Page 17 of The Path to the Last House Before the Sea

Jack blinked. ‘No, I’m interested,’ he lied. ‘Interested in what brought you to Heaven’s Cove in the first place.’

Alyssa appeared to hesitate, and then folded her arms. ‘Actually, I was born in Devon and brought up not far from here, until I was five and my parents divorced. My dad went to Scotland and I went to Leicestershire with my mum. I grew up in suburbia, worked in admin until I got bored and decided to move back to Devon where I’d been happy. Then, I moved into Magda’s caravan.’

Jack nodded. She’d given him quite the whistle-stop tour of her life and living arrangements. ‘What’s it like living in the caravan?’ he asked. ‘I’ve always thought it should be hitched to a horse and dragged off to the tip. No offence.’

Damn. He hadn’t meant to be rude, but Alyssa stifled a grin, seemingly unbothered by his opinion.

‘I think Magda might take offence at that. But I like living there. Have you seen the caravan since she’s made lots of improvements to it?’

Jack shook his head, feeling guilty that he still hadn’t visited Magda, even though he’d promised.

‘The caravan’s got running water and electricity. There’s no shower, but I nip across the garden and use Magda’s.’

‘That’s nice.’

An image of Alyssa in a dressing gown, her face soft with sleep, slid into his mind but he batted it away.

‘Your family seems very close to Magda,’ Alyssa said gently.

‘We are. She was Mum’s best friend for years and she’s always taken an interest in me and my life. Even when she was living in Scotland.’Jack hesitated. There was a question he was now longing to ask Alyssa but it was very personal. Though she had asked questions about his great-great-great-something uncle being a murderer. How much more personal could you get?

‘How did your parents’ divorce affect you?’ he blurted out, before he could change his mind.

Alyssa frowned. ‘Why? Oh!’ Comprehension dawned in her big blue eyes. ‘Are you thinking of your stepson? I know… well, I mean, I heard on the village grapevine that you’re divorced.’

‘Not yet,’ said Jack quickly. ‘Miri and I are separated, but you’re right. I am thinking of Archie.’

‘Well.’ Alyssa paused. ‘It was hard at the time. I remember missing my dad and not wanting to leave Devon. I loved my life here. But, hey!’ She grinned and held her arms out wide. ‘I’ve turned out to be a perfect human being, as you can see!’

Jack realised she was trying to lighten the atmosphere and make him feel better, so he nodded – all the while fervently hoping that Archie wouldn’t end up living in a caravan, spouting nonsense to gullible customers.

He suddenly realised that Alyssa had referred to Archie as his stepson. The village grapevine was obviously in overdrive regarding his marital and familial relationships – gossip that he’d usually ignore, even though it was annoying. And yet, for some reason, it felt important that Alyssa knew the truth about his son, and what was at stake when it came to Jack’s heart.

‘You appear to know that Archie isn’t biologically mine,’ he said, keeping his voice level.

‘Sorry, I-I…’ Alyssa stuttered, going pink. She stopped and swallowed. ‘I heard someone refer to him as your stepson.’

‘He was, for a while, but now he’s my adopted son. Archie was a talkative toddler when we first met and I…’ His voice caught in his throat. ‘I fell in love with him as well as his mother. I became his dad, to all intents and purposes, and I made that official when I adopted him three years ago. He’s very precious to me.’

Alyssa put a hand on his arm. ‘As long as you see your son as often as you can and he knows that you love him, I’m sure that Archie will be just fine.’

And her eyes, when they met his, were so filled with warmth and understanding, gratitude washed over him. Gratitude that she cared – and shame at his general boorishness since they’d first met. He felt like crying but he wouldn’t. Not in front of this unusual, unreadable woman who was being unnecessarily kind.

‘How are the tours going?’ he asked, desperate to change the subject before his self-composure shattered.

Alyssa removed her hand from his arm. ‘Really well, thank you, and I’m gathering information together for the new smuggling tour. The castle’s fascinating, too. I’ve been reading about its history and impact on the village, and wondering if I could maybe work that up into a tour as well.’

‘Perhaps you could include a few spectres floating amongst the castle ruins.’

Jack groaned to himself when Alyssa’s face fell, and wished he’d kept his mouth shut. Alyssa had just been kind and his immediate response was to be snarky. What was wrong with him?

‘I’m sorry. That wasn’t—’ he began, but his apology was interrupted by an almighty crash from above their heads.‘What the hell?’ he blurted out, feeling sick as a question popped into his head: Where’s Dad?

He sprinted towards the back of the shop. And as he raced up the stairs, two at a time, he was aware of Alyssa close behind him.

ELEVEN

ALYSSA

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