A Light Between Oceans Episode 18


Characters from A Light Between Oceans.

Sandy reached into the pocket of her jacket for her key and unlocked the door.

She gave the door its usual shove, as the cooler weather had begun its traditional warping.

“Sandy?”

Hattie’s voice wafted through the hallway, along with the spicy aroma of ginger and cinnamon.

For an aching moment, Sandy felt transported back to her school days, when she’d come to Hattie’s, laden with homework, and plopped herself down at the kitchen table to be soothed by ginger cake and Hattie’s comforting chat.

It was all different now. The memories that had once been a source of wistful comfort had been tarnished.

She had trusted and depended on Hattie all her life. But there was no denying it – Hattie had been hiding something from her.

Sandy had sensed it, first as a mild discomfort, but now it was like a wound that had begun to fester.

For the second time that morning she felt tears prick her eyes.

“Yes, it’s me,” she called out, her voice small and constricted.

She heard Hattie’s footsteps and rummaged in her handbag for a tissue, feigning a runny nose from the spring chill.

“Are you all right?” Hattie appeared in the doorway, dish towel in hand.

“Just a bit cold,” Sandy replied, crumpling the tissue and stuffing it in her pocket. “I took a walk . . .”

She stopped, weighing up how much more to say, but Hattie interrupted.

“I found your note. Quite fun, taking an early walk.

“I didn’t see any evidence of your having had breakfast,” she added.

“Would you like some ginger cake?”

Sandy managed a smile, but somehow couldn’t meet Hattie’s eyes.

“That would be lovely.”

The kitchen was warm and the sunshine was glinting off the pine dresser.

Sandy busied herself setting the table with mugs and plates, while Hattie put the tin of ginger cake on to a wooden board.

“I won’t take it out of the tin yet. Remember that time?” Her eyes twinkled.

Sandy chuckled, remembering the day they’d baked a cake for Dad and, feeling eager, had turned it out too soon, the chunks and crumbs spilling out everywhere.

Sandy had been devastated, but Hattie had turned it all to fun and laughter.

“The best pudding ever,” Hattie had said in a sing-song tone.

If only things were that simple now.

The kettle came to the boil, and Sandy poured tea while Hattie slid generous slices of the cake on to plates.

Silently they sat down across from each other, the tension thick between them.

“How was the walk?” Hattie asked gently.

Sandy looked into Hattie’s concerned face and bit her lip, trying to make a decision as to how much to tell.

She took a breath.

“I saw Lucas. We talked for a bit and . . .” She trailed off, trying to gather a feeling of resolve, the way she did when dealing with directors of fabric companies.

“I thought something had upset you. Was it a difficult conversation?”

Sandy gobbled down a chunk of the delicious cake, feeling strangely guilty in the pleasure of it.

Here they were, just like the old days, yet everything was so different.

“I suppose it was, in some ways,” she admitted. “But we’re going to meet up again.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Hearing a change of tone in Hattie’s voice, Sandy met it head on.

“He wants to talk to me about various things to do with the lighthouse. I’m having supper with him this evening.”

“Supper? Sandy, I really don’t think there’s anything to be gained by this,” Hattie replied.

“It’s best to stay as aloof as possible.

“What we want is for him to lose interest in this whole thing and go back to New York,” she finished firmly.

“Do we? From what he told me, his plans for the lighthouse and cottage are more palatable than what the other buyers have in mind.

“There are a number of people who have some ghastly plans for it.”

“Lucas might not be telling you the truth,” Hattie argued.

“Besides, he could always change his mind if he bought them.

“Why don’t you call it off? Let’s have a nice evening and do something fun tomorrow.” Hattie paused.

“You’ll have to go back to London soon.

“Do you think you’d better get back sooner than you thought?”

Sandy felt tears prick her eyes. How could they have reached such a point?

“It sounds like Lucas isn’t the only person you’d prefer to leave Belmouth as soon as possible,” she snapped.

Hattie looked shocked.

“I love having you here! I feel guilty about pushing you to come down here at such a difficult time.

“You’ve worked so hard to build up that lovely shop. It would be awful if what’s-her-name made a mess of anything.”

But the sting of Sandy’s suspicions about Hattie clung on, and she heard the defensive sharpness in her own voice.

“Libby will be fine,” she retorted.

“As for Lucas, I think he’s actually a nice person, and I’d like to get to know him a bit better.”

“Please be careful. You’re vulnerable just now, and I don’t think he’s someone to get involved with,” Hattie replied. “Trust me.”

If only I could, Sandy thought to herself.

On the other hand, maybe Lucas hadn’t told her the truth when he said he’d never tear down the lighthouse.

Was there anyone she could trust?

Silence gaped between them, then the phone rang and Hattie stood to answer it.

“Hattie Crocker speaking. Oh, hello! Just a moment.”

“It’s Libby,” Hattie mouthed, handing Sandy the phone.

To be continued…