Page 98 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Why should I thank you for deliberately knocking curry all over me?’

‘It was the only way to protect you.’

‘Protect me from what?’

‘From making a fool of yourself in that unsuitable dress when we were entertaining guests.’

‘Did you think I was making a fool of myself when I wore it to the residents’ association dance last Christmas?’

‘Why are you harking back a whole year?’

‘Because it’s important.’

Paul sighed. ‘OK. Yes, if you really want to do this, I thought it was totally inappropriate.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you’re my girlfriend, Isla, and I won’t have men ogling you.’

‘Ben wasn’t ogling me the other night, Paul. He was simply looking at me from across a table. And it wouldn’t matter even if he was “ogling”, as you put it, because I might be your girlfriend but I’m not your property. I can wear whatever I want.’

Paul’s composure was beginning to slip. He banged his hands down on the desk. ‘Don’t give me all that empowerment rubbish, Isla. Of course I don’t own you, but I do know what’s best for you. I don’t feel proud of what I did that night but I’d do it again in a heartbeat, for your own good.’

‘You ruined my mother’s dress,’ whispered Isla, her head reeling.

‘I’ll get you another dress.’

‘But I don’t want another dress. I want that one. That’s the dress my mum wore the night she met my dad, and I remember her wearing it on special occasions when I was growing up.’

‘And I’m sure it suited your mum. But it didn’t suit you.’ He pulled his mouth into a pout. ‘I just lost my head, Isla, and I will admit that perhaps I over-reacted.’

‘You think?’ said Isla, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

‘OK. I’ll hold my hands up to that. But I only did it because I care about you so much, and I know that you believe me.’ He stood up, walked around the desk to Isla and kissed the top of her head. ‘You’re fragile, sweetheart, and particularly vulnerable right now, following Jessie’s death, especially with your sister turning up. But you don’t need to worry about anything because you’ve got me to look after you. And the sooner everyone leaves and it’s just you and me, the better. I know you feel the same way.’

Isla got slowly to her feet, her heart heavy.

‘The thing is, I don’t feel the same way as you do about Caitlin and Maisie leaving. I don’t feel the same way about my mum’s dress, or about going to Machu Picchu. I’m not the same as you and I won’t be controlled.’

‘Controlled?’ Paul’s cheeks were reddening. ‘Where have you got all this guff from? Your sister, no doubt.’

‘Yes, my sister, in part. But she’s opened my eyes to what’s really been going on here. We’ve been together for a while and it’s been fun at times, but I don’t think we’re right for each other. Actually, I don’t think you’re right for me, and I deserve the best.’

Paul’s mouth had fallen open. He snapped it shut, his nostrils flaring. ‘You’re not feeling yourself, Isla. That’s all this is. You’re having a bad day and need a bit of time to yourself. You love me.’

Isla walked to the door and looked back. ‘Do you know, I’m not sure that I do. Not enough, anyway, to get over the flaws in our relationship. I’m not the right woman for you – I’m not right, full stop. That’s what you imply a lot of the time, isn’t it? And I can see now that you’re definitely not the right man for me.’

‘Let me get this straight. Are you breaking up with me?’ spluttered Paul, specks of spittle flecking his beard.

‘Yes,’ said Isla sadly. ‘I do believe that I am. Goodbye, Paul.’

She stepped into Reception, closed the office door behind her and stood still for a moment. What had she just done? Her heart was aching and yet she felt stronger, as if she’d glimpsed the old Isla – how she used to be, when her gran was alive and Caitlin was her ally at home in Rose Cottage.

‘I’ve had to apologise to a client that Paul wasn’t available to take his scheduled call at three o’clock,’ said Fizz snippily. Isla glanced at her watch. It was only two minutes past the hour. ‘It’s really not appropriate to call in unannounced and take up Paul’s time when he’s such a busy man.’

Isla breathed out slowly and approached Fizz’s desk. She leaned against it, her thighs hard against the wood.

‘Do you know, Fizz? I think you might benefit from some interpersonal training, some guidance on how you should speak to people who come into the office. If you talk to Paul, I’m sure he’ll fund it.’

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