Page 77 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Harsh, but true. And if you want to spend time away from me you only have to say and I’ll leave.’

‘That’s not what I’m saying at all,’ said Isla with a sigh.

‘Well, that’s what it sounds like.’ Paul’s face softened and he sat back down on the bed. ‘Look, sweetheart. I love you and I want you to be happy and you’re happiest when you’re with me. That’s the truth of it. And there’s no way I’m going to Tenerife or Lanzarote.’ He leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. ‘Honestly, the sooner that man stops putting ideas in your head and goes back to America, the sooner we can get on with our lives in Heaven’s Cove. I’ll see you later, yeah?’

Isla nodded and, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly weary, closed her eyes again.

30

CAITLIN

‘I wish you’d woken me!’ Caitlin glanced up as Isla hurried into the sitting room in her dressing gown, her long hair streaming behind her. ‘Have you seen the time?’

‘Yes,’ said Caitlin calmly, closing the newspaper she’d bought from the Mini Mart half an hour earlier. ‘It’s ten o’clock.’

‘Exactly! I only closed my eyes for a minute and I fell asleep again. You should have knocked on my bedroom door.’

‘Why? Having a lie-in isn’t a crime. Have you noticed the hours that Maisie keeps?’

‘Yes, but the difference is she’s fifteen and I’m thirty-one, with lots to do today.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like packing up Gran’s clothes and trying to find out more about Edith and William, so we can solve the riddle.’

‘And get our hands on the fortune that Gran alludes to? Well, that would be nice.’ Caitlin put the newspaper down in her lap. ‘Look, Isla, I didn’t wake you because you obviously needed the sleep. You were pretty upset after what happened last night.’

‘What do you mean?’ demanded Isla, pushing her hands through her hair.

‘I mean Mum’s dress being ruined, obviously.’ Caitlin narrowed her eyes because something was off with Isla who seemed unusually agitated. ‘Why? What else happened last night?’

‘Nothing. Why? What do you think happened?’

‘Nothing, except for half a ton of curry landing in your lap.’

‘Right.’ Isla flopped onto the sofa and folded her arms.

‘Has Paul gone to work?’ asked Caitlin, although she knew he had. She’d seen him striding down the garden path before breakfast. She’d been sitting here, thinking about him, and wondering whether it was wise to broach her suspicions with Isla. It might not be, when her relationship with her sister was already on shaky ground.

‘Paul left ages ago.’ Isla inspected her nails and began to pull at a loose cuticle. ‘Where’s Ben? Have you seen him this morning?’

‘Briefly, but he’s gone.’

Isla stopped fiddling with her nails and looked up. ‘What do you mean he’s gone?’

‘He came down early, all packed up, and said he didn’t want to impose on us any longer.’

‘Has he gone back to London?’ asked Isla, a hint of something in her tone that Caitlin couldn’t quite place. Then she realised that it was forced indifference. If you didn’t know Isla well, you’d think she was simply being casual and unconcerned. But Caitlin knew her well enough to catch the edge in her voice.

‘I don’t think he’s going to London today. The roads around Devon are rammed, apparently, now the snow’s melting and motorists are being advised to stay at home. But he’s decided it’s fairer on us if he moves back to Driftwood House. Rosie messaged him first thing to say that her guest was a no-show last night, if staying here was a problem, seeing as we’ve just lost Gran.’

‘OK.’ Isla nibbled at a hangnail.

‘Is something going on?’ asked Caitlin gently.

‘Of course not.’

‘Only you can talk to me, about anything.’

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