Gabriel stopped walking and leaned against the window of the ice-cream parlour. He’d been walking so fast, he had a stitch that was catching at his ribs.
He rubbed a hand across his chest and looked into the shop. Tubs piled high with rainbow ice cream sat under chilled glass, ready for customers when the working day began.
He’d been in Heaven’s Cove for over a week now, enduring, frankly, ridiculous temperatures, but he still hadn’t enjoyed an ice cream. Licking at an ice cream cone in his suit felt far too frivolous.
Though maybe it was permissible on his birthday, seeing as he wasn’t doing anything special with friends and family. Not that anyone ever made a big deal of his birthday. His father had been known to forget it entirely. At least Nessa had wished him a happy birthday, though that was ironic in the circumstances.
Gabriel sighed and read a notice that had been stuck to the plate-glass window. Two-bed furnished flat above shop available for long-term rent. Deposit and references required. Please enquire within.
Why couldn’t Nessa and her child move somewhere like that, rather than a totally unsuitable cottage? If she wasn’t so damned intransigent, he could be spending his birthday in London. He’d be in the office, no doubt, but at least he wouldn’t be here.
His stitch easing off, Gabriel walked more slowly back towards Driftwood House and began to climb the path that wound its way up to the top of the cliff.
Flowers were splashes of colour amongst the grass, and the hue of the sea had deepened from silver to pale blue since he’d left Sorrel Cove. The scenery here was stunning.
Gabriel felt the beauty all around him starting to work its magic. He sat on a flat rock that was protruding from the earth, and stretched his legs out in front of him.
There were worse places to spend his birthday, he supposed, tilting his face towards the sun. It was certainly more picturesque than the glass and concrete he could see from his office window.
A bee buzzed lazily around his head as he began to sing under his breath, ‘Happy birthday to me…’
It sounded pathetically sad. And when he scuffed his feet in the dirt, a cloud of dust rose into the air and settled on the legs of his trousers. His suit trousers. His suit of armour.
Gabriel stopped singing and breathed out slowly, watching a red fishing boat moving from open water into the shelter of the quay.
The sooner Nessa’s ludicrous venture failed and he could get back to his desk in London, the better. Heaven’s Cove and an exasperating single mother were getting under his skin. His father would not be impressed.
Gabriel stood up wearily and walked on towards Driftwood House in the distance.