FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA (13 page)

Once the yacht was tied up in her allocated berth Dexter came on board to congratulate Polly.

“Well done Polly,” he said giving her a warm hug, holding her tight for several seconds.

Cassie was amused to see that Polly wasn’t averse to staying in his arms for as long as he held her.

“Ready for the crowds?” he asked. “The reception committee and the Press are waiting for you in the club house.”

“All I really want is a hot shower and a comfortable bed,” Polly replied.

“Later, I promise,” Dexter said.

“Hang on, I’ve forgotten something.” Polly dived back down below, emerging seconds later with Nero and Fred Bear clutched tightly to her.

“Can’t leave them behind,” she said. “They’d miss me.” 

It took some time to make any progress towards the clubhouse as everyone they passed wanted to congratulate Polly.

Cassie watched proudly as ‘Little Polly’ as everybody now seemed determined to call her, made her second place acceptance speech.

It was only as Nigel made his speech and laughingly warned her, “I’ll be chasing you even harder in the next leg Little Polly,” that Cassie remembered this wasn’t the end.

Polly still had over twenty thousand miles to sail and a lot of those miles would be in the inhospitable and dangerous Southern Ocean.

Chapter Nine

Polly glanced at Cassie as she packed. “It’s been a great four days. I’m so glad you came, Mum.”

“Thank you for making it possible,” Cassie replied. She looked at her daughter affectionately.

“It didn’t bring back too many sad memories?” Polly asked quietly.

Cassie shook her head. “It’s completely different from the days when your dad was competing. There’s much more razzamatazz - more fun altogether. Although I don’t suppose the actual sailing has changed much. It’s still pretty tough out there isn’t it?”

“I love the challenge,” Polly replied. “And at least I didn’t disgrace myself on Leg One. Even Tom admitted second place was a result!”

“The next two legs are a different prospect, though, aren’t they? The Southern Ocean followed by Cape Horn,” Cassie said quietly.

“Mum, it will be fine,” Polly reassured her.

“Now, are you going to wear your new dress this evening?” she said, changing the subject.

“You don’t think it’s a bit over the top for me?” Cassie fingered the soft chiffon material of the dress she’d fallen for in an up market boutique down on the waterfront.

“Of course not,” Polly said. “It really suits you.”

Cassie glanced at her watch.

“What time is Dexter picking us up?” she asked.

“In about half an hour. While you finish packing I’ll grab a shower.” Polly vanished into the bathroom.

Dexter was waiting for them in the hotel foyer when they went downstairs, ready to drive them out to Becky and Trev’s house in the suburbs.

Becky had insisted on organising a farewell evening for Cassie.

“It’s the least I can do now we’ve met up again. Besides I want you to see my home.”

Situated on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the house with its seven rooms had spectacular views and was clearly a much loved home.

Trev had done well with his yachting and chartering business Cassie thought.

Inevitably, the conversation was very yacht orientated and Cassie found herself laughing as Trev told the other guests about events from their shared past.

She even found herself recalling a couple of incidents Trev had forgotten, involving herself and Miles - happy memories she hadn’t thought about in years.

Looking at her old friends, Cassie felt a tinge of sadness for the lost years. She’d been silly to cut herself off from those people who’d meant so much to her.

It was Polly who brought her back into the conversation.

“Has Mum told you her plans for changing her life now that Tom’s married and I’m off sailing?” she asked Becky. “It’s her way of beating the empty nest syndrome”

Becky glanced at Cassie. Like Polly, she knew it was more than empty nest syndrome Cassie was attempting to fight. They’d always been able to confide in each other. The years apart hadn’t changed that.

“She’s mentioned moving into a small cottage. Doing her own thing,” Becky said. “I think it’s an excellent idea.”

“Actually,” Trev interrupted, “I’ve got an even better idea.” He turned to Cassie.

“Why don’t you come and live here?”

“Trev you’re brilliant,” Becky exclaimed. “Why didn’t I think of that? Cassie, why not? You say it’s time to think about your life, do something different, lay all those ghosts. Well, do it here. Come and live with us. We’ve plenty of room. Come for six months and see what happens.”

“There you go Mum. What an opportunity.” Polly was full of enthusiasm for the plan, but Cassie was rendered completely speechless.

Mai was driving Tom back from the hospital, where he’d had the heavy plaster casts taken off his legs and replaced with less cumbersome splints.

“I know it’s early days yet, but I’ve been thinking about God-parents for the baby,” she said.

“Polly for one of the godmothers,” Tom replied.

“We’ll have to choose names, too. Or should we wait and see what the baby looks like first? I have to admit though I like old-fashioned names rather than trendy modern ones.”

“Good,” Mai agreed. “I’ve been favouring Alice for a girl and Samuel for a boy.”

“Your old room can be the nursery. We’ll paint it pale yellow and light blue,” Mai continued enthusiastically. “I’ve seen some lovely wallpaper.”

“We’re taking Mum up on her offer, then?” Tom asked quietly.

“You have doubts?”

“I just don’t want Mum feeling she’s being pushed out of her own home.”

“According to Anna, this is something she really wants to do.”

Mai drove into the boatyard and parked.

“Mum’s due back in a couple of days. Before then we must all get together and make plans for her birthday next month. She’s fifty, so, we’ll have to organise something special,” Tom said.

Just then, Anna appeared to give Mai a hand helping Tom out of the car and on to crutches for the first time. She seemed distracted.

“Is something the matter Anna?”

Anna sighed.

“River View has been broken into. James says it looks as though someone was planning to squat there. Nothing seems to be missing and they’ve found a sleeping bag upstairs. Bill’s there now, repairing the window and trying to make the place more secure.”

“When did it happen?” Tom asked.

“James noticed the broken window this morning as he was doing one of his regular river patrols. He suggested we tighten security here and in the boatyard. A couple of the boats down river have had outboard motors taken,” Anna said.

“Does James have any idea who’s responsible?” Tom asked.

Anna shook her head. “Apparently there’s been a few strangers around recently, including the shifty boy we saw on the river path, but there’s nothing to link them to anything.”

“I’m off to the cottage to do a spot of clearing up before Cassie gets home. Do you have time to join me, Mai?”

“Of course,” Mai agreed.

“You’d better take Solo with you,” Tom said. “And can you ask Gramps if he any ideas for Mum’s party?”

Cassie shivered as the cold British air hit her the moment she stepped out on to the airport concourse. The all too familiar overcast sky after the blue of South Africa was an instant reminder of the beautiful weather she’d left Polly enjoying in the count down to the next leg of the race.

She was about to drag her suitcase along to the taxi rank when she heard her name being called.

“Cassie wait.”

Turning, she was surprised to see Doug striding towards her.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I wanted to be in the arrivals lounge to meet you but I was held up. Here, let me carry that.” Doug took the suitcase from her.

“Did you have a good flight?”

Cassie nodded. “Yes thanks. What are you doing here anyway?” she asked.

“I was on my way back from Scotland and thought you might like company for the last part of your journey home.” Doug smiled at her.

Doug’s car, a seriously up market model with a luxurious leather interior was soon eating up the motorway miles. Cassie began to relax.

“Tell me about your holiday,” Doug said. “Did you take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain? Visit Robbens Island. Go Whale watching?”

“Yes, yes and no. It was the wrong season for whales. But there was so much else to do and see, the days went by far too quickly. Polly and I had a wonderful time.

“And I had a lovely surprise, too. I met up with some old friends.” Cassie told Doug about Becky and Trev.

A few miles further on, Doug pulled off the motorway for petrol.

“I thought we’d stop for lunch too. There’s a good restaurant where I usually call in on my way down. You don’t have to be back by any particular time, do you?”

Cassie shook her head.

At the restaurant, Cassie popped into the cloakroom to freshen up. When she made her way back to the table, she found Vanessa had joined Doug.

“Hi. I took a chance Dad would be here. I know it’s a favourite watering hole on his drive south. There are a couple of things I need to discuss with him. Didn’t expect to see you.”

“I didn’t expect him to meet me at the airport either,” Cassie said lightly.

Had she imagined it, or was there a definite edge to Vanessa’s voice?

“You could have called me on the mobile if things were that urgent,” Doug pointed out brusquely.

“I know Dad,” Vanessa said, “but I wanted to see you.” She threaded her arm through her father’s, smiling up at him.

“You’ve been in Scotland for ages.”

They ate their meal, which was as delicious as Doug had promised it would be, and Cassie sat and listened as Vanessa firmly kept the conversation business orientated, despite Doug’s attempts to include Cassie in a more general way.

Doug was clearly irritated.

“Right, that’s enough business talk, Vanessa,” he said before their desserts arrived. “Poor Cassie must be wondering where our manners are.”

“Oh Cassie I’m so sorry,” Vanessa cooed. “Do tell us about your holiday. Dad and I love Cape Town, don’t we?  Do you remember the time…” and she launched into a rambling reminiscence of a long ago holiday incident.

Cassie, finding herself once again excluded from the conversation between daughter and father, began to wish for the meal to be over. Why was Vanessa being so rude? And why was Doug letting her get away with it?

Part of the answer came when Doug excused himself and went to pay the bill at the bar.

“Daddy has never looked at another woman since Mummy left, so don’t get any ideas about bagging a rich husband,” Vanessa said aggressively.

Cassie was completely taken aback. Her first instinct was to tell this disagreeable young woman to mind her own business in no uncertain terms. However, she managed to keep her temper under control, and when she spoke, her voice was calm.

“Vanessa, your father and I met only recently and he’s been very kind to me and my family. I’ve been on my own for twenty years and I assure you I’m not desperate for a husband, rich or otherwise. The idea that Doug regards me as anything other than a friend is ludicrous.” Cassie took a breath.

“I will just say this. Don’t you think your father is entitled to choose his own friends, without your interference? Maybe after all the years on his own, he’s feeling lonely - especially now you and your sister live your own lives.” She paused.

“I’ll leave you to say goodbye to your father. Perhaps you’d be kind enough to tell him I’ll see him by the car. Goodbye Vanessa.” Cassie turned away.

By the time Doug joined her ten minutes later, Cassie had recovered her composure.

“Thank you for lunch.” She greeted him with a smile.

Doug put the key into the ignition, but instead of starting the car, he sat back, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

“Cassie, I can only apologise for Vanessa. I had no idea she would waylay me here. Or that she would behave as she did. I’d hoped she’d outgrown the antagonism she’s always shown towards any of my female friends.

“The last thing I want is for her to frighten you away.”

“Doug, it’s all right,” Cassie said, touching his arm. “I’ll survive. And we can still be friends. The only thing that bothers me is, why didn’t you stand up to her in the restaurant?”

Doug looked at her.

“If it had happened somewhere private I would have. But you have no idea of the scene Vanessa can throw if she wants to. I had no intention of subjecting you to that in public.”

He started the engine and slowly reversed the car out of its parking space.

“I suppose, I made the classic mistake when their mother left of over compensating the girls. Caroline coped really well but Vanessa has always had a possessive streak and I did nothing to curb it. I guess I was out of my depth. I should have done things differently.”

“We can only do our best in the circumstances at the time. Looking back, wanting to change things is a futile exercise.” Cassie sighed.

“I can promise you one thing, Cassie, the next time we have a meal together, it will be just the two of us. Now, let’s get you home. It’s been a long day for you.”

Cassie, happy to sit watching the countryside flash by, let her thoughts drift. She’d spent most of the flight wondering about Becky and Trev’s tempting offer. Now, though, as the car crossed the familiar Somerset Devonshire border a comfortable feeling came over her.

She was nearly home. This was where she belonged and where she’d build the new life she intended to forge for herself.

Going to South Africa to live was a tempting idea, but not one she intended to put into practice. She wanted to stay in Devon.

A week later, Cassie was regarding her handiwork in the sitting-room at River View. It had taken two days of intensive labour to transform the place. She’d cleaned and scrubbed the kitchen and the bathroom and had painted the sitting room a delicate shade of primrose yellow. The new carpet was due tomorrow.