Page 95 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Yeah, I’m OK now. Sorry about that.’

‘Was it a bad argument with Isla?’

‘Mmm.’ Caitlin nodded, frightened to say any more in case she broke down again.

‘She’ll be OK with you again soon,’ predicted Maisie, moving her arm from Caitlin’s shoulders. ‘I mean, look at us. We argue all the time but that doesn’t mean we don’t get on later.’ She sniffed. ‘Right, I’ll get back to my music and you’d better come downstairs. And don’t start crying again ’cos it makes you look terrible. Your nose is bright red and you’ve rubbed all your make-up off.’

When Caitlin laughed, Maisie frowned at her in surprise before clomping back down the stairs.

Caitlin moved to the chair Isla had just left and looked through the streaked glass at sunlight bouncing off the silver sea. It was so sad, she thought, if Edith had been forced to choose between the man she adored and caring for the family she loved. It would also be sad if her great-great-niece chose to stay with a rubbish boyfriend rather than take a chance on her American and travel to the corners of the globe.

Caitlin desperately wanted her sister to have a big adventure, even if it did mean that Rose Cottage might have to be sold if Isla needed money to fund her travels.

How the tables had turned, she thought, giving her eyes a final wipe. Isla was now the one who needed to fly the nest, and she was the one who found herself becoming increasingly fond of this peaceful place. Caitlin sighed. She could almost imagine staying in Heaven’s Cove and putting down roots here, but it was too late. Fifteen years too late.

36

ISLA

Isla was aware of Fizz, Paul’s new assistant, giving her a once-over when she walked into the business space he rented on the outskirts of Heaven’s Cove. Fizz was sitting behind a desk that almost filled the tiny reception area, tapping away on a computer keyboard.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked, fingers poised above the keys, her nails long and purple. She was acting as if she didn’t know who Isla was, even though they’d met twice since she’d been taken on three months earlier.

‘I’m here to see Paul,’ said Isla, feeling scruffy in her jeans and sweatshirt.

‘Do you have an appointment?’ Fizz asked, smoothing a hand down her cream silk blouse.

Was she being dense or deliberately obtuse? Isla wondered.What kind of name was Fizz anyway?

‘I don’t need an appointment because I’m Paul’s girlfriend.’

‘Oh.’ Fizz’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Of course you are. I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognise you.’

‘No problem.’ Isla smiled, even though her appearance hadn’t changed in the last twelve weeks. ‘Is Paul free?’

Fizz took a moment to consult her large desk diary before announcing that Isla would be allowed to take up a few minutes of Paul’s precious time.But definitely no more than five because he had an important call to make to a valued client.

She was like a snooty, well-dressed rottweiler, thought Isla, knocking on Paul’s door.

Isla knocked again, wondering if she was doing the right thing. She could ignore it all. Forget Caitlin’s wild claims about her ruined dress, and the mean things Ben had said about Paul – and she’d been tempted to do just that, but an email had arrived from the American twenty minutes ago which simply said:

We parted on bad terms but it was good to meet you, Isla. Climb that mountain and swim in warm seas. You deserve the best. Ben x

You deserve the best. Isla knocked once more and when there was still no reply she opened the door and went in.

Paul’s office was double the size of the reception area, with a leather-topped desk, a black filing cabinet, and a window overlooking the headland that stretched into the sea. He was sitting with his back to her and his feet up on the windowsill but he spun round when he heard his door close.

‘Hey, Fizz, I was just…oh, Isla. What are you doing here?’

‘I wanted to see you, if that’s all right?’

Paul looked puzzled. ‘Yes, of course. What have you been up to today? You said you were going to be in but when I rang the house earlier no one answered. I tried your mobile but it went to voicemail. Didn’t you get my messages?’

‘I saw you’d left me several messages but I was busy.’

‘Too busy to talk to the man who loves and looks after you? Charming.’ He scowled before his features relaxed into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘So what were you busy doing?’

‘This and that,’ said Isla, glancing round the office, which was incredibly tidy with everything in its place – from the pen pot on the desk to the books neatly lined up on top of the filing cabinet.

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