Night Fires (5 page)

“My daughter is many things.” Betty looked at me from her position in front of the stove, the smell of frying eggs making me wince. “Including a lush.”

I laughed as Janie reappeared and smacked her mother playfully. “Excuse me! How could you talk about your only child that way?”

Betty quirked an eyebrow. “I go to church, young lady. Dishonesty is a sin.”

Janie spluttered out a laugh. “When was the last time you stepped foot in anywhere remotely religious?”

Betty smirked and Janie narrowed her eyes. “You’re talking about that new club in Penzance aren’t you? The Church!”

I laughed to myself, loving the mother and daughter closeness. My chest closed in and I brushed it aside. Betty gave me a sad smile like she could read my thoughts as she passed me. “You see to serving, Alice. Janie and I can cook today.”

“You’re a legend!” I gave her an appreciative smile as I tugged my apron around me, hurriedly knotted the ties, and grabbed a flipbook.

“Ohhh,” Janie said. “David’s out front waiting to order. I don’t think you’ve met him yet.”

I recognised David as soon as I set eyes on him. He was the only customer without a face full of wrinkles. He looked around my age, late twenties, and his hair was jet black and slicked back stylishly. He wore a suit, an expensive one, and I wondered why he wore that in such a small village. I smiled at him. “David, I presume.”

“Ah.” He returned my warm smile. “Alice Bird. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Likewise,” I said as I started to wipe down the counter. “It seems we have something in common.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, we’re not dead.”

Attempting to hide my laughter when an elderly woman who was waiting to pay for her food glared at David, I shot him a brief wink. “We both love books.”

His eyes widened. “Oh.” He shuffled his stool towards me. “Favourite?”

I blew out a breath and thanked Mrs Fenchurch when she rummaged through her loose change and tipped me all of fourteen pence. “To be perfectly honest, I can’t really pinpoint just one. I love reading anything and everything, from biographies to historical, horror to romance. I’m very eclectic.”

“That’s good to know.” He shot me another smile and I noticed how perfectly straight his teeth were. His eyes warmed and I quickly looked away.

“What can I get you this morning, David?”

He blinked, pulling away from his personal musings. “Just a coffee to go, please, Alice. I’m running late this morning.”

“You work out of the village?” I asked as I slipped a polystyrene cup under the machine’s spout and hit the appropriate button.

“Devon. I’m the governor at Dartmoor prison.”

I nodded and lowered my eyes into his slowly filling cup. “Right. Tough job.”

His eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second when I glanced at him, suddenly feeling rude by my behaviour. “It has its moments. But it’s rewarding enough.” He grabbed his coffee and placed a fiver on the counter. “Catch you later, Alice. Nice to finally meet you.”

“And you.” I coughed, forcing back the tiny lump of nerves that had developed in my throat.

“Everything okay?” Janie asked from behind me, making me jump.

“Uh-huh.” I gave her a nod as I blinked.

She frowned. “You were just stood staring at the door. Miles away.”

“Was I?”

“You were.” She stared at me expectantly.

“Umm, oh, I was just talking to David about books and realised there’s no library here.”

“Penzance has one,” she said as she slid a bacon sandwich over the counter to an elderly gentleman.

“Thank you. I finish early today and wanted to stock up.”

“The nights can get pretty lonely, huh?”

I shrugged then turned to Mr Murray when he sidled up to the counter to order and shuffled himself onto one of the stools. “Good morning, petal.”

I winced at the horrendous smell of cabbage and greeted him in return, trying desperately to hold back the vomit that was rushing up my throat.

Janie peered at me dubiously when she saw my face go a funny shade of green. “Go grab a breath. I’ll see to Mr Murray.”

I nodded and practically leapt over the counter, holding my breath all the way until I burst through the shop’s doors and emerged on the street. Sucking in huge quantities of fresh air, I leaned forwards, resting my hands on my knees to steady myself, and groaned. “Never again. Never – ever – again, Billy,” I mumbled quietly.

“Oh Christ. I thought I looked rough.”

I looked up to see Bray chuckling at me, heaving and gasping, his face as pale as my own. He was holding something in his hand, and on opening his palm, I stared at two little white pills. “Here,” he said. “Special cure.”

I shot upright and shook my head, my eyes flicking from the pills to his face. “No!”

He frowned at my alarm, backing away from me slightly. “Hey, just a hangover remedy. Aspirin and Vitamin C. That’s all.”

I clenched my teeth, feeling stupid. Bray was staring at me like I was a nutter. He was correct.

“Oh.” I didn’t say anything else, just gave him an apologetic smile and took the tablets.

“Janie has a lot to answer for,” he grumbled. “I swear that girl absorbs alcohol like she’s made from sponge.”

“I can’t even remember getting home.”

He pursed his lips and blinked slowly. “Shit. I think we left you capsized on your path.”

“You did?” I shook my head. “Can’t have. I was definitely in bed this morning.”

He shrugged and looked back over to the garage as a man stood out front looking around. “Have to go. I’m flying solo today. Catch you later, Alice.”

“Bye.” I looked around him, trying to catch a glimpse inside even though he had said he was working alone. Then, shaking myself off, I made my way back inside, praying Mr Murray had gone. He hadn’t. I prayed harder.

After my shift finished I ventured into Penzance and found the library. It was stocked high and after spending a good couple of hours inside and figuring out which books to check out, my hangover had finally subsided and my belly growled hungrily.

It was approaching late afternoon but a pasty van was still set up at the bottom of the library steps, so purchasing one and a coffee, I decided to eat in the park opposite. The sun was out and the blue sky was cloudless, but a cooling breeze made the heat bearable. In the centre of the park was a huge lake. Swans and ducks glided elegantly and various people manoeuvred motorised toy boats across, or sat on the banking with their bare toes dangling in. Couples walked their dogs on the path surrounding it, or were laid out on the grass just enjoying a lazy sunny day. It was immensely peaceful and I couldn’t help but smile as memories of childhood trips with my family to the park filtered in. They were the first happy memories in such a long time that I just stood, frozen in place, appreciating the view, and for the first time, allowed them in to take over.

When my stomach rumbled again, pulling me out of my daydream, I looked for an empty bench. Most were fully occupied but when I spotted one to the left of me with a single man sitting by himself, I frowned and peered closer.

“Hey.” I smiled at Carter as I took the vacant side of the bench.

He stiffened and turned to look at me. The steel of his eyes glinted at me as though he was furious. I frowned to myself when a trickle of heat slithered up my spine.

“Do you mind me sitting here?” I asked when he continued to glare at me.

“Yes.”

Okay.

I nodded. “Shame.” I settled back and placed my takeout coffee on the bench between us. “Help yourself. Caramel latte, extra shot with chocolate dusting, sans brandy.” I gave him a guilty roll of my eyes.

Carter remained silent. I could see the tension in his jaw as his eyes lowered to the coffee then back up to my face. He had such a deep intense expression on his face that I chose to look out to the water.

“It’s a lovely day.”

Silence.

“We’ve been blessed with a good summer this year,” I added, more to myself, knowing I wouldn’t receive an answer.

I started to hum as I pulled the pasty from the paper bag. The aroma immediately made my mouth water and I smiled happily. Then I tore it in half, and held out one piece to Carter.

His gaze slowly left the water and landed on my offering.

“Cheese and bacon,” I informed him as I jerked it further towards him. “Don’t worry, I haven’t made it. Seriously, I wouldn’t be that cruel to push my baking on you.”

He frowned, still looking at it as though it was an ancient artefact I’d just dug up out of the ground by my feet. Then he reached out and hesitantly took it from me. “Thanks.”

The relief that coursed through me shouldn’t have made me as excited as it did. The man was an arrogant arse and I couldn’t understand why I kept trying to make friends with him.

Yes I did. But I chose to ignore both answers that whirled around my head.

We ate in silence, both of us watching the world go by. It was strange but the quiet had become comfortable and although we weren’t talking, we were very much there with each other in that moment.

Watching when a man threw a Frisbee for a dog, I tipped my head to the side, keeping my gaze on the galloping hound. “You know, I’m thinking of getting a dog,” I mumbled. “Just a small one, I think. Nothing too huge. I was thinking maybe a spaniel, or a bulldog. They’re sweet. It would just make a change from listening to… nothing. Someone to snuggle in front of the telly with. Maybe he’d join me to eat at the table?” I mused, still watching the dog tear across the grass after another throw of the toy. “There’s only so much of yourself you can listen to, isn’t there, before you start to go crazy? Although…” I pursed my lips. “I’m a bit concerned that they might smell.” I shrugged. “Yeah, I think it would do me good.” I grinned when the dog leapt at an elderly man and knocked him on his ass. “I think we’d make a great team, make each other happy. I’m sure he’d like me. I’m not that bad. So long as I feed him then he’ll love me. Right? The quiet kills, you know. Whoever thought up that stupid phrase ‘silence is golden’ needs to live with a silence so intense it’s crushing…”

Life snapped back and I clamped my mouth shut. An embarrassed heat shimmied up my cheeks and I stole a glance towards Carter. He was staring at me, not with anger, but what seemed like curiosity.

I gave a nervous chuckle. “Sorry. I’ll be quiet.”

Once again silence descended. I lost myself to my thoughts, making sure to keep my mouth shut this time. But when I heard the crinkle of a wrapper I turned to look at Carter. He had a Twix in his hands and was tearing open the packet. Then, taking out a finger, he stilled and turned to look at me. Very slowly his hand reached out and he offered me half of his chocolate. For a long moment I couldn’t do anything but stare at it. That single bar of chocolate felt like a million quid. Smiling softly, I took the finger from him. “Thank you.”

He nodded then turned his head back to the water and demolished his half of the Twix in two bites. Taking my coffee, he took a long mouthful and placed it back beside me.

I looked up at him when he stood up.

My lungs panicked, my breath coming in short, sharp puffs when he reached down, hesitantly took a stray strand of my hair, and gently moved it behind my ear. The tip of his finger lingered on my skin for an instant, the touch burning into the side of my neck. His eyes never left mine, the cool grey swirling until the softest, warmest charcoal reflected back at me.

“Silence leads to the burden of emotion,” he whispered, his gaze burrowing deep down inside me and making me shiver. “You should get a retriever. They’re loyal and protective. He will love you and keep you safe from…”

Forcing the lump down my throat, I wet my dry lips. “From?” I choked out, unable to move under the strength of his attention.

“From whoever you’re running from, Alice Bird.”

And then he turned and walked away.

And I sat there for a long time.

I
DECIDED TO
leave Carter alone on the beach that night. I took a quick glance out of the window and saw his fire raging, but after I’d invaded his private time in the park that afternoon I got the impression he didn’t like me much. I wasn’t sure exactly what my thoughts of him were. He was rude and cold yet I sensed something deeper within him, something that connected with the broken parts of me. Don’t get me wrong, I knew he wouldn’t be the one to fix me, nor me him, but I saw the heartache in his eyes and I couldn’t help seeing it as a reflection of my own.