Page 43 of A Seaside Escape
Chapter Eight
Sunday morning was dull and rainy. It matched the mood that had cast over Mallory since after the party the night before. She sat in bed thinking about Greg and what she could do or say to make things different. He hadn’t said anything at all to her about any such feelings. Perhaps what was left unsaid was best left exactly that.
When she eventually went downstairs, Josie and Brad had busied themselves making a cooked breakfast. Brad had been up and out at stupid o’clock for a run and had called in to Colin’s to pick up the Sunday papers and all the necessary ingredients for a heart-attack-inducing fry-up. It was half ten. The smell of the breakfast was wafting its way through the house and made Mallory’s, and Ruby’s, mouth water.
‘Sleep okay?’ Josie enquired as Mallory sat herself down at the kitchen table, clad in pale blue fleece pyjamas.
Mallory yawned her answer. ‘Shouldn’t I be asking you that? You’re the guest.’
‘Well, I’m guessing you had lots to think about,’ Josie stated.
‘I’ve decided to do nothing and say nothing. Greg hasn’t said anything directly to me, so I’ve no intention of bringing it up in case I ruin the best friendship I have up here.’
‘That’s up to you. But just be careful, Mally. Don’t get yourself into situations that will causeyoumore upset.’
Suddenly Mallory felt anger towards Josie beginning to surface. She hadn’t wanted to confront the idea that Greg may have feelings for her, but Josie blurting it out last night had meant she had to do just that. It wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to have to think about that crap every time she saw him. Why couldn’t she have just kept her mouth shut? Ignorance is, as they say, bliss, after all.
Frowning at her friend, she rose from the table. ‘I’m off to get a shower and then I’m taking Ruby out… alone.’ Mallory declined the cooked breakfast and sulkily retreated to the bathroom.
Brad and Josie were still sitting in the kitchen chatting when Mallory descended the creaky staircase. She didn’t interrupt them. She clipped on Ruby’s lead, slipped on her jacket and left the cottage.
The air was cool and the sky was heavy as if it would rain soon. She walked up to the midpoint of the bridge and thought about all the things that had happened since she’d moved here. It had been a period of almost three months, but such a lot had occurred. She hadn’t had the best start at friendship with Greg, but when they had ironed out their differences he had become a good friend. He was there for her and she needed that. She didn’t need Josie making out there was something there that wasn’t. She vowed that she would carry on as if Greg had not made eye contact with her at that crucial part of a love song. Thingswouldbe fine.
As she stood there, she heard a deep, excited bark coming from the direction of the pub. She turned around and saw Angus barrelling towards her, tail wagging frantically. He jumped up to greet her and managed to lick her face. She laughed and wiped the dog’s slobber away with the back of her hand.
Greg came jogging up the road after him. ‘Angus you bloody mad hound! Come back here!’ He stopped and shook his head, throwing his hands up.
Mallory laughed at his lack of control over the friendly canine.
He waved and jogged towards her. ‘I obviously didn’t do my job right last night, eh?’ He observed clipping Angus’s lead back on.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Meaning what, exactly?’
‘Well you don’t look in the least bit bloody hung-over! What were you drinking at your birthday bash? Earl Grey?’ He grinned.
‘Do you know, when I come to think of it there was so much going on I didn’t actually have much time to drink.’ She giggled when she realised the truth.
‘Aye, well maybe you’re one of those weird types. You know, the ones who don’t need alcohol to have a good time,’ he teased.
Mallory made a face at his remark. ‘Where are you off to, then?’ she enquired, scratching the top of Angus’s golden head.
‘Just for a wee walk. Want to join us?’ he asked, sounding hopeful. ‘It’d be nice to have some company.’
Mallory thought for a moment.Oh, for goodness sake, he’s your friend and it’s a dog walk. Get over yourself, she mentally chastised.
‘Ruby and I would love that,’ she chimed and they headed up the road in the direction of the beach.
On arrival at their destination both friends unclipped their dog’s leads and let them run. They watched in amusement whilst the two, little and large, ran around chasing each other as if playing a game of catch.Even the dogs have become friends, Mallory mused.
‘So… it was a good party last night, eh?’ Greg didn’t look at her, but instead kept his eyes on the view.
‘It was wonderful, Greg. I can’t believe you did all that for me.’ She too didn’t attempt eye contact, for fear of what unspoken words may pass between them.
‘Well, I figured that’s the kind of thing Josie would do if you were down Yorkshire way.’
Mallory snorted a laugh. ‘Maybe not with so much gusto though,’ she admitted. ‘Josie would have done the pub and the friends, but they would have been their own entertainment.’
‘Well, I’m just glad I did you proud.’ He briefly put an arm around her roughly as if she was ‘one of the boys’. Relief washed over her. They stood in a more comfortable silence watching their dogs play together, when a few spots of rain began to fall.
