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

by Georgina Troy

  “We do have the Internet here, you know,” she said, indignant that he was making her home sound like some backwater. “We all use mobile phones here. I don’t see how her being on the island is going to keep her from making trouble.”

  “We have a better chance of her not being found if she’s there though,” he said. “You’re used to celebrities being over there on Jersey.”

  “We say in Jersey, actually. And we’re more used to people who’ve done something to become famous than the five-minute celebs like Megan.”

  He groaned. “Are you going to help me with this, or not.”

  “No.” There, she’d said it. Relieved, Bella smiled at her mum for the first time that day.

  “Pulease, Bella.”

  Bugger. He wasn’t going to give up, Bella thought, her mood dropping again. “Why should I?”

  “Come on, Bella,” he pleaded in a singsong voice that wasn’t nearly as enticing as he probably imagined it to be. “I’ll never ask anything of you again. I’ll make sure you go to the top of my list of hand models in the future, too.”

  “For this you’d better,” she said, the thought of further lucrative work from him helping to lower her resolve. “Anyway, where am I supposed to put her? My cottage is already full and…” She was about to add that she had no idea where Megan could stay, when he spoke.

  “We’ll pay you, very well. It’s just for a few days. A week, tops.”

  She realized that this could help Lexi out. Her cottages were almost certainly empty at this time of year, and both she and her friend needed extra cash. She pretended to consider his offer. “I’m not sure. How much were you willing to pay?”

  He named a figure, then before she could answer, doubled it.

  “I’ll have to get back to you with the cost of the accommodation,” she said. “If Megan wants to be inconspicuous, then you’ll need to ensure the other two cottages are kept empty.”

  “You’re a hard taskmaster to have, Bella. Do you know that?” He sounded relieved and amused by her bartering with him.

  “Fine. Give me an hour to see what I can do, and I’ll call you back. When would she be arriving?”

  “Private plane, 10 a.m. tomorrow.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. He must have given some indication to his girlfriend, who she had discovered was also Megan’s agent, that Bella had agreed because there was a loud triumphant whoop in the background.

  She switched off her phone and grabbed her coat. “Won’t be long, Mum,” she said as she ran out of the door.

  ◆◆◆

  “Who?” Lexi asked, looking as confused as Bella expected someone who didn’t read magazines or watch television to look.

  “She’s the latest reality TV star to hit the papers,” she explained. “She was in a series called Love ’Em or Leave ’Em. I never watched it, but Betty loves it. Apparently, the contest—”

  “I don’t care,” Lexi broke in. “I’m not having one of those weirdos staying at my cottages.”

  She didn’t like to ask how Lexi could be so against Megan if she hadn’t even watched her on television. “They’re full then?” she asked, knowing they weren’t. Lexi shook her head slowly, her short, black pixie haircut making her look nineteen, rather than twenty-nine. “And don’t tell me you couldn’t do with the cash.”

  “Why’s he paying you, if the girl is staying with me?”

  “Because I’m locating somewhere for her to stay. A sort of finder’s fee, if you like.”

  Lexi widened her eyes. “Hah, good for you. But, if she’s any trouble you can come and sort her out.”

  Relieved to have good news for Abel, Bella hugged her friend. “Thanks, Lex. I owe you one.”

  “Don’t be daft. You’ve done me a favour. Tell me what you know about her.”

  “I will,” said Bella. “And I’ll tell you what I need you to do when she gets to Jersey.”

  ◆◆◆

  The following morning at 10.15 a.m., a car with blacked out windows dropped Megan at the fisherman’s cottages. Bella thought the least she could do for her friend was wait with her for Megan to arrive, and introduce them. She glanced at Lexi and could see that her friend was as anxious as she was to see how the next few days would pan out.

  The driver parked the car and got out. He opened the rear door nearest Lexi and Bella and for a few seconds nothing happened. Bella wondered if maybe Megan had changed her mind about coming, but then reasoned that the driver wouldn’t have wasted his time coming here, if she had.

  Eventually, a long spray-tanned leg appeared, followed by another one, and then the woman they’d both been waiting for.

  “She must have a month’s worth of make-up on and that’s just her legs,” Lexi whispered. “If she’s supposed to be incognito, why all the slap?”

  “Shush, we’re supposed to be greeting her, not judging her,” Bella said, wondering whether she’d done the right thing by agreeing to let Megan stay at the cottages.

  “I’m guessing not much happens around here,” Megan said, pouting as she gazed at the three white-painted buildings before turning her back on them to look at the view. She appeared not to recognize Bella. “What’s down there?” she asked, pointing towards the sea, and the boardwalk running along in front of it.

  Bella explained. “I live down there, in the blue cottage called The Bee Hive. There’s also the Summer Sundaes Beach Café, run by our friend Sacha, and the Isola Bella gelateria run by her boyfriend.”

  “Hmm.”

  Lexi stepped forward, her hand outstretched. “Hi, I’m Lexi,” she said. “These are my cottages and they’re all vacant, so you won’t be disturbed. I’ve made the middle one up for you.”

  Megan ignored her outstretched hand and glared at the driver as he unloaded two huge suitcases, a smaller case and a designer handbag. “I suppose I’m stuck here now,” she said, as he reversed the car onto the hill and drove away at speed.

  “It’s not so bad,” Lexi said, frowning. “There’s wood for the log burner, so you’ll be nice and warm in the cottage and there’s a TV in there, too.”

  Megan stared at her as if she was an idiot.

  A spot of rain landed on Bella’s forehead. “Come along,” she said, waving for Megan to follow. “Let’s get your things inside.” She began dragging the first case into the cottage and Lexi followed with the second one. “Er, you can bring the rest of your stuff unless you want it to get wet.”

  Lexi gave Bella a meaningful glance as they entered the cottage. “I foresee fun ahead,” she said, not bothering to hide her dislike of her new guest.

  Megan stomped in behind them, slamming her smaller case down in the tiny hallway. “How the hell am I supposed to stay here for the next few days? There is literally like nothing to do.”

  Not wishing Lexi to get irritated and tell Megan to bugger off, Bella smiled and tried to jolly the other two along. “Let’s get your cases upstairs and then we can see about finding a way to keep you entertained.”

  Two minutes later, as they struggled into the bedroom, there was a knock at the door.

  “They can’t have discovered me here already, surely?” Megan appeared delighted at the prospect. “What will I say to them?”

  Bella wasn’t sure who ‘they’ were, but went to find out. Lexi blocked the doorway. “No, it’s fine. You stay here and help your friend. I’ll see who it is.”

  Hearing Jack’s deep voice downstairs, Bella’s mood immediately lifted.

  “Ooh, who’s that?” Megan asked leaving the room without waiting for Bella to reply. “Hi, my name’s Megan,” Bella heard her saying seconds later, in a flirtatious tone.

  By the time she’d reached the bottom of the stairs, Megan already had Jack’s right hand in a vice-like grip and was kissing him on the cheek. She seemed much happier.

  Jack looked over her blonde head at Bella. “Your mum said you were up here and I needed to ask you something.” He moved away from Megan, only for her to stand next to hi
m again.

  “Looks like it might not be so boring, after all,” she said, looking up at him under her false eyelashes.

  Jack looked confused. “Er, Bella? Can I have a quick word?”

  Amused to be the one rescuing him, she followed him outside. “What’s the matter?”

  “Was that what’s her name? From the papers? From the dating show?”

  “Yes, yes and yes.”

  “Why is she in Lexi’s cottage?”

  Bella explained about Abel’s call for help. “It’s helping Lexi and me out of a tight spot financially,” she said. “Mind you, I think we’re both going to have to work for it.”

  “You could be right. She looks a right handful. Um, that is…”

  Bella laughed. “It’s fine, I know what you mean.” She stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “You’re right, she is.”

  “Poor Lex.”

  “Poor you, too,” she said, enjoying teasing him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re going to have to help Lexi and me entertain her.” She raised her hand to stop him arguing. “We can’t leave Lexi to do this alone. You saw what Megan’s like, and you only met her for a few minutes, if that.”

  He nodded. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”

  “We’ve got to stop her from going on social media. Her manager has arranged a hefty fee for an exclusive from her. Abel called again this morning and said that we’ve only got to do this until the interview tomorrow. Karina Pierce is the journalist coming to speak to Megan. She, her photographer and a stylist will be arriving with Megan’s manager on the red-eye tomorrow morning. They’ve sent Megan here today to keep her away from the paparazzi camping out at her mum’s home, where she’s been staying. We can relax after that.”

  “That’s no problem,” he said, grinning at her.

  “What?”

  “I hope this is going to be as simple as you’re expecting,” he said, shaking his head.

  Bella frowned at him. “It’ll be fine. I’m going to ask Sacha to supply us with food and drink. Mum can come up later and take over from me and Lexi for a bit.” She caught Jack laughing quietly. “I don’t know why you’re so amused, it’s you she’s taken a liking to, so she’s going to want you here as much as possible.”

  “I have my limits,” he said. “Anyway, I promised Nicki I’d meet her in the pub later for a chat about something. She said it was important.”

  Bella’s cheerful mood vanished. “Have you any idea what it could be about?”

  He shook his head.

  “Come along, you two,” Megan said, opening the front door and pretending to shiver. “It’s freezing out here.”

  “Then I guess you won’t want to come down to the boardwalk to stretch your legs for a bit?” Jack said.

  “Like, yeah.”

  He glanced at Bella. “I presume we’re all going?”

  Not wishing to leave him to cope with Megan on her own, she zipped up her puffa jacket and smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it. You coming, Lexi?”

  “No, thanks,” Lexi shouted from inside. “I’ll stay here.”

  Bella didn’t blame her. She opened her mouth to say something to Megan who had disappeared inside, only to be almost bowled over by her when she flung the door open and ran out. She watched as Megan linked arms with Jack and hugged him close to her.

  “You’ll keep me warm, won’t you, Jack?” she cooed.

  Jack gave her an uncertain smile and looked back to find Bella. “You coming?” he said, reaching out for her to take hold of his hand.

  Relieved that he had thought of her, she took his hand in hers and linked arms with him, too. It was a little closer than she usually got to him, but on this occasion, it somehow didn’t seem odd. At least she wasn’t gazing up into his eyes. That would be out of character. For her, at least.

  They walked down to the boardwalk. “I’d better pull my hood down to cover my face a bit,” Megan said. “Don’t want no one spotting me. That journalist would create merry hell if I said the wrong thing to someone before she gets here.” Bella tried to tune out while Megan rattled on about the money she was going to make and the bloke she was seeing. “He’s loaded,” she heard her say. “And hot. Not my normal type. He’s more like you, Jack.” Her voice softened once again.

  “What’s this man like then, Megan?” Bella asked, assuming she should at least try to be friendly to the girl. “Where did you meet him?”

  “He’s a financier. Olly. Scottish, he is. Did I say he was worth a mint?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “We’ve only been seeing each other a week and a half, but we have a strong connection.” Bella could not imagine what they had in common. “You know? Like you and me, Jack. I knew it as soon as our eyes met up.”

  “Aw well, I’ll have to be sure I don’t upset your boyfriend then, won’t I?” Jack said, sounding relieved.

  “What he doesn’t know, and all that,” Megan giggled. Jack glanced at Bella. “Come on, show me this beach of yours then,” Megan said.

  They reached the railings. Bella breathed in the cold, salty air, relishing the freshness. “I never get tired of this place.”

  Megan looked as if she’d smelt something rotten. “I can see why it would be fun here in the summer, but it’s wet and nasty today. What is there to do?”

  “Jack surfs,” Bella said. “Don’t you?” She nudged him slightly.

  “Yes. The tide is too messy for surfing today. But when the waves are large, it’s incredible.”

  “That’s a shame, I wouldn’t mind you giving me a surfing lesson. In the summer when it’s hot, though. I can’t see myself in a bikini in weather like this,” Megan said, glowering at the breaking waves and squawking seagulls.

  “Never mind,” Jack said, widening his eyes at Bella, in relief.

  “Shall we walk on the beach?” Bella asked.

  “Nah, you’re all right. Why don’t we go back up to the cottages and have something bubbly?”

  It was better than nothing, Bella thought. “I’m not sure Lexi has anything bubbly in the fridge, but I can go and see if Sacha has a bottle of anything at the café, if you like?”

  “Go on then. Jack and I will meet you when you get back. You can sort out some food for us too, while you’re at it.”

  Irritated at Megan’s rudeness, and assumption that she was going to be at her beck and call the entire time she was on the island, Bella bit her tongue. She was relieved to have time away from the ghastly girl, and was careful not to look at Jack as she turned to leave them.

  Sacha was behind the counter when Bella entered the café. “That’s the dreaded Megan, I presume?” she whispered.

  “It is,” said Bella. “She’s horrible, but it’s not for long.”

  “It’s still too long by the look on Jack’s face,” Sacha giggled. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  Bella asked about some food, and was delighted when Sacha brought out two bottles of champagne for her to take up to the cottage.

  “Lexi needs all the help she can get to keep money coming in,” she said. “Things have gone downhill since her father was rude to some of his returning visitors.”

  “I heard about that a few weeks ago,” said Bella. “Maybe you can come up to the cottage later, when you’ve closed the café?”

  “Will do. I can’t wait to meet Megan. I watched that show, mainly to see what she got up to next. She was really entertaining,” Sacha said. “Mind you, it’s one thing watching someone on the telly, but another dealing with them in real life.”

  Bella thought back to the half an hour she’d spent watching the first episode with Sacha. “You’re not kidding,” she said, helping to pack two quiches, some salad, a cabbage loaf and the bottles of champagne in two baskets. “Blimey, these weigh a ton.”

  “I can bring one of them over later,” Sacha said. “It’ll give me a reason to come up without looking like I’m inviting myself.”

  “Brin
g my mum with you, if she wonders where I am, will you?” Bella didn’t want her mother to be left with nothing to do.

  She thanked Sacha and made her way up the hill to the cottages. Reaching the front door, red-faced and hot after the exertion of carrying the baskets, she took a moment to compose herself.

  Pressing the door handle awkwardly with her elbow, she could hear Nicki’s high-pitched voice arguing with Megan. She groaned quietly and walked in.

  “Listen to me, you little madam,” Nicki shouted, pointing a manicured nail centimetres from Megan’s nose. “If I want to speak to my boyfriend, I don’t need your bloody permission to do so.”

  “Shuuuut uppp,” Lexi bellowed. “That’s enough of the pair of you. This is my cottage. If you have an issue with Megan, who is my guest, then you need to be the one to leave.”

  Bella pushed open the door into the open plan living room with its tiny kitchen area. “Supplies,” she shouted, trying to distract them from their argument. She pushed the door closed with her bottom.

  “Oh, it’s you.” Nicki sneered at her, eyes narrowed.

  That wasn’t the reaction Bella had been hoping for. She glanced at Lexi, who hurried towards her relieving her of one of the baskets. “Champagne!” she blew a kiss at Bella. “You’ve no idea how much I’m going to enjoy this.”

  “I think I do,” Bella whispered, lifting her basket onto the small kitchen counter and starting to unpack. Lifting out a cabbage loaf, she turned and caught Nicki still staring at her. She looked as if she was waiting for a reaction. “Sorry, Nicki,” she said, continuing to take out the rest of the produce. “You seemed to be irritated with me for some reason.”

  “Well, you’re the one who brought her here.” She pointed over her shoulder at Megan, who was glaring at Nicki’s back, arms folded across her chest. “She’s been on the television for what, a couple of hours at most, and acts like she’s some sort of diva.”