Autumn Antics: Escape to the seaside with the perfect autumn read! (The Boardwalk by the Sea Book 2)

by Georgina Troy

  She went downstairs to join him. “Morning, cheerful,” she said, watching him butter his toast and wash up his knife afterwards.

  He picked up his mug of tea and plate, giving her a wide smile. “Good morning to you. Want a cuppa?”

  Bella shook her head and stepped back to let him pass. “No, you go and eat, I’ll make my own tea. Anyway, I thought you were going to Sacha’s café this morning with Betty and Mum?”

  He took a sip of his drink and nodded. “I am, but it’s only just opened. Your mum isn’t down yet either. I thought I’d wait for her to surface. She seemed tired last night, which isn’t surprising when you think how far she’s travelled.” He lowered his voice, “And knowing Claire, she will have travelled as cheaply as possible.”

  He was right. “She probably took twice as long to get here too because of it.”

  “I presumed the two of you were chatting into the small hours,” he said. “So I didn’t want to disturb her just yet.” He took a bite of his toast and went to sit down at the log burner which, Bella noticed, was still just about alight. “Want me to pop in another log?”

  She nodded. “May as well. Mum is used to a much warmer climate and I don’t want her to have to come downstairs to a cold room.”

  She went to the worktop and put a couple of pieces of left-over cabbage loaf into the toaster, before leaning against the door frame to watch him.

  “What have you got planned for today then?” Jack brushed crumbs off his sweatshirt onto the rug. “Damn.”

  “Leave it,” she said, noticing him trying to pick up the crumbs. “Never mind me. How did last night go? You weren’t back by the time Mum and I went to bed.” She hesitated briefly. “We were a little concerned for you both.”

  “It was a bit of a performance, checking his boat was secure, but we sorted it out in the end. We got chatting afterwards, which is really what delayed me.”

  Irritated to have spent an almost sleepless night fretting about him, Bella said, “You could have sent us a text or something to let us know you were both okay.”

  “Yes, sorry. I only thought of that when I was nearly back at the cottage and then you were both asleep, so I crept in.”

  Bella didn’t like to tell him that she had been awake for hours. “You must have been very quiet, for once.”

  “I was,” he said, studying her face. “I didn’t want to wake either of you. You okay?”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” she said, biting back a retort. “Anyway, enough about that. I’ll be moving things around today and will need to vacuum afterwards, so don’t worry about crumbs.” Smelling her toast burning, she rushed back to turn off the toaster and rescue it. “I’ve got a market to go to. The Autumn Market at The Oaks,” she shouted. “I’m sorting out the bits I’m taking there this morning, then taking the big things like dressers, a desk and some chairs there this afternoon,” she added, buttering her toast and pouring on runny honey bought from the previous market she’d taken part in.

  She made her tea and then went to join him in the living room.

  “Will they be safe leaving them there overnight?”

  Bella nodded. “The barn where my stuff will hopefully be sold is locked each evening. Tomorrow, I’ll go up early with the vintage suitcases packed with my smaller goods.”

  “Will you need a hand taking stuff there?”

  Bella pictured Lexi’s relieved reaction if she didn’t have to help lift the heavier items. “That would be brilliant,” she said, forgetting her annoyance at him.

  “Shall I ask Lexi if we can borrow that estate car of hers to transport everything?” He put the final piece of crust into his mouth and chewed.

  “I’m sure she won’t mind, as long as her dad’s not using it to deliver his paintings to clients.”

  “Great. I’ll go up and see her at her cottages, then I can collect it at the same time, if it’s available. I’m free all day to do anything you need me to.” He stood and walked through to the kitchen. “The only plan I have is treating your mum and Betty to breakfast, but after that I’m all yours, if you want me?”

  She knew what she would have liked to answer but resisted. “That would be great, thanks, Jack.”

  “I’ll go and check on Betty,” he said, “but I’ll be back soon.”

  After finishing her breakfast, Bella heard her mother humming in the shower. She checked her watch, relieved. She didn’t want Betty, who she knew to be an early riser, to have to wait too long for her breakfast.

  She washed up her plate and cup just as footsteps came down the wooden staircase.

  “Morning, Mum,” she called, wiping up her plate at the bottom of the stairs. “Sleep well?”

  “Wonderfully,” Claire said, smiling. “Is Jack back?”

  “He is. He’s gone to Betty’s, but he’ll be back in no time. I’ll quickly jump in the shower.”

  Ten minutes later, Bella joined Claire in the living room. She was pleased to note that her mother did look more refreshed than she had the previous evening. “You ready to go?”

  “I am,” Claire said, pulling on a brightly coloured knitted jacket. “I’ve been looking forward to this. I can’t remember the last time I ate a proper English breakfast. It’s going to be a treat.”

  “It is,” Bella said, wishing now that she had accepted Jack’s invitation to join them.

  “You’re not coming with us?”

  “No.” Bella placed her place in the rack above the sink. “I’m sorely tempted to but have a market tomorrow and really need to get on and sort out what bits I’m taking.”

  Jack opened the front door and beamed at Claire. “Good morning, lovely lady,” he said. “Ready for the off?”

  “I am,” she said, stopping to kiss Bella on the cheek before joining Jack at the front door. “Let’s go. I’m famished.”

  “Me, too,” Jack said, linking arms with her. “Last chance to change your mind and join us,” he grinned, tempting Bella in more ways than one.

  “No, thanks. I’ll see you both later. Enjoy.”

  He closed the door behind them. Bella listened to her mother’s giggles as Jack chatted to her. She was grateful to him for giving her mother something fun to do on her first day at the boardwalk. She felt guilty that she would be working today and tomorrow and not giving her mother her undivided attention. But times were hard, and she didn’t seem to get booked for her hand modelling work as often as she used to. The markets brought in some income, as did her tiny antique business and having lodgers, but she needed to keep on top of it and carefully watch every penny she spent.

  She didn’t have time to think about it now, though. She had a market stall to prepare for and needed to choose which items Jack could help her take to The Oaks.

  Bella set to work, marking each item with a price that she knew most market goers would hope she’d bring down. She knew from experience that buyers enjoyed seeing larger items and settled on an art deco walnut dressing table. She had fallen in love with the item after seeing it at an elderly friend of her nan’s who’d had to move into a home and sell most of her precious furniture.

  Bella thought of her meeting with the old lady and how she had had to hold back her emotions when pricing up the items in her house in town.

  “I’ve lived here all my married life,” she had said with less emotion than Bella, it seemed. “I don’t mind down-sizing, but this is the only part that I find difficult. My Brian bought me most of these bits for anniversaries and the like. But this is my favourite piece.”

  She had waved Bella through to her bedroom where, against the furthest wall, was a fine piece that, although to some it might look like a small occasional table with its fine straight legs and unadorned wood, Bella knew from a similar piece she had seen years ago in an auction, was a dressing table.

  “Open it,” the old lady had said, proud and excited to be able to show it to someone new.

  Bella had put down her notepad and pen and walked over to stand in front of it. She�
�d carefully lifted the top to reveal a mirror attached underneath. Then, sliding the mirrors aside she revealed a neat array of crystal boxes and bottles, each with a solid silver lid monogrammed with a G. Bella had gasped at the neat array of crystal boxes and bottles, each with a solid silver lid monogrammed with a G.

  “That’s for my name, Grace,” the old lady had told Bella, her eyes shining suspiciously, as if she was about to cry.

  “These are magical,” Bella had whispered. “Please can I lift one out and look at it?”

  “Help yourself, my dear.”

  She’d chosen a flat round container and, after lifting it from its designated area in the dressing table, took off the lid and smiled. “It still has the powderpuff inside, and face powder.”

  Grace had nodded. “It does. I always used it when I was going to a dance or anywhere special and wanted to be made up to look my best,” she’d said, thoughtfully “Those were the days. We used to go out to dinner dances and parties every week back then.” She’d stared at the glass box in Bella’s hand. “I miss those days, if I’m honest.”

  “I can always take you out,” Bella had said, replacing the container carefully into its crafted holder. “I can’t promise you dancing, but we can always go out for dinner.”

  Grace had raised her left hand and held it against Bella’s cheek. “You’re a good girl, you are. Your nan always said you were the sweetest girl, and she was right.”

  Since then, Bella had taken Grace out only once, and she’d then moved into the home and met new friends and insisted that she was happiest staying in with them.

  Bella suspected that Grace was trying to be kind and not be a burden and so had tried on several occasions to persuade her to accompany her out, but the answer had always been a kind no.

  Bella took a deep breath and decided that as much as she hated parting from the dressing table, it was rather magnificent and should sell quickly. It would have to be taken to the market. Next, she looked at a matching wardrobe that Grace had also sold her, wishing she could keep them both for a time in the future when she could afford to replace her own bedroom furniture with items as luxurious as these. Now, though, especially as she didn’t have Alessandro’s rent coming in, she needed hard cash. Her eye was drawn by the headboard and two matching walnut bedside cabinets.

  “Damn,” she said, stroking the dressing table and wishing she didn’t have to try and sell it. “Never mind, they are only things, and if Grace has the balls to part with them, then I really haven’t got any reason not to.”

  Thinking of Grace and her determination to rid herself of all that she couldn’t take with her Bella braced herself and pressed on.

  An hour later her mother and Jack came back from the café. She heard them giggling outside the front door before either of them entered.

  “Tasty breakfast?” Bella asked, sitting back on her haunches from where she had been rummaging around in a wooden linen chest.

  “The best,” her mum said, coming over to see what she was doing. “What’s in there?”

  “Nothing exciting,” Bella said, lifting out some fabrics that had been in the chest since it arrived. “The owner never emptied it and I haven’t had a moment to before now.”

  “Well, let’s have a look at them, then.” Claire reached down to pull out a piece of striped fabric. Holding it up to inspect it, she frowned. “This isn’t very exciting. I wonder why anyone thought to keep it?”

  “No idea,” Bella said. “I can’t even remember who I bought it from. It’s been at the back of this lot for a couple of years. No one has ever shown any interest, but I think the chest is James I, so it’s very old.”

  “The wood is too heavy and dark,” Claire said. “I suppose everyone wants lighter furniture now. This is very unfashionable.”

  “I know,” Bella agreed, sighing. “It’s such a shame. People will pay hundreds of pounds for something that will only last a few years but overlook beautifully hand-crafted pieces like this one. They’re useful, too.”

  Jack came over to see what they were talking about. “I see what you mean,” he said. “If you can’t sell it, why don’t you keep it and put it to some use?”

  She would love to, but there wasn’t any spare room in this tiny cottage. Bella told him and added, “I can’t believe I haven’t cleared it out before now. I just forgot all this was inside the chest.”

  “Well, there’s no time like right now,” Jack said. “Pass that material over to me and let’s have a proper look at it. You can then either sell it, or use it for something. Are you going to sell the chest tomorrow?”

  “I’ll certainly try,” Bella said, lifting a few samples of the material out and handing them to him. “There’s more,” she said, peering inside, surprised. “And more.”

  Claire began looking through the material. “Hey, some of this is from the fifties and sixties,” she said, excitement in her voice. “I’m sure you’ll find lots of people who want to buy it. Everyone seems keen on upcycling furniture now, and re-covering chairs and the like.”

  She was right. Bella’s spirits soared when she’d finished unloading the chest and inspected the materials her mother was indicating. Each sample was covered in different patterns, each with blues and yellows, greens and yellows, and reds and blacks.

  “They are spectacular,” she said, delighted. “You’re right, these will be very popular. I’ll have to check up on the correct asking price for them,” she added, thoughtfully. “I don’t want to over or under charge people.”

  “What will they do with them?” Jack asked, studying one with a confused frown on his face. “I can’t see that this material is strong enough to be used for seating on chairs.”

  Claire laughed. “Not everyone is as heavy as you. I’ve seen the way you land on chairs rather than take a seat.”

  He pulled a face at her. “Not all of us are dainty little creatures like you two, are they?”

  Bella checked through each one. She suspected she had at least twenty-two samples and wondered what the previous owner had collected them for. “Maybe she was a seamstress?” she suggested. “I think though, that if I don’t sell them, then maybe I could make some curtains and matching cushions. Then sell the sets at future markets.” She raised her eyebrows and looked at her mum for reassurance.

  “Sounds like a good plan,” Claire agreed.

  “Where do you want me to put them?” Jack asked.

  “I suppose we’d better put them back in the chest for now,” Bella said, surveying her messy room. “This place really is too small for anything to be out of place.

  “What else are you thinking of taking to the market?” Claire asked, looking from one of Bella’s treasures to the next. “There is so much to choose from here.”

  “I know.” Bella put her hands on her hips and stared from a silver candlestick, to bookcases and vases. “I suppose I’ll take a mixture of styles and items. Some candlesticks, vases, a couple of chairs.”

  “Costume jewellery?” Claire asked, picking up a jet opera necklace from a display box next to her.

  “Yes, that always sells well.” Bella spotted some velvet-framed pictures resting on the mantlepiece. “I love those,” she said. “I only bought them a few months ago. They’re painted on copper and are a matching pair. Each telling a story. What do you think?”

  “They’re lovely,” Claire said. “Though not my style, but I can see why someone would appreciate them.”

  “Right, shall I grab some boxes and help you pack these things up then?” Jack asked.

  “Good plan,” Bella said. “I’ll choose the items and pass them to you and Mum to pack, if that’s okay.”

  They spent an hour packing, and then moving furniture around so that the bedroom suite Bella had decided to take to the market was easy to manoeuvre out of the cottage and into the car later on.

  Finally finished, Claire puffed out her cheeks. “Well that was an effort,” she said. “I don’t know how you do all this by yourself whe
n we’re not here.”

  “It just takes longer, that’s all.” Bella couldn’t help feeling amused at their surprise that she usually did this alone. “Sometimes Lexi or Jools come and help me, and Sacha when she’s free.”

  “I couldn’t do this for a living,” her mum said.

  “I love buying and selling antiques and this comes with the territory,” Bella said.

  “How about a walk on the beach for a breather,” Jack said. “I can go and fetch Lexi’s car and help you load this lot?”

  “Good idea,” Claire said. “Better wear a coat and scarf, it’s nippy out there today despite the sun.”

  Coats and scarves on, Bella and Jack stepped out from the warmth of the untidy cottage to the boardwalk waiting for her mother to join them.

  Bella breathed in the salty cold air and held it in her lungs for a few seconds, relishing the soothing qualities it released inside her. “I couldn’t bear to live anywhere else, do you know that?”

  “I think this will be warm enough,” Claire said buttoning up her jacket and smiling as she stared out to sea.

  “I think so.” Bella noticed she hadn’t bothered to shut the front door behind her, so went and pulled the door closed, locking it. “Mum, it might be safer here than most places,” she said. “But we can’t go out and leave our front doors open nowadays.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart, I’ll be sure to remember next time.” Claire bent to pick up a small piece of driftwood at the top of the granite steps before descending to the beach. “I always dreamt about leaving, and going as far away from this place as possible,” she said, brushing sand from the wood which was rounded by its time in the sea. “I couldn’t wait to find some fun and reinvent myself.”

  Bella and Jack joined her at the bottom of the stairs, and Bella caught Jack looking sad. She watched as he walked slightly ahead, hands pushed into his pockets, head down, staring at the wet sand.

  Bella supposed his sadness was caused by his issues with Nicki and wondered what must have been said the evening before when they had met for a chat. She yearned to put her arms around him and give him a hug; to put a smile back on his handsome face, but knew she couldn’t do it without him realizing she had a bit of a crush on him. He looked up and caught her watching him, and immediately smiled. Taking his hands out of his pockets, he reached down to pick up a piece of opaque blue glass.