Nowhere Like Home E-Book

Teresa Ashby

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 197

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

In Nowhere Like Home, Beth and her sister Lexi move to Furze Point to manage a beach hut and café, escaping their financial struggles. Beth befriends Noah, who returns to his vandalised childhood home. Together, they face the emotional and physical wreckage, finding solace in each other's company. Noah's cherished memories with his grandmother and Beth's desire to provide stability for Lexi intertwine as they navigate loss and new beginnings. Their developing relationship is tested by the challenges of rebuilding and confronting the past, but ultimately offers a path to healing and hope.

Leseprobe

Nowhere Like Home

by Teresa Ashby

A Moment Of Panic

Carol woke with a start from a troubled dream and stared up at the ceiling, her hand against her chest. She could feel her heart pounding and it shook her whole body.

Beside her, Tom stirred.

“Is it time to get up?” he murmured sleepily.

“Almost,” she said. Her throat was dry. She had a feeling she’d been whimpering in her sleep.

“Are you OK, Carol?” He turned to look at her. “You sound a bit strange.”

“I’m fine.” She didn’t want to worry him, especially on the day they were shutting the door on their past.

“I’ll put the kettle on.”

Tom threw back the duvet and got up. Moments later, she could hear him clinking mugs and boiling the kettle. They were such reassuring sounds.

“It was just a dream,” she whispered to herself as she sat up to turn off the alarm. “Just a dream. It wasn’t real.”

The nightmare was triggered by her credit card being declined yesterday. She’d only been to the florist to buy flowers for Beth, who was taking over at the Beach Hut today. The Beach Hut had been their home and livelihood since they were newlyweds and it felt strange to be handing it over to someone else now they’d retired.

It had left her feeling curiously adrift and she knew Tom was feeling it, too.

Her thoughts went back to the florist yesterday and her insides squirmed with embarrassment and fear.

“I’m so sorry, Carol,” Jilly had said. “Your card has been declined. There must be a glitch in the system. Do you want to try it again?”

“Of course,” Carol said, but the card was declined again.

“Have you a different card?”

“My debit card,” she said, rummaging through her purse, but that was declined, too. “I’ll pay cash.”

Her hand shook as she slotted the cards back in her purse, but there wasn’t enough money in there to pay for the flowers. Not even close.

She could hardly bear to meet Jilly’s sympathetic eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’ll leave them for now,” she’d said, aware of pitying looks from others in the shop.

“You can pay me later, Carol. I trust you.”

“No!” she’d said. “No, I can’t do that. I’m sorry. The flowers were a silly idea anyway. Beth might be allergic or something.”

“Are you all right, Carol?” Jilly looked genuinely concerned. “It’s really nothing to worry about. It happens all the time.”

“Not to me, it doesn’t,” Carol muttered as she escaped from the shop. She shuddered now remembering how sharp she was with poor Jilly, as if it was her fault.

To make matters worse, she’d gone to the cash machine on the way home, but it said she had insufficient funds. What on earth was that supposed to mean?

She was in quite a state by the time she got home, convinced they’d been the victims of some sort of fraud.

“Now stop worrying,” Tom said calmly. “I’ll sort it all out. As for the credit card, you know what they’re like. It’ll be a glitch in the system.”

He shut himself in the kitchen and he was ages talking on the phone, but when he came out, he was smiling.

“All sorted. Don’t worry, it was just a mistake. These things happen.”

“I hope you said how embarrassing it was,” she said. “There were other people in the shop. They were all looking at me.”

“Forget about it, Carol,” he said. “I’ve managed to arrange a small overdraft to tide us over until our final wages go in and the credit card company has agreed to raise our credit limit.”

“Are things really tight for us, Tom?”

“We just have to be careful, that’s all,” he said. “I didn’t realise quite how much work this place needed, but we’ll get straight again.”

She nodded. When they’d lived at the Beach Hut, the council had taken care of any repairs and renovations. It wasn’t until they’d bought and moved into the bungalow that they realised it needed a new central heating system.

That was on top of the work they already knew needed to be done.

“I can’t believe we’ve come to this. In our sixties and running up a huge credit card bill, not to mention the mortgage. It’s not as if we’re extravagant and as from now, we lose our income from the Beach Hut.”

Somehow they’d ended up with no spare cash for the unexpected and it seemed that one unexpected thing after another had happened lately.

“We’ve just hit a bad patch, that’s all. We’ll soon be back on an even keel.”

It brought back worries from her childhood when her dad used to hide from the debt collectors.

He’d brought her up on his own after her mum passed away and he struggled to work and take care of his daughter. He was such a sweet, loving man who wanted Carol to have the best of everything, but it had come at such a cost.

He wasn’t reckless with money, far from it; they simply didn’t have enough.

Tom reminded her of her father in many ways and she smiled when he came in with a mug of tea and put it down on her bedside table.

“Are you sure you’re all right, Carol? You look pale.”

“I’ve got a bit of a headache.”

“Not still fretting about the finances, are you?”

“No, of course not,” she fibbed. “I had a bit of a nightmare and it’s left me feeling unsettled.”

“Drink your tea and I’ll get you some pills for your head,” he said. “Then how do you fancy breakfast in bed? You can have a lie in and hopefully shake the headache off.”

“That sounds lovely, Tom,” she said, “but I ought to come with you to welcome Beth.”

“You’ll have lots of chances to do that. I’ll head up to the Beach Hut in a bit and get ready for the handover while you get yourself ready for our afternoon tea at the Lighthouse.”

“I’d forgotten about that,” she said.

“Forgotten? But you’ve been looking forward to it for ages.”

“I know,” she said. Her mind had been on other things for quite a while. “Perhaps we should cancel it.”

“That wouldn’t be fair on Rosita, would it?” Tom said. “She’ll have got stuff in for us specially. Try not to worry about money, love. Something will come up. It always does.”

Her dad used to say that.

The looks people had given her yesterday reminded her of the day the television rental company came to take their television away when she was a child.

“Please, don’t do this,” her dad had said, following the men out to their van. “I’m only a couple of months behind. I’ll make it up.”

A couple of the neighbours were in the street, watching as he turned round and gathered Carol up in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” he said. “I’ve messed up again, but don’t worry. Something will come up.”

Later that day, one of their neighbours had knocked on the door. Something did indeed come up.

“No offence, but we wondered if you’d like our old telly? We’ve just got a new one. We don’t want anything for it and it’s not great, but it’ll tide you over until you can sort out another.”

Her dad was crying when he came back in. Kindness did that to people.

But she couldn’t rely on anyone else getting them out of this mess. But right now she had to forget all that and start looking forward to their afternoon tea.

* * * *

As the town came into view, Noah took his foot off the accelerator, slowing down so he could drink it all in.

It was exactly as he remembered it, even though he hadn’t been back since he was a child. The feeling hadn’t changed. It didn’t matter whether the town was swathed in fog, made grey by rain, or as it was today, bathed in sunshine, the sight of it warmed his soul.

In his memory this was a place of sand and sunshine and the feeling of being contented and safe. Never in his life had he felt like that anywhere but here.

But as he drew closer, he felt a hard knot form in his stomach as the warm feelings deserted him. This was unexpected. He thought it would feel like coming home after the happy times he’d spent here, but an almost savage resentment filled his heart.

He was unprepared for the fury that welled up inside. He’d thought all that was well and truly in the past, but as he looked down at the town so precious in his memory, he felt overwhelmed with anger at what he’d lost, what had been taken from him.

He pulled into a parking area at the front of a large black barn with a painted sign, Bluebell Farm Shop. He stopped for a moment, breathing hard, trying to make sense of his tumultuous thoughts.

A woman came out of the shop followed by a man carrying a box full of produce which he carefully placed in her car boot. He’d know that red-haired giant anywhere. Fergus! He looked just like his father, but the farm had changed beyond recognition.

Fergus looked over at Noah and frowned and he felt a moment of panic. If Fergus recognised him, there’d be no going back. He turned the car round and headed away from Furze Point, back to civilisation which he should never have left in the first place.

He was wrong to come back here and it was a mistake he didn’t intent to repeat.

A Knight Of The Road

This can’t be it,” Lexi said as she clung to her seat. “You must have taken a wrong turning. Isn’t it dangerous to drive down roads like this, Beth? There’s no way this is a main road. I think you should turn around.”

It was the most she’d said for the past four hours. Beth welcomed the fact that her sister was at least speaking to her now, but wished it wasn’t to be so negative.

“It’s fine,” Beth said calmly. “I’ve driven here before and I’m driving carefully, I promise, and yes, I’m afraid it is the main and only road into Furze Point.”

On either side of the road were rolling fields surrounded with gorse bushes.

“See those bushes?” Beth said. “It’s gorse, otherwise known as furze. When I came here earlier in the year, it was smothered in bright yellow flowers.”

Lexi sighed. She couldn’t be less interested.

The views were lovely, but the road was narrow and full of twists and turns.

The car was so loaded with stuff that Beth couldn’t see through her rear view mirror, but had to rely on her wing mirrors.

“I still don’t understand why we have to move all the way out here,” Lexi grumbled, folding her arms and slouching down in her seat. “We should turn around and go home now before it’s too late.”

Beth was tired of explaining. She pulled in to a passing space to let a car go by in the opposite direction and there was an ominous bump as the car leaned to one side. The other driver waved a friendly thank you as he passed by.

“That’s why,” Beth said. “It’s a different way of life out here. People are friendly. They care. There’s no mad rush here.”

“Life? Is that what you call it?”

“I know you’re cross, love, but I’m doing this for us,” Beth said.

“You can count me out,” Lexi said. “I will never call this place home. Ever. And I probably won’t come here in the holidays if I have to endure this nightmare drive. Aren’t there any trains? And what was that bump?”

Beth tried not to be stung by her sister’s words. She’d hoped she’d come round and perhaps she would once she saw their new home. It was still early days, after all.

“You can get a train to Stoursley and then I could pick you up by boat and bring you back to Furze Point,” Beth said hopefully.

“You don’t know anything about boats,” Lexi pointed out.

“I’m going to have to learn. We’re almost there, Lexi. Keep watching. I promise, you’re going to love it.” She made to pull out of the passing space, but her wheels spun.

“What is it?” Lexi cried out in alarm. “What’s happened?”

“I pulled too far over,” Beth said. She had to stay calm. Panicking and accelerating would only bury them deeper in the mud. “That must have been what the bump was. There’s a dip at the edge.”

“Oh, great,” Lexi muttered, rolling her eyes. “I suppose we have to sit here for hours now waiting to be rescued.”

“Not at all,” Beth said cheerfully. “Come on, out you get. There must be a way of getting ourselves out of this. I can probably use the car mats for traction.”

Groaning, Lexi hauled herself out of the car.

“Ew, Beth,” she called out, “I’m covered in mud now.”

Beth felt a nervous laugh bubbling up inside, but she mustn’t let it out. If Lexi thought she was laughing at her, it could be the last straw.

“It’ll wash off,” she said.

“That’s supposed to make me feel better? Look at the state of my trainers. And I don’t see how a couple of car mats are going to get you out of that mess. Do you?”

Beth had buried the nearside wheels deep in the mud. She had no idea there was such a drop off at the edge of the passing space and knew she’d have to be more careful in future, but Lexi was right. Car mats probably wouldn’t cut it.

“You’re going to need a shovel,” Lexi said. “Have you got one?”

“Not on me, no,” Beth said shortly. She only carried a shovel in winter when snow was forecast. Somehow she’d never envisaged herself getting stuck in mud. She looked round just as Lexi stepped out in the road and waved her arms in the air.

“Lexi, wait! What are you doing?”

A car coming from Furze Point stopped abruptly, the window opened and an angry face glared out at them.

“Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

“This is why you moved here, remember?” Lexi said over her shoulder. “Everyone being so friendly and helpful.”

“I’m so sorry,” Beth stepped forward. “My sister was just trying to flag you down because she thought we needed help. My car is stuck in the mud, but don’t worry, I can sort it out.”

She expected him to put his foot down and drive off, but now he was over the shock of having Lexi leap out in front of him, his face softened into a smile, and what a smile it was.

Perhaps it was just the sight of a friendly face after hours in the car with Lexi glaring at her.

“You’re going to need a tow,” he said. “Hold on. I’ll turn round further along and come back. I’ve got a tow rope in the boot. We’ll have you back on the road in no time.”

“Thank you,” Beth said.

“Don’t thank me until I’ve got you out,” he said with a grin.

His car was a big beast and Beth had no doubt it would have the power to pull them out of their predicament.

“Did you see his eyes, Lexi?” Beth said as they waited for him to come back. “Have you ever seen eyes so blue? They’re like a twilight winter sky.”

Lexi laughed.

“Twilight winter sky?” she scoffed. “No, I didn’t notice, to be honest. I was checking out if his car looked hefty enough to get us out of this mess. Don’t tell me you fancy him. You’ve only just set eyes on him.”

“Nothing of the sort,” Beth said, her face burning red.

She felt silly. She wished she hadn’t said anything. But he did have the most incredible eyes and she’d felt a connection. She wondered if he’d felt it too.

It was all part of the magic of Furze Point. She’d felt as if she belonged here from the very first visit.

“He’s not coming back,” Lexi said at the very moment he reappeared and pulled up in front of Beth’s car. Lexi turned the other way and feigned interest in the gorse. A moment later, she let out a yelp of pain.

“Are you all right?”

“It’s prickly,” Lexi complained.

“Of course it is. It’s gorse,” Beth said.

“Well pardon me for not knowing! I’ve never even seen this stuff before.”

The guy got out of his car and came to stand beside Beth. He was very tall and looked strong.

“The thorns can be quite painful as I found out when I tried to pick a bunch for my grandmother when I was a kid,” he said. “I’ve got a first aid kit in the car if you need it.”

“I’m all right, thanks,” Lexi said. “It just made me jump, that’s all. I thought something had stung me.”

He got a tow rope and a blanket out of the boot then threw the blanket on the ground and sprawled back on it, looking under Beth’s car for something to attach the rope to.

“You’re from Furze Point?” Beth asked.

“No,” he said. “Not really. I got as far as Bluebell Farm then got cold feet.”

“Cold feet?”

“Are you moving to the town?” he asked, ignoring her question.

“How did you guess?”

“Car packed to the roof with all sorts.” He grinned as he jumped to his feet and gathered up the muddy blanket. “Dead giveaway.”

“All our worldly goods,” Beth said and felt a moment of sadness that they had managed to pack their lives into one small car.

“Jump in and let’s see if we can get you back on the road. Put it in gear and just touch the accelerator once we start to move. Keep it slow. You jump in, too,” he added to Lexi who was leaning against his car with her arms folded. She couldn’t look any more fed up if she tried.

“Sorry, but I’m not wading through the mud again.”

“Back seat?” he suggested.

“You’ve seen it. You couldn’t fit a sheet of paper in there.”

“Lexi,” Beth said. “He’s trying to help us. Stop being so awkward and just get in the car, please.”

“You could stand outside, but you’re likely to get more than just your feet muddy. A lot of mud is going to be thrown about,” he warned. He was being very patient considering he’d seemed in quite a hurry, Beth thought, and Lexi was just doing her best to be difficult. “Or you could sit in the front of my car.”

“No, thanks,” Lexi said. “I’ll take my chances out here.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He got back in his car and started the engine.

Beth was amazed how quickly her car was free of the mud and back on level ground. She left the engine running and got out.

“That was brilliant,” she said as relief flooded over her. “Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure,” he said as removed the rope. “I’m not sure your passenger is too happy about it though.”

Beth turned round and saw Lexi standing behind her, shoulders hunched, hands dangling at her sides, mud dripping from her fingers. It was even in her hair.

“Oh, Lexi.”

“Good luck,” he said before getting back in his car and driving off towards Furze Point.

Beth and Lexi were still standing beside the car when he passed them heading out again, giving them a little toot on the horn and a cheery wave.

He was certainly in a hurry to get away.

“If you laugh. . .” Lexi said furiously.

“I’m not laughing,” Beth said. “I’m wondering how to get you in the car without getting mud all over it.”

“Really? All you care about is your car?”

“No, Lexi, all I care about is you, believe it or not. Everything I do is for you, every decision I make. You always come first.

“That guy warned you what would happen if you stood there and you chose to ignore his advice. You got yourself into this mess.”

“No, you did,” Lexi shouted. “This is all your fault.” She burst into tears, but when Beth tried to comfort her, she squirmed away. “I’ll never forgive you for this, Beth. You’ve ruined my life.”

“Get in the car, Lexi,” Beth said wearily. “Let’s get you home so you can have a shower. I’ll clean the car up later.”

“Home?” Lexi stopped crying and the hopeful look on her face nearly broke Beth’s heart. “Really? You mean it? We’re going home?”

“Our new home,” Beth said. “You know we can’t go back.”

She watched the hope in Lexi’s eyes die and felt the heavy weight of guilt bear down on her shoulders. Had she made the wrong decision coming here?

Trouble In Paradise?

Beth had tried to persuade Lexi to come along on her previous trips, but Lexi was having none of it, hoping, no doubt, that her sister would have a change of heart.

She’d taken loads of photos, but Lexi wouldn’t even look at them.

“What’s the point?” she’d asked. “I’m not moving there.”

But here they were.

It had clearly been raining heavily recently because the ditches and dips were full of water, but the road had baked dry in the sun.

They were about to crest the hill and this was the point that Beth imagined Lexi would fall in love just as she had, especially on a day like today with the sky as clear as could be and the sun beating down.

“Get ready, Lexi,” she said. “Wait till you see this.”

Below them, the little town of Furze Point nestled by the water. Beth glanced at Lexi, but she still looked unimpressed as they began their steady descent towards the town that was to be their new home.

Lexi sat forward and Beth eased off the accelerator, her heart in her mouth. She was banking on this changing Lexi’s mind and everything falling perfectly into place.

The first time she saw it, rain had been falling and the sea was invisible in the squall, but still it had felt to Beth as if she was coming home, as if she’d known and loved this place all her life.

The old stone church on the south side of the town was surrounded by a higgledy-piggledy array of houses, mainly Georgian but some dating back much further.

Now with it bathed in sunlight and the sea forming a shimmering deep blue backdrop, it looked beautiful.

At the midway point the sails and bunting of the boats in the small marina caught the sun and on the southern edge, the white lighthouse gleamed.

To the east, invisible beyond the trees, was their new home and somewhere buried in there was Scott’s Mansion. Beth hadn’t seen it, but had been told about it at the second of her interviews.

She waited for Lexi’s approval, but nothing was forthcoming. Give her time, she thought. She’s eighteen, it’s a big change for her on top of so many others. And she is smothered in mud. That’s got to feel uncomfortable.