Everyone laughed.

  ‘We are holding a surprise birthday gathering – an afternoon at The Lakehouse. It’s also the River Festival and the magnificent firework display will end the night perfectly.’

  ‘Or with a bang, you mean,’ joked Julia.

  Isla leaned forwards, looked behind her and lowered her voice. ‘And this is top secret.’ She looked between the two of them. ‘No one is to breathe a word.’

  Both Julia and Bea automatically put up the three-finger salute. ‘Scout’s honour,’ they both whispered.

  ‘Were you in the scouts?’ asked Bea, looking towards Julia.

  She shook her head. ‘No, were you?’

  Bea shook her head too, laughing. ‘No, never.’

  ‘As I was saying… My mum is coming back from New Zealand for the occasion!’

  ‘Woah!’ exclaimed Julia. ‘That is going to be a tearful reunion. How many years has it been?’

  ‘Too many to count.’ Isla handed Julia an invitation. ‘For you and Flynn, and that’s the second reason I’m here.’

  ‘Flynn?’ replied Julia.

  ‘The Little Blue Boathouse. I believe Wilbur has finally retired and Flynn is looking for help over the summer. He said you have some posters advertising the vacancy that we could put up around the village? I can pin one up in the farm shop.’

  ‘Perfect. Thank you.’ Julia pulled open the drawer of the filing cabinet behind the reception desk and took out a couple of flyers. ‘The summer is the busiest time for the Boathouse and with the River Festival fast approaching the boats will soon start to sail in.’

  ‘River Festival?’ chipped in Bea, listening to the conversation. ‘And what exactly is The Little Blue Boathouse? It sounds absolutely divine.’

  ‘The River Festival is like a mini festival on the water. Yachts and vintage houseboats sail into the harbour from far and wide. The most amazing firework display sets the sky alight to music and there’s numerous stalls on the banks of the River Heart,’ explained Isla.

  ‘It’s an amazing sight, a mini St Tropez,’ added Julia, ‘and The Little Blue Boathouse is owned by my partner, Flynn. His father, Wilbur, was in charge but has finally agreed to take well-deserved retirement … with a little bit of persuasion. It’s the hub of all water sports for the tourists – wetsuit hire, kayaking, paddleboarding, rowing boats, et cetera. It’s a massive hit with the locals too. There’s also the river taxis, which provide excursions and a direct taxi to The Lakehouse.’

  ‘I’ve heard of The Lakehouse. The famous celebrity restaurant.’ Bea had stumbled across it on social media.

  ‘The very one,’ replied Julia, handing over the flyers to Isla. ‘No real experience is necessary, just good people skills and the willingness to work their backside off for the summer.’

  Hearing those words, the cogs quickly turned over in Bea’s mind. ‘Could I possibly take a look at one of those?’ She gestured towards the flyers.

  Isla handed one over whilst Julia chatted away. ‘I’m going to have to leave Eleni in charge of this place for the next couple of weeks whilst I try and help Flynn find the perfect candidate.’

  ‘But surely this is your busiest time with the tourists and the summer holidays?’ probed Isla.

  ‘It is, but with the River Festival, that water will be packed, especially in this gorgeous weather. It can’t afford to stay shut and lose income.’

  Bea suddenly felt a wave of excitement. ‘I could help! I know I’ve only just arrived and I really don’t want to put anyone on the spot but…’ Bea glanced between the pair of them. Their eyes were on her.

  ‘What are you suggesting?’ asked Julia.

  Bea placed both hands on her chest. ‘I could do it,’ she enthused, knowing this could be exactly what she needed to throw herself into in order to get over her current situation. A busy couple of weeks would be perfect for helping her take her mind off things.

  ‘We can’t ask that of you, you’re here for a holiday,’ declared Julia, reaching across and touching her arm. ‘But thank you, that is such a kind offer.’ She smiled warmly at Bea.

  ‘A two-week working holiday may be just what I need though. What if I say you would be doing me a favour as much as I would be doing you one? If I’m being honest, it will keep me occupied. Otherwise, I may be left sitting around, wallowing and thinking about the reason I’m here.’

  Isla looked puzzled. ‘What have I missed?’

  ‘Heartbreak,’ replied Bea. ‘A cheating fiancé. In fact, I should say ex-fiancé. I’ve just tossed the ring in the river.’

  ‘You haven’t,’ exclaimed Isla, giving a tiny gasp.

  ‘I have, and I was planning on taking this time to work out what to do with my life and where I go from here. I’m good with money and I have customer service skills as I’ve worked in a supermarket since leaving school.’

  Bea realised the second she’d said those words that she felt a little disappointed in herself. Why had she settled in a job that didn’t excite her? She was once ambitious, made plans to travel and work abroad. There was a time she’d wanted to stretch her wings from the town she’d been brought up in, but Carl had squashed any ambition in her, always telling her she didn’t really want to do that, and a nice steady reliable income was what they needed. The supermarket had been within walking distance of their rented home and came with the bonus of a hefty discount on food and alcohol. Bea had worked long night shifts. It was very rare that she saw much of the day.

  ‘And your grandmother did say one day my ship will come in. Maybe this is a sign. I’m destined to find love on the water,’ joked Bea, who had no intention of going near a man anytime soon, unless Harry Styles fell across her path and declared his undying love for her, of course. He was the only exception to the rule and, realistically, Bea knew she had more chance of winning the lottery.

  Still pleading her case, she continued, ‘Honestly, I’m a hard worker. Maybe I could do a trial shift for free?’ Bea put her hands together in a prayer-like pose. ‘Please, give me a chance.’

  Isla nodded towards Julia. ‘What have you got to lose?’

  Julia thought for a moment. ‘Are you sure? I really would feel bad putting you out.’

  Bea held both hands up and crossed her fingers. ‘Absolutely sure!’

  ‘Okay, a free trial it is and I won’t be offended if you change your mind.’

  Bea clapped her hands. ‘I don’t think there’s much chance of that. This is just what I need.’

  ‘But take the next day to settle in and go and do some exploring. The Little Blue Boathouse is open from 9am to 6pm but has extended hours on Saturday evening. It also closes for an hour over lunchtime.’

  ‘Perfect, that’s no problem at all.’

  ‘And it comes with a room above. It’s tiny though, and basic. It’s essentially just a bed with a small bathroom and cooking facilities, but there’s a comfy chair by the window, taking in a view that spans for miles.’

  Bea couldn’t think of anything better than waking up to a view of the river for the next two weeks. She could already picture herself sitting in the chair, curled up with a good book whilst watching the river flow by. A huge beam spread across her face. ‘I’m going to just love the next couple of weeks, I can feel it in my bones.’

  ‘You may change your mind when you see the place – and I need to warn you it will only be minimum wage, and cash in hand if it’s just for two weeks.’

  ‘That works for me.’ She held out her hand towards Julia and they shook on it wholeheartedly. Bea wasn’t doing it for the money – this was going to be a brilliant distraction whilst she worked out her plan of action.

  ‘Welcome to Heartcross! You’ve arrived at just the right time.’

  Isla leaned on the counter and whispered, ‘There is something I do have to warn you about, though.’

  Bea’s eyes widened. ‘Go on.’

  ‘The Heartcross curse.’

  Bea noticed that Julia was chuckling.

  ‘Once you arrive in Heartcross, you never leave!’ Isla said sagely.

  This was the second time today that Bea had heard that, and she was beginning to wonder if there was any truth in it. She gave a nervous but excited laugh.

  ‘Maybe Heartcross is just the place to heal my broken heart.’

  Julia and Isla gave her a knowing look before Bea held out her hand and took the room key from Julia.

  She was going to embrace the next two weeks with everything she had. She was beginning to wonder if uprooting her life for good was indeed a possibility.

  Chapter Three

  After Julia had given Bea directions towards her room, she walked through reception and down a winding hallway. She stopped and admired the walls, which displayed intricate artwork. The whole place had such a good feel about it. At the end of the hall were small steps leading to a cosy reading corner where a pew, arrayed with soft cushions, overlooked the gardens. She passed the communal sitting room and made her way up another small flight of stairs. Bedroom two was straight in front of her.

  It was a simple, rustic room featuring a beautiful four-poster bed, which stood out against the white walls with their minimal decoration. A goose-down duvet with Egyptian cotton linen added elegance and charm, and the bed was dressed with dusky pink scatter cushions. She placed her suitcase on the luggage rack and peered out of the open window at acres of lush grasslands, and the proud beauty of the mountains in the distance. As much as the B&B felt warm and cosy and was perfect for her stay, Bea was keen to check out the room above The Little Blue Boathouse.

  Feeling exhausted after the long drive, she kicked off her trainers and lay down on the bed. Her thoughts immediately turned to Carl and the relationship she’d thought they’d had. Throughout her late teens, he’d convinced her their future was filled only with loveliness, which was a promise he hadn’t kept. She’d given him a second chance years ago, after discovering his relationship with Philippa, a family friend, but now, after the death of his father, he’d become withdrawn. It was understandable that he would need time to deal with his grief alone, but Bea had discovered it wasn’t the whole truth. He’d struck up another affair with yet another friend of the family, Nicola. Bea was frustrated with herself; she should have by now been able to recognise the signs of his betrayal. He’d continually told her he was very much in love with her but with his infidelities all lines had been blurred, and she couldn’t be sure if he’d ever told her the truth about anything. Bea didn’t know what to believe, but she knew she didn’t want or need to resolve that uncertainty. That was in her past, and making a promise to herself there and then, she vowed to never let a man make her feel this level of anxiety again. She was ready to stand up for her own self-worth and say enough was enough.

  Pushing herself off the bed, she wandered into the bathroom and risked a tentative look in the mirror, studying her reflection. The puffiness around her deep hazel eyes indicated to everyone that she’d been crying. After splashing cold water on her face and patting it dry with the towel, Bea gave herself an encouraging smile. ‘You’ve got this, girl,’ she murmured before applying fresh makeup and pulling a brush through her hair.

  Ten minutes later, Bea declared herself ready and, despite feeling tired after the long drive, she was ready to explore and see everything that Heartcross had to offer. Her first stop? The Little Blue Boathouse. Picking up a tourist leaflet from the welcome pack on the desk, she studied the map. There were two routes that led her towards the river. One through the high street, past the green and along the public footpath of the Clover Cottage Estate, or she could head back down the gravel path and cut through to the footpath that took her right along the riverbank towards The Little Blue Boathouse. Bea opted for the route along the riverbank but first with a detour to Bonnie’s Teashop. Hearing her phone ring she rummaged in her bag and looked at the screen. Her ex’s name was flashing. She declined the call, switched her phone onto silent and threw it back into her bag.

  Five minutes later, Bea found herself following the delicious aroma filtering from Bonnie’s Teashop to the top of Love Heart Lane. Feeling a rumble in her stomach, she realised she was ravenous, so her plan was to pick up a takeaway pasty and a coffee and head down to the river. Taking in the trendy chalkboard standing on the pavement with specials written on it, and the yellow and white striped awning already shielding the front of the teashop from the glorious sunshine, she smiled. This place looked like a slice of delightful happiness, she thought, as she pushed open the small wooden gate and ambled up the path. The first thing she noticed was the poster in the window advertising the River Festival and right next to that Mystic Martha advertising her psychic predictions at five pounds a reading. Bea stopped and looked over the poster.

  ‘Highly recommended,’ the girl behind the counter said, looking in Bea’s direction and smiling. ‘Are you thinking of having a reading?’

  ‘Maybe,’ Bea replied. She didn’t know if she even believed in that sort of stuff but since crossing paths with Martha that morning, she had to admit she was intrigued by her. ‘She’s a very interesting character.’

  ‘You’ve met our Martha then?’

  ‘You could say that. I only arrived in Heartcross this morning, and soon afterwards I ran Martha off the road.’

  ‘Then you must be Bea.’

  ‘I am! Don’t tell me everyone around here is psychic.’

  The girl behind the counter stretched out her hand and shook Bea’s. ‘Not quite.’ She grinned. ‘I’m Felicity. Isla’s one of my best friends and nipped in here after meeting you at the B&B. But nothing gets past anyone in this village. Mark my words.’

  ‘It seems so,’ replied Bea with a smile.

  ‘And I believe you’re doing a trial at The Little Blue Boathouse? According to the forecast, the weather is going to be sweltering over the next month and I can’t think of a better place to be working than right next to the water. Two weeks, Isla said you would be around for.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve planned a two-week holiday. I needed a change of scenery.’

  ‘That’s a shame it’s only two weeks as you’ll miss the River Festival. It’s spectacular. Soon the river will be littered with houseboats, yachts and basically anything that floats. The village gets very busy and the atmosphere is amazing.’

  Bea began to turn Felicity’s words over in her mind: You’ll miss the River Festival. As a teenager she’d always fancied taking off during the summer months and disappearing to the coast with only her rucksack for company. She imagined herself landing a summer job then returning home for autumn. But now, exactly what did she have at home? A job that she didn’t really enjoy and a rental property with a man she never wanted to see again. This might be the push she needed to walk away from the mundane routine that had been her life for so long. Sunshine and water were just what she needed to blow away the cobwebs and mend her broken heart.

  ‘But Julia and Flynn will be chuffed for your help, even if it’s only for two weeks. It’ll give them time to interview,’ continued Felicity. ‘If we weren’t run off our feet here, because of all the tourists that flock in for the summer, I could imagine myself waking up in that attic room overlooking the water and living my best life. Sometimes the simple things make us happiest, don’t they?’

  Bea couldn’t agree more. Even though she’d shed a few tears in the last twenty-four hours, the heartfelt and welcoming ambience of Heartcross was uplifting – not to mention the splendid views.

  ‘Look at me babbling on. What can I get you?’ asked Felicity, rolling her eyes. ‘I could chat for Scotland.’

  Bea laughed. ‘Could I take a pork and apple pasty? They look delicious. And…’ Bea perused the glass counter in front of her, which was filled with all things sugary and looked divine. ‘So many choices. I’ll take one of those chocolate gingerbread men. I’ve not had one of those since I was a little girl. And a takeaway coffee, please.’

  Felicity placed the pastries in white paper bags, handed over the coffee and rang up the bill.

  ‘Thank you,’ said Bea as she paid. ‘I’m going to wander down to The Little Blue Boathouse and eat these by the river.’

  ‘You enjoy it. You’ve certainly timed your arrival well, as I believe the first houseboat has recently arrived for the festival. They start sailing in a few weeks before and, like yourself, make a holiday of it.’

  Walking back down Love Heart Lane, Bea was already thinking she couldn’t wait to explore what the village had to offer. This place was just a different way of life. She’d been here for only a few hours and could already feel Heartcross was going to be good for her. There was a sense of calm and, strangely, she felt quite settled already. All the villagers who had crossed her path had instantly made her feel welcome.

  As she joined the path along the riverbank, the sound of a motor caught her attention. Bea watched a speedboat thump across another boat’s wake. Music blared and a group of friends talked and laughed as the gentle lap of the water hit the riverbank. Bea took in the sight. She could see why tourists flocked here – it was spectacular. There were children in wetsuits playing in a shallow bay further up the river, fishermen dropping lines into the water, jet skis racing back and forth under the bridge that separated the village from the town, and Heartcross Castle looked magnificent in the distance. Bea walked to the water’s edge and stood under the shade of a tree, the leaf-dappled sunlight hitting the water and making it sparkle. She smiled at the kids swinging from a rope out over the river, watched by their parents, who were enjoying a picnic on a blanket. Noticing a large, flat pebble, Bea picked it up and skimmed it across the water. It bounced three times before hitting some knobby driftwood. Skimming stones was something she’d always do as a youngster on holiday with her father. She smiled, thinking about her dad. He’d never been keen on Carl, though he hadn’t said so in so many words, and she remembered now when he’d asked her whether he was the one. She’d hesitated and replied, ‘How do you even know?’