A Light Between Oceans Episode 09


The characters from A Light Between Oceans at the lighthouse.

“This is delicious, Mrs Crocker.” Lucas took another bite of the fragrant buns that Hattie had taken out of the oven.

“What gives them the gold colour?”

“Saffron.” Hattie smiled.

She had anticipated that the meeting would be tense, and she’d always held that a treat from the oven eased any situation.

“Sounds very exotic.”

Hattie laughed.

“I’ve never thought of it that way, but I expect there’s no end to the variety of food where you live.”

Lucas shrugged.

“I tend to eat on the run. I can see that things move at a gentler pace here.”

Hattie looked at the young man.

She could see the tension and tiredness in his face, but there was also a light in his eyes, and a kind of sprung energy in his every movement.

She couldn’t help liking him, and she let herself enjoy the sight of him eating the bun with all the enthusiasm of a hungry schoolboy.

Her mission was to find out everything she could about his interest in the lighthouse and cottage.

“This is a super place to sit,” Lucas remarked, looking round the courtyard with its assortment of terracotta pots brimming with daffodils and tulips.

“Thank you,” she replied.

“It’s a relief to see some sunshine. The winter can be treacherous with all the wind and rain.”

“The lighthouse must have guided a lot of ships to safety over the years,” Lucas replied.

“What are your plans for Belmouth lighthouse and cottage?” Hattie decided to cut to the chase.

“I’m giving it some thought,” he replied vaguely, buttering the last morsel of bun.

Then he looked up.

“You’ve lived here all your life, so I expect you’ve seen a lot of changes.” He paused for a moment, measuring his words.

“I wonder what was it like during the war years.”

Hattie reached for the teapot and felt her hand quiver on the handle.

“Things were the same here as anywhere along the coast.

“Rationing, digging for victory, lots of evacuees and some Land Girls up at the farms.

“We made do and got through,” she said dismissively. “More tea?”

“Thank you,” Lucas replied eagerly.

“Seaside towns feel different on the American east coast.

“It’s all sandy beaches and arcades, and the sun beating down in the summer.

“The light here is so different. No wonder there have always been artists’ colonies like the St Ives School.”

“Yes, I expect so.” Hattie passed the milk, considering how to steer the conversation back to Lucas’s plans for the lighthouse.

“That started just before the war, didn’t it?” Lucas continued.

“Were there many artists in Belmouth around that time?”

“Not that I remember,” Hattie replied. “Is fine art a particular interest of yours, Mr Brook?”

“Please call me Lucas,” he said, but Hattie didn’t return the invitation.

“It’s never been a particular enthusiasm,” he said sheepishly. “I just wondered what things were like here, and if the place was crawling with people carrying easels and paintbrushes.”

Hattie shrugged.

“Not in Belmouth,” she said with finality.

“Have another bun and tell me more about your interest in the lighthouse. What ideas do you have for it?”

“Well, as I said, I’m not sure at the moment. I need to talk to the estate agent.”

Lucas was busy spreading butter on the bun, and Hattie watched, trying to keep her mind focused.

Memories seemed determined to flood through her mind, and she could no more block them than she could a bulldozer moving resolutely towards the lighthouse.

To be continued…