The Runaway Woman Part 23

Outside, Dave Benson went in search of Lucy, his heart beating rapidly.

He glanced along the jetty ... no signs of her. He scoured the walkway and the far harbour-side, but while there were people milling about and children playing, there was no sign of his woman.

He was just minutes behind her, so where could she have gone, so quickly?

He crossed the street and walked along by the row of little shops. He peeped into each one, and still there was no sign of her.

Disappointed, he turned to walk back, and there she was, seated on a bench alongside the beach. Even though she had her back to him, he knew he was not mistaken. The wild, thick brown hair gave her away.

As he drew closer, she appeared to be so lost in her own little world that he was made to wonder if it was right to impose himself on her.

Disheartened, he actually turned and started to walk away, but the compulsion to speak with her was too powerful. Swinging back, he quickened his feet in case he might be tempted to change his mind.

The skirt of shingle across the walkway made a crunching sound beneath his feet as he went on towards the sandy beach. His heart was warmed by the knowledge that at long last he was about to make contact with her again. Since their first hurried meeting, he had kept her in his mind; hoping and wishing that he might see her again. He had no idea why he had been so drawn to her on that cold, dark night, but the experience had left its impact.

Maybe it was because he recognised a kindred spirit in her. Certainly, there was an air of loneliness about her ... a certain vulnerability.

He knew only too well how easily the cruelty of life could bring a person down.

But there was something else about her. Something strong yet needy. Something immensely beautiful in her deeper nature, that allowed her to creep into his mind and heart.

The nearer he got to her, the more nervous he felt.

Twice he paused, and twice he started off again. What's wrong with you, man? he chastised himself.

He could not reasonably understand why he felt he must talk with her again. Unfinished business, that's what it is, he thought. Once I know she's all right, I'll be able to get her out of my mind.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

UNAWARE THAT DAVE was approaching, Lucy was in a world of her own. A warm, kindly world, of light and sunshine, with children's innocent laughter carried to her on the wind.

Sitting here, in this lovely place, miles from home, it was a little easier for her to shut out all her sorrow and fears, and feel somehow at peace with the world.

Her gaze was drawn to the seagulls soaring on the breeze. She smiled, thinking if she could only be as free as that ... no responsibilities or regrets ... just to open your wings and let the warm breeze take you where it would.

In this delightful, familiar place she was beginning to feel settled and more positive. Yet still she could not decide what to do.

There were so many questions running round in her head. Was her marriage over? Was it her fault in some way? Did Martin truly want to spend the rest of his life with Paula? And did Paula want that? Or was she just toying with him, as was her nature?

No! Martin was a grown man, capable of making his own decisions. Like Paula, he was in the wrong. Both he and Paula should be made to answer for what they had done.

With all that in mind, Lucy asked herself how she might now deal with the embarra.s.sing and awkward position she had been put in. Whichever way she turned, she found herself in the most impossible situation. At least for now she was the only one who knew the sordid truth apart from Kathleen, who would never reveal a confidence.

Unaware of Lucy's torment, Dave Benson was moving ever closer, still agonising as to whether he was doing the right thing in making contact with her. After all, she had refused his invitation that night they first met, so what made him believe she might want to talk with him now?

He deliberately gave a little cough, so as not to alarm her.

Lucy spun round, astonished to see him there. When he smiled at her, she was concerned that he was actually making a beeline for her.

'Please ... don't leave on my account.' He realised she was making a move to get up from the bench. 'I saw you in the hotel and I thought I might come and find you. I'm sorry if that sounds a bit forward and intrusive, but it's not meant to be.'

He was now standing before her. 'Please, may I sit down here, next to you?' His smile was warm and friendly. 'Only I've got a kind of corn on my little toe, and it's begnning to aggravate me.' He gave a little-boy smile. 'It really hurts,' he lied lamely.

Lucy knew it was a ploy, but she had to smile. 'Well, in that case, you'd best sit down.'

As he sat down next to her, he realised that Lucy was making another move to leave. 'No, don't go, please stay ... just for a while.' He held out his hand in friendship. 'I'm Dave Benson, and I'm glad I found you again, especially after that night at the bus shelter. I know, it was rude and thoughtless of me to ask you if you would like to join myself and Nancy at the pub. I promise you, I do not make a habit of asking strangers to join me for a drink.'

'So, why did you ask me, Mr Benson?'

'Well, first, the name is Dave, and the thing is, I could see that you'd been crying, and I really did want to make sure you were all right. Also, you might have caught pneumonia in that damp bus shelter.'

Lucy shook her head. 'I had no intention of staying there for too long, and besides, I was wearing a warm coat.'

He put his arms out in despair. 'I am sorry ... really I am. And I do realise now that I was too forward, for which I sincerely apologise. You obviously needed time to yourself, and I do regret intruding.' He dared to lean forward. 'So ... am I forgiven?' He again put on that little-boy-lost face. 'Please?'

Lucy thought he was so very charming that it would be churlish of her to walk away now. After all, what harm could he do her, out here, in the open?

Also, she had not forgotten how kind and concerned he had been on that particular unhappy night.

Dave was careful to maintain a fair distance between them. He did not want to scare her off now that he was making headway. At least they were talking and, more importantly, she was not running away this time.

Settling back into the seat, Lucy accepted his apology, and thinking he might leave now, she continued to look out to sea.

Her quiet gaze followed the colourful speedboats as they shot across the water. There were so many boats out there. She could see any number of speedboats; also a smattering of colourful fishing boats, and even a man in a racing boat towing a skier behind him.

Reaching her gaze right out to the horizon, she noticed a big, white cruise ship travelling along slowly, large and lazy against the blue skies.

'It's very impressive, don't you think?' Dave had been watching her; how lost in everything she appeared to be ... like a child, overwhelmed when seeing the big, wide world for the first time ever.

'Oh, yes.' Lucy was surprised to realise he must be watching her, but somehow it didn't seem to matter. 'I know it must sound ridiculous,' she confessed, 'but I've never seen a cruise-ship before, at least not as close as this.' In truth, she felt as though she could reach out and touch it. 'They really are huge, aren't they?'

'In comparison to some, that one is of medium size.' Dave felt he had broken the ice with her. 'Some of them can carry over a thousand pa.s.sengers and, on board, the corridors are so long it can take you twenty minutes or more to get from one end to the other.'

'Really?' Lucy was amazed. 'I bet they're beautiful inside, though?'

'Oh, yes! And there is so much going on, you can be entertained from morning to night.'

'Goodness!' Lucy was amazed. 'I had no idea.'

'I don't know about the smaller ones,' he admitted. 'The larger cruise liners contain any number of swimming pools, amus.e.m.e.nt arcades, restaurants and bars, and there are extravagant musical shows in full-size theatres ... even shopping arcades. Oh, and much more!'

'I never realised,' Lucy gasped. 'It's a wonder they don't sink, with all that weight.'

'Oh, but they can, and do. You must have heard of the t.i.tanic, one of the biggest shipping disasters ever?'

'Oh, yes, of course!' In truth, Lucy tended not to dwell on disasters of any kind. 'You're right, of course.' Somehow, she had not identified the t.i.tanic with the beautful white cruise liner, now gently crossing the horizon.

'The t.i.tanic was the forerunner of these magnificent monsters.' Dave gestured to the white ship. 'That one there is far more intricate a vessel, more sophisticated, and fitted with every device known to man, in order to be sure that such a disaster as happened to the t.i.tanic might never occur again.'

Lucy understood. He seemed so knowledgeable, it made her curious. 'Have you ever travelled on one?'

'Yes ... only the once, though,' he explained. 'About two years back I travelled to New York on such a cruise liner as you see out there. It was quite an experience, but I will confess I'm not the happiest sailor in the world. I tend to get seasick. Sounds petty, doesn't it? But I can a.s.sure you, it's no small thing ... not to me, anyway, because I hardly went outside my cabin, I was that ill.'

'Aw, that's such a shame.'

'Yes, I suppose it was, but fortunately the entire journey did not cost me one single penny. You see, at the time, I worked for a firm of international lawyers and, thank goodness, my boss paid the bill, right down to the sickness pills.' He smiled at the memory. 'Lucky for me that he did, because financially I was not in his league and never will be.'

Lucy was curious. 'Do you mind me asking, are you a lawyer?'

'No. I was a kind of high-cla.s.s courier then, toing and froing and bringing all the tag ends together. When the British arm of the company moved to America, I was offered redundancy, and I took it.'

'And did you miss the travelling?' Lucy asked.

'No. Not in the slightest. In fact, it all turned out to be a lucky break for me. With the redundancy payout I was able to start up my own business, as a consultant and a deal-maker. I had a lot of experience, and I used it to my advantage. I love the work, so, in a modest way, I am a happy man.'

For a while, Lucy digested all that information, and her mind went back to the night she first met this charming, interesting man.

'Can I just say something?' she asked thoughfully.

'Of course. Ask away.'

'Well, that night at the bus shelter, you must have thought I was ungrateful when I refused your offer of joining you and your wife at the pub.'

'Oh, no! As Nancy pointed out later, it was a wrong thing for me to do. Looking back, I realise she was right, I should not have put you in that situation, so I apologise.'

'Apology accepted.'

'Thank you. And secondly, Nancy is not my wife. She's my sister.'

'Oh! I just kind of a.s.sumed ...' Embarra.s.sed, Lucy apologised. 'That's just like me, to get it wrong.'

'You weren't to know,' Dave replied. 'My trip here is to try and clinch a deal for her.'

'Oh, I see,' Lucy answered confidently, even though she didn't 'see' at all.

'I'm sure Nancy won't mind me telling you. Some time back, she acquired a tidy sum of money when her marriage collapsed all very amicable, I might add. And now, after years of being one half of a whole that was how Nancy saw it she's itching to find some kind of independence by setting up her own business.'

'Good for her!' Lucy admired her for having the ambition and courage to strike out on her own. She had often craved that kind of belief in herself, but sadly, she did not possess any kind of business ac.u.men.

Dave went on, 'She's been searching for the right property, and just recently she learned of a large, dilapidated building not too far from here. She wants me to check it over. If I'm happy with it, then I am given carte blanche to bring about a purchase deal through my agency.'

He outlined the plan. 'The property is located in a perfect setting some two miles from here. I've seen it, and I can also see the potential. Presently, sad and forlorn, it sits just a few hundred yards from the beach. It's situated high up, with an amazing view from the cliffs.'

Lucy was impressed. 'It sounds idyllic.'

'Oh, it is. So far, all the costings are done, and planning permission is being discussed at this very moment. It looks promising. So the last hurdle is getting the seller to lower the price, which, because other investors are interested, is bound to be tricky. But I'm convinced we'll get there in the end, even if I have to put up some of the money myself. If that turns out to be the case, I will, of course, get all my money back eventually. I'm ready to do whatever it takes to secure the property for her.'

He gave a little wink. 'Nancy firmly believes I can swing the deal for her. And with that sort of faith in me, how can I not come away with a successful outcome?'

'Oh, you must get it for her!' Lucy was adamant. 'You cannot let her down.'

'Whoa!' Dave laughed. 'Don't you gang up on me as well!'

Lucy was drawn to the idea of his sister having been through a divorce but, instead of bemoaning her loss, she was now striking out on her own.

'If you do manage to secure the property for her, what will she do with it?'

'Ah! That's the easy bit. Because of its wonderful location, she means to renovate and create a hotel. Or at least that's her idea at the moment. Knowing Nancy, she could yet change her mind.' He gave that boyish little smile again. 'Somehow, though, I don't think so. I've never known her so excited, so I do sincerely believe she will stick with her original plan.'

Lucy could sense his respect and admiration for his sister and before she could stop herself, she was asking, 'You love her very much, don't you?'

'I do, yes, and for many reasons. Nancy is the best sister ever!' He went on softly, 'Just over a year ago, I lost my wife in a car accident. I was driving ...'

He paused, slowly shaking his head. 'There was nothing I could do. The speeding vehicle careered out of a side road and rammed straight into us. My wife took the full impact.' The memories flooded back. 'Nancy was truly amazing. She was there for me and my daughter, Ca.s.sie. And she's been there for us ever since. I owe her ... big time!'

He gave a crooked grin. 'I'm not saying she's an angel, because I know better than anyone how bossy she can be if she puts her mind to it. She's kept me well on my toes over this property, I can tell you.'

'She sounds like a very strong person,' Lucy remarked admiringly. 'It can't be easy to come through a divorce and go straight into the idea of owning your own business.'

She thought of Martin, and was convinced that she also might end up losing her marriage. But the difference was that if she and Martin did part company, there was no way she could build her own business; even if she did have the money, because sadly, she had neither the confidence nor the ambition to do so.

'Your sister must have the heart of a lion,' she remarked.

'Yes. That's Nancy all right. She goes in head first without giving it too much thought. She can be a little overwhelming at times, I can tell you.'

His tender smile said it all. 'She also has a way of always saying and doing the right thing, especially where I and my daugher are concerned. For instance, she keeps reminding me that over a year has gone by since the accident, and both Ca.s.sie and I should now be thinking about moving on especially Ca.s.sie, who was greatly traumatised by what happened to her mother.'

Lucy asked gently, 'And are you both "moving on" with your lives?'

'Yes, I believe we are ... absolutely. I've decided to sell the house and Ca.s.sie is to help me choose our new home. Now, though, I'm tied up and busy with my own business, and Ca.s.sie is growing up fast. She has lots of friends and she enjoys life, though now and again, the trauma all comes flooding back, and she takes off ... to Nancy's, usually. Or she moves in with her aunt, Ellie.'

'It's good that she's got friends.' Lucy thought of Kathleen, and how much she had relied on her.

Dave went on, 'Ca.s.sie is a lovely, caring girl, but she has a mind of her own. Little by little she's coming to terms with what happened, and yes, she's all right. She's coming through it, thank goodness.'

Dave was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to talk to this lovely woman. 'She's presently staying with her aunt Ellie, who is young enough to be her cousin. They're good together. They like the same things. Just now, Ca.s.sie is excited about her freedom. She's even planning her own future.' He groaned. 'It wouldn't surprise me to find her teaming up with Nancy ... especially if I secure this deal. Oh, yes! Ca.s.sie would love to spend her time swanning about the beach and such.'

He went on, 'I could be wrong. I mean, she has mentioned college a number of times lately. And if that does happen, judging by the clothes crammed into her wardrobe, she'll probably want to be a fashion designer. Nancy reckons she's got a talent for it; especially as Ca.s.sie has altered every item in her wardrobe.'

'She does sound capable,' Lucy replied. 'And I'm glad you have both been able to move on. Life can be very cruel, and sometimes you have to stand up and face the bad things full on. It's the only way. You can't hide from them because they follow you around, and haunt you. Try as you might, you can't easily forget what happened and you can't turn back the clock.'