Page 86 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘The Lake House?’

He realised she didn’t know the name of the Ross family’s holiday home, nor that it was, in fact, his house. For some reason, Jake didn’t feel inclined to tell her. He didn’t know why. Or perhaps he did. Jake couldn’t take her to The Lake House even if he hadn’t had the excuse that it was in the throes of being redecorated. Even without that, being back there with Faye, the woman he’d fallen in love with, in a place that would just remind him of Eleanor …

‘Jake – what is it?’

‘The family holiday home, The Lake House, is being redecorated, so we can’t stay there I’m afraid.’

‘Oh, I see. That’s a shame.’

‘Yeah. But I know this amazing little guesthouse. Gayle, the owner, is lovely. She makes you feel right at home.’ Jake really hoped she had vacancies. ‘Natty will love it. There’s a rather special guest that I’m sure she’s going to make very good friends with. Her name is Olive.’

‘Oh, she’ll love to have someone to play with. I hope she likes ball games. Natty insisted on packing her ball.’

Jake grinned. ‘Olive loves playing ball.’

‘Oh, and Natty loves board games. We could all play, but having someone around her own age to play with—’

‘Oh, no, I didn’t mean another child.’

‘Oh, then what—’

‘Olive is a dog.’

‘A dog?’ Faye shook her head. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.You know she’ll be pestering me big time for a puppy. She already has been.’

Jake really hoped that all this – the plan to take the train, then Patrick putting it into Faye’s head that they were staying at the Rosses’ holiday home, and now his own faux pas in mentioning the dog – wasn’t a harbinger for things going south on their first holiday together.

Don’t screw it up, Patrick had said. Jake was determined not to. But some things were just out of his control.

Faye surprised him by reaching across the table and taking his hand. ‘You know what? Forget what I said about the dog. Hey, maybe I will get her one.’

‘You will?’ Jake said in surprise, although he was pleased. ‘I can look after it when you’re busy. Take it for walks to the park with Natty,’ Jake quickly said.

‘I know. I can’t believe I’m even thinking about it. But after nearly losing her, doing things like that just doesn’t seem a big deal anymore. I’m going to turn into you, aren’t I? Spoiling her rotten.’

Jake grinned. ‘Sounds like it.’

At that moment, Natty burst into the kitchen and caught them holding hands. She looked wide-eyed at both of them and offered up the biggest grin. ‘This is going to be thebestholiday ever.’

Faye eyed her daughter as she let go of Jake’s hand. ‘I hope so, because you haven’t been on holiday for years. You won’t remember the last holiday we had together, which was with your grandfather when he took a holiday to Ireland, and we went too.’

Jake eyed Faye. Nothing was going to get in the way of him making sure this was the best holiday ever. And that was precisely the reason they couldn’t stay at The Lake House. Natty didn’t understand. He was still married. He could not court the womanhe now loved at that house.

That was what he realised this holiday was all about for him; an opportunity to court her. The Lake House held too many memories of the past. As much as he loved the house, he was back to thinking that once the redecorating was complete, he might have to let it go and finally move on from what had happened the previous Christmas.

‘Have you cleaned your teeth, Natty?’ Faye asked.

She nodded her head.

‘Good.’

Natty ran up to Jake. ‘Come on, Jake. Hurry up. Finish your drink.’

Jake smiled at Natty, then finished his coffee and cereal in double-quick time. ‘I’ll just go and shower and change.’ He left Natty looking at a website on holidays in Scotland, grabbed his bag, and headed upstairs.

When he returned a short time later, the clean dishes and cutlery had been put away, and the laptop was closed down. He followed Natty and Faye out of the kitchen. He was waiting for them by the front door as they both slipped on jackets – it looked like rain – when Jake heard his mobile phone.

Faye turned around, glancing towards the lounge. ‘I think you left your mobile in there.’

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