The Gift of Cockleberry Bay (Cockleberry Bay #3) - Nicola May Page 0,1

managed to reach Alec; they are seeing if they can get some sandbags on the way back. He said they literally ran like kids to the car when the first lightning bolt struck.’

Despite it being just four o’clock on a summer’s afternoon, it was almost dark. Sara squealed as the whole café suddenly lit up with an impressive fork of lightning that appeared to dance right along the ominously black horizon. It was immediately followed by a resounding CRACK of thunder that made the whole timber building shake.

‘I tried to sound calm when I suggested everyone made their way home from here as I needed to batten down the hatches, but I’ve always been terrified of storms.’ Sara shuddered. ‘Even the voice of the weather presenter on South Cliffs Today went a bit high-pitched at the first flash of lightning. I don’t know why at the sight of bad weather they send all these poor reporters out into either pouring rain, a hurricane or the eye of the storm. They could quite easily present inside in front of a window. Anyway, I digress.’

‘There’s naught scarier nor more powerful than when Nature shows the dark side of her face.’ Rosa quoted her mother in Devonian twang then began looking around the café for potential hazards in case the sea did come up.

She still had to pinch herself that her lovely husband, Josh, had invested in this partnership with Sara, so that as well as running her beloved Corner Shop – inherited just over eighteen months ago from a mystery benefactor, who had turned out to be her great-grandfather Ned – she could also work part-time here.

‘Where’s Hot?’ Sara enquired.

‘I phoned Titch to go and get him. Mind you, it’s not Hot I should be worried about; his furry girlfriend was just about to give birth when you called me. I’ve left Jacob and Raff watching a YouTube tutorial on delivering dachshund puppies, while trying to keep the pugs Ugly and Pongo away from the delivery suite. Vicki the vet was busy with another emergency.’

‘I can just imagine the panic,’ Sara said.

‘Thank goodness Raff is there; he’s the calm one in that relationship. He’ll sort it. I googled what should be happening and it looked like everything was going to puppy plan.’

Rosa checked that the café’s red and white awning was safely stowed and that all the appliances were powered off and wires tucked away. She removed the tea-light holders from each table and packed the books from the Read me, Replace me, Replenish me shelf into a couple of boxes and put them on top of the ice-cream freezer.

‘OK, what shall we do now?’ Sara asked, starting to empty the dishwasher of china.

‘Finish that, then let’s stack chairs on the tables as a starter.’ Rosa’s common sense quite often belied her twenty-seven years. ‘Can you call your Alec again and see if the pair of them can grab anything like bricks or blocks so we can lift the appliances off the floor when they get here.’ Her phone rang and she added: ‘Forget that, it’s Josh calling now.’

Her husband’s voice was full of concern. ‘I can’t believe this. Are you both OK, darling?’

‘Yes, we’re all right – how far away are you?’

‘That’s the thing: a tree has gone down at the top of the hill by the garage, so we are going to have to dump the car and walk. So, no sandbags, I’m afraid. Is the sea coming up?’

Sara screamed again as another massive clap of thunder boomed overhead. Then, ‘Help! Water is coming in! Rosa, I’m scared.’

‘I heard that.’ Josh sounded urgent now: ‘Get out, Rosa – get out, both of you and up the hill now. We can sort any damage, but you two are irreplaceable. Is Hot somewhere safe?’

‘Yes, Josh, he’s over with Titch. Don’t worry, we’re leaving now – see you at home. You be careful too.’

Dirty water was now swirling around their feet like a wildly angry serpent writhing around in search of its foe. Then, with another almighty flash of lightning, the lights in the café went off, and this time both women screamed.

‘Rosa, come on.’ With hands firmly clasped, they made their way to the door and wrenched it open. The roar of the sea was deafening, and the spray and driving rain felt as if pebbles were being flung in their faces. Even the seagulls had sensibly headed inland.

Thankful to have reached the solidity of the road, the pair were then faced