A few couples walked with their dogs, one or two runners passed Annie by as she walked, and she said hello to all of them, starting as she meant to go on and assuming that these would become familiar faces in the months to come.
Beyond the path that led up the hill, two fishermen had set up camp on the beach, sheltered by cliffs that arched as if their middles had been hollowed out by a giant ice cream scoop. The fisherman in the blue knitted jumper and orange waterproof trousers alighted from his stool as Annie drew nearer and waved.
“Halloah!” he called. “Are you the young lass who’s looking after Mari’s place?”
“Yes,” Annie called back. “I’m Annie.”
“Good to meet you, Annie,” said the fisherman. “I’m Ely, I expect we’ll be seeing a lot of each other over the next few months.”
Annie laughed.
“So, you’re the man responsible for my well-stocked freezer!” she said.
“That I am,” he said. “Plenty more where they came from, if Neptune smiles favorably on us.”
Ely smiled and waved once more before resuming his seat on the tiny stool, which didn’t look equipped to cope with his bulk.
Annie walked on, the sharp incline of the hill becoming visible via glimpses through the trees and brambles that clung to the rocky cliff face.
“Hello there!” A tall woman with an infectious smile, alabaster skin, and unfeasibly rosy cheeks came from behind Annie and tapped her on the shoulder. She was wearing a long-sleeved striped top underneath a padded vest, skintight jeans, and floral wellies. “Couldn’t help overhearing your convo with Ely,” the woman went on. “We were walking behind you, trying not to eavesdrop but ended up, you know, eavesdropping!
“I’m Samantha,” said the woman. “And this is Tom.”
Tom smiled warmly and held out a hand for Annie to shake, his other hand still holding Samantha’s. Annie wondered how long they had been together. Was hand holding one of those things that eventually got lost in the business of married life, along with kissing during sex and putting the loo seat down? She wondered if she and Max had ever held hands when out walking? Maybe they hadn’t been one of those couples.
“We own Willow Bay Stores,” said Tom. “Whatever you need, we stock it,” he said proudly. Tom was as long and lanky as Samantha. He wore a Barbour jacket over a checkered shirt, tucked into his jeans. His dark skin and jet-black hair contrasted with Samantha’s pale complexion and blond curls; they looked more like a celebrity couple than shopkeepers.
“And we do parcel dropoffs and collections,” added Samantha.
“Good to know,” said Annie. “I’m Annie. You probably heard, I’m looking after Saltwater Nook for Mari over the winter.”
“Absolute legend!” added Tom.
“She’s an amazing lady,” said Samantha. “How are you settling in?”
“Good, I think,” said Annie. “I literally just finished unpacking, so I guess the verdict’s still out. I’m just off to one of the pubs to get some dinner.”
“Oh!” said Samantha. “The Sunken Willow stops dinner at three o’clock, you’ll never make it in time!” She looked stricken.
“And the Captain’s Bounty doesn’t start serving till six o’clock!” added Tom.
“Oh, damn!” said Annie. “I really fancied a roast too.”
“Wait a mo,” said Samantha brightly. “I’ll call Pam.”
Samantha whipped out her phone.
“Hi, Pam,” she trilled down the phone. “I’m with Annie, the lady who’s looking after Mari’s place . . . Oh, did she? It’s happened to us all.” Samantha laughed.
Annie guessed Pam was telling Samantha about her bird-shit-hair incident.
“Listen,” Samantha continued. “Would you mind putting a roasty dinner by for her? She’s not going to make it up the hill before you stop serving . . . Great!”
She turned to Annie, still with the phone to her ear. “Chicken or pork?”
“Um, pork, please,” said Annie.
“Did you hear that?” Samantha said into the phone. “All the trimmings?” She looked at Annie again.
“Yes, please!” said Annie. She didn’t know what all the trimmings entailed, but she figured she’d be wanting them by the time she’d climbed the hill.
“Brilliant! Thanks, Pam, you’re a superstar!” said Samantha.
“Legend!” Tom called into Samantha’s phone.