Page 93 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘How was Ben when you saw him this morning?’ asked Caitlin.

‘OK. Getting ready to leave for London.’

Caitlin looked closely at Isla, who was clasping and unclasping her hands in her lap. She seemed thoroughly miserable. ‘I expect you’ll miss him,’ she said quietly.

‘Why?’ Isla looked up. ‘Why do you say that?’

‘I don’t know. The two of you seemed to get on well, once he’d got over his irritation at being in Heaven’s Cove in the first place.’

‘He was hard work at first, but we did get on well in the end. We do.’ Isla stopped and bit the inside of her cheek. It made her look so young, just as she’d looked after their mother had died.

Caitlin reached forward and put a hand on Isla’s pale wrist. ‘It’s OK to miss people. We both miss Mum, and we miss Gran – especially you.’

‘Do you know…’ Isla stared at the dusty floor. ‘He asked me to go with him.’

‘Ben did?’ When Isla nodded, Caitlin’s eyes opened wide. ‘He asked you to go to America with him?’

‘No, to go travelling with him. He’s leaving his job to go travelling around Asia and Australia and he thought I might like to go.’

‘Has something happened between you two?’

‘No. Not really. There was something that happened in the kitchen. That’s all.’

‘Something?’ Caitlin moved her hand. ‘What kind of something?’

Isla lowered her voice, even though no one could possibly overhear them up here, at the top of the house. ‘He held my hand and we had a moment.’

‘What sort of a moment?’

Isla waved her arm around, looking pained. ‘Shush! It shouldn’t have happened, Caitlin.’

‘What shouldn’t have happened? Did he kiss you?’

‘No, nothing like that.’

‘Then, what’s the problem?’

Isla swallowed. ‘The problem is I felt disappointed that he didn’t kiss me, and I’ve been torn up with guilt ever since, because I’m in love with Paul.’

‘Are you, though?’

Isla sat up straight. ‘What do you mean? Of course I am. Paul and I have been together for months and he’s very special to me.’

‘I’m sure he is but…’

‘But what?’ Isla leaned forwards. ‘Tell me, Caitlin. I know there’s something you’re dying to say.’

Caitlin hesitated. She didn’t want to wreck the fragile relationship that she and Isla were rebuilding, but how could she stay quiet when her misgivings about Isla’s boyfriend were growing?

She grabbed hold of Isla’s hand. ‘I’m not sure that Paul is the best person for you.’

‘Oh, really?’ Isla pulled her hand away. ‘And you’re such an expert on my life, are you, when you haven’t been a part of it for years?’

‘I’m so sorry about that. I really am. I’ve behaved very badly and let you down, but I honestly never stopped caring about you.’

‘You had a funny way of showing it.’

Caitlin deserved that. She swallowed. ‘I know. I got many things wrong. But you’re an amazing person, Isla – kind, funny and gentle – and I don’t want you to make mistakes too. I just think that Paul might not be the best person for you.’

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