A Light Between Oceans Episode 19


Characters from A Light Between Oceans.

Hattie had left the room, busying herself in the tiny sitting-room, trying to make enough noise to suggest she wasn’t listening to Sandy’s conversation.

There were long silences from Sandy’s end, so she decided to make use of the opportunity, and scrawled a note that she slid in front of Sandy.

Just popping out for provisions. Back in an hour.

Then Hattie grabbed her jacket and shopping basket and quietly slipped out, hurrying down the road to the town centre.

What did Lucas want to talk to Sandy about? He seemed determined to find out as much as he could about Belmouth. What could be behind it all?

Why was he specifically interested in the war years, off all things?

Hattie felt her heart pounding as she walked briskly towards Derwent Alexander’s, the estate agent.

There wasn’t much time; she’d have to squeeze in the shopping and get back before the hour had passed if she could.

It was all so eerie, this sudden flood of fear, suspicion and secrecy rearing its head again after so many years.

She had loved Sandy as her own daughter since the moment she’d peeked into the pram, with Sandy’s mother, beautiful though already pale from illness, beaming proudly beside her.

The precious relationship Hattie had built with Sandy over the years was now teetering precariously, the balance of truth and secrecy that had been so carefully nurtured under threat.

With it, Sandy’s memories of her father could be ruined for ever.

All those years ago, Donald’s goodness, and perhaps his weaknesses, too, had led him into a situation that had spiralled out of control.

Hattie had believed he was innocent then, and she always would, but there had never been any proof.

If Sandy learned the whole story, would she be convinced of her father’s innocence?

It was too big a chance to take. She had to hope it wasn’t too late.

Surely Lucas couldn’t have found out very much this soon, unless he had met the handful of older Belmouth residents who had been suspicious of Donald, and knew when it all began . . .


Belmouth, 1941.

“Good morning!” Hattie smiled at the Townsends, who were already seated in the little dining-room.

“And hello, Mr Van Bakkar.”

Hattie looked brightly toward the door as the tall, fair-haired gentleman entered the room, nodding cordially at the assembled company.

“Do sit down,” Hattie told him. “May I introduce Mr and Mrs Townsend, who are here for an extended stay. This is Mr Van Bakkar.”

There were handshakes and a rather courtly bow from Mr Van Bakkar, then a small voice called from the kitchen.

“Hattie! More porridge, please!”

“Just a moment, sweetheart.”

Mr Van Bakkar looked up quizzically and Hattie smiled again.

“That’s Sandy. I look after her from time to time.”

She went to the kitchen and helped Sandy down from the cushion-topped chair.

“You can have some more porridge in a moment. Come and say hello to our new guests.”

Hand in hand, they went into the dining-room.

“Hello,” Sandy piped up dutifully, then turned to Hattie. “Where are my shells, Hattie?”

The Townsends smiled, then turned back to talk to one another, but Mr Van Bakkar gazed at the little girl, clearly enchanted.

“Hello, Sandy,” he said, leaning down. “I have a little boy at home.

“He’s older than you, but I am sure he would like to have seen your shells.”

Sandy was silent, but she looked up at Hattie, her face shining with excitement.

“You can bring them in,” Hattie told her. “They’re in a basket with your books in the corner. Carry it carefully, mind.”

“You have a son, Mr Van Bakkar?” Hattie asked.

“Yes. Finn is five years old. He and my wife are in Holland.” His face had gone very grave and Hattie wasn’t sure if she should ask about their circumstances or not.

“You said yesterday that you’re here doing scientific work?” she said instead.

“Yes. I have been studying the marine food chain. I hope to do some valuable work here in collating my findings.”

“I see,” Hattie replied.

A charming smile lit up his face.

“It is more important in the world of science than you might think!

“The project began a few years ago in my country, and I had been travelling back and forth.

“As a scientist, I am in a reserved occupation.” He shook his head. “Who can say how long it will be before I can return?

“I pray that Finn and my beloved Lotte are safe. It is hard in my country.”

“I’m sorry, Mr Van Bakkar.”

There was an awkward silence as Hattie’s eyes darted towards the Townsends.

They had been talking between themselves, and it was clear that this wasn’t the time to try to bring her guests together in conversation.

The silence was saved by Sandy, who came clattering in with her basket, which she dumped proudly on to Mr Van Bakkar’s table.

“Sandy! I apologise,
Mr Van Bakkar,” Hattie declared.

“Not at all. Ah, yes, Sandy – do you know what this one is?”

“Sea shell?” the little girl replied.

“Yes – it’s called a conch, and it was once a home for a tiny creature called a sea snail.”

Sandy cocked her head, touching a tiny finger to the shell.

Mr Van Bakkar took a pad of paper and a pen from his jacket pocket.

“Shall I show you what it looks like?”

He began to sketch, and Sandy watched as an exquisite drawing of the shell and its former inhabitant took shape.

Hattie felt her eyes misting over as she took it in – the child looking on in amazement as the man produced the drawing.

It should be Donald doing this. It should be Sandy’s father.

Hattie blinked back her tears, knowing that if this ever were to be, it would not be soon.

Donald’s artistic passion had been locked away when Helen died. If only he would let it help to heal him.

And what on earth had he done with his paintings?

To be continued…