Page 27 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Sorry.’ All she could do was apologise.

‘Do you need a drink? Water or something?’

Caitlin shook her head, her breathing starting to return to normal. The dizziness that had made her head swim was also easing.

‘I’m starting to feel better.’ She gulped in more air and made an effort to pull herself together. ‘What are you doing here?’

Sean let go of her shoulder. ‘I was over there, having a drink with some workmates, when I saw you taking a phone call.’

‘Did you hear any of it?’ asked Caitlin, glancing at the corner where a small group was sitting watching her, the crazy woman having a panic attack.

‘Not really. But I could see you were upset. Who was on the phone?’

‘My husband.’ Caitlin glanced again at Sean’s colleagues. She recognised a couple of men from the garage. And Jen. Sean was out having a drink with his wife and didn’t need to be dealing with an old girlfriend who was still being a pain, several years on. ‘I got in a spin about nothing,’ she said, standing up straight. ‘But it’s all sorted now and I’m sorry for causing such a fuss.’

‘It’s all right,’ said Sean mildly, searching her face with his eyes. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

‘Absolutely.’ Caitlin tried to sound bright and brisk. ‘I think I’m still grieving for my grandmother and I over-reacted to something. But I’m fine now. Honestly. So, thanks very much but I’d better be going. Maisie needs me.’

She turned and strode quickly past the bar until she reached the door. Isla would kill her but she couldn’t stay. Not now.

Caitlin grabbed her jacket from the coat stand and paused, her hand on the door latch, until she caught Isla’s attention. Her sister was listening to Ben, seemingly calm and attentive, but her body language – all folded arms and crossed legs – told another story. She was nervous and waiting for Caitlin to come back. But that couldn’t happen.

‘I have to go,’ Caitlin mouthed. ‘Sorry.’

Isla, still listening to her American visitor, widened her eyes and shook her head, but Caitlin couldn’t stay. ‘I’m really sorry,’ she said, before pushing open the door and rushing outside. She gulped in deep breaths of cold, damp air as she moved quickly through the dark streets of Heaven’s Cove towards Rose Cottage.

She’d abandoned Isla again, and she felt wretched about it, but she’d had to get away. She’d had to get away from the memories that threatened to overwhelm her. She stopped at the quayside for a moment and took deep breaths, watching the grey sea swell against the wall and retreat. The never-ending push and pull was soothing and, after a few minutes, the panic she was feeling began to subside.

She turned and started walking again for home. She felt different – as if the wall she’d built around her had been torn away and now everything could hurt her. She picked up her pace and hurried on because all she craved was the comfort of Rose Cottage where, long ago, before she’d messed everything up, she’d been loved and safe.

14

ISLA

Isla could hardly believe her eyes. Caitlin was leaving – her hopeless, unsupportive sister was ditching her. Again.

Isla shook her head, trying not to make her gesture too obvious to Ben, but it did no good. Caitlin simply mouthed ‘I’m really sorry’, as if that made everything all right, and stepped out of the pub door, into the rain.

‘Is everything OK?’ asked Ben, his soft drawl competing with the crackle of the fire nearby. The two of them had been making excruciating small talk for the last five minutes, waiting for Caitlin to come back.

‘Yes, everything’s fine,’ said Isla, her voice too high. ‘So how long was your flight delayed in all?’

‘Three hours. I told you.’ Ben sat back in his chair and gave Isla a straight look. His thick hair had dried into spikes where he’d pushed his fingers through his fringe. ‘Look, let’s get on with this. Is your sister coming back?’

‘Um… I don’t think so. She had to go.’

‘Really?’ He glanced over his shoulder, as if Isla was kidding him. ‘Well, if we’re not waiting for her, I need a drink. What would you like?’

‘I’m so sorry. I should have got you one,’ said Isla, feeling flustered and starting to get to her feet. But Ben had beaten her to it and was already standing in front of her.When Isla looked up, she felt her neck crick into a painful spasm because she was so tense.

‘Don’t worry about it,’ he said languidly as Isla rubbed her neck muscles. ‘Another white wine, is it?’

He nodded at Isla’s glass, which she’d drained, hardly tasting the wine at all as she made awkward conversation with a stranger and willed her sister to come back.

‘Yes, thanks. Though, actually…’ Isla hesitated. White wine was Paul’s drink of choice and he took a dim view of drinking anything else. But he wasn’t here and she could have whatever she wanted. ‘Actually,’ she said, feeling rebellious, ‘I’ll have a Martini and lemonade, if you don’t mind.’

‘Why on earth would I mind?’ asked Ben, raising an eyebrow. ‘With any luck, I won’t be long.’

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