Blame it on the Moonlight

by Emily Harvale

  Luna nodded and smiled. ‘It is my speciality.’

  ‘Yes. I saw your pictures last night. They’re fabulous. We’re thinking of getting one for our new kitchen, so let us know when you have some for sale. I know the ones in the restaurant are just for display purposes.’

  ‘They belong to Mason. If you’re serious, I can show you my portfolio at some stage. I’ve got a lot of stuff on its way from Spain, but all my artwork is saved on my laptop, so just say the word.’

  ‘Fancy joining us in Snowflake Inn?’ Darren asked. ‘We can chat about it over a drink.’

  ‘Thanks. Another time? The moon’s almost full and I really want to get some shots before it clouds over again.’

  ‘Sure. Anytime,’ Juniper said. ‘We’re in there most nights. God. That makes us sound like bar-flys. We’re not, honestly, but all our friends are there so …’ She shrugged. ‘Anyway. You know where to find us. Good luck with the photos. Can’t wait to see them.’

  They said their goodbyes and Luna set up her camera by the edge of the channel separating the mainland from Snowflake Isle. She watched Juniper and Darren as they crossed the ancient wooden bridge, now a silvery-brown as moonlight washed over it. They stopped halfway across and stood, arm-in-arm gazing down into the sparkling water below.

  It was the perfect picture and Luna took several shots, making sure to get not just the moon, the bridge and Juniper and Darren in the centre, but also the beams of silver-white, splayed out across the grass, the cobbles and the water.

  They would buy one of the photos she had taken, she was sure of that. And if they wanted, she could adjust the filters, the colours and any part of the image with her photo enhancing software. She wouldn’t do that for everyone, but she would do it for a friend. And she already thought of Juniper and Darren as friends.

  Pleased with those shots, she turned her lens towards the inn and took several shots of that. Then of the cottages behind her, and the hills beyond. She spent a very happy and satisfying hour clicking away, surrounded by the sounds of the waves bubbling against the inlets of Snowflake Isle, and the occasional squawk of a gull overhead. It was a still night and not as cold, which surprised her, but she was wrapped up against the elements, just in case.

  She was enjoying herself and wasn’t ready to go home. The last bus into Michaelmas Bay had long since left but it wasn’t far to walk and it was such a beautiful night. She packed away her tripod and hung her camera strap over her shoulder. There would be more photo opportunities on the way.

  Perhaps she would pop in to one of the pubs in town and soak up some local atmosphere. She had no problem doing things on her own. She was independent and she liked her own company. Sitting in a pub alone didn’t bother her. Even if it did sometimes seem to bother other people. But after meeting Chris this afternoon she didn’t fancy sitting in a pub watching other people having fun.

  Maybe she should have accepted Chris’ offer this afternoon in the café. He had asked her if she’d like to join him for a drink tonight. She had been tempted, very tempted, but something held her back. Instead, she had taken his number and told him that she’d call. He had asked for hers and she had smiled.

  ‘I’m not one of those women who likes to sit and wait for her phone to ring,’ she told him. ‘I’ll call you instead.’

  ‘So I have to sit and wait for mine to ring? Is that fair?’

  ‘Suck it up, mister,’ she teased. ‘Women have been doing it for years. It’s your turn now.’

  ‘That’s OK. I can take it. I’m cool.’ He pulled out his phone and checked the screen. ‘You haven’t called yet. Not that I’m panicking or anything. I know you’ll call. You said you would. You will, won’t you?’ He pulled a face.

  She laughed and so did he.

  ‘I’ll call. I promise.’

  ‘I hope so. This was fun. I like you, Luna Blake. And I’ll never curse the rain again. Unless you don’t call me. In which case, I’ll swear and scream and shout and never go out in the rain until the day I die. But you’ll call. So it’ll be fine.’ He grinned. ‘And now you’re wondering where I’ve hidden my axe, aren’t you? Don’t worry. I’m not crazy. But I think, in a very short space of time, I could be crazy about you.’

  He looked into her eyes, as rain bounced off the cobbles outside, and the smell of cake fresh from the oven and coffee bubbling in a pot, wafted around them and he leant forward and kissed her softly on the lips.

  It took her completely by surprise – and sent a thrill to parts of her that hadn’t been thrilled for quite a while.

  ‘Yes,’ he said, leaning back in his chair, his gaze still firmly fixed on her and a rather sexy smile fixed on his lips. ‘I could definitely be crazy about you.’

  And she could probably be crazy about him.

  If she hadn’t already been half in love with someone else.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Logan held open the door to the staff toilet whilst Lucy, one of his waitresses, rushed in. And she only just made it. Logan had seen projectile vomiting in his time, but Lucy’s display was something he would not forget in a hurry. Today was clearly not his day. It had been one thing after another, and to top things off, he had not seen or heard from Severine.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it, Lucy,’ he said, as gently as he could. ‘But I strongly suggest you go home and go to bed.’

  ‘No. I’ll be …’

  She clearly wasn’t fine – assuming that was what she was going to say before the force of nature intervened. He let the door swing shut and got her a glass of water, returning moments later and softly tapping on the door.

  ‘May I come in?’

  He took the grunt as a yes and quietly pushed the door open. She turned her ashen face to look at him and he handed her the glass.

  ‘Please go home, Lucy.’ He watched her drink a few mouthfuls.

  She shook her head very slowly. ‘But the restaurant is fully booked tonight.’

  ‘Let me worry about the restaurant. You go home, or I’ll be worrying about you too. No. I don’t want to hear any argument. I’m calling your dad to come and get you.’

  ‘OK,’ she said, and quickly turned her head and vomited again.

  He let the door go, pulled his phone from his trouser pocket and called her parents to tell them she was sick.

  ‘That’ll be the effects of last night,’ her dad said, in a vaguely amused fashion.

  ‘I didn’t see Lucy drink much,’ Logan replied.

  ‘Not at your party, no. But she went clubbing afterwards and heaven alone knows what time she got home this morning.’

  ‘She looks pretty grim. She shouldn’t have come to work.’

  ‘She didn’t want to let you down. Perhaps she’ll learn a lesson from this, but I wouldn’t count on it. We were all her age once.’

  ‘Tell her not to come back until she’s better.’

  ‘Thanks, Logan. Will you be able to cope tonight without her?’

  ‘Yeah. It’ll be fine. See you when you come to pick her up.’

  ‘I’m on my way.’

  Logan rang off and shoved his phone back in his pocket. Now he was a waitress down and the restaurant was fully booked. He didn’t have any back-up staff, which was pretty dumb, considering, and he didn’t know anyone who could help. He could hardly phone Severine and ask her to step in. Evie would, but Snowflake Inn was packed and even though the inn now had a full complement of staff, he couldn’t expect Evie to drop everything and come running to his aid. Juniper might, but she could talk the hind leg off a donkey and would probably get all the orders wrong, even with the most up-to-date technology the restaurant was using. He didn’t have a choice. He’d have to call his mum. Before he had the chance, a resounding crash of pans made his heart race and he dashed to the kitchen to see what drama was occurring now.

  Thankfully, it was nothing serious. The pans were empty and were soon picked up, washed and put back on their shelves. They weren’t dirty and the floor was spotless but standar
ds had to be maintained. No sooner had that been done than the high-tech and hugely expensive coffee machine on the bar started leaking water on to the floor. Luckily for him, his sous-chef knew how to fix it and another disaster was averted with only fifteen minutes or so to spare until the restaurant was due to open for the evening. At least all the tables were set and everything was ready. He was just about to call his mum when someone tapped on the door.

  ‘Luna!’ he said, despite the fact she couldn’t hear him. He put the phone down, hurried to the door and unlocked it. ‘Hello, Luna. This is a lovely surprise.’

  ‘Hi. Um. Do you need me?’

  ‘Sorry?’ He didn’t understand the question and she didn’t look too pleased to be asking it. She was looking everywhere but at him. ‘Do I what?’

  ‘Need me. I just saw Lucy, one of your waitresses from last night, and it’s obvious she’s going home.’

  ‘Er. Yes, she’s sick.’

  ‘I gathered that much from the fact she just threw up over some man’s car. So, do you need help?’

  ‘Oh dear. That was her dad’s. He won’t be pleased. Um. Yes, I need help. I was about to call my mum.’

  She gave him an odd look. ‘Is your mum a waitress?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well I am.’

  ‘You’re an artist.’

  ‘I’m also a waitress. Or at least I was. I worked at a Tapas Bar in our village.’

  ‘Seriously?’

  ‘Yes. So do you want me or not?’

  ‘Oh God, yes, I want you! You cannot begin to imagine how much I want you.’

  He saw the expression on her face and the flush of her cheeks, and heard the burst of laughter coming from a couple of the staff behind him. Only then did he realise what he’d said – and just how loudly he’d said it.

  ‘Do you have a spare uniform? I look a bit rough.’

  He looked her up and down. She looked sensational to him, but he had to agree that walking boots, jeans, and a thick jumper, just visible beneath her weatherproof jacket, were not what he wanted his waitresses to wear.

  ‘I honestly don’t know. I’ll have a look in my office. I think there may be some spare uniforms in there. Sorry. Come in. And thanks so much for this. You may very well have saved my life. And I’ll pay you, obviously.’

  ‘I don’t want your money. This is a one-off favour.’

  ‘Oh. OK. Well then, you must come and have dinner one night. My treat.’

  ‘We’ll see. The uniform?’

  ‘Yes. The uniform. Sorry. I’m not thinking straight. Follow me.’

  He led her to his office and thanked his lucky stars that there were a couple of skirts and blouses hanging up in plastic covers. He remembered now that his mum had ordered extra, just in case.

  ‘That should fit,’ Luna said, pointing to the blouse he was holding. ‘And this skirt.’ She took it from the rail. ‘It might be a bit big. But a belt will do the trick. Where can I get changed?’

  ‘In here.’

  ‘Then would you mind leaving me for a few minutes, please?’

  ‘Sorry. Of course. I’ll be downstairs. Thanks again, Luna. This means a lot.’

  ‘I’m happy to help.’

  He stopped at the door and turned. ‘Um. I know this is none of my business, but I thought you didn’t know anyone here before yesterday? Other than Mason, of course.’

  She frowned. ‘I didn’t.’

  ‘Oh. I could’ve sworn I saw you today. With Chris Lyons. From the bookshop. Holding hands. And kissing.’ He closed his eyes for a nano-second. Shit. Why had he said that? And in such a robotic fashion. He hadn’t meant to mention it. What was wrong with him lately?

  She gasped. ‘You saw the kiss?’

  He nodded. ‘I saw the kiss.’

  ‘Oh.’ She looked at the floor.

  ‘Did you meet him last night? That was pretty quick work.’ He hadn’t meant it to sound sarcastic, but he knew it had.

  Her head shot up and she glared at him. ‘At least he’s not engaged. And neither of us is pregnant.’

  She looked horrified.

  He was astonished.

  ‘Oh God!’ Luna said, clearly distressed. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.’

  He studied her face for a moment before shrugging his shoulders. ‘That’s OK. I shouldn’t have mentioned you and Chris. Your love life is none of my business.’

  ‘And yours is none of mine.’

  He nodded and forced a smile. ‘Friends?’

  She nodded and her smile looked as fake as his. ‘Friends.’

  ‘Right then. I’ll go before I say anything else I will regret. Come down whenever you’re ready.’

  He closed the door before she could respond, and kicked a pile of boxes in the hall, in frustration. But they weren’t empty, as he had thought. A lava-like flow of demerara sugar erupted from the hole he had made in the side of one of the boxes, and trickled on to the floor from a couple of bags that his shoe had obviously burst.

  Today was definitely not his day.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Severine went down for breakfast feeling like death warmed over. She had hardly slept a wink all night and had had the strangest dream. She had dreamt that she and Raven were living in a cottage. A cottage in a tiny village but she couldn’t quite see where. And then she had woken up and the dream had ended. Just when she had finally dozed off again, Evie burst in, telling her that Jessie wanted everyone downstairs because she had an announcement to make.

  ‘Can’t it wait till later? I think I’m suffering from delayed jet lag.’

  ‘No, you’re not.’ Evie pulled off the duvet. ‘You’ve got five minutes to get your backside out of bed and get down to the kitchen. It’s seven o’clock and the staff will be here in thirty minutes to serve the guests their breakfasts.’

  ‘Seven!’ Severine grabbed the duvet and yanked it back over her, curling herself into a ball. ‘I’m not getting up at seven in the morning. I had enough early starts at work. Gran can make her big announcement once the breakfast service is done.’

  ‘She wants to do it now. And I think you may want to hear what she has to say because she told me to tell you that it would be to your advantage.’

  Severine poked her head out and glanced at Evie. ‘She’s just saying that to get me downstairs at this ungodly hour.’

  Evie smiled. ‘I think she’s telling the truth.’

  ‘Did you say anything to her about my money issues?’

  Evie shook her head. ‘Nope. Now get out of bed or I’ll get a wet towel and drop it on you.’

  Reluctantly, Severine got up and a few minutes later, followed Evie to the kitchen.

  Besides Evie, her dad and her mum were there, and Raven and Jessie. There was no sign of either Zachary or Roggero but she was too tired to ask where they were. She sat at the table and Molly kissed her on the head, placing a mug of coffee before her.

  ‘Toast, darling?’ Molly asked, smiling cheerfully.

  Severine shook her head. ‘Just coffee. Thanks for this.’ She raised her mug and drank half its contents without stopping to take a breath, then stretched her arm out on the table and rested her head on it.

  ‘Now we’re all present and correct,’ Jessie said, throwing Severine a sidelong glance. ‘I have something I want to say. I don’t want any interruptions and I won’t be repeating it so listen carefully – and that means you, Severine.’

  ‘I’m listening!’

  ‘Then sit up straight and stop slouching across the table.’

  ‘Hell’s Bells. Give me strength.’ Severine sighed and sat up but flopped back against the chair as soon as Jessie looked away.

  ‘John, you are my only son and you know I love you with all my heart, but you’re almost as bad with money as your dear father was.’

  ‘That’s not very nice,’ said Molly, somewhat indignantly.

  ‘But it’s true,’ John said, with an affable smile.

  Molly shrugged and Jessie co
ntinued:

  ‘As I was saying. Now that I have all this money, I felt I should make plans for the future. Joshua has arranged things so that I won’t pay any taxes while I live. Don’t ask me how but there it is. All his money is offshore. Before, I would have called it devious. Now I’ll call it a wise investment decision and good money management.’

  ‘Is that legal?’ Raven asked.

  ‘Apparently, it is,’ Jessie replied. ‘Anyway, he tells me I can give each of you a small, tax free sum as a gift and I’m doing that today. Ah. I see I finally have your attention, Severine. Don’t get too excited. The tax free allowances aren’t large. But I believe in staying within the law. I’ve made a will, and you’ll each get an equal share of everything when I die, but I’m planning to stay around for many more years yet. I simply wanted you all to know that this money is as much yours as it is mine and my dear, departed William’s.’

  Everyone said, ‘Thank you,’ in unison, and Jessie smiled.

  ‘And there’s something else. And I want everyone to hear this. Severine, I don’t know what your plans are for the future, and I’m not convinced you have any idea yourself, but I know your family, including me, would like you here more often. This inn is busy now, thanks in no small part to Zachary and his show. Raven has a room here. So does Evie. Zachary has one room booked on a permanent basis for himself. Roggero is here, although he’s going to move to Michaelmas Bay shortly, I understand. You should have a room here too, Severine, but the way this is going, the inn will be half full of members of this family and their loved ones – or former loved ones. So I’ve decided that it’s a good idea for me to invest in some other property, both in Michaelmas Bay and in Snowflake Cove.’

  ‘What other property is there in Snowflake Cove?’ Evie asked.

  ‘The Beadleshaws are putting their cottage on the market. They want a quick sale and I’ve told them I will buy it. We’re instructing solicitors this morning.’

  ‘The Beadleshaws?’ Evie said. ‘I didn’t know they were thinking of moving.’

  Molly nodded. ‘It’s true. They told us yesterday evening in the bar. What with everything else going on yesterday, I completely forgot to mention it last night before we all went up to bed.’