Page 12 of A Seaside Escape
‘I love you, no, I adore you, no – I worship you.’ He continued to pepper her with kisses. ‘My beautiful, beautiful Mallory. I can’t wait for you to be my wife and I can’t wait to spend our nights holed up in that little cottage, making love in front of a roaring fire and the wind blowing outside. I don’t care how cliché that sounds. I want the cliché. I want to spend my life with you in our little piece of paradise.’ He uttered the very words she had been thinking earlier. It was as if they were one person with a single mindset. She loved that. She loved him.
*
Sunday was a crisp bright day and Sam had taken Ruby out with him for a run so Mallory headed out to the terraced house that her best friends rented a few streets away. She needed to consult Josie to make sure that she wasn’t completely losing her marbles.
Josie opened the door and stood there in one of Brad’s checked shirts which almost dwarfed her. She leapt at her friend and grappled her into a hug. ‘Hiya, Mally. I was just thinking about you.’
Mallory was tugged into the house by her hand. ‘Oh yeah? How come?’
‘You’ll laugh your head off.’ She nodded towards the TV which was showing some men in a field trying to herd sheep. ‘I was just watching bloodyCountry Fileand they were up in Scotland. Guess what? It was chucking down with rain and John Craven hadbright greenwellies on.’ She giggled. ‘I bet you could see them from outer space.’
‘Bloody hell that’s really spooky. That’s why I’m here.’
Josie’s face crumpled. ‘The outer space wellies? You can probably find them online if you really want some.’
Mallory laughed. ‘No, you muppet. Scotland.’
Josie flopped onto the couch. ‘Oh yeah? Are you going again?’
Mallory hesitated for a moment before slowly lowering herself to the chair next to the fireplace. ‘Erm… well… the thing is… You know how you’re my voice of reason?’
Josie snorted. ‘Ha! Yeah, and it still makes me laugh that you think that.’
‘Well… I don’t know how to say this but… How do you fancy running the Victoria Quarter shop for me?’
Josie sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘Daft bat. I always run it for you when you sod off to Scotland, so I think you know the answer.’
Mallory cringed and paused again before uttering her next words. ‘How about if I sodded off to Scotlandpermanently?’
Josie fell silent and gawped open-mouthed.
Mallory leaned towards her friend. ‘Josie? Say something.’
Josie gulped. ‘Are you serious? You’re abandoning me? For real? Forever?’
Mallory sighed and shook her head. ‘Don’t say it like that, Jose. I wouldn’t be—’
Josie burst out laughing. ‘God you’re such a gullible Gerty. If I’m honest, I suppose I’m surprised you haven’t done it sooner.’ Her smile disappeared and her eyes became glassy. ‘Look, you bloody love the place. No idea why. Unless theirs is a better quality of rain than what we get in Yorkshire. But honestly… if it’s what you want to do then you should do it.’ She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. ‘You’ve had a pretty tough life, Mally. So many losses. And I know that place makes you feel closer to your dad. You deserve something good. And you deserve to be happy, even if it is with that maple-syrup-swigging Mounty. He adores you.’ She grinned and winked.
It was Mallory who rolled her eyes this time. ‘You know a Mounty is a police officer don’t you? And Sam isn’t one. And that you don’t actuallyswigmaple syrup?’
Josie huffed and folded her arms across her chest. ‘Pfft. Spoilsport. Although I reckon he’d look grand in a uniform, your Sam.’ She grinned again but there was a distinct crease of sadness to her brow. ‘So, when are you planning on buggering off to Scotland?’ Her voice wavered and Mallory’s throat tightened, although Josie’s willingness to selflessly support her friend was a huge relief.
Mallory’s heart ached a little as the weight of what she was considering leaving behind sunk in. ‘Not for a while. Nothing’s definite. Anyway, are you sure you don’t mind?’
Josie snorted again. ‘Are you kidding? Free holidays up north and a business to run? I’m bloody laughing, chick.’
‘So back to what I said earlier, you know, about being my voice of reason? Youwouldtell me if I’d lost the plot wouldn’t you? I mean… am I crazy for even considering this, Jose?’
Josie stood and walked over to crouch before Mallory, taking her hands, she smiled up at her. ‘Absolutely bonkers. But there’s nothing wrong with being a bit crazy every now and then. And you know you’re stuck with me, so if you’re doing this to escape then I’ve got news for you.’
Mallory heaved an emotional sigh. ‘Well we’re going to look at a cottage, but like I said, nothing’s definite yet. I don’t know if I’m brave enough. And there’s you and Brad. You’re my family. It might not even happen.’
Josie laughed. ‘Who are you trying to convince? Look, we’re like sisters, chick, and that didn’t happen by accident. It’s a bond that knows no distance. And likeIsaid, you’re stuck with me for life.’Wow, that was deep.There was a brief silent pause before Josie spoke again. ‘Can I ask you something?’
Mallory squeezed her hands. ‘Anything.’
Josie chewed on her lip and cringed. ‘Erm… the thing is… our lease is up on this place at the end of the month and we’ve been approved for a mortgage but we can’t find anything we both like… We’ve said loads of times that we’d love a place like yours. Maybe this is a sign? Can… can Brad and I buy Railway Terrace if you relocate?’
