Page 79 of The Path to the Last House Before the Sea

‘For goodness’ sake!’ he whispered. ‘I thought you were badly injured when you yelled. I thought the tunnel had fallen in on top of you.’

‘It was spiders,’ said Alyssa, relishing the comfort of Jack’s embrace.

‘Spiders?’ He held her at arm’s length and frowned.

‘A load of spiders fell on my head when I was trying to move the rock and get out.’ She’d forgotten about them in the euphoria of not dying, and she ran her hands through her hair in case any were still lurking. ‘Are you going to tell me every scientific fact about spiders now, and how, seeing as there are no deadly species in England, I totally overreacted?’

‘God, no. I’d have screamed the place down. I hate the bloody things.’

His face creased into a smile and Alyssa felt her heart quicken. Maybe it was the joy of being alive and free, but she still badly wanted to kiss him. However, in the beautiful but cold light of day, knowing that neither of them were about to die, what was the point? She was very obviously not Jack’s type, apart from in traumatic situations when choice was limited. And, anyway, he was still in love with Miri, and Alyssa had to safeguard her heart.

Jack was staring at her, his face streaked with dirt.

Alyssa looked away. ‘So, where have we come out?’

Jack let go of her arms. ‘Close to the beach, which isn’t surprising.’ He bent down to study the small opening they’d both squeezed through. ‘Whoever built the ventilation shaft wanted this opening well hidden.’ He ran his hand across the large boulder that had blocked it from view for generations. ‘I’m very impressed that you managed to shift this, but we’d better push it back, don’t you think? So that no one else gets trapped down there. Have you got any energy left to give me a hand?’

Alyssa nodded and, together, they pushed the boulder back into place and rearranged the brambles that had grown up around it.

Afterwards, Jack rolled his shoulders and looked out across the ocean. ‘It’s so good to see that beautiful view!’

Below them, on the curve of sand, people were walking dogs and a few hardy sun-worshippers had stripped off to their swimsuits. Sunbeams were dancing on the waves, making them glisten.

‘It’s glorious,’ Alyssa agreed, drinking in the blues of sky and sea, the yelp of dogs barking and the scent of wild flowers scattered among the grass. Her senses were heightened, making her feel more alive than she’d felt in a long time.

Jack glanced at her. ‘What about Josiah and Charity? Down there, together, in the dark.’

He sounded concerned and Alyssa marvelled at how much had changed in the few hours they’d been trapped underground. Jack’s view of his ancestor had done an about-turn, and she had solved the mystery that had been haunting her. She’d got to know more about Jack’s traumatic childhood and understood him better. And he knew everything about her, now she’d shared her secret. Would he tell? Alyssa smiled because she knew that he wouldn’t. He was a trustworthy man.

‘We can’t just leave them there,’ Jack added. ‘It doesn’t seem right.’

‘I agree. It would be good to bring Josiah and Charity into the light after almost three hundred years.’

‘It’s only because of you that they’ve been found.’

‘Because of my bloody-mindedness?’ Alyssa asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘Because of your determination and persistence,’ said Jack. ‘You should be proud of yourself.’

It had been so long since anyone had said that, since she’d felt any pride in herself at all, Alyssa’s eyes filled with tears.

‘It’s all right now. We’re safe.’ Jack brushed his thumb across her cheek, to wipe away a tear that was trickling over her skin. And it was such an intimate gesture, Alyssa held her breath as seagulls wheeled overhead and a crescendo of barks rose from the beach. ‘Please, don’t cry,’ urged Jack, cupping her cheek in his hand.

Suddenly, Alyssa wasn’t sure where this was going to end. If he kissed her now, would that be trauma-induced? Or would he really mean it?

She was destined never to find out because the shrill tone of his mobile phone broke the spell, and he dropped his hand to fish his phone from his pocket.

‘Hello,’ he said, his eyes still locked on to Alyssa’s. ‘Dad. Are you all right? … Yeah, I’m on my way home right now. Sorry. I’ve been out for longer than I expected.’ He raised an eyebrow at Alyssa and grinned. ‘OK, see you soon. Oh, and by the way, the cellar’s a bit of a mess so please don’t go down there until I get back.’

Jack shoved his phone back into his pocket. ‘I don’t want him finding the tunnel and trying it out for himself.’ Then he breathed in slowly and held out his hand. ‘It’s been quite an interesting few hours, Alyssa Jones, or whoever you are. Shall we go home?’

Alyssa took his hand and his fingers wrapped around hers as they walked down the grassy slope and past the beach. Neither of them spoke – and it should have felt awkward, holding his hand. But it felt totally natural, Alyssa realised, as they walked along the lane and past the castle ruins. Just as Jack brushing a tear from her cheek had felt as if it was meant to be.

Alyssa wasn’t sure who let go first, but they’d stopped holding hands by the time they reached the first shops in Heaven’s Cove. The village was just the same as it had been when she’d woken up that morning – picturesque, historic, the beating heart of the local community – but so much had changed for her since then.

She’d lost a friend in Magda, along with her home. She’d been trapped in an underground tunnel, discovered the truth about Josiah and Charity, and told Jack her secret.

It felt good to have spoken it out loud at last, but it wasn’t the only secret she was carrying. Her feelings for Jack had completely changed since they’d first met, but she was confused now about how he felt. She was almost sure he’d really wanted to kiss her when they’d emerged into the sunshine from the ventilation shaft. She’d seen it in his eyes. So where did that leave her?

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