Forever at Conwenna Cove

Prologue

Zoe Russell’s heart pounded as she waited. She was nervous, but she was always nervous in the water, especially when she knew he was watching. The sun was high in the blue sky and the clear water lapped at her surfboard. She pushed away all of her concerns and focused. Waited. Anticipating the perfect wave.

A seagull screeched overhead and her senses pinged, fully alert.

It was coming, the wave she wanted.

She braced herself…

Then she paddled hard through the sea using long, smooth, deep strokes and when the moment was right, she sprang to her feet, everything instinctive now. She’d practised hard for this, wanting to get it right so that he would be proud of her.

The board sliced through the water as she rode the wave, in perfect control of her movements. She was fluid, at one with the water, and joy filled her heart.

The sun was warm on her wet hair, the salt tangy in her nose and on her lips, and she felt as if she was flying. Zoe gained speed, the water sprayed into her face and she laughed as exhilaration consumed her. This was what she lived for; this was what she enjoyed… at least now. She had learnt to love it because of him.

A scream pierced her concentration and she looked up to see a dark object hurtling towards her across the curl of the wave. She tried to duck but it was coming too quickly. She froze, accepting in that moment that someone had bailed and it was too late for her to evade the board’s path, and it smashed into her head, knocking her from her own board and into the depths.

One word shot through her head: Wipeout.

The full force of the wave she’d been riding ploughed down on top of her as the sea sucked her down. She was simultaneously pushed and pulled, a ragdoll subjected to the power of the ocean. She opened her mouth to scream and it filled with water as her vision clouded with red and her lungs burned.

This was it.

She was gone.

The sea had claimed her.

Chapter 1

Zoe jumped up in bed, gasping and waving her arms around.

It was okay. She was in bed, not in the water. She was alive. It had been a dream.

A nightmare. Another one. One that had made her cheeks wet with tears and left her heart thundering. Even though Zoe could suppress her memories during the day, at night, when she slept, they took advantage of her vulnerability and forced themselves into her mind. It was exhausting, this constant battle with the demons of her past, and she wondered if she would ever be free of it. But that would take some serious emotional progress and Zoe knew, though she hated to admit it, that she was guilty of burying her past rather than dealing with it.

She threw back the duvet and stood on trembling legs, then grabbed her dressing gown and pulled it on over her sweat-soaked cotton pyjamas. There was no point trying to sleep now, so she’d go downstairs and make a herbal tea.

Zoe padded down the stairs, not bothering to turn a light on because she could see perfectly in the moonlight that shone through the frosted glass pane in her front door. The door opened straight into her small lounge where Zoe’s eyes were drawn to the sofa. Her stomach plummeted to the wooden floorboards and she bit her bottom lip hard.

The sofa shouldn’t be empty. But it was. She was convinced that it was one reason why her nightmares had returned. Forgetting her tea, she went to the sofa and sat down, then pulled the soft fleecy blanket from the back of it and pressed it to her face. It still smelt of her.

‘Raven,’ she said as her vision blurred. ‘My sweet black beauty.’

When she’d moved to Conwenna Cove, after buying the diner over two and a half years ago, she’d overheard a conversation in the Conwenna Cafe about the greyhound sanctuary up at Foxglove Farm. She’d vowed never to visit it for fear that she’d fall in love with one of the rescue hounds, but that hadn’t stopped her seeing them just about everywhere she went. Then, one day, about seven months ago, she’d been walking along the cove enjoying the refreshing February air when she’d bumped into the owners of the sanctuary, Neil Burton and his wife, Elena. They’d been walking some of the greyhounds and when Zoe had stopped to talk to them, one dog had stepped forwards and leant against her leg. Before she’d realized what she was doing, she’d stroked the dog’s soft black head then asked about her.

Neil had told her that the dog was called Raven. She was an older girl of about twelve years and her owner had been forced to go into a care home, which meant he couldn’t look after Raven any more. Neil had agreed to take Raven at the sanctuary, although he’d been concerned as she was elderly and unlikely to find a home. He’d also expressed his concerns that at Raven’s time of life, it was likely to be very hard on her as she’d lived in a home for the past eight years.

And like that, Zoe had known that she couldn’t see Raven suffer. She’d offered to foster her and that, of course, had become what was known in the greyhound community as a failed foster. Raven had lived with her up until six weeks ago, when Zoe had come down in the morning to find that the greyhound had passed over the rainbow bridge. She still couldn’t bear to think of it as dying, and instead, she liked to imagine Raven running around in sunny fields and on sandy beaches, her ebony fur shining and her pink tongue lolling from her mouth as she raced along with her friends.

Zoe hugged Raven’s blanket hard. She’d called the local vet, Oli Davenport, that morning six weeks ago and he’d come to collect Raven. Zoe had asked to have Raven’s ashes and Oli had brought them to her the following weekend. She’d taken Raven to her favourite field up behind the cottage and released her there early one morning, scattering her around in the pattern in which she liked to run. Even though she’d been older, Raven had loved to run. Not for long but as fast as she could before heading straight back to Zoe and causing her to scream in case the greyhound knocked her off her feet. But somehow, Raven never did; she always swerved just in time. Zoe found that she was smiling at the memory. And as much as she hoped she had given Raven some happiness towards the end of her days, she knew the greyhound had done the same for her.

Raven had been able to help keep the nightmares at bay. Not every night, but most, and when Zoe had a bad dream, she’d been able to hurry down the stairs and bury her face in the dog’s soft fur then listen to her reassuring heartbeat. It had been comforting sharing her small cottage with another creature and she felt privileged to have been able to offer Raven a home, even if for such a short while.

But now she missed her canine companion so much it was like a physical pain. There was no way she could consider adopting another dog; the loss was too much to bear and she couldn’t stand the thought that if Raven still existed in some form or other, she might feel she’d been replaced in some way.

And, of course, Zoe had been getting used to her solitary state before Raven had entered her life. In fact, she’d been managing quite well – apart from the nightmares – and even embraced solitude as something she could live with. Raven’s presence had started to stir something inside her though, and to make her aware that perhaps she didn’t really want to spend the rest of her life alone. Zoe spent most days at her diner, chatting to staff and customers, smiling and laughing with them and doing her best to ensure that they had as pleasant an experience at the diner as possible. She was good at being sociable, at playing the hostess, and during the daytime, her smile rarely slipped. But once she left work and headed home the shadows gathered and, as she walked the short distance through Conwenna to her cottage, her own sense of isolation wasn’t helped by seeing other couples and families, by knowing that while she would spend the evening alone, they would be eating together, watching TV together and falling asleep together. Zoe had no one around to give her a hug or to bring her a cup of tea in the morning, no one to banish the nightmares by enveloping her in a strong embrace.

She hated admitting to being lonely, but she was. Raven had been a wonderful companion, easing the sense of isolation for a while, but now that she was gone, the empty space in Zoe’s heart and in her life seemed even bigger, as if one day it would swallow her whole.

Zoe sighed then lay down on the sofa and wrapped Raven’s blanket around her. It was the first Saturday of July and she needed to rest, because it was the busy season in Conwenna Cove and she’d have a hectic day at the diner ahead of her.

She thought she wouldn’t sleep another wink, but soon she found her eyes were heavy and she drifted off once more.

Nate Bryson placed a large mug of coffee on the table then put a plate of toast next to it.

‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like anything else?’ he asked Jack Adams.

‘No, this is great, thanks. I only popped into town to pick up some groceries but I’m really tired and thought this would perk me up a bit.’ Jack’s dark hair was longer than usual and messy, as if he’d forgotten to comb it, and there were shadows under his brown eyes.

‘Baby Iain keeping you up, is he?’

Jack smiled. ‘He’s a good baby but he still wakes once or twice a night. I got up at three to see to him and it took over an hour for him to settle again.’

‘I don’t know how you do it.’ Nate shook his head. ‘Rather you than me.’

‘Well, you’re still out partying until that time, aren’t you?’ Jack laughed. ‘Probably roll straight on into work in the mornings, I bet.’

Nate nodded but inside he sighed. Ex-Marine and local artist Jack was a good friend of his but even so, it sometimes seemed that he had the same opinion of Nate that lots of the locals did. Nate didn’t mind but sometimes he wished they could see beyond the cheery, surfer-dude appearance. He was, of course, cheery and a surfer, but there was more to him and he’d like to let people know but… he worried what they’d think if he tried to tell them. So he didn’t. How would he go about starting a conversation like that?

‘Yeah, that’s me all right, Jack. Didn’t get a wink of sleep. Enjoy your toast.’

‘Before you go, how’d you fancy a pint tonight at the pub? Oli’s coming. We’ll only have one or two drinks but thought it’d be nice to catch up, seeing as how the three of us are so busy these days.’

‘Yeah, I’d like that. What time?’

‘Around seven?’

‘Suits me.’

Nate returned to the counter and gave the surfaces a quick clean. It would be good to catch up with Oli and Jack. With Jack having the baby and his wife, Eve, to keep him busy, and Oli and Grace planning their engagement party, as well as being parents to Amy and Tom, they rarely had a chance to get together. But Nate was glad they were both settled and happy now. It suited them both, although he could never imagine doing it himself.

Jack had fallen in love with his landlady’s niece, Eve, when she’d come to Conwenna Cove two years ago, and they’d been inseparable ever since. The village vet Oli had been widowed over two and a half years ago and with two young children, he’d found life tough. But then Grace Phillips had arrived in the village the previous Christmas, to help her parents settle into their new cottage, and she and Oli had been unable to fight their mutual feelings.

He heard giggling and glanced across the cafe. Two young women were sitting at the window table and as he looked over, they both smiled at him, flashing perfectly aligned white teeth that made Nate think they’d both probably worn braces at some point. The one with long blonde hair blushed when he returned her smile and her friend nudged her. He knew he could go over and ask for her number, probably get it too, but he didn’t want to. She was pretty with her lovely sun-kissed hair and bright blue eyes, and she had long tanned legs displayed in cut-off denim shorts. Her top was a baggy transparent T-shirt that showed off a tiny string bikini underneath and he could see the shadow of a small tattoo just under her collarbone. She was the type of woman Nate had been dating for years and it had been fun. But…

He thought about last night and his date with Belle, a travel agent from Truro. They’d met at a bar the week before and she’d asked for his number then phoned him the following day to ask him to meet her. She was Cara Delevingne’s doppelganger, with thick dark brows and a figure many women would kill for. They’d had a great night by Nate’s previous standards. They’d drunk too much and danced at a club until gone two, then she had wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him passionately and asked him to go home with her. He had to admit that he’d wavered. She was gorgeous, funny and smart. But two things had held him back. One: it wasn’t the right time for him to get involved with someone because of his plans, and he suspected that Belle might want more than a fling, and two: he’d realized that he didn’t want to wake up the next day with more than a hangover, and by that he was thinking of the strange, empty feeling that he’d experienced the last few times he’d spent the night with a woman. Perhaps it was his age, perhaps it was something else, but Nate knew that something in him was changing and he wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.

So he made an effort not to look over at the pretty blonde woman again and when she came to the counter with her friend and paid, then deliberately touched his hand as he passed her change, he didn’t offer her any encouragement. He flashed her a brief smile then turned back to the coffee machine and made a point of frothing some milk, nice and noisy, and pretended he couldn’t hear her disappointed sigh or her friend’s tut of disapproval.

‘Thanks for the coffee and toast.’ Jack had come up to the counter. ‘Could you wrap me up four of those cherry scones and make a latte to go. I’d better take something nice back for Eve to eat, and she could probably use the coffee, too.’

‘No problem.’

‘How much do I owe you?’

‘It’s on me.’

‘No, let me pay.’

‘Buy me a pint later.’

‘Sure, okay then.’ Jack stuffed his wallet back into his jeans.

‘What’s Eve up to this evening?’

‘She’s arranged a girls’ night in with Grace and Amy at our cottage. Oli said Tom wasn’t fussy on being with the women, so Edward and Mary said he can go round there and Edward will tell him some stories.’

‘Stories?’

Jack nodded. ‘Apparently Tom loves hearing about Edward’s time on the water.’

‘As a fisherman?’

‘Yup.’

Mary Millar was Eve’s aunt and Eve and Jack lived in the cottage next to hers. She’d married fisherman Edward two years ago and Nate knew the older couple both doted on baby Iain, and Oli’s children. Even when people weren’t blood relatives of Mary and Edward, they still had plenty of love and time to offer them. That was the good thing about Conwenna Cove; it was a small, close-knit community and there was always friendship and support on offer if you needed it.

‘Good for him.’

Nate handed Jack a box with the scones in it, then a disposable coffee cup with a plastic lid.

‘I’ve popped a carton of clotted cream in the box too, in case Eve fancies it.’

‘Thanks, I’m sure she will. See you later.’

‘Look forward to it.’

Jack left the cafe and Nate watched as he passed the window. Outside, the sky was clear and blue and the air was warm with the promise of a long, hot summer. Tourists were already traipsing up and down the main street in their sandals and flip-flops, their skin sticky with suncream. Nate knew they were in for a busy day at the Conwenna Cafe, which was fine. He liked working there and meeting new people, as well as seeing the cafe regulars. He was going to miss them when he left, but that was something he wouldn’t allow himself to dwell on for now, because he had weeks until he was due to leave, and plenty could happen in that time. So he’d take life as he always did… one day at a time.

Chapter 2

Despite wearing her flat black pumps with the cushioned insoles, Zoe’s feet were throbbing by four o’clock. She loved working at her diner but some days were really hard going, physically. The first Saturday of July had been busy, which was promising for the summer ahead. Good business was good for Zoe’s bank balance. It was important to have savings and security, and she certainly had plenty of both. The diner had been very successful, which was a huge relief as she’d invested a significant portion of her inheritance in the business.

The bell over the door tinkled and Zoe suppressed a sigh. When the last customers had left, she’d hoped that she might have a quiet half hour, but she was well aware that was highly unlikely on a busy Saturday. She plastered on a smile and strode towards the family that had entered.

‘Hello there! Welcome to Zoe’s Diner. I’m Zoe, the owner.’

The tall man with wavy grey hair and small brown eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses smiled in return.

‘Well, hello there, Zoe. Say hello, kids!’ His American drawl was strong.

‘Hello, Zoe!’ The two girls and one boy at his side greeted her.

‘Let me guess… New York?’

‘New Jersey.’ The man smiled, flashing perfectly white teeth.

‘I’m from New York but I moved to New Jersey to be with Ted, many moons ago.’ The woman at Ted’s side offered Zoe a smile as dazzling as her husband’s. ‘Isn’t this a quaint little place!’ She waved her hands at the interior and Zoe looked around, as if remembering what she’d done to make the diner as pleasant a place to eat as possible.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a wonderful view of the harbour and, if diners sat at the front tables, they could feel as though they were actually on the water. The lighting was low, to create a relaxed atmosphere. The seats were red and chrome, and there was a black and white checked floor. The jukebox played a stream of Fifties hits, and right then Sinatra was crooning rather appropriately about New York.

‘Well, thank you for choosing to eat at Zoe’s today. Let me show you to a booth.’

When Ted and his family had settled, Zoe took their drinks order and then handed them menus. ‘I’ll be back with your drinks shortly.’

She went behind the counter, which had an open window to the kitchen, and made a start on the drinks order. Conwenna Cove attracted people from all over the world, and she wasn’t at all surprised. It was such a beautiful location and although small, it offered tourists the opportunity to soak up the wonderful Cornish experience. Zoe knew she was lucky to live in the village and to have a business there. After what had happened, she’d needed a safe place to flee to and Conwenna had been that haven. Now she never wanted to leave. It was as if she could escape the real world and harsh reality if she just stayed at the cove.

She carried the tray of drinks back to the booth and handed them to the family.

‘Are you ready to order yet?’

She wrote the orders in her notebook, looking at each family member in turn. When she got to the older girl, she couldn’t help noticing how she played with a stud in her tongue as she spoke, and the eternity symbol tattoo under the girl’s right ear.

‘And Zoe, we’ll have an extra side of fries with that, please.’ Ted tapped his menu.

‘Sure thing. Anything else?’ Zoe scanned the family again and when she met the older girl’s eyes, she caught her knowing smile then followed the girl’s gaze down to her left arm that was exposed as she held the notebook up. The girl had spotted her own tattoo – that of a rolling wave that she’d had etched on the inside of her wrist. Zoe returned the girl’s smile, but as she walked away, her hand crept to her fringe and she patted it across her forehead to check that it was still in place. There were some marks from her past that she wouldn’t try to hide but there were others that she didn’t want anyone else to see, because she didn’t even want to see them herself.

‘So what do you think, Oli?’ Nate sipped his pint of lager as he waited for the vet to reply.

Oli nodded. ‘I think it would be a great idea to have another Surf for Sighthounds this summer, but have you got time to organize it?’

‘I think so.’ Nate nodded. ‘I’d like to do something to help the dogs out.’

Before I go away.

‘We could always do it a bit later on,’ Jack suggested. ‘Perhaps September time.’

Nate shook his head. ‘It has to be August.’

Jack and Oli stared at him and he