Page 75 of The Summer That Changed Us

‘Wow.’ Barney seemed mesmerised.

‘Ta dah!’ She grinned, waving at the bench. ‘You like?’

‘I love,’ said Barney, gesturing for her to sit first. ‘And I agree – best seat in town.’

She’d taken him to the main beach at Merle Bay, the tourist beach as the locals called it. But holidaymakers rarely made it to the wild end, and they had the place to themselves.

‘I used to come here and eat my chips with my parents when we visited my aunt every summer,’ said Katie, unwrapping her parcel. Somewhere under all the chips and the sauce was a fish. It smelled delicious and her tummy gave an ecstatic rumble. ‘Dad called it our sunset supper.’

Barney unwrapped his battered sausage and chips and popped a chip in his mouth, blowing on it first.

‘So, you’re not local?’ He offered her a can from his pocket. ‘I did wonder why your accent isn’t very strong.’

‘Thanks.’ She opened the tin at arm’s length to avoid the fizz. ‘Not originally. I’ve been here ten years. Another fifteen and I’ll probably stop being referred to as the new girl.’

He laughed. ‘Tell me about it. My team at the Gazette like to do really bad London accents when I walk into a room.’

‘All right, guv?’ said Katie, in her best Cockney. ‘That sort of thing?’

‘Exactly,’ he confirmed. ‘I don’t think I even sound like a Southerner.’

Katie spluttered on her gin and tonic. ‘You so do.’

‘Fair enough,’ he laughed. He took out his phone. ‘So. I’m going to record this then I won’t have to make notes. I hope that’s OK?’

Ah, of course, he was working; for a few delicious minutes, she’d forgotten that. It had felt like a date. She attempted to keep the disappointment from her face.

‘Sure. Makes sense.’ She cleared her throat and told herself to concentrate.

‘Now you look worried.’ Barney pulled a face. ‘Sorry. I hope I haven’t ruined the mood?’

‘Not at all,’ she assured him. ‘I want to do the interview. Really.’

It was true. The announcement about the shortlisted businesses would appear in the newspaper tomorrow and interviews with the nominees would follow all week, up until the awards were announced next Friday at the Clifftop Hotel.

At first, she told herself that she was doing this for Nula, who was excited about the prospect of winning, and for her mum who, now she was back from Malta, had bought a new outfit for the event, and her dad who would be dusting off his best suit. But deep down, she couldn’t deny it – the excitement was contagious. She had won over the hearts and minds of the people of Merle Bay and whether she picked up the award or not, she was overwhelmed by the vote of support they’d shown her by getting her this far.

‘So,’ she began, taking a slurp of her gin. ‘I moved here when I was eighteen. I had a bit of bother at school and ended up dropping out of education. I started working for my aunt at Auntie Small’s. It was only ever meant to be a temporary move, but,’ she spread her hands, ‘here I am, ten years later. I took over when she died and now I can’t imagine living or working anywhere else.’

Barney’s gaze softened. ‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’

‘It’s fine.’ She shrugged.

Then she told him about her place at university, her teenage dream of making the world a fairer place by working in the legal system.

‘I pictured myself as a modern-day Joan of Arc, leading a crusade against injustice and I ended up in a bra shop.’ She laughed mischievously. ‘Perhaps I should call myself the patron saint of perky boobs instead.’

‘Just as valuable a public service, I say,’ Barney said, and they shared a laugh. ‘What caused the breakdown, if you don’t mind me asking?’

‘Um.’ She hesitated. Would she tell him if he were an ordinary man instead of a newspaper editor? Probably. She hadn’t felt this comfortable with anyone for years and she was enjoying herself. But she was too cautious to fall into any traps.

‘Sorry, sorry, I shouldn’t have pried,’ Barney said, rushing over his words. ‘You don’t have to answer and it’s beyond the remit of this interview anyway. I’ll delete that question.’

‘Thank you,’ she said. His heartfelt apology was so sweet. ‘Maybe it’s for another time, when our conversation isn’t being recorded.’

She’d said another time as if they’d be doing this again. She opened her mouth to backtrack but then realised he’d be listening to this interview and anything she said now would probably make it worse. Besides, why should she backtrack? Maybe letting people know how she felt wasn’t so bad. Because she did want to meet up again. Very much.

Barney’s shoulders seemed to drop a little, almost in relief. ‘I’d like that.’