Winter at Wishington Bay

by Maxine Morrey

  ‘Apparently it’s not a date.’

  Eloise gave me a look and I shrugged.

  ‘That’s what he told me.’

  She made a ‘pffft’ noise. ‘I heard he was supposed to be quite the brain box.’

  ‘He is.’

  ‘Not in this area, it would seem.’

  I shrugged. ‘Corinne’s pretty and vivacious. Maybe he has a type.’

  ‘A type that is no good for him by the sounds of it.’

  I belted my coat and pulled my hat down over my ears. ‘I guess we’ll see. Maybe it’s just what he needs. Who knows?’

  Eloise tilted her head at me momentarily. ‘Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?’

  ‘Why would I care?’

  She reached over and gave me a hug. ‘Quite. Why would you care? If he can’t see what he’s missing, then he’s nowhere near as clever as he’s been portrayed.’

  ‘Honestly, I’m not interested in Nate McKinley, Eloise. He’s only here for a short while and I’ve had more than enough of relationships to last me a lifetime. Yes, he’s pretty to look at but, as is blatantly obvious, underneath most men are all the same. Swayed by youth and beauty and, frankly, Corinne’s welcome to him.’

  Eloise looked at me for a while. ‘That’s a very wounded heart you’re carrying round in there, my darling. Be sure not to wrap it away so securely that no one can ever touch it again.’

  I shook my head. ‘That’s actually been working pretty well for me, to be honest, and I’m definitely not about to change it for him.’

  Eloise looked at me for a long moment before giving a slight nod, realising that the discussion was closed.

  ‘Will you be at the lights tonight?’

  ‘I expect so,’ I said, more positive this time. ‘It’s lovely to see all the shops and streets lit up. I’m not sure what time yet, though.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Eloise replied, clearly not wanting to push any further than she already had. ‘Just give me a ring if you’re around and we can get together for a hot chocolate or maybe something stronger.’

  I gave her a grin and a hug and headed out into the chill air, waving at Bob as I did so before tucking my chin down and battling against a fierce headwind that was doing its best to keep me from the cosiness, and security, of my flat. Winding my way through the cobbled streets and relishing the shelter provided by some of the buildings, I finally arrived at Flora’s shop. Like many of the others in the village, it would be opening late tonight and just as I approached, George was climbing back down off a stepladder beside the blue and white striped awning.

  ‘Hi, George. Everything all right?’

  ‘Hello, love. Yes, thanks. I was just giving the lights a quick test and one of the blasted things blew. Still, luckily I’d bought a few spare so we should be all systems go tonight. You’re coming, aren’t you?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes, I expect so.’ As much as I loved the village, and having thoroughly enjoyed the lighting ceremony last year, my enthusiasm for tonight had been waning the more I battled against the bitter north-easterly on the way home and even all the beautifully festive shop windows couldn’t boost my excitement. If I was honest with myself, I knew that the possibility of seeing Corinne’s smug expression as she paraded her newest conquest around really wasn’t adding to the desire to be outside when I could quite easily be cuddled up with a blanket and a good book, or a binge-worthy series on Netflix. But on the other hand, this community had helped me heal and I knew it was things like tonight that made it special.

  ‘That’s good. Oh, I think Flora wants to see you, if you’ve got a minute.’

  Right now, I just wanted to get in and put my feet up for a bit but instead I gave George a pat on the arm and turned to head into the gift shop. As the bell tinkled announcing my entry, Flora glanced up, bright eyes smiling in her attractive face. She’d once shown me pictures of herself in what she called her ‘heady days of youth’ and it was no wonder George had fallen for her. She’d been an absolute knockout and she still retained a more mature, elegant sense of that today. I only hoped I could look as good as she did when I got to her age.

  ‘Oh, Soph, there you are. How’s the face?’ she asked, taking my chin gently in her hand and tilting it a little to inspect it.

  ‘It’s fine,’ I said, shrugging it off. ‘Looked worse than it was.’

  ‘Nate was ever so concerned.’

  ‘Probably worried he’d have to clean his own house for the rest of his break.’

  Flora raised an eyebrow and I flapped a hand. ‘Sorry, I’m just a bit tired and grumpy. Long shift.’

  ‘Oh. Then I’m afraid you probably aren’t going to be thrilled at why I’ve called you in either.’ Something in her tone sent a creeping chill of discomfort through my veins.

  ‘Why? What’s happened?’

  Flora held my gaze for a moment then pulled a magazine from beneath the desk. ‘My granddaughter dropped in earlier and she knows I love all these magazines so she left me a bunch. This one just came out a couple of days ago. It’s got a gossip section and I couldn’t believe it when I saw it.’

  ‘Saw what?’

  She turned the magazine round for me to see. There on the second page of a double page spread was a picture of my Instagram account, with a couple of smaller snapshots of posts I’d done. Above it was the headline:

  The new Mrs Hinch? But why the mystery?

  My stomach churned as I flicked my gaze up to meet Flora’s. She knew about my account and had been eager to spread the word about it in order to help me to gain followers. I’d had to explain that wasn’t something I wanted to do. That this was something I did purely for my own entertainment and had no interest in becoming any sort of influencer. Whatever happened organically was fine, so long as I was in control. The name I’d given to the companies who’d sent me stuff to try was fake, and as Flora often took parcels in for me, I’d had to come up with an explanation for this. I’d merely told her that I’d had a messy split with my ex and that it had caused a big family rift and, as I had no interest in them discovering where I was, or what I was doing, it was easier to keep the account just for myself and not risk anyone linking it to me. It was a truth of sorts. By the look on Flora’s face, I guessed she had worked out there was probably more to it than the glancing overview I’d given her, but thankfully she didn’t probe.

  ‘Are you all right, love?’

  I nodded, my eyes still on the gossip piece. ‘How did these people even find my account?’

  ‘I suppose the same way any of these accounts get noticed. One person tells another and at some point, it might reach someone with influence. Or at least with access to the media. The fact you purposely avoid your voice or face being in any of your posts… well, I guess people think there might be more to that than there is. And people love a mystery, not to mention a bit of gossip.’

  I felt sick. I’d never thought anyone would notice my account. It was fun and for once I’d been posting things I wanted to, rather than curating the look of a lifestyle expected of me as I’d had to in my previous life. I enjoyed it but I’d never dreamed it would ever be at risk of attracting any attention like this.

  ‘Do you think I should just delete the account?’ I asked Flora as I worried a thumbnail with my teeth.

  She glanced back down at the magazine. ‘I don’t really know, love. I know you wanted to keep things a little mysterious for personal reasons. Deleting it might do the trick. Of course, depending on how invested the person that wrote this is in finding out why you stay anonymous, it might be just adding more kindling to the fire.’ She closed the magazine. ‘It’s hard to tell these days. Everyone always seems to want to know everyone else’s business.’

  ‘I just… like my privacy.’ It was true but even to my own ears it sounded weak. Flora was right. It might all blow over. But if someone got a sniff of who I actually was, things could get a bit sticky. Thankfully, I’d sent off the divorce papers now and hopefully that would finally be
over before Jeremy could change his mind on anything else, especially if he got extra ammunition. I could just see him raging over the headlines now. His propensity for a tipple had resulted in a gradually deepening pink tinge to his skin over the last several years, something he tried to cover up with tans from trips abroad and sessions at the salon. However, it was unlikely a tan would be able to hide the beetroot purple apoplectic rage he’d explode into if this came to light. In his eyes it would be an absolute disgrace for me to have debased myself by cleaning. To him, I’d be no more than a servant, which to my eternal embarrassment was what he had always called the household staff. I swear sometimes it had been like living in the eighteenth century. Perhaps it was his aversion to women working at all that had caused him to ‘rescue’ so many young ladies from their jobs as waitresses and bartenders. The altruism he showed in these cases, judging by the trinkets, clothes and occasionally cars, they were given, was incredibly generous…

  ‘Has anyone contacted you about this?’ Flora asked.

  I gave a shrug. ‘I’ve had a few DMs asking me for info, but I ignore them. I wasn’t interested in giving any more information out so I just thought they’d go away. Why are they even interested?’

  ‘Why’s anyone interested in anything? That other girl has done pretty well doing a similar sort of thing and I guess they thought you’d be keen for the same. Most people seem to be eager to grab onto any hint of fame these days, so the fact you blanked them has probably made their antennae perk up.’

  I let out a sigh. ‘That was the opposite of what I meant it to do.’

  Flora gave me a squeeze. ‘Don’t worry too much about it, love. I’m sure it’ll blow over. There’s a tonne of other things for their magpie brains to latch on to.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right. But do you think I should respond?’

  ‘And say what?’

  I shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Thanks for the interest but I’m not looking for any publicity.’ I turned to her. ‘Would that work?’

  ‘It might do. Or, depending on what side of the bed they got out, it might just encourage them.’

  I dropped my head back and rolled it from side to side, trying to release the day’s knots.

  ‘Come on. Let’s forget about it for now. Are you coming out to see the lights switch on tonight? Perhaps bringing that rather gorgeous man of yours? Or is there a choice now?’

  News travelled fast in a small village like Wishington Bay.

  I gave a very unladylike snort. My mother would be so proud. ‘Nope. No choices at all. And if you’re referring to Nate McKinley, he’s most definitely not mine.’

  ‘That’s not what I’d have said the way he was looking at you the other day. I’ve never seen someone so concerned.’

  ‘Well, see how he’s looking at Corinne this evening when she parades him about the village and get back to me on that.’ I hoiked my bag up on to my shoulder.

  ‘Corinne?’

  ‘Yes. She’s been all over him in the restaurant whenever he comes in and tonight he has a date.’

  ‘Surely not. I thought he had more sense than to be taken in by a flibbertigibbet like that.’

  ‘Apparently not.’ I gave her a shrug. ‘He did say it wasn’t a date but that’s definitely how Corinne’s looking at it.’

  ‘Well, maybe she’s got a shock coming.’

  ‘Who knows. He didn’t seem to mind the attention from what I saw today.’

  Flora tilted her head. ‘Is that a little of the green-eyed monster peeking out there?’

  I pushed my shoulders back. ‘Absolutely not. Nate McKinley can see and do whatever he likes. Not my business. I’m just here to make sure the house is cared for.’

  ‘Right.’ Flora looked at me, her slightly raised brows telling me she didn’t believe a word of it. To be honest, I was having my own struggles, but I figured the more I told myself that, the more I would believe it.

  ‘So, you’re coming?’

  ‘Yes, I’m coming.’ Why should I stay in just because Nate was spending the evening with Corinne? The best way to show them both that it didn’t bother me was to go about my business as usual. I’d loved the ceremony and the festive evening last year and there was no reason I should miss it this year. Especially no tall, dark and handsome Australian reason.

  ‘Good. I’ll see you in a while, then?’

  ‘Definitely. I’ll just head up and have a shower and then come down and grab something for dinner. Maybe some fish and chips from Jake’s?’

  Flora’s eyes lit up. ‘Ooh, now you’re talking.’ Jake the Hake’s fish and chips were legendary in the village.

  ‘I’ll get you and George some too. We can have a picnic in the shop.’ As I spoke, I felt excitement for the event begin to seep into me, replacing the worry of the magazine comment piece, and the… whatever it was I felt about Nate and Corinne. I wasn’t quite yet ready to admit to Flora’s diagnosis of jealousy, even if I had the sneaking suspicion that she might be right.

  ‘Right, see you in a bit. And thanks,’ I said, giving Flora a quick hug before scooting out of the shop.

  A short while later I was back outside my flat, having washed and changed and bundled myself up against the cold. The night was bitterly cold. Pinned to the dark sky, a full moon peeked out every now and then through swift moving clouds that were heavy with the threat of snow. Waving through the window to Flora and George I made an eating motion with my hands and pointed up the road. Flora gave me a thumbs-up and then turned to George, I imagined to fill him in on tonight’s menu.

  The queue for Jake’s was out of the door, as usual, snaking back past his window and almost past the shop next door. I joined the end and stamped my feet a little to get some circulation back into my toes. Slowly the line advanced and I passed the time chatting to residents of the village as they meandered by, all wrapped up against the chill. Eventually I placed my order, enjoying the warmth of being inside the chip shop, its windows steamed up as the heat from the fryers hit the cold glass. As I waited, I flicked through a local free paper absentmindedly, my stomach rumbling loudly as delicious smells wafted round. I dropped the paper and folded my arms across my tummy until my order was called.

  Clutching the warm, precious parcel to me, I hurried back to Flora’s and unwrapped it, handing out a parcel each to her and George, along with a wooden fork. We sat in companionable silence, eating our chips, warm fluffy potato with just the right amount of crisp, fish coated in the lightest of batters that just melted in your mouth. Customers and browsers wandered in and out and we took it in turns to serve them. Manoeuvring a slightly over-large piece of fish into my mouth, I looked up to see Nate and Corinne stood just inside the doorway to the shop watching me. Corinne gave a tiny raise of one artfully styled brow. I ignored it. Fair enough, I’d underestimated that particular forkful but I’d had a lifetime of eating right, doing right, looking right and I wasn’t about to be intimidated by what Corinne thought of my manners.

  20

  I gave a wave of my little finger from the hand that held the fork. Nate smiled.

  ‘Hey,’ he said, before glancing round the shop, almost as if he was looking for something.

  ‘Hello,’ I said, remembering the chat I’d had with myself to be casual and forget the silly hint of a notion I’d had about getting cosier with this man. Annoyingly, he looked just as attractive as usual this evening, which wasn’t helped by the fact that Corinne was, as I’d suspected, looking terribly pleased with herself as she tucked her arm possessively through Nate’s. I had to admit, though, Nate wasn’t looking as thrilled as I’d expected he might. His hands were shoved deep in the pockets of his cashmere coat and as Corinne tilted her head to rest against his arm, I could see his body tense. I looked away. I probably hadn’t made the best job of convincing him that what he and Corinne did was his own business, but I wasn’t about to let him see it bothered me now. I set my face to disinterested and looked past them into the street where the cobbled roads were filling w
ith villagers and visitors, ready for the big switch on.

  ‘Having a nice evening, Nate?’ Flora asked, as she took the empty fish and chip wrappings from George and me.

  ‘Yes, thanks,’ he smiled at her, disengaging himself from Corinne to accept Flora’s hug. Was it me, or did he look just a little relieved? Shaking George’s hand, he then looked over at me. ‘How were the chips?’

  ‘Good, thanks. They’re from Jake the Hake just up the road.’ I inclined my head in the direction as I, unnecessarily, tidied up the gift wrap supplies on the desk. ‘You should try them some time.’

  ‘I will, thanks.’

  ‘Ooh, we could get some tonight, Natey.’ Corinne slipped her phone from the back pocket of her sprayed-on jeans and checked the time.

  Natey?

  Nate didn’t answer and was instead showing great interest in a small decoratively painted elephant made from ceramic. Behind him, Corinne pouted. Flora shot me a look, quickly mouthing the word ‘Natey’. I gave a tiny shrug in reply and continued with my task, preparing some ribbons by curling them with one blade of the scissors.

  ‘It’s an incense holder,’ Flora said, wandering over to him as Corinne let out a sigh before picking up and putting down a few of the gift shop offerings, a thoroughly bored look on her face.

  ‘It’s pretty.’ He paused for a moment, turning the item over in his large hands. He’d been less tanned than I expected when I first met him. I’d automatically expected him to be similar to Gabe, if not more so, with reliable weather in which to access the gorgeous beaches he had at his disposal but he wasn’t. His light olive colouring had certainly had a little colour but less than I’d have supposed. Of course, it had made sense when I thought about it. I’d got the feeling that, much of the time, Nate saw little but his work computer. Well, that and the inside of a gym, I’d guess from the sneaky looks I’d stolen at his body. Whether these activities were solely as a mechanism to help him not think about his imploded marriage, or whether he was naturally a bit of a workaholic, I wasn’t sure. Either way, at least here, having to look after Bryan was getting him out of the house and some fresh air. Talking of which…