Page 75 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘No, not dreams. I was kept awake by memories. Actually, I was thinking about my mum. The dress I was wearing tonight belonged to her.’ She smiled. ‘I can remember her wearing it, before she got sick. I thought she was the most elegant creature alive.’

Ben set his drink down on the marble worktop. ‘You looked pretty elegant yourself. It’s a beautiful dress.’

‘It was,’ said Isla sadly. She sniffed. ‘But it was an accident and Paul’s really upset about it so…’

‘So you need to accept it’s happened and move on?’

Isla grimaced. ‘Ah. You heard me talking to myself, I take it?’

‘Uh-huh.’ Ben nodded.

‘Which, again, is not something that I normally do. Though I have been talking to my gran recently, even though she’s dead. Maybe I’m just losing my mind.’

‘Me too, then, ’cos I talk to my dad all the time.’ He frowned. ‘Not that I’ve ever admitted that to anyone before.’

‘Don’t worry. I won’t tell a soul, and I reckon it’s only if they start answering us back that we need to worry.’

Ben grinned and sat down on the table beside her. ‘I am sorry about your dress. And while I agree that accepting things and moving on is a very sensible course of action, it’s not always the easiest thing to do.’

Isla glanced at him, aware that his bare thighs were only inches from hers. Though, fortunately, her thighs were currently encased in thick towelling. ‘It sounds as if you’re speaking from experience.’

‘Kind of. It’s nothing like losing a parent, but—’ He cleared his throat. ‘I had a bad break-up with a girlfriend a couple of years ago and it took me a while to accept that it was over.’

‘I’m sorry. Is that why you first went travelling, to get away from things?’

‘Initially, yes. But I realised how much I loved seeing new places and experiencing a bigger life than the one I’d been living. And I got kinda hooked.’

‘You’re going to miss it when you go back to work.’

Ben nodded. ‘Not for long, though. Being in Heaven’s Cove over the last couple of days, without lots to do, has given me time to think, and I’ve decided that I’m going to give up my job straightaway and travel across Asia for a few months. Then, I’ll head to Australia and New Zealand before going back to the States. Or I might just keep on travelling.’

‘Wow. A real adventure! What does your mum think of that?’

Ben winced. ‘I haven’t told her yet. I’ve only just decided to do it. But she’s got my sister and grandchildren living nearby so I’m sure she’ll come around to the idea, especially if she can unearth ancestors on every continent for me to chase.’ He nudged his shoulder against Isla’s. ‘I bet she’ll be pleased for me that I’m seeing the world.’

‘I envy you,’ said Isla, acutely aware of Ben’s body close to hers. He was so full of life – a life filled with adventure and possibilities.

‘You talk as if you’re stuck here, shackled for ever to Heaven’s Cove, just like Edith,’ said Ben, his eyes finding hers.

‘Sometimes it feels like it. Caitlin got away and is living an interesting life.’

‘And you’d like one too?’

‘Sometimes, though I have this house and Paul and I had my gran.’

She blinked to stop tears from falling. It was strange but in the dead of night was when she missed Jessie the most. When she knew that her grandmother’s bed was empty – although now it was taken by a young American who had appeared in their lives, out of the blue. All thanks to Jessie’s riddle and the mystery surrounding Edith and William’s ill-fated romance.

Ben reached out his hand, as if he wanted to comfort her, but then pulled it back.

‘Do you know what?’ he said briskly, hopping off the table, ‘I think we’d better return to our beds or we’ll both freeze.’

‘Right,’ said Isla, thrown by Ben’s abrupt manner.

She went to slide off the table but her dressing gown caught on a corner and pulled her off balance. Ben reached out his hand again and she grasped hold of it to steady herself as her bare feet hit the tiles.

His fingers wrapped tightly around hers, and he didn’t let go. They both looked at their hands entwined and neither of them moved. The sitting room clock struck three, its chimes echoing through the house. And when Ben bent his head towards her, Isla found she could hardly breathe. Was he going to kiss her? Did she want him to?

There was a sudden crash upstairs as a door hit a wall and Ben and Isla sprang apart.

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