‘Apparently me and Puffin Island were just not enough.’

  ‘That simply wasn’t the case. Hetty loved it here, I know that, but there were circumstances that led her to leave.’

  ‘What circumstances?’ asked Pete. ‘What is it you aren’t telling me?’

  Betty briefly closed her eyes. ‘Hetty left me a letter when she left. I didn’t know about you and her, so I assumed it would be Joe who was broken-hearted at her departure. I didn’t want him to hear the news from someone else so I headed towards the coastguard hut, as I knew you were both on shift that night. That’s when I saw you and stopped to tell you Hetty had left. I was so worried about breaking the news to Joe, I didn’t really take in your reaction, and then you took off in the opposite direction before I could say anything else.’

  ‘I did. I ran from the jetty all the way to the causeway to try and stop her, but it was too late. I couldn’t find her.’

  ‘I carried on to the hut to see Joe, and when I arrived, he was pacing up and down, extremely agitated, waiting for you to arrive. He told me that he thought he’d seen you and Hetty the night before, up on the cliff top together. He was waiting to confront you.’

  Pete looked bewildered. ‘Why didn’t you ever say?’

  ‘Because what was the point? It wasn’t going to bring Hetty or Joe back after…’

  Verity looked towards Sam, who hadn’t said a word. She guessed he was remaining quiet on purpose, not wanting to interrupt and cause Pete and Betty to clam up. He had waited a long time to know the truth of how his grandfather had ended up in the water that night.

  Betty carried on. ‘I assured Joe that was impossible because surely I’d know if something was going on between you both. I thought at least one of you would have told me. Thinking he’d just got the wrong end of the stick, I gave him the letter that Hetty had left me, so he could see her goodbye for himself, but in hindsight…’

  ‘Why in hindsight?’ probed Pete.

  Betty reached for her bag, and pulled out an envelope. ‘The letter made everything ten times worse.’

  ‘What’s in the letter?’ asked Verity, immediately recognising her granny’s handwriting as Betty leaned towards Pete and handed him the envelope.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Pete.’

  Pete took the envelope then reached for his glasses, balanced them on the bridge of his nose and sat back in the chair. Tension hung in the air and Verity watched his eyes flit up and down over the cream-coloured paper. He eventually gave a tiny gasp and then his watery eyes locked with Betty’s.

  ‘Hetty was pregnant?’ Pete turned the paper over but the other side was blank. ‘It says she was pregnant.’

  Betty nodded. ‘I’ve always thought that that had to be the reason she went home, to marry her fiancé and give her baby the family it deserved. Her future was decided for her.’

  ‘But how do you know the baby wasn’t mine?’

  In that second a million thoughts exploded in Verity’s mind. Betty’s answer could change everything she had ever known or thought about her past. Glancing back at Pete, she saw he was staring at her. She suspected that they were having exactly the same thoughts. But as much as she stared, she couldn’t see any physical resemblance between them.

  ‘Because Hetty was throwing up most mornings from the day after she arrived. My own mother pulled me aside to ask whether she was sick, as we’d often heard her. It was only after reading the letter that I realised she was suffering from morning sickness.’ Betty looked towards Sam. ‘All the letter said was that she was going back home to have the baby, so when Joe read it he put two and two together and made five. After seeing Pete and Hetty up on the cliff he thought Pete had stolen his girl and the baby was his.’

  Pete looked distraught. ‘But this is the first I’m hearing about this.’

  ‘Joe thought you hadn’t shown for your shift because you had a guilty conscience. You were his best friend and he’d confided in you how much he liked this girl, and how, after his previous relationship breakdown, he was taking his time to get this right. But having spotted you together on the cliff, he was angry. He kept looking out of the window waiting for you to arrive. I told him I couldn’t see that it was possible for you two to have been having a secret relationship, and I was just about to tell him about her marriage proposal, when a call came in. A tourist had alerted the coastguard that they’d spotted someone in the water. I told him not to do anything daft when you arrived, and that I’d come back in an hour, after the rescue was completed. I’m not even sure Joe heard me though, as he’d already started to race towards the jetty.’

  ‘But there was no one found in the water, according to all the reports, and believe me, I’ve combed every article, every logbook. Where were you at this point?’ Sam cut in, staring at Pete accusingly.

  ‘I was making my way back up Lighthouse Lane. Joe wasn’t at the hut when I arrived, but the rescue had been logged and the phone was ringing. The caller on the other end of the line was apologetic, saying he’d rung in only moments earlier, but the tourist had made a mistake. What he thought was a person was actually a huge log that had been washed up in the waves, wrapped in some sort of material. I hurried after Joe.’ Pete was trembling, his face pained. ‘You’ve got to believe me, I didn’t mean for it to happen…’ His voice was earnest.

  ‘Didn’t mean for what to happen?’ pushed Verity.

  ‘When I arrived at the jetty, there was pandemonium, a crowd huddled together, screaming and shouting. I waded through the people to get a closer look and saw someone had thrown a life ring in, but it was too late. Joe’s body was being battered by the waves and was heading out to sea fast, taken by the rip current. I saw it in his hand…he was clutching my cap. The cap I wore every day without fail, come rain or shine. When I took off to try and stop Hetty from leaving, it must have dropped over the side of the jetty into the sea. He thought it was me in the water,’ Pete gasped on a sob. ‘My whole world was plunged into despair. Everything came crashing down around me. In the matter of an hour, I’d lost Joe and Hetty both, my best friend and the love of my life.’

  Betty cupped her hand around Sam’s.

  Tears were flooding Pete’s cheeks. ‘My hat lost him his life – and now I’ve just discovered that even though he thought I’d been the worst friend in the world, he still jumped into the water knowing he mightn’t survive the rip current. We were quick to get the boat launched but it was too late. When we pulled him from the sea, he was already gone.’

  Sadness bled through the room. Everyone was hurting, each for a different reason.

  Verity wrapped her arms around her. It was such a brutal catalogue of events that had led to the awful tragedy. She took in the despair and hurt in Pete’s and Betty’s eyes. They had both suffered from holding onto their parts of the jigsaw until now.

  ‘One day, I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me,’ Pete said to Sam as he mopped his brow with his handkerchief. Profound sadness and tiredness were engraved on his worn face. Verity hoped that Sam understood the depth of Pete’s pain, which had no doubt engulfed him every day since that catastrophic night.

  Hopefully, now that the truth was out, the guilt and the black cloud that had hung over them all would finally begin to lift.

  As they watched, Sam stood up and walked out of the cottage without saying a word.

  Turning towards Pete, Betty urged, ‘Let him go and make sense of it all. He’ll be okay.’ She stood and opened her arms. ‘I think we both need a hug.’ Pete nodded and hugged Betty tight.

  ‘I’m so sorry,’ he whispered. ‘I should have told you.’

  ‘And I should have told you. I’m sorry, too.’

  Verity watched with tears in her eyes as they parted. ‘Pete, when did you send the postcard?’ she asked.

  Pete and Betty sat back down.

  ‘The next morning. I just wanted Hetty to come back. The night of the accident, I came over to your cottage.’ Pete looked at Betty. ‘You and your mum made me a drink and there was a moment when neither of you was in the room and I noticed your mum’s rental book on the dresser. Inside were Hetty’s personal details, including her home address, so I took a punt and quickly scribbled it down on a piece of paper. I honestly thought she would get in touch and come back if she heard about Joe’s death.’

  ‘I suppose we’ll never know whether she knew or not. All we know is that she chose to get married and have the baby,’ Verity added tentatively.

  Pete nodded and turned towards her. ‘You have the same laugh. That’s why you took me by surprise, that day up on the cliff, when you laughed about the mooing puffins.’

  Verity smiled. ‘Will it be difficult for you if I did stay around?’

  ‘You mean on the island?’

  She nodded.

  ‘Of course not. If anything, you lit up my life again. I felt like you’ve accepted me for me. Not many people can make me smile the way you do. Over the years I lost the zest for living.’ Pete looked around the room. ‘This room is still exactly the same as the last day Hetty was standing here. I’ve been stuck in a time warp, waiting for a return that was never going to come. I was so focused on the past that I forgot to live in the present…and I’ve certainly not looked after myself.’

  Verity stood up and touched his arm. ‘That can all change now. I’m sure when Sam processes everything, he’ll come around. I do know he was coming today to talk to you and hopefully put things to bed before the vigil.’

  ‘Timing is everything,’ murmured Betty.

  ‘I’m glad you don’t mind me staying, Pete, because I’ve enjoyed puffin counting and working alongside you in the vet’s. Let’s hope I get the job and can find a home before winter sets in.’

  ‘Job? What’s this?’ asked Betty.

  ‘I’ve applied for a job with Cooper.’

  ‘Oh, Verity, that’s brilliant. I’ve got everything crossed for you.’

  ‘Me, too,’ added Pete.

  Verity smiled at them and pointed to the door. ‘I’m going to leave you both to it.’ After hugging them tightly, she made her way back to the van, wondering whether her granny would have stayed on Puffin Island if she hadn’t been pregnant. Sadly, that was a question that was never going to be answered.

  Chapter Twenty

  It was nine a.m. on voting day when Verity woke to the sound of puffins and gulls, and sunshine bursting through the curtains of the van. Last night it had taken her ages to get to sleep, the circumstances that led to Joe’s death running through her mind, all of it so sad. If her granny hadn’t left the island that day, things might have been very different. She knew she couldn’t change any of it, but she couldn’t help wondering what she would have done in her granny’s circumstances. It was a difficult one.

  From the way Pete had spoken, Verity knew that he’d thought he and her granny had a future together. You could hear the love for Hetty in his voice, and he’d waited all these years hoping she would walk back into his life. Verity was in no doubt that her granny had loved her grandfather, but she was more than likely in love with Pete too, given the stories she’d told about Puffin Island and the picture hanging in her favourite room in the house, constant reminders of what could have been. Discovering the pregnancy would have cemented the need to go home and marry her baby’s father, but had she had regrets? Verity would never know. She still had so many questions. She wished she could have one more conversation with her grandmother about her summer on Puffin Island.

  Verity thought about going over to see Sam, but decided it was best to give him time. He would still be coming to terms with all yesterday’s revelations. She hoped the feud that had festered for many years between Sam and Pete would one day be abandoned, but today wasn’t likely to be that day, as they were going to go head-to-head again when the island voted on the safety barriers. Voting booths were being set up in the church hall, Betty was in charge of issuing the ballot papers, and Cooper had been roped in as a fair adjudicator to count the results. An announcement was due to be made at three p.m. that afternoon at the bay.

  Reaching for her phone Verity was amazed to note she had slept for eight hours. She saw a text from Kev and swiped the screen.

  The new tenants are in and your absence has just been clocked. I’ve been accosted!

  Verity quickly typed back.

  Tell me more.

  Almost immediately Kev’s name flashed on to the screen. Verity swiped the text message and burst out laughing.

  I told him it was top secret and I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. But in case anyone asks, you won the lottery, have bought a house in the South of France and are now dating a celebrity and couldn’t be happier!

  Verity could picture Kev furtively spilling the untrue secret, and no doubt making it extremely believable. As she climbed out of bed and slid open the van door, she was swathed with a feeling she had missed – happiness. In a way, she had won the lottery. If she were still in that mundane relationship, there was no way she would be waking up with this view.

  You’re such a fibber!

  She quickly typed back, still with a smile on her face, glad she could always rely on Kev to set the cat amongst the pigeons. As she slid her feet into her trainers, she looked across towards Cliff Top Cottage.

  ‘Wow! What’s all this?’ she asked, walking over towards Pete, who was battling with an old rug that he eventually threw onto a pile of rubbish that was accumulating outside in the garden. All his windows were wide open and colourful hanging baskets bursting with blooms were hanging on each side of the cottage door. On the table outside there were tins of paint and dustsheets.

  Pete turned towards her. ‘It’s a brand-new day and a brand-new start.’ He gave a her a warm smile. ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ He disappeared back inside and soon returned carrying a tray with a pot of tea and two mugs.

  He gestured towards the new bistro set that had been set up overlooking the cliff top.

  ‘Is this new, too?’ she asked as she sat.

  ‘Picked it up this morning from Puffin Pantry. They were selling off their old sets as they have new ones outside on the street.’

  ‘It looks pretty and new to me.’

  Pete poured the tea. ‘Have you spoken to Sam since yesterday?’

  Verity shook her head. ‘I thought I’d give him some space whilst he comes to terms with everything. How are you feeling about it all?’

  ‘It was a complete shock to discover your granny was pregnant…’ He hesitated. ‘I know it’s going to sound daft, but she was the only woman I ever truly loved. I honestly hoped she would stay on Puffin Island with me, even if it meant I had to face Joe. If only I could see him one last time to have the conversation. If only my cap hadn’t been in the sea.’

  ‘I know,’ replied Verity.

  ‘The one thing I can take away from all this is that she still had our puffin picture. That means a lot to me.’

  ‘She did, and she hung it in her favourite room in the house.’

  ‘We bought that picture together on our first date. In fact, we bought two. We sat on the top of the cliff watching the puffins whilst we wrote on the back of them, both wondering what the future was going to hold. We were so full of hope. I still have mine hanging on the landing at the top of the stairs.

  ‘It’s a funny old world, isn’t it? Every single day I thought about her and hoped she would walk up that cliff path with her curls bouncing off her shoulders and her wide smile smothered in red lipstick. She melted my heart from the very first moment.’

  ‘Would you like to see a photo of her? I have loads, but there’s a special one I carry with me in my purse.’

  ‘That would be lovely.’

  Verity hot-footed it back to her van and soon returned. ‘It’s one of both of us, sitting in the garden.’

  Pete took the photograph and his eyes instantly teemed with tears. ‘She’s just as beautiful as I remember.’

  ‘Do you know what I think?’

  Pete looked towards her.

  ‘I think it was fate that I discovered that postcard.’ Verity looked up at the sky. ‘My reckoning is that she’ll be looking over us right now, glad we’ve met. I needed this, Pete.’

  ‘This?’

  ‘This new adventure, a change.’

  They both sipped their tea.

  ‘Did Hetty have a good life? Was she happy?’ asked Pete.

  ‘She was a jolly granny, always singing and smiling. She taught me how to bake, ride a bike, tie my shoelaces, and she told the best stories about this island. Even though she never mentioned you specifically, out of loyalty to my grandfather, it’s clear she never forgot you, and I think she’ll be very pleased I’ve found my way to this island and applied for a job here. All the upset I’ve been through in the last few months now feels well worth it.’

  ‘Cooper would be mad not to hire you.’

  ‘Then all I’ll need to do is find a house. This was definitely fate. I’ve got a good feeling it’s all going to work out somehow.’

  ‘And is everything okay between you and Sam?’

  Verity shrugged. ‘I hope so but I’m trying not to overthink it.’ She felt herself blushing a little, remembering the night they’d spent together. No one had evoked such passion in her before. That night had been playing on a loop in her mind ever since. She hadn’t come on this adventure looking for love, but as Pete had recently said, when you know, you know. And there was something about Sam Wilson that she couldn’t shake off.

  ‘He’s a good lad and a hard worker, and he has been dealt a rough hand. But he has his grandfather’s spirit and talent.’

  ‘When I heard him sing in the pub, I honestly thought he was a recording artist.’

  ‘He has the same tone as his grandfather. It takes me right back to those band days when I hear it.’

  ‘He’s made it clear he’s only looking for fun.’