‘They have to yell,’ Harvey laughed when the lad went off in a different direction. ‘These places aren’t quiet.’ Indeed there was a cacophony of banging in the background. ‘And out on the sea they’ll be yelling back and forth, they probably only have one volume level.’
The lad came over again and told them, ‘You’ll have to come back.’ He had a wrench in his hand ready to get on with another job although he still had enough time to run his eyes up and down Melissa’s torso. ‘You’ll want to talk to Bill, he’s been here the longest.’
Harvey lifted a hand in thanks. ‘Pub?’ he said to Melissa.
‘You’re on, although I’m still full from those chips.’
‘It’s somewhere to go,’ Harvey suggested, holding the door open for her. ‘And we can’t hang around here, you’re going to feature in that boy’s dreams tonight. They obviously don’t get many hot females in their boatyard all that often.’
She ignored the “hot” reference as they made their way back to the pub. It was comments like that one that had Melissa confusing her past with her present.
They grabbed a couple of drinks before settling into the booth at one side of the pub.
‘Shame I’m only on the orange juice, I think I could do with something a little stronger,’ said Harvey. ‘Tell me, what’s your boyfriend up to while you’re away?’
She could do with a glass of wine right now too, especially with a direct question like that, but she wanted to stay sharp if they did get to talk to someone at the yard who may know something. And besides, with their own personal history constantly hovering between them, she needed to stay focused when Harvey was around. She wondered if they’d ever talk properly or whether she’d leave Heritage Cove before either of them braved it.
She set down her glass of Coke without taking a second sip. ‘He’s working.’ She’d been trying to get hold of him on the phone yesterday evening after she’d left the pub, with an overwhelming urge to hear his voice, perhaps to allay her guilty conscience about spending time with Harvey, but had settled on text messages instead.
‘Do you live together?’
‘On and off but I have my own place.’
‘Do you like living near London?’
‘It’s good for work, nice and easy to get to the airport.’ She hoped their entire conversation wouldn’t be like this with him firing questions at her like missiles from a tennis-ball machine that had her whacking back her answers the best she could. ‘What about you, how’s your work?’ She got in quick before he could ask anything else.
‘Nice and busy, the way I like it. More people are going up with another storey or converting existing loft space rather than moving house.’
‘Are you still hoping to set up on your own one day?’
‘You’ve got a good memory.’ He smiled across at her, his arm resting on the table so close his hand was in danger of touching hers if she put her glass down. ‘Right now it’s easy to be on someone else’s payroll while I learn the trade. I want to make sure I know what I’m doing before I start my own business, if I ever take the leap.’
She wasn’t sure whether to probe too much but braved asking, ‘Did you ever think about leaving Tumbleweed House? I wondered if you’d want a change.’
‘Because of the memories, you mean.’
‘I just thought…’
‘That starting over is easier, that it would make me forget everything that went on? No, not so easy. And my dad took enough from our family. He was the one who put an end to the elderberry business, he sold off land, he took a lot personally from Mum, me, my brother Daniel. It was time to take back, I wanted to stay.’
‘Good for you.’ He was strong, not just to look at, but emotionally too. ‘How is Daniel?’
‘He left and never looked back. I don’t hear from him.’ He was watching her. ‘You want to say something, I can tell.’
‘I’d have given anything for a sibling, growing up. Being an only child can be lonely.’
‘Being with a sibling who’s a total nightmare can be worse, believe me.’
‘Maybe he has regrets too, it’s never too late to put it all behind you.’
‘Not that simple.’
She didn’t want to wind him up and talking about Daniel had always done that, so she let it drop. ‘Your mum must’ve been pleased you took over the house.’
‘Yeah,’ he smiled, seemingly grateful she’d dropped the subject of his brother. ‘And now she’s able to visit and remember the better times, those with her own parents when it was theirs, with us as little kids when Dad was away. I worked a lot of overtime to pay for the house and keep the remaining land, and I’m glad I did.’
They were getting dangerously close to talking about their relationship and the way it ended so suddenly and Melissa didn’t want to do that, so she turned the focus back to the reason they were even here. ‘I expect the marina today is our last shot. And it’s a very long shot, but thank you for humouring me and coming here.’
‘It’s my pleasure.’ And something in his voice told her it really was.
She sipped her drink, down to the end with the lemon slice and ice cubes rattling around. ‘If we don’t get anywhere, I’m going to have to ask Barney outright.’
‘Jeez, you’re brave.’
‘Time’s marching on and I don’t want to leave without talking properly to him, I want him to know he can share anything with us, that we’ll help in whatever way we can. Honestly, the way he talks to everyone, it surprises me he’s been able to keep anything secret.’
With a laugh, Harvey agreed. They finished their drinks and talked some more about other locals in the Cove, those who had moved on since Melissa was last there, others who had moved in, the local school around the corner that had such a good rating it brought newcomers to the village. And by the time they realised the man, Bill, should be back at the marina, even darker clouds were ganging up overhead and the rain had started.
They made a run for it, all the way from the pub to the marina. Laughing away, they piled into the office out of the inclement weather and must have looked like a pair of loonies. These men didn’t look like a bit of rain changed anything for them, they were working inside and outside as usual, Melissa could see them. One man was sanding the side of a boat, another appeared to be fixing up a sail, someone else was hammering the side of a tiny boat. None of them cared about the rain or the wind.
‘I understand you’re looking for me.’ Bill came over. He was a jolly-looking chap and he put down a spanner before extending a hand to shake Melissa’s and then Harvey’s. His skin spoke of the practical side of his job, the dryness from working with materials and tools all day combined with time out on the water.
‘We’re trying to find out about a friend of ours who lived in this village. Barney Walters,’ said Harvey.
Bill shrugged. His clothing – jeans and a big fisherman jumper with enough holes that it could be worn in warmer temperatures – was weathered like many of the boats beyond the shed, the one inside that was being worked on and spruced up, the smell of varnish filling the air. ‘Sorry, not heard of him.’
‘He spent a lot of time hanging around this marina, we just thought someone might remember him,’ Melissa tried. Please don’t let this be a wasted journey. Even if the people round here didn’t know what had happened with Barney and Lois, they might shed some light on Barney back then and perhaps lead them to someone who did. As they’d sat in the pub Melissa realised the village was very much like Heritage Cove, locals chatting in groups, anyone who came in shaking hands and greeting others like they were part of a tight-knit community.
‘What year are we talking about?’ Bill asked. ‘I’ve been here donkeys.’
‘It would’ve been around fifty years ago, maybe a little less,’ Melissa told him.
He whistled. ‘That’s a long time, even for an old goat like me. This yard changed hands some forty-five years ago. I’ve been on board for all of those plus five or six years
before.’
‘Is it family-owned?’
‘It is. But it’s a different family to the original owners when I first started here. The Roystons own it now. They love it as much as I do. It’s as much a hobby for me as a job. It’s like they say, isn’t it? Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.’
‘That’s right,’ Melissa smiled.
‘You say this Barney character was local?’
‘He grew up here,’ Harvey replied.
‘I didn’t come to Leafbourne until I started this job, I’m afraid. Excuse me a minute…’ He’d spotted a couple coming into the shed.
Melissa looked out of the shed, across the concrete area in front to the sign that faced the traffic as it came in around the bend. It was just visible now; it hadn’t been earlier, with the lad in front of it enjoying a smoke, or a couple of smokes. But now, he’d finally gone back to his job and the sign was there for all to see. On a white background was a navy blue anchor with intricate rope weaved through it with the name Leafbourne Marina split into two, one word arching over the top of the anchor, the other curving upwards beneath.
She put an arm out and her hand rested on Harvey’s skin. ‘Look at the sign.’
‘I’m looking.’
‘Don’t you recognise it?’
‘Can’t say that I do.’
‘Oh, God, what am I talking about? Of course you don’t, you didn’t see the letter in the wedding bag.’
His face showed he was as bewildered now as at the start of this conversation. ‘Enlighten me.’
‘The same anchor and wording was at the top of the letter. Well, the wording had faded, which is why I didn’t put two and two together, the anchor symbol was faint but not so much that I can’t match the two now I think about it. The letter from Lois must have been on a fancy piece of letterhead paper some people use, especially if they have a –’
‘Family business,’ he said at the same time as her.
Bill was busy taking the visitors outside to point them in the right direction of the village hall when it turned out they didn’t need the marina after all and as they waited for him, Melissa began to wonder. ‘Have you ever thought that perhaps we’re asking about the wrong person?’
Harvey leaned against the desk nearby, strong arms folded in front of his body. ‘You think Lois might be the connection to this place rather than Barney?’
‘It’s possible, isn’t it?’
When Bill came in again, unbothered by the rain, Melissa asked, ‘Have you ever heard of a woman called Lois? She’d probably be around the same age as our friend, although I can’t be sure.’
‘The name doesn’t ring a bell, I’m afraid.’
‘Who was the family that owned the yard before it was sold on?’ Harvey asked.
Bill thought hard. ‘The Charlestons, that was their name, and they were as high and mighty as they sound, let me tell you,’ he added in a low chuckle. ‘Mr Charleston, well, he was in this for the business ownership, he had a couple of boats himself, but there was no love for the craft. That’s what he lacked. Although his wife was so serious all the time I’m not sure he had much love for anything. To be honest with you, I was glad when they sold the place on. The Roystons took over the business and have a clear love for boats. The whole family has a passion and it made a difference, let me tell you. Mr Royston wasn’t all about the money whereas the Charlestons…well, let’s just say we could’ve been making and selling tin cans and if it drew the same profits they wouldn’t have given a toss. Pardon my language,’ he directed at Melissa.
‘Not a problem,’ she smiled, realising Bill liked to talk as much as Barney once had. ‘I don’t suppose they had kids, did they? The Charlestons?’
One hand on the hip of his beige dungarees, he thought hard to remember. ‘They had a son, he did the accounts…always late with the wages he was.’ He rolled his eyes heavenward. ‘Would’ve got the sack anywhere else but you know what it’s like, Daddy’s company and he had a job for as long as he wanted.’
‘Just a son?’ Harvey asked.
‘Just the one kid, wouldn’t wish that father on anyone else.’
Melissa and Harvey exchanged a look. She knew what Harvey had put up with better than anyone else.
Deflated at the dead end they’d just hit, they thanked Bill for his time. ‘We really appreciate it,’ Harvey told him.
‘I wish I could be more help. I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be,’ said Melissa. ‘It was a long time ago.’
Harvey opened the door and a woman came bustling in past them with what smelled like a parcel of fish and chips.
‘You spoil me,’ Bill smiled at the woman, who must’ve been his wife. ‘It’s a long day when you don’t see the one you love,’ he told Harvey and Melissa when they turned to venture out into the rain. ‘These kids are asking about the Charlestons,’ he explained.
The woman, a lot shorter than Bill, with a pea-green headscarf that would’ve protected her from the wet outside, pulled a face that suggested she had the same opinions of the family as her husband. ‘That name takes me way back.’ She hadn’t moved from Bill’s side and Melissa envied how in love they clearly still were. ‘They were a strange family, very serious, not at all like the new owners. Are you related?’ the wife asked Melissa.
‘No, we’re just trying to find out some information about a friend of ours, Barney Walters.’
‘I’m afraid the name doesn’t ring a bell.’
‘Not to worry,’ Melissa smiled. They said their goodbyes and uttered their thanks again before leaving Bill to unwrap the parcel of steaming-hot potato and battered fish. But Bill’s voice stopped them before they could make a run for it and not get soaked from the rain that had become heavier as they sheltered inside.
‘Come to think of it,’ Bill began, ‘the Charlestons did kind of have another kid, not theirs, but they took in a teenager.’
‘Male or female?’ Harvey asked quickly.
‘Oh, I remember her,’ the wife replied with what appeared to be a bit of a look to her husband. ‘She was beautiful all right, turned heads she did.’
‘Can you remember her name?’ Melissa’s hopes rose.
Bill shook his head but his wife spoke up again. ‘Lois.’
‘I’m not sure that was her name,’ Bill countered.
The wife clearly had a better memory. ‘Yes it was. I remember because one of you lot used to call her Lois Lane.’
‘Ah, you’re right,’ Bill smiled. ‘We did.’
The wife bristled. ‘She was a looker, I admit.’
‘I only had eyes for you back then, you know that.’ Bill hugged his wife to him and planted a kiss on her cheek, making her blush.
‘I didn’t really know the girl,’ Bill’s wife carried on, ‘but I did know that she’d lost her parents at a very young age. I think the Charlestons were her aunt and uncle. They took her in and raised her. I dread to think how strict they were given the way they acted around their workers. We didn’t see much of her in here, but there was some hoo-ha involving a boy and that was when the Charlestons sold up and moved away.’
‘Hoo-ha?’ Melissa asked.
‘Lois married the boy, there was a baby from what I remember. But then nothing. I stopped seeing them around the village.’
‘That’s right,’ said Bill, his memory triggered by his wife’s recollection. ‘The trio became a taboo subject around here. Mr Charleston wouldn’t speak about them if anyone asked and then they were gone.’
‘I don’t suppose you know where to, do you?’
‘Not a clue, love,’ said the wife, her voice softening at the look of disappointment on Melissa’s face.
Harvey and Melissa thanked Bill and his wife again, they’d helped by at least placing Lois here. It had to be the same woman – what with the stationery letterhead, the name and the fact this was the village Barney had grown up in and left. And Melissa wouldn’t mind betting that Harvey was the boy involved in the s
o-called hoo-ha.
They ran back to the pub and dived into the truck. ‘It’s teaming down,’ Melissa shivered, her hair stuck to her face. ‘That’ll serve me right for thinking it was OK to come out in tiny shorts and not bring anything else.’
Harvey reached into the back of the truck and pulled out a jumper. ‘Here, put this on.’
‘Don’t you need it?’
He flexed his biceps. ‘No chance, I’m not soft.’
Smiling, she pulled the jumper over her head. It couldn’t live in the truck as a spare, it smelled too good for that. The wool neck scratched at her face but not in a bad way and with the engine running and the heater on, she warmed up quickly. ‘Where to from here?’ She looked across at Harvey.
‘No idea. I mean, at least now we know Lois was here, there was some trouble, and you can bet money that trouble involved Barney.’
‘My thoughts exactly.’
He looked across at her when she picked up her phone again. ‘What are you up to?’
Her hair kept niggling at her face so she hooked it behind her ears as she investigated any connection she could think of. ‘I’m searching Charleston combinations – with the name Lois, with the words charity or philanthropic, with Barney’s name too. Just a feeling I’ve got.’
Harvey put the truck into reverse and negotiated his way between a couple of shabbily parked cars before pulling out onto the road to take them out of Leafbourne.
Harvey didn’t need directions as it was much easier to head for Heritage Cove than it had been to come up here, and as he drove Melissa kept on searching on her phone. The rain hammered down, the windscreen wipers swished away at the highest speed they could go, and her neck began to ache from looking down at the screen.
‘Take a break, it can wait,’ said Harvey as they enjoyed a journey with practically no traffic.
Frustrated, she leaned back against the seat, shutting her eyes to try to imagine the Barney in the photograph and Lois, his beautiful bride, and what trouble could possibly have been brewing for them to split up and have one half of a very happy-looking couple never speak about it again. She thought about Lois, the strict upbringing she’d faced with relatives, the loss of parents at such a young age. Melissa knew how angry she was that her own parents had been snatched away but at least she’d been an adult when it happened. It didn’t make it less painful of course but she’d had extra years that Lois would never have experienced. Then you had Harvey, whose home life hadn’t been happy at all with a father who tormented him, a mother who needed to get out but couldn’t, a brother who’d gone off the rails and was no longer in touch with his own family. She sneaked a glance across at Harvey as he concentrated on the road and realised she’d been lucky to have such wonderful parents in her life for so many years. They’d been a happy family too. And for that she was grateful.
Coming Home to Heritage Cove Page 21
