Chapter Three

The following day was Friday and the clouds had again cleared. It was shaping up to be a fine weekend. The suns warm glow blanketed the town and everyone in Broadchurch seemed to be in a good mood. By late afternoon the pubs and bars began to fill with workers knocking off for the weekend. The sound of laughter and loud conversation filled the air.

Anna looked around the pub while she stood at the bar waiting for her turn to be served. The Fox was a cozy, old fashioned pub. It featured ornate dark wood furniture, well worn carpets and a large stone fireplace in the centre of the main dining area. Beautiful and bustling. Anna was eager to snag a spot outside in the beer garden. She had eyed some empty tables under the shade of a huge old elm tree and hoped one would still be free by the time she got out there.

Suddenly the door of The Fox pushed open and a load of deep voiced cheers filled the room. Looking over her shoulder Anna watched a large gang of blokes pour in excitedly, followed by a group of giggling women and finally a man and a woman trailing behind. Together they all began to crowd around the bar, eager to order their drinks. While they waited the men and women began to mingle together in high spirits. Anna noticed some wearing uniforms, others in suits and ties, blouses and skirts. Coppers, thought Anna.
They must have just finished for the day. She thought about the type of crime they'd have to deal with here. Graffiti? Shoplifting? It didn't seem likely a town like Broadchurch would ever have anything too serious to worry about. Maybe she'd Google it later.

The man and the woman, who had entered the pub behind the other police officers, stood next to Anna at the bar.
"It's only for one drink Alec, it's not going to kill you," said the woman to the man scoldingly. Anna smiled to herself.
Finally the barman made his way to Anna.
"A gin and tonic please. Short glass. A wedge of lime too, if you have it." The barman nodded and began to make her drink.
"Hello," said the woman next to her. Anne looked over at the woman. She was smiling at Anna, her black curly hair in a ponytail. A friendly face.
"Hello," replied Anna, returning the smile. She noticed the tall, slim man standing next to the curly haired woman. A fringe of longish brown hair falling into his brown eyes. He wore an unimpressed expression as he looked down the length of the bar and wondered how long it was going to take to get their drinks. He was handsome in a brooding, bookish kind of way. Anna's type exactly. She tilted her head and bit her lip subconsciously at him.
"You don't sound like you're from around here," said the woman to Anna. "No, I've just moved here from Australia actually." Replied Anna, bringing her attention back to the woman. "I'm the new teacher at the Wessex primary school."
"Oh, how lovely. It's been a while since we've had an Australian in town. How are you finding Broadchurch so far?"
"It's really beautiful. I'm enjoying the salty air and blue skies. Everyone seems really friendly."
Anna could feel the man looking at her intensely.
"I'm Ellie Miller," offered the woman. "This is Alec Hardy," she said nodding towards the man next to her.
"I'm Anna Bailey."
"Are you the one who walked Daisy home the other day?" inquired the man in a Scottish accent, brows slightly furrowed.
"Yes I did. Are you her dad?" Anna asked, putting two and two together.
"Aye" he replied. "Thank you for doing that."
"My pleasure. Daisy's a really lovely girl. I've become a bit of a regular at the cafe."
"Oh yes, the little one on the high street? That's a good one. Lovely cakes. What year are you teaching at the school?" asked Ellie.
"I have the nursery class."
"Oh, you'll be teaching my son Fred then." replied Ellie cheerily.
"Here you are, love." interrupted the barman, placing the gin and tonic on the bar with a flourish.
"Thank you." Anna paid for her drink. "Well, it was nice to meet you both. I guess I'll see you at school Ellie. I look forward to meeting Fred."
She then gave Alec a final look.
Yep, he's definitely handsome, she thought to herself.
"Yes, lovely to meet you too." replied Ellie with a final smile.
As Anna made her way outside to the beer garden Ellie thumped Alec hard in the ribs.
"What was that for?!" he protested.
"You're a bloody knob, you know that? Did you see the way she looked at you? She clearly fancies you, don't know why, and you just stand there looking all broody like you do. It's like you actually repel others deliberately." She shook her head in disbelief at him.
Alec rubbed his ribs and pursed his lips. He looked out the large window into the beer garden where he could see Anna sitting at a table under the tree. Sunglasses on, shoes off, her bare legs resting up on a chair while she sipped her drink. Lovely legs.
Did she fancy him? he wondered.
He always found it difficult to tell.

"For gods sake, go out and talk to her." whispered Ellie.
The group of colleagues were gathered together at a table indoors, everyone chatting away, the conversation getting looser and louder, a couple of drinks in by now.
"What?" replied Alec, arms folded, trying to sound nonchalant.
Truthfully, he had spent the greater part of the last hour and a half in silence, making inane small talk here and there while frequently glancing over to the door leading to the beer garden. He had been hoping to see her again, Anna. He wondered if she'd somehow slipped by without him seeing, or if she was still out there, her beautiful legs resting on the chair.
"Oh please, you've been staring at that door for ages. Go out and talk to her properly. Don't be a dick about it."
Alec shot Ellie a glance.
God it irritated him how well this woman had gotten to know him. He wondered at times if she could actually read his thoughts.
"Do you want another one?" Alec asked, standing up and pointing towards Ellie's empty wine glass.
"Yes please, I'll have a…" but before she could finish her order, Alec had walked away and was slinking out to the beer garden.
Ellie shook her head and chortled.
Unbelievable, she thought to herself.