Deep Waters

By Belinda Black

Amber’s life is turned upside down when her fiancé betrays her. Seeking refuge, she escapes to a secluded cottage inherited from her great aunt. Nestled in a picturesque area, she delights in the natural beauty and the friendly locals, including the charming Arthek and his complex family.

But as Amber becomes more familiar with the sea and its dangers, she finds herself in a life-threatening situation. Her rescuer, Lucas, is distant and unsympathetic, and it’s not the first time he has come to her aid. To Amber’s shock, she discovers that Lucas is not who she thought he was.

As Amber uncovers hidden journal and letters in the cottage, she embarks on a journey of discovery. As the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, she realizes that she holds the key to a family's past and future. But with this newfound knowledge comes a dilemma: what should she do with her findings, and is it her responsibility to disrupt the lives of this family?

As Amber navigates these questions, she can't help but be drawn to Lucas. But just as her feelings for him grow stronger, she is faced with another betrayal that she may not be able to bear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Apr 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398481503

Belinda Black

Belinda is a mother of four, very family orientated and has a love of all things creative and the natural world, without claiming to be an expert in any of those fields. She has a fascination with people, their feelings, reactions and emotions, and a compelling urge to write stories, capturing different characters.

Book preview

About the Author

Belinda is a mother of four, very family orientated and has a love of all things creative and the natural world, without claiming to be an expert in any of those fields. She has a fascination with people, their feelings, reactions and emotions, and a compelling urge to write stories, capturing different characters.

Dedication

To my family … (you know who you are)

Copyright Information ©

Belinda Black 2023

The right of Belinda Black to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398481497 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398481503 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Chapter One

It looks like your car passed its M.O.T. Joshua Morris nodded towards the little blue mini parked on the drive as he pulled up outside his fiancée’s house.

Brilliant, I won’t need a lift now. Amber Moon turned towards the handsome man in the driving seat who was to be her husband at Christmas.

I am always at your service, madam. Joshua grinned.

I know, that’s why I love you, Amber leaned towards him and their lips met in a kiss that always evoked warmth in her belly.

I can’t believe I won’t see you until Sunday, Amber grumbled as she got out of his car. but we’ll have a lifetime together.

Joshua smiled.

Sunday is a lifetime away but I’ll see you for lunch then, she said.

Looking forward to it sweetheart. he threw on his indicator and Amber pushed the door shut.

Oh Josh, those leaflets— she began, too late, the red sports car had moved off, the mid May sunshine glinting off its bonnet.

That smells lovely, mom, Amber called as she entered her home to the welcome aroma of roasting chicken.

Hello love, Carol Moon called from the kitchen your car passed M.O.T.

I guessed it, I’m starving, Amber breathed in the smell of the chicken.

Did Josh drop you off then, is he not coming in? Carol asked pushing a stray strand of blond hair behind her ear.

No. He’s got a meeting in Leeds tomorrow, so he’s getting prepared. He’ll be staying there tomorrow night too, so I won’t see him until Sunday and by the way that means I won’t be here for lunch. Amber told her.

That’s fine, actually Brian suggested taking me out for lunch Sunday when he dropped your car off, I’ll tell him yes tomorrow Carol smiled and captured another strand of wayward hair and tucked it behind her ear. I’m glad you like Brian she looked at her daughter with a steady gaze.

Of course I like him mom, he makes you happy and it’s very convenient that he’s a mechanic. Amber grinned Cheeky, Carol flicked the tea towel at her playfully.

I’ll be married and out of your hair at Christmas. I’m glad you’ve found someone Amber put her arms round her mother, squeezed her and kissed the side of her blond head.

You were never in my hair, love. Now, you have ten minutes to have a shower and tea will be on the table.

Showered and fed, Amber sat at her dressing table brushing her damp hair, it always looked the deepest red when it was wet; it framed her heart-shaped face and her large, deep blue eyes. She looked at the two framed photographs on each side of the dressers’ mirror, her father looked back from one, with eyes that matched hers, his pale gold hair short and neat, and his smile warm.

He had always had time for her, always patient.

I love you dad she whispered, touching the frame with her finger.

He had died six years ago; she had been fifteen. He had only gone out to collect a parcel, had drove across the traffic lights on green and another car sped across on red ploughing into the side of his car and killing him instantly. He had been only forty-seven, it took a long time to accept they would never see him again, that his car would no longer roll up on the drive.

Gone, so suddenly, leaving a huge chasm, the family unit of three had ended, just her mother and herself left with their memories and grief she would always miss him. Amber cast her eyes to the other framed photograph.

My other favourite man, she whispered, it was Joshua, his charming smile, corn-coloured hair catching the light in that image, his eyes looked green there but they had tricks of their own, turning blue in the sunlight.

Hers and Joshua’s fathers had known each other as boys, eventually starting a business together which had grown and become established and where their offspring both worked now. Both men had only one child, Joshua was five years older than Amber, they had met infrequently as children, at dinner parties or works functions but didn’t have much in common.

He was a boring ten-year-old who loved his toy cars and to him she was an irritating five-year-old, who would annoy him by sitting her dolls on his cars. It was when Amber’s father died that she saw Joshua differently, a handsome twenty-year-old who had held her tight when he found her crying alone, she had felt safe in his arms and the seeds of love began.

They had been courting in earnest for two years now and he had proposed six weeks ago, she looked at the delicate band on her finger with the tiny cluster of stones that represented their shiny future. She blew a kiss towards each photograph, grabbed a pile of leaflets from her bedside table and went downstairs, buoyant with contentment.

Brian’s taking me to the Clifton for Sunday lunch, Carol announced when they were both in the lounge

Very upmarket. Is it a special occasion? Amber eyed her.

Well, we had our first date there a year ago but I didn’t think he would remember, Carol said.

Hmm, he obviously does Amber smiled and began looking through the leaflets.

I thought you were giving those to Josh to look at Carol glanced at them.

I was but he drove off without them. I don’t want to be a pushy bride-to-be, so I thought I would look through the venues again and put a star on my favourites. Josh can do the same, then we can compare and hopefully get a short list. We can have a look over Sunday lunch Amber enthused.

She looked through the venues, churches, stately homes offering banquets, venues offering firework displays, there were so many to choose from.

Mom, imagine that if it snows Amber held up a picture of a manor house surrounded with tall fir trees.

Pretty, Carol nodded

Josh can’t decide if he wants our honeymoon to be somewhere snowy like Switzerland or somewhere hot. Amber told her.

Well, I was going to suggest, Carol began and then stopped.

Carry on, Amber encouraged her.

You’ll think it is silly compared to Switzerland or wherever, she shook her blond head.

No I won’t. Tell me. Amber said.

I was thinking of your great aunt Wenna’s cottage. It’s been empty for a year now. It’s lovely and by the sea. I feel rather guilty that we haven’t even given it a thought. Carol winced.

I can only vaguely remember great aunt Wenna, she came here once, didn’t she? She cooked homemade Cornish pasties I believe Amber mused.

She certainly did, Carol laughed, your dad spent a lot of time with her when he was growing up. He always said he used to love it in Cornwall and meant to take us as a family but with the commitments of the business and everything else, there never seemed enough time and now there is no time. Carol ended with a sad tone in her voice.

But we did have good times. Amber said softly.

Ignore me, getting all sentimental and you being all excited about your wedding Carol shook her head releasing strands of blond hair, which she quickly pushed behind her ears again.

Wenna Moon had been Amber’s father’s aunt, she had never married and had idolised her only nephew, she had intended to leave her cottage to him but he predeceased her, and her home was passed on to Amber. Wenna had died last year at the ripe old age of ninety-two. The couple who ran the local Inn were acting as caretakers now.

I don’t think we would honeymoon there, mom but we do need to go down, maybe for a short break and at least decide what to do with it. It would actually be lovely to tread in dad’s footsteps and experience what he did or what he saw as a child. Amber mused

It would indeed. Well, have you got a short list? Carol nodded towards the leaflets.

I’ve put a star on seven out of twelve. Amber frowned In fact, I think I will take them to Josh’s flat now Amber gathered the papers up making an impromptu decision.

It’s almost nine and I thought he’d gone to Leeds Carol said.

He has but he can have a look through them Saturday night when he gets back. He may have time to do his own short list by the time we meet up Sunday. Besides, I’m not at all tired, I can give my car a run now it’s got M.O.T. I really missed it for those two days Amber looked outside at her car, the twilight glow turning the little mini into an inky deep blue. Carol laughed at her daughter’s enthusiasm.

Amber pulled on a loose cardigan, grabbed up the leaflets and Joshua’s key, it was only a short drive to his flat I’ll be back by ten. she called to her mother.

Drive safe, love Carol called back.

Amber was soon outside the smart flats where Joshua lived with their classic green garage doors and the curved balconies, she parked her car and went inside the imposing security doors. On the second floor, Amber put the key into Joshua’s door and pushed it open, she breathed in the familiar scent of his cologne that lingered in the hallway and headed towards his bedroom door, prepared to put the leaflets on his bed for when he returned. The door wasn’t quite closed and a pale light glowed around the frame, Amber pushed the door, which opened soundlessly over the thick grey carpet.

She didn’t know how long she stood there, a few seconds or a lifetime, the scene that greeted her imprinting itself on her vision like a scar. The naked woman’s back glistening damply in the soft lamplight, her head was tilted back so that the waves of long blond hair wriggled on her back like pale snakes. She was straddled over the body beneath her, the grey silk sheet partly covering them.

Joshua’s feet clearly visible, toes pointing upwards, his corn blond hair ruffled across his head which was pressed into the crumpled pillow. You’re amazing. Joshua’s voice heavy with passion seemed to scorch Ambers ears, that and the thundering pulsation of blood that was filling her head and senses rendered Amber frozen, as if caught in a spell.

Her legs resembled jelly but her brain wanted them to transport her elsewhere, her heart bounced in her chest so hard it made her feel dizzy and her body reeled. The naked woman’s laughter cut through the shrill singing in Ambers ears

Oh Joshy, she giggled.

Amber suddenly felt released from her trance, her fists unclenched and the leaflets dropped in a rustle onto the floor, she exhaled at that moment, not even realising she had stopped breathing; simultaneously, Joshua’s head lifted from the pillow and his companion turned her head to look over her naked shoulder.

Amber Joshua breathed, his eyes and mouth wide with surprise.

The spell was broken, Amber’s feet disengaged from the carpet, she spun around and ran. Running through the scattered leaflets, sending them gliding over the floor, she ran out of the door, down the hallway,

Amber Joshua called, his voice more controlled now but she was out of the door, running down the two flights of stairs, out of the building, her long cardigan billowing behind her like a cape, her hair blowing into her face. She got into her car, struggled to get the key in the ignition in her haste and then wheel-spun away as if she were escaping a demon.

Amber stopped the car in the next street, her senses returning, her dad had died in a car accident, she couldn’t put her mother through that again. She forced herself to gain control of her shaking body which seemed on fire, she opened the window to let in the night air, put on her seatbelt and turned the headlights on. In their light, she looked at the dark quiet road in front of her emerge.

A cat with white paws slinked down the street, a man on a bicycle was peddling along on the opposite side of the road. Normality; how could normality resume itself when the image in Joshua’s bedroom was so vivid in her brain, it was not normal, it wasn’t her normal. She needed to go home, needed to regain some composure and quell her rapid heartbeat, her jangling nerves and her senses.

Amber was relieved that her mother had already gone to bed when she arrived home

I’m home, mom. she called, amazed at how normal her voice sounded

Yes I heard your car, night love. Carol called back.

How could this be the same door that she had walked out of only an hour before with a spring in her step, with her future, bright and feeling happy? It had all dissolved in Joshua’s flat, that reality was suddenly without substance and as fragile as a wisp of smoke.

Chapter Two

There was no sleep for Amber that night, the image of Joshua and the blond woman tormented her, she cried into her pillow and with each salty tear, her dreams of the future dispersed; the wedding, the venues, a honeymoon, all a memory, almost like another lifetime.

How could he do it, how could he do it? Anger welled up inside her and she clenched the pillow. Her emotions flicked like a light switch from hurt to anger to pain to despair, there was no relief, and her pillow was damp when she heard the birds chirruping merrily to greet the new day.

When Amber heard her mother pottering about downstairs, she got up and pulled on her dressing gown, she went over to the dressing table and looked at her refection in the mirror with dismay. Her eyelids were swollen and pink, her face pale, she glanced at the smiling picture of Joshua and calmly lay it face down,