Summer at West Sands Guest House: A perfect feel good, uplifting romantic comedy

‘It’ll be good to get the furniture out of storage and get settled.’ Anna drained her glass, her gaze homing in on a group of men sitting across from them. ‘Just think of all the nice men out there you could meet now.’

Molly shook her head. ‘Not interested.’

‘A few dates wouldn’t do any harm though, would it?’

Even hearing the word ‘date’ made Molly feel slightly hysterical. Was that something she was going to have to do in the future? The idea was quite appalling.

‘You need to get back out there,’ Anna announced, nodding her head.

Molly wasn’t sure about much recently – the foundations of her life had shifted – but one thing she did know unequivocally was that she was not interested in relationships, meeting someone, having a fling or anything else man-related.

She grimaced even thinking about it – she was so not ready at all for that. Far too soon and scary.

Another large glass later and, feeling quite pleased with themselves, Molly and Anna started to walk back to the house. Molly had consumed just the right amount of alcohol to put a positive spin on things. Her marriage wasn’t a waste of precious years, she would find love again and somehow a career – or at least a job she loved – would miraculously appear. Yes, her life was looking much brighter through a soft-focus alcohol haze.

Anna hiccupped. ‘I’m so happy you came.’

‘I think you said that already.’

‘Did I? Well, I am.’

‘Stuart might not be so happy when he sees the state we’re in. He’ll think I’m a bad influence.’ They giggled, linking arms as they stepped out onto the road.

Molly let out a yelp of surprise as car brakes sounded followed by an angry beep behind them. They jumped back on the pavement, Molly catching the striking blue eyes of the driver as he passed by with a shake of his head.

‘Well, that was rude,’ she said indignantly, managing to totally ignore the fact they had walked onto the road without looking. And laughing, they headed back to the house.

Chapter Three (#u4dc94918-7dda-514b-b347-eab19c4d6d61)

Molly opened one eye and groaned. She lay still while her body processed the miseries of her hangover; nausea, pounding head and a dry mouth. Slowly she opened the other eye to see a room full of unfamiliar shapes and shadows and it took her mind a moment to piece together where she was and the reason for her current fragile state.

She had enjoyed last night and it had been good to relax and chat with Anna but getting drunk on her first night probably hadn’t been the best idea. She remained motionless, listening for any sounds but thankfully the house was blissfully quiet. She wasn’t sure she could cope with noise right now.

Very slowly she sat up and looked around. Her bedroom was one of five in the house and situated at the back of the guest house. When she’d arrived yesterday, Luke had insisted on giving her a tour of the house. Stuart and Anna’s room was at the front of the house, a beautiful coastal themed room with duck-egg-blue walls and views of the sea. Another of the bedrooms was painted in pale green with a tartan armchair and a painting of the Cairngorms hanging over the fireplace.

Molly’s room was unashamedly feminine with decorative floral wallpaper and cream embroidered bedding. A ceramic lamp and a pot filled with sprigs of purple heather sat on a traditional wooden dressing table in front of the window.

It certainly had to be the prettiest room to have a hangover in, she thought ruefully. Gently peeling back the covers she swung her legs over the side of the bed, eyeing her bag still full of her clothes sitting in the corner of the room. There hadn’t really been time to unpack yesterday so that was a job for later. She narrowed her eyes against the daylight as she drew the curtains open. By the looks of the weather she had been right to treat herself to some new summer clothes.

When Molly had decided to sort through her summer wardrobe a few weeks ago, she had become painfully aware all the clothes had been chosen because she knew they would meet with Colin’s approval.

For the last couple of years, Colin had been very specific about the holidays they had taken. He had taken to lording it up in five-star resorts, lounging at the pool all day and dining in the best restaurants. Molly hadn’t always enjoyed that type of holiday – there were cities and places she dreamed of exploring – but she respected that Colin worked hard and needed his rest and relaxation. Priding himself on his skin being able to turn a particular shade of brown, the focus of the entire day had been rotating his sunbed to follow the sun and the only thing Colin wanted to explore after a hard day’s tanning was the bar’s cocktail list. Molly’s summer clothes, therefore, were suitable for either lounging at the pool during the day or dining in restaurants where the dress code dictated she squeeze herself into formal evening wear.

Gathering up all those clothes, she had folded them neatly into bags and taken them to the charity shop and then taken herself to the shops.

With only herself to please now, she’d indulged in a spree of floaty, casual and feminine clothes – ditsy skirts and flowery dresses, brightly coloured vest tops and shorts, flat sandals – a world away from the restrictive clothes she had poured herself into. She’d also taken the precaution of packing a few jackets and jumpers; this was Scotland, after all.

Feeling mildly better after a hot shower in the en-suite bathroom, she dressed in skinny jeans, a stripy blue and white T-shirt and her comfortable trainers. As she made her way downstairs, a message pinged on her phone explaining why the house was deserted. Stuart’s message said that he and Anna had taken the children off for the day to a nearby country park and that they’d bring home fish and chips for dinner. She baulked at the thought of food right now, but texted him back telling them to have a great day and that she’d see them later.

She wandered through the hall and into the front room. The cream walls were bathed in morning sunlight and two large sofas sat either side of a cast-iron fireplace. In one corner a shelved recess held a selection of board games and paperbacks for guests. Molly ran her finger along some of the titles reflecting on how much she liked being here in the guest house. Not just because it was so comfortable and stylish but because of its neutrality after the suffocating atmosphere she’d left behind in her own home. She liked that there were no reminders of Colin or their marriage. She felt free from the confines of her normal life and routines and that suited her. Spotting the title of a book she’d wanted to read for ages she made a mental note to come back for it later. A mug of tea and an early night suddenly sounded very appealing.

In the kitchen Molly saw the scattered remains of breakfast still in evidence and set about tidying up. She washed down the surfaces, wiping away splodges of jam and puddles of milk and put away a huge box of cereal. Once she had finished tidying, she found a glass and as she filled it with cold water, felt a pang of guilt, hoping Anna wasn’t feeling as bad as she did. She drank thirstily, thinking how much energy it took to have children. Not that she would mind of course. She knew there was a flip side to all the worry and hard work. There was the love and laughter, both things she hoped to have one day. She sighed, rinsing her glass, not prepared to let her thinking go down that route.

In the meantime, she had the day to herself. The urge to collapse on that lovely squashy sofa was tempting but outside the sunshine beckoned and Molly reckoned a good dose of sea air was just what she needed.

Within minutes she was walking along the cobbled streets, mingling with families and tourists and enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. The last time she’d been here was as a girl with her parents and now she absorbed her surroundings with new eyes. The quaint, charming town with its eclectic mix of shops and cafés made the city feel a million miles away.

Out of nowhere Colin zipped into her mind and she wondered what he was doing, if he was happy with his new life. The only communication between them had been the odd email about the divorce proceedings. How formal and final it all sounded.

She took a deep breath of fresh air, determined not to let thoughts of her ex-husband infiltrate her mind. Instead, she tried to allow a sense of tranquillity wash over her. She was here to think about the future, not the past. For today though, she simply wanted to explore and get a sense of her surroundings.

Heading towards the water she took a few moments to admire the fine grandeur of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club before continuing through the leafy medieval streets where many of the university buildings were housed. She walked through St Mary’s quadrangle, stopping to read the plaque by the decayed stump of a hawthorn tree which, according to legend, Mary Queen of Scots had planted on one of her many visits to the town. Molly smiled, knowing how much her brother was going to love this. The historical setting would be a dream for him.

She kept walking, following a path between the golf course and the beach which snaked along the coastline until it eventually started to turn inland. She crossed over a footbridge and then upwards through a wooded glen, pausing at a little burn trickling down the hill.

Molly enjoyed the peace and let her thoughts wander until she had to stop to catch her breath. Standing with her hands on her hips, she looked back the way she had come and although it afforded her a lovely view of the town, she realised she had walked much further than she had intended. She didn’t suppose the hangover was helping but she couldn’t blame that entirely for her current state which was now decidedly weak and wobbly. There was nothing like a good hike to show how unfit you were, she thought wryly, feeling the full impact of her recent car-reliant existence. With her slightly alarming heart rate and jelly legs, she promised herself there and then to try and improve her fitness.

Still, the pain was worth it because now she was surrounded by trees and lush greenery. It was so tranquil, almost like being in the middle of an enchanted forest. She was glad of the shade provided by the trees and wished she’d had the sense to bring water with her.

She noticed a path and, walking towards it, spotted a carved wooden sign announcing The Drumloch Inn lay ahead. Very fortuitously, the sign also indicated food and beverages being served all day. Molly, quite weak with fatigue and dehydration by now, felt herself sag with relief. The thought of a seat and drink sounded heavenly.

The inn, almost hidden by shrubs and trees, was a charmingly pretty two-storey stone building with wisteria growing up the walls. Baskets spilling over with purple fuchsias graced both sides of the double front door and, as she walked through them, Molly had the sense of being in a rather grand country house.

Inside, the floor was carpeted in tweed and the walls panelled in dark wood. A large vase of lilies sat on a mantelpiece above an open fireplace and a beautifully ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Molly approached the small reception desk where a lady sat. Molly placed her to be in her sixties although her stylish bob and immaculate make-up gave her an ageless glamour.

‘Good morning, can I help you?’ the lady asked. Her glasses were perched on top of her head, reminding Molly of her own mother and her smile was so warm and genuine Molly immediately felt at ease.

‘Hello. I’m not a guest here but is it all right if I sit and have a drink. I saw the sign—’

‘Of course!’ the lady gushed. She stood up, knocking a sheaf of papers to the floor.

‘Sorry, I’m all fingers and thumbs today. We’ve got a new computer system installed and I’m still working my way through this manual…’ She gestured to the offending documents which she had now retrieved from the floor. Straightening up and looking slightly flustered, she smiled again. ‘Now, where were we? Come with me and I’ll show you where you can have a seat.’

Molly followed her through to a lounge area of seating in front of arched windows which looked out onto an expanse of rolling greenery. Molly took a seat on one of the sofas, grateful to be off her aching feet and was soon perusing the drinks menu that the lady had given her.

Molly ran her eye down the selection of drinks on offer, surprised and delighted by the choice; hand-pressed apple juice, traditional ginger beer, elderflower and cucumber or berry and mint refreshers. She eventually decided on a sparkling rhubarb and after a few minutes the lady returned with the drink in a tall glass, served on a little coaster with a serviette.

Molly took a drink and sat back with a sigh of appreciation. Feeling slightly conspicuous as the solitary customer, she glanced around. Tartan and gingham sofas, comfy chairs and dark wooden tables adorned with small vases of flowers created a relaxed, cosy ambience. There was another fireplace and a small brass-topped bar tucked discreetly in the corner.

After a while the lady came over to check if Molly needed anything else.

‘I’m Judy, the owner here. Do you mind if I join you for a little while?’

‘Not at all.’ Molly smiled, indicating the seat beside her. ‘I’m Molly Adams, it’s nice to meet you.’

The lady eased herself down gracefully onto the seat and Molly instantly sat up straighter.