Page 37 of The Summer Swap

Staying would mean sharing the cottage, when really what she wanted was to be alone.

But staying would also mean she wouldn’t have to spend time trying to find somewhere else to live. More importantly, it would mean staying in Dune Cottage, a place she’d grown to love.

And even though Cecilia was technically a stranger, she didn’t feel like a stranger.

“If I stay, then I’ll pay you rent.” She hoped Cecilia wasn’t going to charge too much.

“If you’d do a little housekeeping while you’re here, we will call that rent. Our provisions are rather sparse right now. I was trying to keep a low profile, and I was afraid someone might recognize me when I went shopping yesterday so I grabbed a few things in as short a time as possible. On your way home from work today perhaps you could pick up some food for us. Do you cook?”

“Yes.” Although it had been a while since she’d bothered. Her appetite had disappeared, and it never seemed worth making anything elaborate for one. But presumably Cecilia Lapthorne would expect something more than a bowl of cereal.

“Housekeeping and cooking for a few days will more than cover rent,” Cecilia said. “I’ve just realized that it must have been late when you sneaked out of the bedroom. Where did you sleep last night after you jumped from the balcony?”

“On the beach.” Although she’d barely slept at all. She’d lain awake for the rest of the night wondering what she was going to do next. “And I know I’m not allowed to do that, but it was too late to find anywhere else and it was only one night.”

“Oh, you poor thing. You must have been so cold and uncomfortable. And tired.” Cecilia took Lily’s hands in hers. “No more sleeping bags, and no more outdoor sleeping. Go and take a hot shower and warm yourself up. I’ll make us breakfast.”

Lily felt a lump form in her throat. She wasn’t used to being offered comfort. And remembering the smashed paintings it seemed to her that it was Cecilia who needed the comfort.

“You probably shouldn’t be using that hand,” she said. “If you’re sure you don’t mind me staying here, then I’ll take that shower and make breakfast after. Why don’t you go and sit on the porch? The view is an antidote to most troubles.”

She kept the shower short, even though she was tempted to stand under the meagre flow of water forever. She washed her hair, dried it with a towel and scooped it back in a ponytail.

It was bliss to be clean.

She emptied out her backpack, pulled on the tunic she wore for work and headed downstairs. Knowing that she was going to be able to stay at Dune Cottage, and this time with the permission of the owner, lifted her mood. She wasn’t going to be homeless. She didn’t have to make any decisions. She didn’t have to call her parents. For now, she could legitimately think of this place as home.

Cecilia had followed her suggestion and was sitting on one of the chairs on the porch, a tiny figure with close-cropped white hair and delicate features.

She looked alone and vulnerable.

Lily felt a flicker of kinship.

She wondered what secrets Cecilia was hiding. Why she’d never told her family about this place.

Whatever the reason, Lily was determined to offer whatever support she could. “Mrs. Lapthorne?”

“Oh—” She gave a start and turned. “Call me Cecilia, dear. How was your shower? Frustrating?”

Lily grinned. “Possibly the best shower I’ve ever had. Sleeping on the beach is nowhere near as romantic as it sounds. I’ll make you breakfast. What would you like?”

“There’s not a lot of choice. Milk. Eggs. Mushrooms. Some fruit. I just grabbed a few things as I was passing a store.”

“I’ll stock up on my way home later.” Lily headed back to the kitchen. She found the eggs and whisked them, then added a blob of butter to the pan and let it sizzle. Her mother always added herbs from the garden, but Lily didn’t have any. She made a mental note to pick some up when she went shopping later.

The idea that she no longer had to hide the fact that she was staying in the cottage cheered her. And even though it made her feel sad that Cecilia planned to sell it, it wasn’t an immediate worry.

The sun shone through the window as she slid the omelet onto a plate and took it to Cecilia, who was sitting in a pool of sunshine.

Lily put the plate in front of her and topped up Cecilia’s coffee mug.

“This looks delicious.” Cecilia glanced up at her. “Where is yours?”

“I’m not that hungry.”

“Neither am I, so we’ll share this. You can’t go to work with nothing inside you.” Cecilia walked into the kitchen and returned holding an extra fork and a plate. She sliced the omelet and slid half onto a plate which she gave to Lily.

Cecilia sat down and picked up her fork. “Did you come here after you gave up medicine?”

---