Page 78 of Suddenly Beck

‘Tell her yourself,’ I yell. ‘I’m not your messenger.’

‘Great tacos by the way!’ she calls over her shoulder as she rushes off.

‘Do you know everyone here?’ Pia asks curiously as a couple of regulars from the restaurant wave a friendly greeting on their way past.

‘Not everyone.’ I shrug. ‘But the bay’s a bit like that. I was really freaked out the first time I went out for a walk and everyone kept smiling and wishing me a good morning.’

‘Wishing you a good morning? My god, Nat,’ she laughs. ‘Whatever next?’

‘I know, right?’ I chuckle, glancing down at her happily. ‘I’m really glad you’re here.’

‘Me too.’ She sighs. ‘I was so worried about you, Nat.’

‘Well, you don’t need to worry anymore, I’m okay, and I’m happy,’ I tell her as we reach the edge of the grassy dunes.

‘Are you though?’ She stops and looks at me.

‘Yes,’ I tell her sincerely, and I realise I really am. ‘I love the bay as much as I love the people. It’s beautiful here, and I have my dream job, real friends, I’m part of a community and I have a…’

‘Beck,’ she supplies helpfully.

‘Yeah.’ I nod with a smile.

‘Nat, does he know about Grace?’ she says seriously.

I stare at her quietly.

‘Nat.’ She sighs as she shakes her head. ‘If you’re serious about building a life here with him, he needs to know the truth about what really happened the day you left.’

‘I’m not building a life with him,’ I say, but it sounds hollow to my ears. ‘It’s not like that.’

‘Isn’t it?’ she replies pointedly.

‘No, I… he, he doesn’t want a relationship,’ I tell her quietly.

‘Nat.’ Her eyes soften as she looks at me.

‘What?’ I frown.

‘Sweetie, the man isn’t going to drop two grand on a coffee machine if he’s just dicking around with you.’

‘But…’ I break off not really sure what to say.

‘Look, he probably doesn’t have things any more figured out than you do, just be honest with him.’

‘I will tell him.’ I sigh. ‘I just… when the time is right.’

‘Don’t leave it too long, Nat,’ she warns. ‘Sometimes secrets have a way of coming back to bite.’

‘Okay, fine,’ I tell her. ‘Now lose the shoes or you’ll break your ankle on the sand.’

I watch as she pulls them off one by one and holds them by the skinny heels as we walk hand in hand down to the beach.

‘Hey, Nat!’ Georgie waves from the surf school.

‘Hey, Georgie.’ We walk over to her as she leans over the wooden railing.

‘This your sister? She looks like you.’