The Runaway Woman Part 24

She thought of her own recent troubles. 'It seems that moving forward and being thankful for what you still have is the right thing to do. Although often, for some of us, it can be a hard road.'

Realising she had said too much, she fell silent.

After Lucy's outburst, Dave was made to wonder what kind of 'bad' things' were haunting her.

For a while, the two of them sat quietly looking out to sea, and reflecting on what had been said.

Eventually Dave asked her, 'I hope I'm not intruding again, but am I right in thinking that you have recently suffered a sadness?' He paused before asking gently, 'Is that why you were crying ... that night, when we first met?'

With the tears threatening, Lucy nodded but said not a word.

Dave understood, and he did not push it. 'Look ... I think hope that I've found a friend in you. So would it be too bold of me if I suggested the two of us might walk along the beach? It is a lovely day, after all. Such a shame to waste it, don't you think?'

'Yes.' Taking a long, deep breath, Lucy composed herself. 'I believe I would like that very much,' she answered shyly.

The two of them set off at a leisurely pace, at first merely skating the rim of the beach, before somehow they began to meander towards the water's edge.

'You're right,' Lucy said, kicking her toe at the sand. 'It is a lovely day. And I'm so glad that you came and sat on my bench.'

Dave laughed at that. 'Oh! So it's your bench, is it?'

'Well ... no, I didn't mean that.' Lucy felt so natural in his company, it seemed as though she could tell him anything. 'I saw you today,' she confessed. 'I was behind you on the train, and when I got off I ran away.'

'Why did you do that?' he asked kindly. 'I saw you hurrying away from the station, and I even asked a taxi driver how I might find out where you'd gone, but he couldn't help me.' He looked Lucy in the eye. 'I did so want to talk with you.'

'I'm sorry. I just felt so ashamed at the way I was when we first met. I needed to put it behind me.'

'Tell me, on that particular night, would you have run away if you'd known that Nancy was my sister?'

Lucy blushed bright pink. 'I don't know.'

Just then, the heel of her shoe went into a dip of sand where children had been making sand castles, and she nearly fell over. 'Whoops!'

Reaching out, Dave caught her. 'Careful! I don't know if I'd be strong enough to carry you back if you injured yourself,' he teased.

Lucy laughed at that. 'You cheeky devil. D'you think I weigh a ton, or what?'

'Well, I can't answer that, can I?' he finished cheekily. 'Never having held you in my arms.'

For some strange reason, this man's natural friendliness brought out the devil in Lucy. Kicking off her shoes, she set out at the run. 'Catch me if you can!' she taunted. 'I bet you can't!' Her idea was to put a distance between them because, surprisingly, she was enjoying his company much too much.

'Hey! I never turn down a challenge. Here I come!' Kicking off his own shoes, he went after her.

Within a few minutes he was on her, sweeping her into his arms and swinging her round. 'One thing I can do, is run!' he admitted. 'So, come on, then. An apology, if you please!'

'Give over. Put me down!' Lucy was a little angry at being manhandled, then she was flattered, and now she couldn't stop laughing. 'You're a crazy man!' she shouted. 'Absolutely crazy!'

He did not put her down as she asked. Instead, he swung her over his shoulder, and ran back to collect his shoes, Lucy screaming for him to stop.

As he ran along the beach with her, the holidaymakers laughed at their antics, and one even called out, 'Go on! Throw 'er in the ocean. That's why I brought my missus 'ere! Only I'd need a winch to lift 'er!'

The big woman beside him, bursting out of her swimsuit, did not appreciate his joke. 'Shut it, bird-brain!' she roared. 'Or you'll be the one thrown in the ocean!'

When someone else joined in, a slanging match broke out, and Dave suggested, 'We'd best run for the hills, before his missus comes after us ... what d'you think?'

Carrying their shoes, the two of them went at a run, stumbling and laughing, towards the harbour cafe.

Once on the wooden walkway, they poured the sand out of their shoes and put them back on their feet. 'I've haven't had so much fun for ages,' Dave confessed breathlessly. He felt like a teenager again; albeit a bit foolish.

As she hurried alongside him, Lucy, also, was invigorated and happy. 'If someone had told me that I'd be carried along the beach over some stranger's shoulder with people pointing and laughing, and calling out I never would have believed it,' she smiled.

Dave was surprised at his own behaviour. 'Like you, I never intended making a fool of myself, and if my business a.s.sociates had seen me, they'd have thought I'd lost my senses. But you know what, it was such great fun I could do it again. Right now.'

'You can forget that!' Lucy chided him. 'As you've discovered I'm no lightweight, and anyway I haven't got my breath back yet. Also, I'm ready for a cold drink.' She shook her head in disbelief. 'I don't know what came over us!' she giggled, 'but you're absolutely right. It must be this place. It seems to have brought out the child in each of us.'

'It's not this place,' Dave said softly. 'It's you. To be honest, I really don't know how you managed it, but you made me want to run wild ... without a care for what anyone thought.'

'I'm glad.' Lucy smiled up at him. 'It seems we helped each other forget our troubles ... just for a few crazy moments. And that's good ... isn't it?'

He was silent for a moment, smiling into her s.h.i.+ning, brown eyes, and noting how curls of that rich chestnut-brown hair were blown every which way by the playful breeze. Instinctively, he took hold of her hand. 'You're right,' he agreed. 'A sunny May day with you and me together on the beach. That's what you might call a rare bit of magic.'

Suddenly conscious of her hand in his, Lucy withdrew it. She felt the need to create a little s.p.a.ce between herself and this stranger; this warm-hearted stranger who had made her laugh out loud. Made her squeal with delight, and completely lose her inhibitions.

More worryingly, she now felt a certain intimate affinity with him, and that made her truly nervous.

The cafe reminded Lucy of a picture postcard, its setting was so perfect. The cafe itself was an ancient stone building. It possessed the most amazing views of the towering cliffs, and the beaches stretching away.

Outside, the wicker tables and chairs made a very welcoming sight.

'Where shall we sit ...?' Dave paused, looking at Lucy in disbelief. 'Well, I never! I've just run across the beach with a beautiful woman over my shoulder ... and I don't even know your name!'

With the widest, warmest smile, he looked down on her face, held out his hand and said softly, 'Let's start again, shall we? I'm Dave ... Dave Benson.'

'Ah! Well, h.e.l.lo, Dave Benson. I'm very pleased to meet you.' Lucy held out her hand and introduced herself in a jovial manner. 'And I am Lucy Lovejoy.'

Dave gave a cheeky wink. 'Lovejoy, eh? Well, that's very apt, I must say. Yes ... I like that. How do you do, Lucy Lovejoy?' He shook her hand again. 'And, may I say, I am very pleased to meet you as well.'

Just then, Lucy noticed that the people at a nearby table were watching them with interest.

She blushed bright pink. 'Let's sit down,' she told Dave quietly. 'We're causing a scene.'

Dave now noticed the couple, and when he smiled at them they got up and left. 'See! That's the way to get rid of nosy parkers.'

Lucy laughed, but fearing the couple might overhear her laughter and mistake it for rudeness, she covered her mouth with the flat of her hand, although tears of laughter sparkled brightly in her eyes.

Dave leaned closer to her. 'Now then, Lucy Lovejoy, let's concentrate on the menu, shall we?'

He handed it to her, while putting on a stiff, though pleasant manner. 'May I ask, what would you like from the menu, madam? I can heartily recommend the chocolate ice cream topped with nuts and choc flakes. Or if you prefer, how about a dish of fruit topped with strawberry ice cream? But if you're really hungry, we do a wonderful cheese and bacon on toast.'

Trying hard not to giggle, and feeling just a bit embarra.s.sed, Lucy played along. 'Oh, now let me see ... oh, yes. I think I would like a portion of ... mmm ... yes! The chocolate ice cream, please, with choc flakes and nuts on top. Oh! And could I also have a wafer, please?'

'Of course, madam. Thank you.'

Smiling broadly, Dave spoke in a soft, suitably officious manner. 'One chocolate ice cream, topped with nuts and choc flakes, and a wafer on the side. And would madam like a drink of sorts?'

'Yes, please, I would love a ginger beer ... if you don't mind. Thank you.'

Lucy played the game until Dave gave a very waiter-like bow from the waist. 'Ooh!' He made a pained face. 'Sorry, madam ... only I just felt the most uncomfortabe twinge. Anyone would think I'd been carrying a very heavy weight over my shoulder.'

'Hey! Are you saying it's my fault if you've got a twinge? I didn't ask you to throw me over your shoulder like a caveman. That was your idea.'

Dave looked shocked as he told her stiffly, 'Maybe it was, madam. But I must say ... you certainly seemed to enjoy the experience!'

He then departed in a mock-huff, taking the order, written on a piece of sc.r.a.p paper that he found in his trouser pocket.

Behind him, Lucy again had to put her hand over her mouth to smother her giggles.

What am I doing here? she asked herself. I've been carried off by a madman!

Even so, she had not felt so free and happy in a very long time.

For a fleeting moment she gazed up at the skies. Then she looked along the beach, and in her mind's eye she saw her parents, right there.

One minute they were strolling hand in hand along the beach, and the next they had spread big, white towels on the sand. Then they sat down together and lovingly watched, as she and Paula made wobbly sand castles by their feet. In the unfolding memories, her parents seemed impossibly young, and so very much in love laughing together and holding hands, just as she had seen them many times as a child.

Since losing them, she had often closed her eyes and thought of them, and inevitably she had shed tears. Now though, as they invaded her senses, so wonderfully happy together, she could not feel sad. Instead, she felt blessed. And so very grateful to have known and loved them; those two, very special, unforgettable people.

In that precious moment, as she was thinking of them, she knew that somehow, they too were thinking of her. Suddenly, something inside her had changed. 'They really are here,' she murmured. 'They want to show me how they are now together, for always.'

For some wondrous, inexplicable reason, Lucy believed it was true, as sure as day followed night, and she felt calmer, and very much stronger in herself. In that uplifting moment of acceptance, it was as though part of the weight and sadness was lifted from her. It was a disturbing, yet oddly rea.s.suring experience.

Even so, she was still frighteningly uncertain as to where life might take her from here.

On returning, Dave noticed that she was in a quieter mood. 'I haven't upset you, have I?' he asked. 'I hope I haven't embarra.s.sed you.'

'No!' Lucy a.s.sured him emphatically. 'You haven't done anything wrong. To tell you the truth, I haven't had such fun in ages.' She wagged a finger at him. 'You really are a bad influence, Mr Dave Benson!'

He smiled graciously, and a moment later, having placed the ice creams on the table, he gently leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. 'Thank you for making me feel special again,' he whispered.

Lucy blushed, and thought it best not to say anything, though she felt a warm glow of acceptance. And when he held her gaze for too long a moment, her heart gave the merriest little skip.

They ate their ice creams and chatted about things in general, such as the pleasantness of the hotel, and Lucy said it was lovely being so close to the harbour and the beach. And Dave agreed, and then he bought them each another drink, and Lucy said it was so peaceful here, she wished she could stay for ever.

What they did not discuss was how they were drawn to each other, and how one seemed to bring out the best and craziest in the other. Yet Lucy dared not dwell on her deeper feelings for this stranger such dark feelings, strictly forbidden and rightly so.

When Lucy fell silent, Dave quietly studied her face. He thought she was the loveliest person, inside and out. 'Penny for your thoughts,' he asked softly.

Lucy looked up. 'Oh, I'm sorry. I was miles away.'

'Yes, I could see that.'

'I was just thinking ... about things in general.'

'Lucy?'

'Yes?'

'I hope you didn't mind me confiding in you ... about the car accident and everything?'

'No! Not at all. After what you've been through, you must need someone to listen.'

'You're very kind, but it won't happen again, I can a.s.sure you. Like Nancy said, there comes a time to move on and leave the sadness behind. No good can ever come from dwelling in the past.'

Lucy suddenly felt very lonely. 'Dave?'

'Yes, Lucy?' He gave a cheeky smile. 'Am I about to be chastised?'

'No! I need to get back and wash off the sand. It's got between my toes. It would be nice, though, to walk back along the beach?'

'Sure! On the way I need to dip my toes into the sea.'

'Can I ask why?'

'Because I haven't dipped my toe in the sea, not since I was a little boy.'

'OK! Fine by me.'

Some few minutes later, after Dave had insisted on settling the bill, the two of them set off, clutching their shoes.

As agreed, they walked along the beach, and very soon Dave led Lucy right down to the water's edge.

He was the first to venture into the water. 'Brr!' He gave a little s.h.i.+ver. Having rolled up his trouser legs, he walked right out, with the water lapping at his ankles. 'It's not as warm as I thought. Come on, Lucy Lovejoy. It's invigorating. Be brave.'

Tiptoeing across the crunchy sand, Lucy nervously dipped one of her feet into the playful waves. 'Whoo!' She jumped back. 'You lied! It's freezing.' Even so, she was eventually standing beside him, with both feet in the water. 'You're right,' she acknowledged, 'it is "invigorating".'

The two of them were like children, swis.h.i.+ng their toes and running along the water's edge, until they were opposite the hotel where, oddly silent, they set about wiping their feet with two handkerchiefs found in the bottom of Lucy's bag.

When they were virtually dry and feeling more comfortable, they put on their shoes, also in silence.

In stark contrast to when Dave had Lucy over his shoulder, and they had laughed and screeched as they ran down the beach, they now strolled along the stone walkway, deep in thought, although, much to Lucy's surprise, Dave very tenderly took hold of her hand as they crossed the road.

She made no protest because what was there to protest about?

At the hotel entrance, Dave brought her to a halt.

'Can we see each other again later?' he asked softly.

'That would be lovely,' Lucy told him shyly.