Page 19 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Really?’ A spark of interest flared in Caitlin’s hazel eyes. ‘How did you discover that?’

‘I looked in Gran’s family Bible and there was a family tree.’

‘Sweet.’ Caitlin smiled at Isla. ‘That was a smart move. I hadn’t thought of the family Bible. I didn’t know that Gran still had it.’

‘It’s not the kind of thing she’d ever get rid of.’

‘No, I guess not. It has great sentimental value and, anyway, Gran was a bit of a hoarder on the quiet.’

‘Not so much on the quiet. She insisted on her bedroom being restfully uncluttered, but that certainly wasn’t her approach in the rest of the house!’

Caitlin glanced around the sitting room, crammed with ornaments and books that Jessie could never bear to part with. Then she grinned at Isla and, just for a moment, it was like the old days. When it was the two sisters against the world and nothing could come between them.

‘We’ll need to hire a skip to get rid of everything,’ said Paul, and Caitlin’s grin faded.

‘So,’ she said briskly. ‘Did you find out anything online about Great-Great-Aunt Edith’s life in America? Did she have kids and grandkids? Maybe we could contact them to see if they can shed any light on Gran’s mysterious riddle.’

‘I don’t know about contacting people that you come across online.’ Paul looped his arm around Isla’s shoulders. ‘I think you should always check with me first, before you contact anyone, sweetheart. You never know what people are like, and they’ll be American, after all.’

Isla sighed quietly and avoided catching Caitlin’s eye. She loved Paul but he sometimes came across like a hick from the sticks. Though she felt annoyed with herself for being embarrassed by him. It was pretty ironic her feeling that way when she was hardly adventurous herself.

She had been, once upon a time, back when she’d had a head full of dreams. But those dreams had faded and now she was happy being here in Heaven’s Cove, with Paul, she told herself. Even if he wouldn’t pass muster with her sister, who was giving him a very straight look.

Isla glared back at her, daring her to say anything. She had no right. Not after what she’d done.

11

CAITLIN

Caitlin had tried very hard to like Paul. He was Isla’s partner of almost eighteen months, and that was that. She had no moral right to be dictatorial about her sister’s choices or, quite honestly, to have any opinion at all. She’d given up that right many years ago, when she’d upped and left. But Paul certainly wasn’t making it easy to step back and keep her mouth shut.

He’d been charming enough, at first – all good manners and generous bonhomie. But the cracks were starting to show. He obviously found having two permanent house guests rather trying, and the way he treated Isla was bothersome. On the surface, he was devoted to her sister, and Isla seemed happy enough being part of a couple. But there was a vibe going on with him, an undercurrent that made Caitlin uneasy. Maisie didn’t like him at all, though she didn’t really like anybody so that wasn’t a great indicator of Paul’s character.

Isla was glaring at her, so Caitlin forced herself to smile.

‘Don’t worry, Paul. If we do contact anyone online, I’ll make sure that we keep safe,’ she told him sweetly.

He smiled back. ‘Thank you, Cait. I appreciate that.’

Caitlin swallowed because no one called her Cait except for people she loved – her mother and husband, Jessie, Isla and, once upon a time, Sean. But she let it go, worried that commenting on it would sound petty and unfriendly. And she didn’t want to fall out with Isla over anything else. Their relationship was already on shaky ground.

Paul was speaking to Isla now, his face very close to hers. ‘I’d really rather, though, that you just let things lie with this letter and riddle. There’s no good to come from chasing strangers on the internet.’

For a moment, Caitlin thought Isla might cave, but she pulled her shoulders back and smiled. ‘I know you’re only looking out for me, Paul, but it’ll be fine.’

Paul breathed out slowly, a frown on his face. ‘It sounds as if you’ve made up your mind.’

‘I have, but you honestly don’t need to worry.’ Isla leaned against Paul but he got to his feet.

‘Anyway, I’ve got work to do, so I’d better be going.’ He leaned down to kiss Isla, who tilted her chin towards him, but he swerved her mouth and landed a chaste kiss on her cheek. He straightened up. ‘See you again soon, Cait.’

‘Yeah. See you,’ said Caitlin as Paul left the room.

Neither of the sisters spoke when they heard the front door close, and the silence lengthened as Paul’s footsteps sounded along the garden path outside and faded into the distance.

‘What does he mean when he says that you’re accident prone and do daft things?’ asked Caitlin, able to keep her mouth shut no longer.

‘Did he say that?’ asked Isla, idly picking at a cuticle. ‘I suppose I do leave the hob on occasionally by mistake and I’ve broken a few glasses while washing up…Oh, I’ve locked myself out of the house twice this year as well.’

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