Sunrise By the Sea by Jenny Colgan

Chapter 39

She moved on, desperately looking for Alexei’s face; or at least a face she knew. She saw the blond man who was the father of Polly’s twins. His face was drawn and exhausted-looking.

She waved tentatively and he didn’t look pleased to see her.

‘Everyone should be indoors,’ he said in his American accent. ‘You shouldn’t be out unless you can help.’

Too timid to talk, Marisa held up her boxes.

‘Food.’

She opened the boxes and took out the kitchen roll and passed round the warm bread and as much tea as she could pour out.

The helpers fell on it with signs of enormous gratitude. Marisa found herself looking around for Alexei – he was normally easy to see – but he was over on the other side of the port trying to help move cars out of the way with several of the seamen, and didn’t seem to spot her.

‘This was brilliant,’ said Huckle, his mouth full. ‘Thank you. I’ll keep some for the others. You should get out of the weather.’

‘Can I help?’

‘You did.’

He looked at her.

‘Could you . . . could you possibly make some more? Maybe take it up for the old people? They’ll need breakfast.’

He looked at the bakery sadly. The water was already all over the floor, the rain still showing no signs of shopping. He dreaded telling Polly.

‘I don’t think we’re going to be open tomorrow.’

‘Um, I can try,’ said Marisa, ‘but I think that’s everything I had in the house.’

Huckle blinked, the water running down his nose.

‘You could go to the lighthouse,’ he said. ‘We put everything there.’

‘It’s two o’clock in the morning.’

‘Nobody’s asleep,’ said Huckle grimly.

Marisa thought about having to go up to someone else’s house. On the other hand, it was Polly.

‘The old folk are really going to need something in the morning.’

‘You all are,’ said Marisa. That decided her. ‘Okay. I’ll go. I’ll do it.’