Winter at Pretty Beach by Polly Babbington (inspirational books txt) 📕

The air was bitterly cold, the pavement covered in a thick layer of white and slush slopped around in the gutter down to the drains. Nina pulled her beanie further down onto her head, tucked her scarf into her coat and put the timer on her phone. Twenty-two minute walk out and then she’d turn around and do the same back meaning they’d get the requisite fresh air and exercise.

Tillie was oohing and ahhing to herself, toasty warm in her snowsuit, as Nina walked along, and it didn’t sound as if Tillie was dropping off to sleep. Maybe she was going to be dropping the morning sleep.

My god, she thought, how will I cope?

Nina’s whole life revolved around Tillie’s schedule these days. Her phone pinged; she took it out of her pocket and read it over the top of Tillie’s head.

Hi, want to catch up for that coffee sometime this week? I’m coming down to pretty beach with David for a few days if you fancy it?

Guy, David’s friend had been chatting to her on messenger It was all a bit strange - it had started after the night they’d met each other on her first night out after having Tillie. She’d liked the look of Guy straight away - tall, dark, handsome, broad and it hadn't gone unnoticed with Sallie that she’d apparently done the fluttery eyelash thing.

She’d found out soon enough though that he was married and sort of parked it there, but then later found out that his marriage was on a break and he was waiting around while his wife had decided whether or not she wanted to stay with him.

It was like penpals of the old days - he’d message her in the evening, she’d message back and they’d struck up quite the friendship. She’d ask him about little things that came up with Tillie and he picked her brains on the law. They’d met up once in the city after work for a quick glass of wine before the train and once for lunch after the news that his wife did in fact want him back, but at which point he’d decided that he actually didn't want to go back to her.

Sure, love to, I’m in the city Wednesday and Thursday, so any other day.

I’m getting the train Thursday night, let me know if it suits to travel back together? I’ll treat you to a railway sandwich.

She fiddled with the phone as Tillie started to cry.

Sounds good. I’ll check my diary when I get back, just out for a walk and I’ll let you know. Think my last meeting is at five so it will be not long after that.

He sent back a thumbs up emoticon, Nina closed her phone and put it in her pocket.

She walked further along the tiny little road. The fisherman’s cottages looked gorgeous with a smattering of snow, especially the one for sale at the top of Seapocket Lane. Everything glistened brightly, hurting her eyes in the sunshine as she made her way all the way down to the beach and stood there looking out to sea. Tillie was fast asleep in the carrier now and she took a few more steps down onto the beach, her boots crunching in the icy sand when the timer went off. She was glad - even though she’d walked fast and the sun was shining it was really quite cold and she wanted to get back inside.

She turned around and started walking back down the road when her chest got a bit tight. She stopped by Juliette's gate, pulled the puffer out of her pocket and sat on the wall taking in a huge breath of it. She instantly felt better and just as she was adjusting her boots to get back going, Juliette opened the door of her cottage.

‘I thought that was you. What are you doing perched out here on the wall in this weather? It’s freezing!’

‘Just out for a walk to get our scheduled fresh air and exercise, and I got a bit wheezy so stopped for the puffer.’

‘You're coming in Nina, let me have a look at you.’

Chapter 12

Sallie hopped out of David's black Mercedes wrapped her huge wool coat around her and tucked her scarf tighter into her neck. Her usual uniform of jeans and a shirt had been updated for the falling snow and icy winds with a cosy oversized jumper, boots and fleece-lined gloves. She’d scraped her hair back into a French pleat, spritzed herself with perfume and to suit the weather had slicked on a layer of deep berry lip balm.

‘Cold enough for you? Doesn’t it look lovely though? I used to love the snow up here when I was a kid, sledding down the hill like crazy.’ David grinned at the memory.

When she’d opened the door to the car he’d told her she looked amazing. He still always gave her compliments, even though she was now married to Ben. There was still a connection between them, and also the unspoken knowledge that he very much adored her. Sallie looked at him in his scarf and hat as she got out of the car and he walked around to help her over the snow. He really was quite the charming sweetheart and as he’d joked the first time she’d met him, not just a pretty face.

She walked around the front of the car and across the pavement. A door opened up and a very tall man with trendy tan shoes, a navy bow tie, checked shirt and tank top called out.

‘Be careful of the ice on that bit there!’ He said, and pointed to a glistening patch of ice near the gutter.

‘How are you guys? How dreadfully exciting is this snow? Nice to meet you - Lucian McIntyre of Where the Heck is Pretty Beach?’ The tall man called out from the front step of his house.

Sallie and David ascertained that this was