Page 65 of New Beginnings at Christmas Tree Cottage

‘And you didn’t want to be the other woman?’

‘I did not. I didn’t want to be the one responsible for breaking up what seemed to me to be a very happy marriage. I was the victim of someone having an affair and it’s soul-destroying. Besides, I’ve seen the effects of marital breakdown and divorce on kids in my class all too often. So I steeled my resolve, to absolutely no effect whatsoever I might add, and then promptly ran away when you tried to kiss me.’

Jago gave a short laugh. ‘Well, that was understandable, even though it left me puzzled. If it hadn’t been for Jaden’s mum and her attentions, I would have run after you to apologise or explain.’ He shrugged. ‘Or maybe kiss you again.’ He gave her a wicked look. ‘You’re very kissable you know.’

‘Am I?’ she asked, delighted.

‘Yes.’ He proved it by kissing her lightly. Backing off and looking more serious, he said, ‘You do know I’m not going to mess you around, don’t you? I would never ever do that to you. I know it’ll be hard, when you’ve gone through what you have, but know this; you can trust me. I promise, hand on heart, my marriage is well and truly over. I like you very much, Honor. No, scrub that, I am extremely attracted to you. I want to see where this thing leads. I think we could have a real future. I want us to have a future.’

‘So do I,’ she whispered.

They kissed again and it held the promise of more, much more.

CHAPTER33

‘TWO THOUSAND MILES’ – THE PRETENDERS

When Jago returned with two fresh drinks, he sat down looking puzzled.

‘What’s wrong?’ Honor asked.

‘You and I. Us. Is it going to be a problem for you at school?’

‘I shouldn’t think so. I’m single, so are you. As long as we’re fairly discreet and don’t run around naked or have sex on the beach or anything.’

‘Ah shame. I was looking forward to that. Although you’re probably right. It’s a bit cold for that sort of stuff at the moment.’

She grinned, and then pulled a face. ‘What about Merryn though? How do you think she’ll take it?’

‘If I’m honest, I think she’ll be thrilled. I know she ranks you highly–’

‘Following Ivy, Chestnut the hamster and pizza,’ Honor finished. ‘I know. I’ll have a quiet chat with her next term. See how she feels about it. She’s already had a lot to deal with.’

‘She has. So has Mum but, to be honest, I think they’ll both be delighted.’ He paused, obviously struck by a thought. ‘Although neither of them is going to be pleased when I tell them my other news.’

‘What news?’

He winced. ‘I’ve volunteered for the Lullbury Bay RNLI.’

‘But that’s great, they need all the willing volunteers they can get!’ Then she realised what he meant and gasped. ‘Oh, you mean after what happened with your dad?’

‘Mum made me promise never to volunteer again. After losing Dad, she didn’t want to lose me.’

‘But the statistics are low on deaths of crew during a shout, aren’t they?’ She wrinkled up her nose. ‘Or are they? I can’t think of there being any loss of men for ages.’

‘True. The last one I can think of is the Penlee disaster and that was back in the eighties. That’s famous, or should say infamous. Do you know anything about it?’

Honor shook her head. ‘Not a great deal. I know it happened in Cornwall.’

‘Yes, Mousehole. The lifeboat went out in December 1981. God, that’s over forty years ago now! Sixteen people died, eight of them crew from the lifeboat.’

‘Oh, that’s so awful.’ Honor put a hand to her mouth, a stricken look on her face.

‘And, while it’s true nothing on that scale has happened since, no crew goes out without the fear, the knowledge, that something might happen to make it his or her last shout.’

Honor reached out and held his hand.

‘When I was volunteering in London and on the odd occasion Dad went on a shout, they’d never call me in too. Never a good thing to have two family members on one boat.’

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