Page 90 of The Sisters at the Last House Before the Sea

‘Embarrass me?’ Ben’s mouth fell open. ‘Is that what you think, that I was embarrassed?’ He shook his head. ‘The truth is that I was ashamed with myself for almost stepping over a line.’

Isla opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She’d thought she’d maybe imagined the frisson between them but it had been real.

‘I shouldn’t have put you in that situation…I know there’s Paul although he—’ Ben shook his head.

‘I’ll miss you,’ said Isla before she could think better of it. She shouldn’t say it, but it was true. She would miss this vibrant American who had breezed into Heaven’s Cove and reignited her dreams with tales of his travels.

‘Me, too.’ Ben turned suddenly and caught hold of her arms. ‘I was thinking…it’s crazy, I know…We’ve only just met…but you should come, too. Come and see amazing places and meet wonderful people. With me.’

‘What?’

When Isla stepped back, Ben let go of her arms and winced.

‘I didn’t mean to come out with that so bluntly. I wasn’t sure I was going to say anything at all, but…’ He stopped and rubbed a hand across his face. ‘You’re stifled here, Isla. Heaven’s Cove is a wonderful place, but it’ll still be here after you’ve seen the world.’

‘I can’t.’

Isla turned and began to walk down the cliff path, but Ben moved past her and blocked the way.

‘Please, wait. You don’t have to travel with me, if you don’t want to. We hardly know each other. But please, go on your great adventure, Isla. There’s so much of the world out there, just waiting for you. Rainforests in New Guinea, the deserts of Namibia, the pyramids, great white sharks off the Gold Coast of Australia. It’s all amazing…and so are you.’

He stopped again, his face flushed. ‘You’re an inquisitive, quirky, amazing person, Isla, and you don’t deserve to be stuck in Heaven’s Cove your whole life. So come with me, or don’t come with me, but do yourself a favour and go somewhere, just for a while.’

‘What about Paul? He’d never come with me.’

Ben sighed. ‘Paul is a decent guy…’ He stopped, the muscles in his jaw tightening. ‘Actually, I don’t think Paul is a decent guy at all. He wants to control you.’

‘That’s not true.’

‘Yes it is. He comes across as controlling and jealous, and he restricts your life.’

‘That’s not fair,’ declared Isla. How dare Ben stand there and criticise the man she loved. ‘You don’t know him. You’ve only just met him.’

‘That’s true. But I’ve known men like him. Men who abuse women.’

‘He doesn’t abuse me,’ said Isla, aghast. ‘He’s never laid a finger on me.’

‘He might not be physically violent but I bet he tries to control you in other ways.’

‘Of course he doesn’t,’ said Isla, feeling so angry she was almost crying. Not that she would, in front of this brash American who thought he could psychoanalyse her life after a few days’ acquaintance.

‘Are you sure about that?’ asked Ben, sorrow etched across his face. ‘Men like that are sly and cunning, Isla. They seem charming and loving but it’s all on their own terms. They love you as long as you do exactly what they want. They’re the masters of gaslighting.’

‘No, you’re wrong.’ Isla’s breath was coming in gasps. She couldn’t get past Ben or she would run. She didn’t want to hear this.

‘He ruined your mom’s dress because I dared to look at you across the table at your grandmother’s birthday meal.’

‘No, that’s definitely not true.’

‘I saw his face, Isla, before he knocked the food into your lap. He knew exactly what he was doing.’

‘Please stop telling me these lies!’

Isla pushed past Ben so roughly he stumbled, and she started running towards the village, her feet skidding on loose stones.

‘I’m sorry, Isla.’ Ben’s call drifted past her. ‘I’ll be on the quayside at ten tomorrow morning if you change your mind.’

Isla stumbled on, tears blinding her. Ben didn’t know Paul at all. He didn’t know how loving he could be. It was good that Ben was leaving Heaven’s Cove tomorrow. Isla would never have to see him again and she could go back to her perfectly lovely life in this perfectly lovely corner of Devon.

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