Page 79 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

Isla pulled the belt of her dressing gown tighter. ‘I get it now, why you were so keen on me selling up, but…’ She sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Cait. I should be more supportive but I really can’t face losing this house. It’s been in our family for over a hundred years. William’s letter to Edith arrived here, Mum was born upstairs, and there are so many memories of Gran everywhere.’

‘I know, and I get it now, too. You shouldn’t have to sell Rose Cottage because my husband has made a mess of everything. Maisie and I will manage. I’ll get another job and we can rent somewhere cheap. Or’ – Caitlin gave a wry smile – ‘we can solve Gran’s riddle instead, and find the vast fortune that she’s promised us. Though why she couldn’t just leave the money to us in her will like normal people do, I don’t know.’

Isla grinned and looked up at Caitlin from beneath her eyelashes, just like she used to when she was a child. ‘I don’t think Gran mentioned a vast fortune and, to be honest, it’s been nice working on solving it with you. Mostly.’ Her grin disappeared. ‘Look, I’m glad you’ve told me what’s going on, and I am sorry. I just wish you’d told me before.’

‘What, and admit that my perfect life was a sham and I’d abandoned you and given up everything here…’ An image of Sean swam into Caitlin’s mind and she batted it away, desperate to get the words out. ‘…for nothing, in the end? That’s not really my style, is it?’

She gave what she hoped was an insouciant shrug, but the pity on Isla’s face showed that her sister could see right through her bravado.

‘You have Maisie.’

Caitlin nodded. ‘I do, and I’m so fond of her. She reminds me of myself – always wanting what she can’t have. Striving. Discontented. Not realising the value of what she has. Or in my case, had.’ She smiled. ‘But that’s kids for you.’

Isla smiled back. ‘Kids, huh?’ She turned towards the door, aware of heavy footsteps in the hall. ‘Talking of which…’

Maisie pushed open the door and stood with her hands on her hips. ‘There you both are. Why aren’t you dressed, Isla? I thought you wanted to go and speak to that weird old woman.’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘Then you need to get dressed now ’cos I got up specially and it’s not, like, even half past ten.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Isla gave a mock salute and followed Maisie from the room but stopped in the doorway and looked back. ‘Do you want to come with us, Cait?’

‘No, you’re all right, if you don’t mind going, just the two of you?’ said Caitlin. She felt wrung out and couldn’t face dealing with Connie Carmichael right now. The woman had a reputation for being irascible.

‘No, that’s OK. Maisie and I can have some quality bonding time.’ Isla twisted her mouth. ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’

‘Yes, you know me,’ said Caitlin brightly. ‘I’m always fine, in the end.’

And though that was a lie because she felt far from fine, Caitlin did feel lighter somehow and hopeful – hopeful that it might not be too late to repair her relationship with her beloved sister.

31

ISLA

Maisie was grumbling about something as Isla drove out of Heaven’s Cove, towards Connie’s isolated house, but Isla was only half listening. Her mind was still on the conversation she’d just had with Caitlin and the problems that her sister was facing.

It was the first time in years that she and Caitlin had really talked, and she was glad that her sister had finally trusted her with the truth.

As the grumbles to her left continued, she swerved to avoid a patch of gleaming ice that she hadn’t seen until the last minute. She was too busy thinking about Caitlin’s revelations, and then there was the news that Ben had fled back to Driftwood House. Memories of their night-time kitchen meet-up kept nudging into her brain. Memories of what he’d said and what she’d said. How he’d sat beside her on the table and told her of his plans to travel the world. The way he’d caught her when she stumbled and they’d clasped hands. The fact that she hadn’t wanted him to let go. What kind of girlfriend to Paul did that make her?

‘Isla!’ said Maisie forcefully.

‘What?’ Isla pulled her attention back to the narrow lane that was still edged with snow.

‘I said you need to turn left just past that big tree.’

‘I know,’ said Isla, slowing down carefully to avoid sliding as she turned off the road. She would have missed the turning without Maisie’s warning but she wasn’t about to admit it.

The car climbed higher, surrounded by fields still coated in white, and Maisie began to shift about in the passenger seat.

‘How did it go with Beth last night?’ asked Isla.

What she really wanted to know was how the teenager was coping with the bombshell news about her dad’s gambling and the marriage separation. But Caitlin’s plea not to stray into that territory was still ringing in her ears.

‘Yeah, she’s all right. I thought she was a bit…you know, at first. But now we’ve met up again, I can see she’s quite…you know.’

Isla didn’t know, but that seemed to be all the answer she was going to get from Maisie, who was now leaning forward and peering out of the windscreen.

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