Page 60 of The Boathouse By the Loch

‘Well?’

‘She said Mummy never has any money so there was no point having the card if she couldn’t have more than two pounds.’

‘I don’t believe this,’ said Faye.

‘Now, don’t get mad,’ Patrick intervened. ‘It sounds like a good idea to me.’ He turned to Jake. ‘Does that mean I can deposit some money into her GoHenry account?’

‘Of course. You can transfer some money, and even set up a recurring transfer too. I’d just need to add you to—’

‘Urrgh!’ Faye cut across Jake. ‘I can’t believe you went behind my back and opened an account in my daughter’s name.’

‘It was only recently. I was going to tell you. We wanted it to be a surprise.’

‘Oh, so now you’re both keeping secrets from me.’

Patrick came to Jake’s defence. ‘Now come on Faye, don’t you think that’s a little harsh?’

‘Now you’re taking his side. Well, what a surprise!’

Jake said, ‘It’s a really good account, comes with an app that teaches them about managing money, budgeting, and saving—’

‘Teaches them money management! That’s a fine one coming from you,’ she scoffed. Faye turned to her father. ‘Do you know how much stuff he buys her? It’s like a regular toy store at his house. He buys her whatever she wants. And now he’s going to give her whatever money she wants too.’

‘No, I wouldn’t do that! Look Faye, I didn’t mean …’ began Jake, but he was cut short by the phone ringing.

Faye leapt to the phone. She said anxiously, ‘Hello? Yes, yes, that’s me,’ said Faye down the phone. ‘She wants to speak to me before I come and get her? I was just walking out of the door. Isshe okay? Oh, she just wants to speak to me. Of course, yes put her on …’ She waited a second or two then, ‘Natty? Oh, sweetheart, it’s so good to hear your voice … no, you’re not in trouble … no, I’m not mad at you …’ She laughed. ‘No, not even an insy bit … of course I still love you … oh, I shouldn’t have said that about Jake. I’m sorry.’ Faye turned to look at Jake. ‘Of course you can see him again.’

Jake sighed in relief. It didn’t mean all was forgiven, but at least he was still in their lives – for the time, being at least.

‘When?’ Faye said, clearly repeating what Natty had asked. ‘He’s here with me right now. Yes, it’s true. He came straight back from Scotland when he found out you were missing.’

Faye frowned. ‘All right.’ She reluctantly handed him the phone.

‘Natty, sweetheart. No, I’m not angry with you …’ Jake reassured her, smiling when he realised he was almost repeating verbatim what Faye had just said to Natty a moment earlier before he handed the phone back to Faye.

She said, ‘Right, I’m on my way.’ Faye looked at Jake. ‘No, it’s just me coming to collect you.’

Jake stepped forward, about to protest, but Patrick caught his arm and shook his head. Jake backed down. In that moment, he realised no matter how close he felt to Natty, no matter how much he would be honoured to be her daddy, the simple fact was that he had no rights there. It was all up to Faye, and from her reaction to what Patrick had foolishly blurted earlier, or maybe to the GoHenry card, or just to the fact that Natty had wanted to speak to Jake, or just everything right now, it looked like he’d never get the chance to be anything more than a friend. Perhaps not even that.

This was exactly the reason he could barely acknowledge his own feelings, let alone tell Faye how he really felt about her; he was scared of rocking the boat in case Faye threw him overboard. He would rather things remained just the way they were without any possibility of taking their relationship further, just as long as they both stayed in his life. Now it looked as though the chances of that were slim to none, unless she had other plans. Unless she was planning a surprise for Natty. He could picture the scene; Faye arriving to fetch Natty, surprising her by bringing along both Jake and her grandfather – a happy family reunion. And the icing on the cake would be Faye telling Natty that she loved Jake and she wanted to marry him.

By the time Faye had put the phone down and rushed to the door, picking up her coat and car keys along the way, Jake was right behind her with a big grin on his face, convinced she was going to change her mind and let them go too. Glancing behind him, Patrick was hot on his heels, similarly smiling from ear to ear with, Jake imagined, the same thought running through his mind.

Faye opened the front door, stepped outside, and stopped abruptly, forcing Jake to a halt at the door and sending Patrick careering into Jake’s back.

‘Sorry,’ said Patrick. He glanced at Faye. ‘Have we forgotten something?’

Faye turned around and stared at her father. ‘You’re not coming.’

Jake turned to look at Patrick. The expression on his face spoke volumes; the word disappointment didn’t begin to describe the pain etched on the old man’s face at the realisation that he wasn’t invited on this trip.

Jake turned back to Faye. He wanted to object. He wantedPatrick to come too, but he knew it wasn’t his call, his decision. Jake accepted that fact and took a step forward.

Faye didn’t move. Instead, she focused her attention on Jake.

‘What?’ said Jake in surprise. ‘I can’t come either?’

She shook her head. ‘Didn’t you hear me on the phone? I told Natty it’s just me coming to collect her.’

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