Read Online Beach Combing by Emma Lee-Potter - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emma Lee-Potter
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can’t believe my luck. I’ve only got a couple of lines and they might end up on the cutting room floor – but, well, it’s a start, isn’t it? Actually, Francesca was a bit pissed off but we’ve been seeing each other on and off… and I think she’s forgiven me.’
Lara was struggling to take all this in. It was hard to believe that the laid back surfing instructor she’d met in Cornwall had metamorphosed into an actor.
‘And what about your business? What’s happened to the surf shack?’
Ollie shrugged his shoulders. ‘What about it? My brother’s running it for the next few weeks – and after that, who knows what will happen?’
Alfie took a noisy slurp of his orange juice and stared at Ollie.
‘You look like my friend Ed,’ he announced. ‘Ed is La-wa’s friend too.’
‘Yeah, I do,’ agreed Ollie. ‘And do you know why?’
‘Why?’ repeated Alfie.
‘Because he’s my big brother.’
Lara did a double take. Of course… Why the hell hadn’t she seen the resemblance before? Ed was taller than Ollie and his hair was slightly darker, but now she thought about it they did look alike. No wonder they were at loggerheads the whole time. There was nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to stir things up.
‘H…how is Ed?’ asked Lara, trying to sound casual.
‘He’s fine,’ said Ollie. ‘He’s doing a lot of surfing. And I think he’s got a new girlfriend as well, so everything’s tickety-boo as far as he’s concerned…’
Chapter Fourteen
Two months later…
The window was open a fraction and Lara could smell the sea the instant she woke up. While London smelled of traffic fumes, cheap perfume and burgers, Cornwall smelled fresh and clean and slightly salty. Lara jumped out of bed and drew back the faded floral curtains, beaming at the view over the rooftops to the sea. A lone seagull perched on the next chimney pot and a fishing trawler with peeling red paint chugged into the harbour.
Lara had left the hustle and bustle of London behind the day before and arrived in St Ives at midnight. She was weary after the nine-hour coach ride but nothing, not even the cramp from being scrunched up in her seat for so long, could dampen her spirits at being back by the sea.
Her friends had told her she was mad to come all this way ‘You can easily do your research in the library and on the internet,’ they’d said. But she’d been adamant. She needed to be in St Ives.
Lara spent the morning at the Tate taking copious notes about the St Ives artists. Then, with her arm aching and keen to get some sea air in her lungs, she bought a carton of coffee and wandered down to Porthmeor Beach.
The town was less hectic and less crowded at this time of year, but she preferred it that way. Even though the sky was a glorious cornflower blue there was a chilly north wind and the sea was a riot of white horses. The beach itself was completely deserted – apart from a few surfers enjoying the rolling waves and a lone artist sketching on the promenade.
The surfers reminded her of Ed and she wondered how he was. Immersed in his work and his new girlfriend, no doubt. She had met Ollie in London a couple of times but he was so full of his acting exploits that he hadn’t mentioned Ed at all – and Lara couldn’t bring herself to ask. To her amazement, and no doubt Bertie Brown’s too, Ollie’s unexpected career change had reaped dividends. His blond hair, good looks and sunny disposition had caught the eye of a model agency in Covent Garden and the last time she’d heard from him he was filming a TV ad for breakfast cereal.
All of a sudden the wind intensified and Lara grabbed a woollen jumper from the depths of her bag.
As she pulled the sweater over her head, appreciating its warmth, a shadow loomed in the sand in front of her. When she saw who it was her heart did a somersault of joy, then plummeted with regret.
It was Ed – the person she most wanted to see in the world and
Lara was struggling to take all this in. It was hard to believe that the laid back surfing instructor she’d met in Cornwall had metamorphosed into an actor.
‘And what about your business? What’s happened to the surf shack?’
Ollie shrugged his shoulders. ‘What about it? My brother’s running it for the next few weeks – and after that, who knows what will happen?’
Alfie took a noisy slurp of his orange juice and stared at Ollie.
‘You look like my friend Ed,’ he announced. ‘Ed is La-wa’s friend too.’
‘Yeah, I do,’ agreed Ollie. ‘And do you know why?’
‘Why?’ repeated Alfie.
‘Because he’s my big brother.’
Lara did a double take. Of course… Why the hell hadn’t she seen the resemblance before? Ed was taller than Ollie and his hair was slightly darker, but now she thought about it they did look alike. No wonder they were at loggerheads the whole time. There was nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry to stir things up.
‘H…how is Ed?’ asked Lara, trying to sound casual.
‘He’s fine,’ said Ollie. ‘He’s doing a lot of surfing. And I think he’s got a new girlfriend as well, so everything’s tickety-boo as far as he’s concerned…’
Chapter Fourteen
Two months later…
The window was open a fraction and Lara could smell the sea the instant she woke up. While London smelled of traffic fumes, cheap perfume and burgers, Cornwall smelled fresh and clean and slightly salty. Lara jumped out of bed and drew back the faded floral curtains, beaming at the view over the rooftops to the sea. A lone seagull perched on the next chimney pot and a fishing trawler with peeling red paint chugged into the harbour.
Lara had left the hustle and bustle of London behind the day before and arrived in St Ives at midnight. She was weary after the nine-hour coach ride but nothing, not even the cramp from being scrunched up in her seat for so long, could dampen her spirits at being back by the sea.
Her friends had told her she was mad to come all this way ‘You can easily do your research in the library and on the internet,’ they’d said. But she’d been adamant. She needed to be in St Ives.
Lara spent the morning at the Tate taking copious notes about the St Ives artists. Then, with her arm aching and keen to get some sea air in her lungs, she bought a carton of coffee and wandered down to Porthmeor Beach.
The town was less hectic and less crowded at this time of year, but she preferred it that way. Even though the sky was a glorious cornflower blue there was a chilly north wind and the sea was a riot of white horses. The beach itself was completely deserted – apart from a few surfers enjoying the rolling waves and a lone artist sketching on the promenade.
The surfers reminded her of Ed and she wondered how he was. Immersed in his work and his new girlfriend, no doubt. She had met Ollie in London a couple of times but he was so full of his acting exploits that he hadn’t mentioned Ed at all – and Lara couldn’t bring herself to ask. To her amazement, and no doubt Bertie Brown’s too, Ollie’s unexpected career change had reaped dividends. His blond hair, good looks and sunny disposition had caught the eye of a model agency in Covent Garden and the last time she’d heard from him he was filming a TV ad for breakfast cereal.
All of a sudden the wind intensified and Lara grabbed a woollen jumper from the depths of her bag.
As she pulled the sweater over her head, appreciating its warmth, a shadow loomed in the sand in front of her. When she saw who it was her heart did a somersault of joy, then plummeted with regret.
It was Ed – the person she most wanted to see in the world and
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