take you to dinner this evening?’

Lucy was thrilled. She had never in her whole life been formally invited to ‘dinner’. ‘Oh, that sounds wonderful!’ she said. ‘But only if it doesn’t put you out, because you’re bound to be tired after your heavy day.’

Dave shook his head. ‘I would never be too tired to take you out.’

Blushing once more, Lucy said
she would look forward to it, and then she wished him well. ‘I hope you can swing the deal – for Nancy’s sake,’ she said with genuine feeling.

‘Thank you, Lucy,’ Dave replied. ‘It won’t be easy, but you can bet I’ll do my damnedest! There is still a way to go, though, before we get right down to the nitty-gritty. These people are good. They know what they want and they don’t easily back down.’

‘They might be good, but not as good as you, I’ll bet!’ Lucy assured him.

He laughed softly. ‘Well, thank you, and I’ll tell you something else.’

‘What’s that, then?’

‘I think that beneath Lucy Lovejoy’s soft and lovely exterior, there’s a feisty, ambitious woman waiting to get out. Am I right?’

‘Of course! And don’t you forget it!’ she warned with a cheeky smile.

It occurred to her that
the more confidence he instilled in her, the more she believed she could tackle anything.

In the hotel foyer, Lucy apologised for having to hurry away, but, ‘I really do need a hot bath.’

‘Need any help?’ he asked with a cheeky grin.

Softly blushing, she gave a genuine tut-tut. ‘I thought you were a gentleman!’

‘Shame on me!’ he teased. ‘Don’t forget we’re meeting up for dinner.’

‘Oh, I won’t
forget.’ She was so excited at the idea of a gentleman taking her to dinner, she could hardly breathe. ‘I’m really looking forward to it … as long as you don’t want to run across the beach with me on your shoulder.’

‘I wouldn’t mind,’ he quipped. ‘Somehow, though, I reckon I’ve done my Tarzan thing for today. Unless you’d prefer to find a fancy restaurant somewhere close, we could have dinner
here. I understand the menu offers much more than ice cream with nuts and choc flakes. So, Lucy … what do you say?’

‘Well, if it’s all right with you, I’d rather stay in the hotel. I’m not used to fancy restaurants.’ In truth, she had never even set foot in one.

‘That’s settled then!’ Lucy’s decision pleased him. ‘I took a quick peek into the restaurant earlier while I was waiting for the receptionist
to deal with another guest, and I thought it looked very pleasant. Moreover, we won’t even have to get our feet wet.’

His casual comment made Lucy think back over the past few hours, and her heart was warmed by the memory. ‘So, what time shall we meet,’ she asked ‘and where?’ She was starting to feel nervous.

‘There is just one thing, Lucy. I’m really worried about tonight.’

‘Why?’

‘Because
the lady I am taking to dinner has a bad habit of running away, just when you think you’re getting to know her.’

‘Oh, no! I won’t do that … I promise.’

‘That’s good enough for me, then. So, I’ll book a table for what … nine thirty? That’ll give me time to get back, have a quick bath and change, then make my way down to meet you at … say nine-fifteen. All right?’

‘OK, yes. I’ll be here waiting
… and I’m not planning on running anywhere.’

‘Good!’ He touched her gently on the hand. ‘We could be up till the early hours. Does that worry you?’

‘Why should it worry me?’

He lowered his voice. ‘Well, now, let me see …’ He took a long look at her, and when she looked up with those nutmeg-brown eyes, he was taken aback, and for a moment he lost his train of thought.

Amused, Lucy jogged his
memory. ‘Excuse me, you were about to tell me why we might be up until the early hours?’

‘Oh, yes! First, I think we have so much more we need to say to each other, and secondly, I was half hoping I might be able to lure you to take a stroll under the stars.’

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he held her there. ‘For now, I’d best make tracks, or they’ll have a head start on me, and that would
not be good for my purpose.’

‘You forgot to say where we should meet?’ Lucy reminded him.

‘Ah, yes! Down here in the lobby. I’ll book the table now.’

‘I’ll be ready,’ Lucy promised.

Suddenly, almost without her meaning to, she went up on her tiptoes and kissed him very swiftly on the cheek. ‘Thank you.’ The last time she had enjoyed herself so much was when the children were small.

Before
he could recover from the tender and much appreciated surprise, Lucy was gone, pink-faced and embarrassed, leaving him tenderly stroking his face where she had kissed it.

For the longest moment, he stood there, his gaze resting on the place from where she had got into the lift. ‘Lucy Lovejoy …’ He thought back on the wonderful time they had just spent together. ‘You’re like a welcome breath of
fresh air,’ he murmured.