Page 80 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

But that was to be expected, Nessa told herself. The prospect of a new home was disconcerting when you’d had to adjust to so much already. She’d soon come round to it.

Valerie hadn’t approved of Lily moving back into Driftwood House with Lily, even temporarily.

‘She might as well stay here with us, until you both actually move into the cottage, to minimise the upheaval,’ she’d said, patting Nessa’s arm. And when Nessa, desperate to be back with her daughter, had hesitated, she’d added: ‘We have to do what’s best for Lily.’

But surely being with her mother was what was best for Lily? And now it looked like they had a cottage they could call their own. Once Nessa had sorted out a few final improvements there, they could move in together. Local electrician Phil had promised to help with restoring power to the property before the autumn chill set in, and maybe water from the well – now proven safe to use – could be piped into the cottage somehow.

Nessa thought more about Billy’s visit during her drive to the Ghost Village in Rosie’s Mini. He’d probably still try to persuade her to give up the cottage so he could push ahead with his development plans, though surely he realised she was serious about living there after she’d spent thirty consecutive nights roughing it?

Twenty-seven-and-a-half consecutive nights, said the pedantic voice in her head. But she ignored it.

Nessa let herself into the cottage using the key from her grandmother’s treasure box and looked around. She was proud of all the work that had been done over the last month. The cottage no longer felt empty and sad. It was cleaner and brighter and her great-grandmother’s mosaic above the fireplace glowed in sunlight flooding through the window.

Nessa took a deep breath, not sure if she was more nervous about meeting Billy or seeing his son again.

She knew it was pointless but she couldn’t stop thinking about Gabriel. She fantasised about him marching into Driftwood House, declaring she had bewitched him, and sweeping her off her feet.

Nessa shook her head and draped a blanket over the painting supplies Gabriel had left behind. When had she turned from a pragmatic single mother into someone whose head was filled with romantic nonsense?

Gabriel had his life and she had hers, and that was the way it would stay. They’d shared a kiss on a stormy night in an isolated cottage. And though it meant something to both of them, it didn’t mean enough.

‘Ms Paulson, I presume?’

A stout man in a dark grey suit was blocking the doorway. He walked towards her, his oxblood shoes slapping on the flagstones. ‘I’ve heard a great deal about you from my son. How wonderful to meet you at last.’ He enveloped her hand in his and gave it a shake.

‘You must be Mr Gantwich,’ said Nessa, retrieving her hand.

‘Billy, please. Let’s not stand on ceremony. Can I call you Nessa?’

‘Yes, of course.’

‘That’s grand.’

Nessa looked past Billy, disappointed that he was alone.

‘I thought your son would be with you.’

Billy stared, his dark eyes boring into her. ‘He’ll be here shortly. I arrived yesterday actually, to have a look around Heaven’s Cove, which is utterly charming. And it means I avoided the morning rush-hour in London. Gabriel’s probably been caught in traffic.’

So she was here on her own with Billy Gantwich.

He was a big bear of a man, but less scary than she’d been expecting. Maybe it was the physical similarities between him and his son that took the edge off her nerves. Their noses were similar, and the way their hair curled where it hit their ears, though Billy’s was steel-grey and Gabriel’s dark brown.

Gabriel was more conventionally handsome than his father, but Billy had a presence that filled the room.

‘So, I understand this cottage was once your family’s home.’

‘That’s right. My family lived here until my great-grandmother was killed in a terrible storm seventy-five years ago.’

‘Ah yes, what a tragedy that was.’

Nessa glanced at Billy. It was hard to tell from his tone if he was being sympathetic or flippant. ‘And now you want to live here with your daughter, I’m told.’

‘Yes. Lily’s five.’

His lip curled. ‘It’s not the best place for a child, is it?’

‘Not at the moment, but it will be when the work on it is finished.’

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