Page 11 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘Yes, I know. But why did she have to take it? She’s got plenty of work around here. I thought once we moved into the boathouse together …’

‘Look, I’m sure you’re reading way too much into those trips. You’re not thinking she’s meeting up with someone else, are you? She’s in love withyou.’

Jake resorted to the coughing fit, hoping he hadn’t overdone it. The conversation in the kitchen stopped abruptly.

‘Changed your mind about that takeaway?’ said Jake, walking into the kitchen, trying to act as though he hadn’t heard a word. He stopped in the doorway and looked at Gayle, standing by thestove with a wooden spoon in her hand and a bright apron tied around her waist, and then at the unfamiliar man seated at the table.

They were both staring back at him in silence.

‘Excuse me,’ said Jake feeling very embarrassed. ‘I heard voices as I walked down the stairs, and I assumed Nick had changed his mind and decided to join us for dinner.’

Gayle waved her spoon at the table, sending a spray of brownish sauce in the air. ‘Jake, meet David,’ she said nonchalantly. She turned her attention back to the contents of a large saucepan simmering on the stove.

Jake held out his hand to a guy who was around about his own age. David clasped his hand briefly and then lowered his head, staring forlornly at the table.

Jake sat down opposite him. David. He recognised the name. He was Gayle’s friend, and Robyn’s fiancé. By the sound of the conversation he’d just overheard, they were having relationship issues.

Jake’s thoughts turned to Faye. Now he wished he’d called her straight back after ending the call so abruptly.

Determining that the guy wasn’t in the mood for polite conversation, Jake turned in his chair. ‘Sorry I’m late for dinner, Gayle. Can you believe I must have dozed off?’

Gayle glanced over her shoulder. ‘I guess it took more out of you than you thought, coming back here.’

‘I guess it did,’ said Jake, catching Gayle glance past him with an almost imperceptible shake of the head. Jake turned back to find that David was frowning at Gayle with a look of incomprehension on his face.

‘My wife had a tragic accident here.’ Jake raised his eyebrows, surprised he’d found himself telling David that.

‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ said David sincerely.

Jake opened his mouth to explain but simply said, ‘It was some time ago now,’ in a lame attempt to wave it away. He did not want to cast a mood over dinner, although looking at David, Jake felt that the mood was already cast, and it was very black indeed.

‘Time doesn’t heal, no matter what they say,’ David said glumly, dark eyes staring fixedly at Jake.

‘No, it doesn’t.’ Jake held David’s gaze, wondering what exactly he was referring to. Seeing as everybody seemed to be in the spirit of sharing all of a sudden, Jake threw caution to the wind and ventured a guess out loud. ‘Your wife?’

In the uncomfortable silence that followed, Jake realised that the spirit of sharing had obviously taken flight at such a direct question, but that he had nevertheless hit the nail on the head. Jake opened his mouth to attempt a pathetic back-track.

Gayle intervened to stop him making a complete fool of himself. ‘David and Robyn are having some relationship issues. At least, that’s what David thinks …’

David frowned at her. ‘Thank you, Gayle, for sharing that with all and sundry.’

‘Well, it’s true, isn’t it?’ Gayle shot back.

‘I’m sorry,’ Jake said meekly, really wishing he hadn’t opened his big mouth. Now Jake understood why the room that Gayle reserved for her friends was occupied. It sounded as though Robyn was in London, and David had made an impromptu visit to speak to Gayle. He was having dinner. He must be staying the night.

‘OK, yeah, I think Robyn and I are having some relationship issues, as you put it.’ David suddenly stood up from the table. ‘But that doesn’t mean it’s my fault.’

‘I didn’t say it was,’ said Gayle. ‘However, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to—’

‘Don’t start with the self-help psycho-babble crap!’ David exclaimed. ‘I am not interested in using that room!’ He sat back down and pointed his finger towards the kitchen door.

Jake cast his eyes in the direction of the hallway. He knew exactly what David was referring to. Gayle had turned her late father’s study – this had been her childhood home – into a room for relaxation, meditation, and reading from her extensive collection of self-help books.

Gayle put her hands on her hips. ‘What’s wrong with that room?’

‘Urrgh. Next, you’ll be turning this place into some sort of wellness retreat.’

‘The thought had crossed my mind.’

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