Verity noticed Sam biting his lip to suppress a smile.

  ‘Clearly,’ she replied, embracing the playful banter.

  ‘And what are you doing on this part of the island?’

  ‘I wanted to see the puffins before I left.’

  ‘They’re an incredible sight. What did you think of them?’

  ‘So fluffy and I love their waddle.’

  ‘They’re certainly special. I’m heading that way, do you want to walk with us?’ Sam pointed down the path.

  Verity looked between Sam and Jimmy. ‘Okay, as long as I don’t get swept off my feet again.’

  ‘I can’t promise that,’ replied Sam. The air crackled between them.

  As they began walking, Verity looked back over her shoulder towards the cottage. ‘Who lives there?’

  Sam followed her gaze, and she was sure he bristled.

  ‘Pete,’ he replied. ‘He looks after the wildlife on the island and is in charge of the puffin census.’

  ‘Puffin Pete,’ said Verity. ‘I bet he’s not heard that before.’

  Sam smiled. ‘Have you ever thought of being a stand-up comic?’

  ‘Humour is one of my talents… You’re kidding about a puffin census, right?’

  ‘Nope, the puffins get counted every year. It used to be every five years but now they keep a closer eye on the colony so they can see what’s changed season to season. It allows them to make important decisions to help protect the puffins.’

  ‘Because with no puffins it would just be called “The Island”. But how do you know which ones have already been counted? They all look the same.’

  ‘I’m not quite sure. Pete is in charge of the census, overseeing the rangers.’

  ‘How many rangers?’

  ‘Usually around six to ten.’

  ‘I’ve just had the pleasure of meeting Pete.’ Knowing how close-knit communities could be, Verity decided not to share that it wasn’t the best first impression.

  Sam nodded. ‘We don’t cross paths that often as we don’t have anything to do with one another.’ He looked as if he was going to add something but had changed his mind.

  They carried on walking in silence. As soon as they set foot on the sand of Blue Water Bay, Sam unclipped Jimmy’s lead. He woofed as he chased the gulls off the sand and followed them straight into the water.

  ‘I wouldn’t like to be in your shoes, trying to get him in the bath. Have you ever tried one of those portable pet showers? I’ve got one in my van.’

  ‘I’m lucky if I have any shoes left, at the rate he likes to chew them! Why do you have a portable pet shower?’

  ‘I didn’t like the idea of not knowing when my next shower would be, so I pinched one from work.’

  Sam raised his eyebrows.

  ‘I’m a veterinary assistant,’ she filled in quickly. ‘Well, I was up until yesterday. Now I’m officially unemployed, but by choice. I’ve thrown caution to the wind, rented out my house and am travelling with my friend Ava for the next six months.’

  ‘Oh right. I think you mentioned you were going to Amsterdam?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right. I’m catching the ferry early tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Make sure you stock up on sickbags and don’t eat anything after midnight.’

  ‘Good advice. Look at Jimmy! He’s heading towards that boat. Is that the restaurant?’

  ‘It is, The Sea Glass Restaurant, the glass-bottomed boat. Always making waves.’

  ‘I see what you did there.’

  ‘The interior is just as pretty as the outside. It’s got a nautical theme – polished wood, a blue and white colour scheme, a grand piano, and a private terrace at the bow with stunning views of the lighthouse, the ocean and the gorgeous harbour.’

  ‘You sound like an advert.’

  Sam grinned. ‘I never miss an opportunity to sing its praises. It’s a shame you aren’t around a little longer to sample the experience, but we’re fully booked tonight.’

  ‘We?’

  ‘I’m the proprietor. I renovated the old boat. It once belonged to my grandfather and when I was eighteen it was given to me by my mother. She called it junk and couldn’t wait to get rid of it. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it – create a floating restaurant. It’s now booked up three months in advance and even a few celebrities frequent the place.’

  ‘I bet your mum is proud of what you’ve achieved.’

  ‘I wouldn’t think so.’ Sam stared out towards the restaurant, his cryptic comment leaving an awkward silence.

  Verity sensed that his relationship with his mother might just be as unhealthy as the one she had with hers. Jimmy was now clambering out of the water and up onto the ramp. After shaking his body several times, he barked at the restaurant door. The door opened and a woman appeared. She waved across at Sam before letting Jimmy inside.

  ‘Wife, girlfriend?’ asked Verity, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.

  ‘That’s Robin, owner of Beachcomber Bakery. She’s dropping off the freshly baked bread for this evening.’

  ‘I’m a little disappointed that I won’t get to eat at the restaurant.’ What Verity didn’t add to that was that she was also a little disappointed that it was more than likely she wouldn’t see Sam again before she left, if he was working at the restaurant tonight. ‘I’m leaving in the early hours of the morning. I was thinking I’d park my van here tonight in the meantime.’ She pointed to a parking space just in front of the bay.

  Sam looked up at the sky. ‘Now the black clouds have moved on, you should have the perfect view. It’s an amazing view at night, the harbour is lit up with fairy lights along with The Sea Glass Restaurant, it sparkles like diamonds on the water. I bet you won’t get any sleep – the view will be just breathtaking.’

  ‘Then I’ll try and sleep on the ferry tomorrow. It’s going to be a very long crossing.’

  ‘If you need a coffee and an early morning croissant, the Cosy Kettle is open throughout the night because of the early morning crossings.’ He pointed towards the coffee hut on the edge of the bay.

  ‘I’ll remember that.’

  They both stared out to sea in a contemplative silence before Verity finally spoke. ‘It’s been lovely meeting you, Sam,’ she said. ‘Maybe I’ll call back at the island on my return journey and book a table at your restaurant.’

  ‘Maybe you should do that.’

  Savouring the moment, Verity briefly closed her eyes and inhaled his woody, masculine aroma, which made her heart beat a little faster. When she opened her eyes, his blue gaze flashed towards her.

  ‘It must be nice knowing where you belong, especially in a place like this,’ she murmured. ‘I bet you want for nothing.’

  ‘I wouldn’t quite say that,’ he replied, running a hand through his hair, but he didn’t elaborate.

  ‘I’d best be off.’ Reluctantly, Verity turned and walked away with a little sashay. She suspected he was watching, so she gave him something to remember her by. When she dared to look back over her shoulder, she saw she’d been right. Her heart thrummed with adrenalin, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in ages. For the first time since planning her trip, Verity found she didn’t want tomorrow to come. In fact, she wished she could stay on the island for a little longer.

  Chapter Six

  Verity was parked for the night in a great spot overlooking the harbour. It was such a different view from her living room back home, which overlooked nothing more than number 50 on the other side of the street. For a little under an hour, she’d been sitting in a deck chair in front of the van, hugging a brew, staring out over the water and thinking what a difference a day makes.

  The whole place had a sense of calm about it and for the first time in ages she felt happy being exactly where she was. She was no longer on edge, she could walk about freely without feeling anxious about bumping into her ex, she’d left the old street behind, and now, without the constant reminder of the ex’s betrayal, he was beginning to slip firmly out of her thoughts. Puffin Island was already beginning to heal her.

  She planned to walk over to the pub a little after seven p.m. but for now she carried on people-watching. Along the beach children were running in and out of the sea, squealing with delight as the cold water splashed against their legs. Further on people dived from the boats that were moored a little way from the harbour and there was activity around the lighthouse – it looked like some sort of lifeboat drill. Verity couldn’t believe she was sitting here. She wondered once again what had brought her granny to Puffin Island in the first place. She wished she could find out more about the past. She hoped Clemmie would be in contact as soon as she’d spoken with her grandmother.

  Meanwhile, she wondered if there was any other way to find out the names of the residents of the island in 1972, in case there was an islander whose initial was W. She also thought of Pete. He wasn’t the most approachable character but maybe she could blame that on herself for being nosey. He seemed around the right age to have been here that summer. Perhaps, if she took a stroll back to the cottage and apologised again, he might soften and they could chat about the postcard. But the more she thought about it, the more she feared a second shouting-match, and she decided against it. No, her main hope was Betty, as Clemmie had been adamant that she was a person who remembered everything.

  Taking the opportunity to enjoy the warmth of the sun, Verity grabbed a small bucket from the back of the van and kicked off her shoes. She wanted to hunt for keepsakes along the sandy bay to remind herself of her first visit – first, because she already knew she would be back one day. It was like a treasure hunt, walking up and down the shore edge, scanning it for glass gems. Dozens of beautiful sea gems sparkled at her. It reminded her of a time her granny had taken her to the beach. They spent the afternoon on the sand and after a picnic they’d collected a bucket full of sea glass. To Verity’s amazement, her granny had turned those gems into a bracelet. She glanced at her wrist, which that very bracelet still clasped. She treasured that day; it would always be one she remembered. Even though her granny had passed a long time back, she was suddenly awash with emotion. In this moment, here on Puffin Island, she felt so close to her.

  A couple of hours later, Verity had changed her clothes. She opted for a simple striped summer dress that stopped above her knees, along with a loose cardigan, and slipped her feet into her battered white Converse. She enjoyed the walk to The Olde Ship Inn, chirping ‘Good evening’ to everyone she passed. Outside the pub, the wooden tables and benches were full of people enjoying the last of the sun before the warmth ebbed away. The clear azure sky was a perfect backdrop for the traditional pub, with Blue Water Bay in the distance, and Verity took a moment to stop and admire the view before stepping inside. The pub was exactly as she’d imagined it, full of nautical charm and olde-worlde character, with its low oak-beamed ceilings and open fireplace, which no doubt roared all day every day in the height of winter. The ambience was perfect, a proper pub, with tourists drinking the local beer and dogs sprawled out at their owners’ feet under the tables.

  She immediately spotted Amelia at the bar, serving customers. Amelia beamed and waved her towards an empty stool at the end of the bar.

  ‘We’ve saved you a seat here next to Clemmie.’

  ‘We’re glad you’ve made it,’ Clemmie said warmly.

  ‘A night in the local? I wasn’t going to miss that.’ Verity climbed onto the high bar stool as Amelia slid a couple of beers over the bar towards them. ‘Puffin Island beer, not just for puffins, and on the house. I’ve already cleared it with the owners, Cora and Dan. I know your trip to Puffin Island is a short one, but have you enjoyed your day?’

  ‘Thank you, that’s very kind. I have! And this is the perfect end to my visit. I actually don’t want to go home. Not that I’m going home for six months, but you know what I mean.’

  ‘This place captures the heart,’ agreed Amelia. ‘I don’t want to wake up anywhere else in the world. I see you’ve parked over at the bay. You’ve picked a great spot.’

  ‘I didn’t know what to expect when I made my detour this morning but I can honestly say that, apart from being sick on the ferry, I’ve really enjoyed my time here. Let me make a toast…’

  They all held up their glasses. ‘Mine is water, I can’t drink on the job otherwise I’ll be sacked,’ Amelia said, looking over at Cora and Dan, who were setting up some sort of audio equipment in the corner of the pub.

  Clemmie leaned in towards Verity and whispered, ‘Don’t believe her, I’m sure there’s a vodka in there.’

  ‘A toast to a fabulous day and a stunning island with breathtaking scenery. Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I already feel like I’ve made new friends.’ They clinked their glasses together.

  ‘You have made new friends. That’s what I love about this place – year after year visitors come back here and we see the same familiar faces because they just love our little island so much. We hope you’ll be back.’

  ‘I will, I already know it.’ It had crossed Verity’s mind a number of times throughout the day that she could extend her visit, but knowing that Ava would be making her way to Amsterdam, and that she herself had technically gate-crashed Ava’s adventure in the first place, she felt she couldn’t let her friend down. But there was still a tiny niggle in the back of her mind. She wanted very much to throw caution to the wind and stay for at least a few more days.

  ‘Are you hungry? Can I grab you anything before I go and serve the other customers? There’s lots of delicious dishes – seafood platters, locally sourced fillet steak, and of course the pub’s speciality, fish and chips.’

  ‘I could smell the fish and chips as soon as I walked through the door. I’ll go for that.’

  ‘I’ll have the same,’ added Clemmie.

  Amelia wrote the order down on the pad before taking it through to the kitchen, then she disappeared to the other end of the bar where she continued to serve drinks.

  ‘It’s lovely to see you again,’ said Verity, turning towards Clemmie. ‘I’m assuming this is your local?’

  ‘It is – and tonight you’re in for a treat.’ She pointed towards the makeshift stage that had been erected in one corner. ‘It’s open mic night. It’s usually very entertaining. There’s everything from comedians to singers.’

  ‘And we have a prime viewing spot right here. How good is the talent?’

  Clemmie looked dubious. ‘Sometimes it can blow you away and sometimes it’s that bad you wish you were blown away.’

  Verity laughed. ‘Do you ever get up there?’

  Clemmie shook her head. ‘No, I’m the shy and retiring type.’

  Amelia interrupted as she walked past. ‘Do not believe a word she says. There’s nothing shy or retiring about that one.’

  ‘Hey,’ replied Clemmie, pretending to look hurt.

  ‘How do you two know each other?’ asked Verity, admiring their jovial friendship.

  ‘Our great-grandmothers were friends, our grandmothers were friends, and our mothers were friends. Unsurprisingly, that friendship has slipped down to the next generation – and of course, with such a small population on the island, I can’t get rid of her.’ Clemmie gave Amelia a wink.

  ‘I heard that!’

  ‘That’s just wonderful.’ Verity thought about her own family. Her grandparents were the most stable people in her life and she’d loved them dearly. They’d taken over her upbringing from a young age when her mother showed more interest in her social life then in caring for her. By the time she went to school it was her grandparents who took her there, and to her extra-curricular activities, and soon their home became hers on a more permanent basis. From time to time she stayed with her mother, usually when she’d been let down by yet another man. In her early teens that sense of abandonment had had a huge impact on her self-esteem, not helped by her mother’s determination to keep secret the identity of Verity’s father. Verity could only assume he was a married man with his own family or was serving time at His Majesty’s pleasure. Of course, she had asked her grandmother about her father, but Granny had been just as much in the dark as she was. Verity had done a DNA test but it was still sitting on the Ancestry website, as there had never been a match. So her father remained very much a mystery.

  ‘I bet living in the island is just like a close-knit family.’

  ‘It is. The island is that small that everyone knows everyone and we can’t avoid each other. We aren’t without our difficult relationships and family feuds, of course, but I suppose any family falls out occasionally…and in a time of crisis we all band together.’

  Verity wondered what Clemmie meant by ‘difficult relationships’, but just then Amelia placed a plate of fish and chips in front of each of them, and the conversation moved on.

  ‘Woah! Look at the size of the fish. What are you feeding them around these parts? It looks more like a whale.’

  ‘Fresh from the bay this morning.’ Amelia grinned. ‘We often joke that we must have the fattest puffins around these parts, what with the size of the fish.’

  ‘I’ve seen the puffins this afternoon. I couldn’t believe how many you have here.’

  ‘Thousands and thousands. It’s not called Puffin Island for no reason!’ Amelia said, grinning as she went to clear the plates from a table in the far corner.

  ‘And I met the man who lives in Cliff Top Cottage. I think I upset him.’

  Clemmie raised an eyebrow. ‘Pete. Why, what did you do?’

  ‘I thought the cottage was abandoned so I peered through the window.’

  ‘And you survived?’ She laughed. ‘Pete’s harmless but he likes his privacy.’

  ‘What’s the story there?’ asked Verity. ‘Does he actually live in Cliff Top Cottage all by himself?’

  ‘He does. He’s lived there all of his life.’ Clemmie stabbed the chunkiest chip with her fork.

  ‘Alone?’

  Clemmie nodded. ‘Never married or had children. He was the island’s vet but has now retired and the nearest practice is over at Sea’s End, which can be very trying if you can’t cross the causeway. But Pete is an animal person through and through. He adores those puffins, watches them for hours. And if any domestic animals are poorly, he’ll go out of his way to get them back to good health.’