‘Lucy is going to find me some fresh clothes,’ Scarlett told Troy.
‘Ha!’ Archie laughed. ‘You’ll look like a punk.’
‘I think some clothes will belong to Troy. Lucy is far shorter than me.’
‘Kristo was built to fit around the twins,’ Jacob pointed out. ‘A new version will have to be built as they get older and taller.’
Lord Braxton coughed to get Jacob’s attention. ‘We must have a long chat about your inventions,’ he said. ‘Also, I have reached a new decision about your property.’
‘It’s not my property, Lord Braxton. You’ve bought it, so you own it,’ Jacob pointed out.
‘Call me Andrew, please,’ Braxton said. ‘I hate friends using the Lord title.’
‘I can call him Andrew anytime,’ Archie piped up with a smirk. ‘He gave me permission when we first met.’
Braxton laughed then turned his eyes on his daughter. ‘Please get some rest, Scarlett. You’ve been through a dreadful ordeal and you’ll need time to recover completely.’
Troy locked his fingers with Scarlett’s hand.
‘She can use my bedroom,’ he said to Braxton. ‘She won’t be disturbed.’
Scarlett seemed pleased by the offer. She squeezed closer to Troy and stifled a yawn. Lucy arrived with the fresh clothes over her arm.
‘I have a mixture, but they’re clean and dry… Bra, briefs, chino shorts, polo shirt and sneakers.’
‘You’re an angel,’ Scarlett breathed, placing a kiss on each of Lucy’s cheeks. ‘I feel like I have gained extra relations and I know I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for the help and friendship from the Scott family.’
‘I agree,’ Braxton said. ‘And to show my appreciation I intend to put things right.’
All eyes were on him as he told how he was cancelling all the paperwork connected with the purchase of Gull Cottage.
‘I know how much you all love this old place,’ he added. ‘And I want things to remain as they are.’
‘But Uncle can’t afford to pay for the cliff erosion repairs,’ Troy replied, looking dazed by the news. ‘You’re talking hundreds of thousands.’
‘And that will be my gift to you all. You saved my precious daughter’s life today, and no amount of money can come close to equalling that.’
‘Wow!’ Archie whooped. ‘So we can still come here for the holidays.’
Jacob looked astonished by Lord Braxton’s words. He immediately turned to Scarlett. His mouth opened but no words came.
‘I know Daddy was going to buy it for my birthday,’ Scarlett confirmed, ‘but I’m so pleased Gull Cottage will be staying with its previous owners.’
Her words caused Lord Braxton to look baffled. He exchanged a glance with Troy, who shrugged.
‘You’re always telling me how spoilt I am, Daddy,’ Scarlett continued. ‘Well, the happenings of today have changed me. I think I’ve finally grown up.’
Braxton produced a huge loving smile as he squeezed his daughter’s hand.
‘You’re being more than generous,’ Jacob told Lord Braxton. ‘I don’t really know how to thank you.’
‘Perhaps we should thank Kristo,’ Archie piped up.
‘I will,’ Braxton said. ‘I hope Jacob will take me to the boathouse later and explain everything about the shark.’
‘Of course,’ Jacob agreed.
‘I’d like you and Troy to work with me on any new inventions,’ Braxton announced. ‘My company has a department that deals with all the latest ideas.’
‘Fine by me,’ Troy said, ‘as long as we can work from Gull Cottage.’
Jacob also nodded in agreement.
‘I’ll leave Cornish Destiny in the Marina,’ Braxton continued. ‘I’ll only use the yacht now and again. My doctor is always telling me to slow down, so I shall mix business with pleasure.’
‘Can Scarlett stay with us?’ Troy queried. ‘We have two spare rooms now the holidays have ended and the twins will shortly be going back to London.’
Lord Braxton glanced at Scarlett. He could tell from her expression that this was exactly what she wanted.
‘Only if Jacob agrees,’ Braxton said.
‘Of course,’ Jacob didn’t hesitate. ‘With Lucy away it will be nice to have a young lady around the cottage.’
Archie and Lucy smiled at Scarlett, happy at the decision. They were both sitting on the settee with Oscar squeezed between them. The frantic events of the day had suddenly caught up with them and they both looked very, very tired.
‘Would you like a look in my office?’ Jacob asked Lord Braxton. ‘All my thoughts and new inventions are on the computer.’
Braxton nodded and followed Jacob. Scarlett yawned, closed her eyes and rested her head on Troy’s shoulder.
‘You need lots of rest,’ Troy told her, brushing his lips across her cheek. He led her to his bedroom and exhaustion took over. Her legs folded under her as she reached the bed and Troy lifted her into a sleeping position and rested her head on the pillows.
Lord Braxton and Jacob spent a couple of hours in the office and both men were delighted at the new found friendship and the progress made discussing the new inventions.
When they finally emerged from the office they were faced with a sleepy Oscar who was snoring softly on the settee. He had found the most comfortable position by nestling himself in the hollow between Archie’s thighs. Lucy’s and Archie’s eyes were closed and their bodies were curled together with legs bent, tucked warm and close to each other.
‘Where’s Scarlett?’ Lord Braxton asked softly, eyes flicking over the room.
‘And where’s Troy?’ Jacob countered.
Braxton pointed to a half-closed bedroom door. They crossed to it, listened for a moment, and then gently nudged it open.
Scarlett and Troy were lying asleep, snuggled together on the large double bed. They were very close with Scarlett’s lips on Troy’s neck and her long hair framing her face.
‘Let’s leave them all to recover their strength,’ Jacob remarked. ‘They’ve had far too much excitement for one day.’
Lord Braxton silently closed the door. ‘Can I visit Kristo?’ he asked Jacob.
‘Yes, of course. Everyone’s either resting or sleeping so let’s take a slow walk down the cliff path to the boathouse.’
‘I’m feeling tired too,’ Lord Braxton said through a yawn. ‘Old age is catching up with me.’
‘Catching up on both of us,’ Jacob agreed. ‘We’re lucky to have young people around us wanting to play their part in our lives.’
The two men exited Gull Cottage. They stood for a moment breathing in the salty sea air.
‘I think we’ll be working together a great deal in the future,’ Lord Braxton mused.
‘A new and very interesting life is waiting for both of us,’ Jacob said.
So what happened during the next three years?
Scarlett and Troy were married two years later and still live at Gull Cottage. Troy loves his work and has built many of Jacob’s inventions. Scarlett has recently given birth to twins.
Jacob has now rebuilt Kristo. He has added all the latest electronics and designed Kristo to the full size of a Great White shark. This will easily seat (the now taller) Lucy and Archie.
Lord Braxton has purchased the Riddles’ scrap yard. As part of a business plan he wanted the large piece of land to build new houses for the Milford community. The Stinger was crushed along with all the other junk cars during the clearing operation.
Lucy and Archie were keenly waiting for time to pass so they could take a gap year between high school and university. They were both anxious for a long, long stay at Gull cottage. Under the guidance of Uncle Jacob they would learn engineering and robot technology ready to move on to graduate studies.
Len and Joe Riddle used the money
they made from selling the scrap yard to live the high life in Las Vegas. They stayed in the best hotels and gambled daily in the casinos. After a year, when the money ran out, they separated and went their own ways. They have not been heard of since.
Oscar was at his happiest scampering around the private beach, so Scarlett and Troy asked Archie and Lucy whether they could keep him. All was agreed and the little Jack Russell stayed at the cottage rather than return to London.
The artificial defence system now worked perfectly and the sea wall barrier prevented any further damage to the cliff. Gull Cottage had survived every ordeal from both people and nature and the future was now looking bright. It would stay secure, high up over the bay, for many years to come.
About the Author
Michael Maguire is a Londoner by birth and education, and is a writer of novels and screenplays. His titles feature both adult and young adult fiction and Deep Wild Blue is his tenth published work. His adult novels have featured in the Sunday Times Outstanding Titles list and the film rights of his first young adult novel were bought by Walt Disney. He continues to write monthly articles for USA and Australian magazines.
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