Page 51 of The Island in Bramble Bay
She went out of the back of the building to the meeting point for the Trust Treks and found Megan there waiting to take people on a Squirrel Spotter Trek.
‘Hi Megan, how’re things?’
‘I can’t believe how busy it is! I feel like all I do is wander around looking for red squirrels, eat and sleep. But it’s brilliant! How about you? Has it been okay with Ben?’
Maggie hadn’t told anyone apart from Megan that she and Ben used to be together, just that they used to work together at Croftwood Court. It was simpler that way. She didn’t want everyone to know everything about her private life. It was bad enough that she and Charlie were playing out their relationship in front of everyone.
‘He’s insisted on staying for an extra couple of days and has roped Charlie into doing some surveying, which doesn’t sit well with me,’ she admitted.
‘Awkward,’ said Megan making a face. ‘Alice has got a bit of a thing for Ben, so she’ll be pleased he’s sticking around.’
‘At least it’s working out well for someone.’
‘Are they really going to clear the woodland for these holiday lodges?’
Maggie shrugged.
‘It seems so at odds with what the Trust stands for doesn’t it? I just can’t see anyone thinking that it’s a good idea.’
‘I know. I must admit I was surprised that they’d chosen that area of the island,’ said Maggie. ‘But hopefully, it depends on what kind of trees are affected so it still might not happen. That’s what Charlie’s gone to look at with Ben this morning.’
‘Well, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for whatever means the woodland stays as it is,’ said Megan, as her party of Trekkers appeared.
Once Maggie had finished hunting for wildflowers with her group on the clifftops on the southwest side of the island, she headed back to the office where Charlie was sitting at the computer. He was engrossed in whatever he was doing and didn’t seem to register that someone had walked into the room. Maggie bent behind him, putting her arms around his neck and her chin on his shoulder.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m trying to classify some lichen,’ he said with a frown. ‘Ben thinks it’s just regular lichen but I’m pretty sure there’s some rare lichen that only grows on ash trees, so that would be something.’
‘It would,’ agreed Maggie. She leaned round to kiss Charlie, breaking his eye contact with the screen. ‘Was it okay then?’ She was desperate to know.
‘It was okay.’ He smiled and pulled her onto his lap. ‘He’s a nice guy and if I could forget that you dated him, we’d probably enjoy working together. It was a little awkward but, you know.’ He shrugged. ‘Anyway, do you have stuff to change into at mine for a night on the town?’
‘Which town, because probably all my clothes are fine for anywhere within spitting distance of here.’
‘I’m taking you to the Shell Bay Bistro, it’s over on the Studland side of the bay, right on the beach. We’ll take the boat. It’ll be beautiful tonight after such a hot day.’
Maggie was glad to be going out. She was finding being on Bramble Island a bit claustrophobic at the moment and even when they’d been at Charlie’s the night before, they’d eaten dinner together and then he’d been working in his study for the rest of the evening. Going somewhere else would be bliss.
48
SHELL BAY HAD a wooden jetty that ran out into the sea. It felt like a Caribbean island restaurant, situated as it was right next to the water, elevated, with wooden steps down to the perfect beach, where the waves lapped gently and glistened in the long rays of the evening sun. Charlie moored the boat at the end of the jetty and they walked hand in hand along the wooden planks into the restaurant where they were seated on the veranda overlooking the water.
They ordered a bottle of crisp, cold Sauvignon Blanc and sipped it in comfortable silence for a moment as they took in the view.
‘This is amazing, isn’t it?’ said Maggie. ‘I had no idea it was here and it feels like you’re a million miles away from anywhere.’
‘I’ve wanted to visit ever since I moved here but it’s a little pathetic if you have to eat alone in a place as romantic as this so I’m glad I waited for you.’
Maggie’s eyes lit up as she smiled at him and he fleetingly felt the pain of how hard it would be to leave her behind again.
‘I’m glad too.’ She reached out and wove her fingers between his, melting away the thought and bringing him back into the moment.
After the meal, they strolled along the beach, carrying their shoes on their fingertips and holding hands. It was still warm although the sun had almost set. They walked all the way to Bramble Bush Beach passing by the couple of old houseboats which were moored about a metre from the shoreline in very shallow water and had sunk into the sand unevenly so that they sloped dramatically from port to starboard.
‘And they say there’s not enough quality holiday accommodation around here.’ said Maggie. ‘I bet someone would love to stay in one of those. Do you think they belong to anyone?’
‘I guess someone owns them but they look a little neglected.’
