Page 3 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

‘The village is always popular at this time of year so it’s best to book ahead,’ said Rosie gently. ‘I am sorry.’

Nessa’s heart sank. Rosie was turning down paying business because of her. When she cleared her throat, Rosie and the man turned and looked at her.

‘Sorry to interrupt but could I have a quick word, Rosie, about the… um, the room situation? Please,’ she added when Rosie hesitated. Nessa addressed the man directly as Rosie walked towards her. ‘Could you hang on there for a minute? Thanks.’

The man stared at her for a moment, his face flushed after walking up the cliff in the sunshine. Then he shrugged. ‘OK, but I haven’t got all day.’

Unnecessarily rude, thought Nessa, pulling Rosie into the kitchen and closing the door behind her.

‘I know what you’re going to say,’ said Rosie, ‘and the answer is no. I’m not prepared to throw you and Lily out.’

‘Which is lovely. You’re lovely – possibly the nicest person on the planet. But I’m not prepared to see you throw away the chance of a paying guest because of us. He can have our room.’

Rosie shook her head. ‘Absolutely not. I said I’d help you and Lily and I will. Where would you go at a minute’s notice? To Valerie’s?’

Nessa shuddered at the thought. Valerie would love having Lily to stay. For good, probably. But Nessa? Not so much. She’d never approved of her precious son’s wife, who worked in a local hardware store and had a grandmother who lived in a rented cottage.

Valerie was a doting mother to Jake and a bit of a snob to boot. Nessa would never measure up to her high standards. She’d never forget the look of barely concealed horror on Valerie’s face the first time Jake had taken her home to meet his family. Of all the women her beloved Jacob could have chosen, he’d picked Nessa-with-no-prospects from the village.

Though, Nessa had since realised, she was exactly the kind of woman Jake would always choose – someone slightly battered by life who was unlikely to demand too much of him.

Rosie made to go back into the hall but Nessa grabbed her arm. Rosie was right that she and Lily had nowhere to go, but they couldn’t take up valuable space for paying guests.

‘What about the box room?’ she asked.

‘What about it?’ Rosie frowned. ‘The clue’s in the name, Ness. It’s tiny and crammed full of boxes. And spiders.’

Nessa ignored the spiders comment. She’d rather not think about them.

‘It’s cluttered, that’s for sure. But I could make space for us and it would be fine for me and Lily until I can find somewhere else to go.’

When Rosie hesitated, Nessa took hold of her hand.

‘You’ve been brilliant, Rosie, to me and my daughter. But you’re running a business and you’re saving up for your wedding. Plus, where is that man going to sleep tonight? He’ll end up dossing down on the beach and Belinda will freak out and call the police.’

Rosie grinned at the thought of Belinda, Heaven’s Cove’s resident busybody, sticking her oar in.

‘But are you sure you’ll be OK in that little room? I’ve got a couple of camp beds somewhere but I doubt they’re very comfortable.’

‘We’ll be fine. Honestly. So go and tell that man he can stay before he combusts in the heat. Fancy wearing a suit on a hot day like today!’

Rosie grinned. ‘Not the best sartorial choice in the circumstances.’ Her face fell. ‘But are you quite sure, Nessa?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘Well, if you don’t mind, thank you.’

Nessa gave a mock bow. ‘You’re very welcome, and it should be me thanking you.’

She followed Rosie back into the hall, where the man was studying the grandfather clock while he waited. He turned, impatience written across his face.

‘Sorry about the delay.’ Rosie smiled at him. ‘Actually, a room has become available, if you’d still like to stay, Mr…?’

‘Gantwich,’ said the man, perspiring gently in his shirt and tie. ‘Gabriel Gantwich. In that case, I’ll walk down and collect my car. Is there another road up to this place? I walked up because I didn’t want to risk my car’s suspension.’

Rosie shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not. We’re exposed to the elements up here and as fast as we repair the track, it disintegrates back into potholes. But it should be fine if you drive slowly.’

Mr Gantwich raised an eyebrow at that but he left without another word.

---