Page 49 of The Clockmaker's Cottage
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ she said, her voice carrying instant warmth. ‘But I thought you ought to know. The island’s about to go into isolation.’
Pippa blinked. ‘Isolation?’
Betty nodded gravely. ‘The weather is going to get worse. Severe storms are coming, and with the continuous rainfall the causeway will soon disappear. It will be closing in the next half-hour, and once it’s closed, there’ll be no way on or off the island until the weather clears. It could be days.’
‘Half an hour?’
‘That’s right.’ Betty gave her a kind but firm smile. ‘Things can get very tough with rough weather on the island.’
Before Pippa could reply, another voice chimed in. Clemmie bustled up beside Betty. ‘Granny’s right. There’s just been an announcement by the coastguard. The last time it was closed was last winter. Snow up to your knees. People sledging down Lighthouse Lane and the cliff path!’ She laughed at the memory. ‘But don’t worry, they’re already stocking up on supplies. I just passed the lorry. Bread, milk, tins of soup, even loo rolls are being delivered.’
‘The point is, if you don’t want to be stuck here, you’ll need to leave soon. There’ll be no going anywhere until it’s over,’ urged Betty.
Pippa nodded, but the only thought to cross her mind was that she didn’t want to go anywhere. All she could think about was staying, which would give her time to breathe, if that was possible.
Betty gave her shoulder a gentle pat, then she and Clemmie retreated to the counter inside. Rob immediately leaned forward towards the camera, urgency in his eyes. ‘I heard all that. You should go right now. Go home, I’ll catch a flight back, let’s talk about this.’
‘Rob…’
‘This is our chance, Pip. Let’s sort things out, start afresh. You and me, just like before. Please.’ His voice was desperate now.
Her chest ached at the plea and for a moment, she let herself imagine it: saying yes. By nightfall she could be back home surrounded by familiar furniture and routines. Safe. Predictable. The thought made her feel suffocated.
‘I can’t. I don’t want to. I’m sorry.’
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and final.
Rob swallowed hard. ‘So that’s it?’
She nodded. ‘That’s it.’
Betty’s voice came through the open window as she hollered to the customers in the café. ‘There is a bus leaving in five minutes from the stop just outside on Lighthouse Lane. This will be the last bus off the island. If you’re not on that bus, you could be stranded for days.’
For a moment, Rob looked like he might argue again. But then something in him crumpled. ‘You’re really going to stay there?’
‘I am.’
‘You don’t have to do this.’
‘I think I do. I think I need to find out who I am when I’m not trying so hard to be everything for someone else.’ She paused and gave a small smile. ‘Besides, how many people get the excuse to be rained in on a tiny island? It’s ridiculous but it feels a bit… liberating.’
He didn’t smile back. ‘You’re throwing us away.’
‘I’m letting go,’ she corrected softly. ‘There’s a difference.’
Without another word, he hung up.
Pippa sat for a moment, the café noise carrying on in the background, but muffled. She let the momentous decision she’d just made settle into her bones. She’d half expected to feel wrung out, devastated, like she’d lost the last ten years of her life in one blow. Instead, she felt… quiet. Sad, yes, but also strangely lighter.
‘Are you staying or going?’ asked Clemmie, popping her head back through the door.
‘Staying. I just hope they can extend my stay at Clockmaker’s Cottage.’
‘I’m sure that won’t be a problem under the circumstances. If you need anything just shout.’
‘Thank you, I will.’ Pippa stood up and watched people running towards the bus. She had no desire to join them, and after watching the bus pull away a moment later, she turned and headed towards the lighthouse to catch up with Theo. Rain was falling even more heavily now, the street already thinning of people, everyone hurrying to get home or finish their errands before the causeway closed.
She’d made her choice. She was staying. Not because she was reckless. Not because she wanted to run away from reality again. But because she needed this: time, space, and maybe even the ridiculous adventure of being stranded.
