Page 88 of The Diary at the Last House Before the Sea

‘What is it?’ Clara asked. ‘It sounds as though things are going pretty well, in the circumstances.’

Once, she would have nudged her arm against his, in a show of friendly solidarity, but today she kept her distance.

Years ago, they’d shared their first and only kiss in this very place. That had been quite a moment. The kiss was fumbling and awkward and lovely – and Clara had wondered at the time if she might actually be in proper love with him. However, she’d decided that she was mistaken and, actually, she hated him after he’d left Heaven’s Cove and cut off all contact – adolescent feelings being so black and white.

Time plus maturity meant that hatred had faded to indifference by the time River returned but now…The closer River got to going back to Australia, the more she wanted him to stay.

But soon he would be gone again and she had to protect her heart – especially in this special place that held so much meaning for her. River had obviously forgotten the kiss completely or he’d never have brought her back here.

River cleared his throat. ‘My father told me this morning that he loved me. Well, not exactly,’ he added, seeing Clara’s jaw drop. ‘I’ve always thought he was disappointed in me, but he said that wasn’t true and he was only disappointed in himself for not being a good parent.’

‘Wow.’ Clara sat quietly for a moment, letting the enormity of Geoffrey’s words sink in. ‘It sounds like your dad is finally getting in touch with his feelings.’

‘Maybe.’ River gave a wry grin. ‘Better late than never, I suppose.’

‘Definitely.’

It was sad that it was so late. Clara knew how much it would have boosted River’s confidence as a teenager to hear those words from his father. But at least what he needed to hear had finally been said.

‘He also said that he wouldn’t rather have Bartie as his son and heir than me.’

‘Of course he wouldn’t.’ Clara looked into River’s eyes. ‘Is that what you think? That your dad prefers Bartie to you?’

‘It’s what I’ve always thought.’

‘Yet you never told me. I thought you told me everything, but you never told me that.’

River held her gaze. ‘I knew how much you liked Bartie, even back when we were kids. He was bold and brash and exciting, and I suppose I was afraid that if I said he’d make a better son and heir than me, you’d agree.’

‘I would never have agreed with that.’

‘I should have trusted you and confided how I was feeling.’ He thought for a moment and then, staring at the water tumbling past, asked: ‘Are you terribly upset about Bartie?’

‘What, that bold, brash, exciting Bartie turned out to be a bit of a rat? I’m glad that I know the truth about him.’

‘I am sorry he upset you, though.’

Clara felt a rush of warmth towards the kind, gentle man sitting beside her. ‘You are, aren’t you? Even though I completely ignored your warning about him and let myself be taken in.’

‘My father was taken in too, for a while.’

‘But you never were. Not really.’

‘Only because I was screamingly jealous of him when we were kids and it rather coloured my view of him.’ River wrinkled his nose.

‘You really didn’t need to be jealous.’ This time, Clara allowed her arm to nudge against his.

‘Of course I did,’ snorted River. ‘I was a geek at fifteen, with spots and an inferiority complex, and he was this eighteen-year-old Greek god.’

‘Granted, you were a bit geeky at fifteen. But I wasn’t exactly a stunning extrovert. Do you remember my terrible plaits and how I used to blush all the time? But we’ve both grown up and improved. Well, I hope I’ve improved, apart from the blushing, that is. You’ve turned into this bronzed Australian Adonis who threatens to fight dragons to protect damsels in distress.’

She grinned, but this time River didn’t smile back. He swallowed, his breathing ragged.

‘You’ve grown into a beautiful, brilliant, feisty woman. But I always thought you were perfect, Clo.’

As he leaned towards her, Clara’s eyes opened wide. Was he going to kiss her? She realised that she really hoped so. She wanted nothing more than to feel his arms around her, and yet…

When she moved her head away, River immediately drew back.

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