Page 25 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

NESSA

‘Come on in, Nessa, and take a seat.’

Jackson Porter, Heaven’s Cove’s resident solicitor – now retired – moved a pile of newspapers off his sofa and dumped them on the floor. ‘Sorry about the mess. It’s usually neat as a pin in here but I’ve—’

Nessa never found out the reason for the clutter in Jackson’s front room because his golden retriever bounded in from the kitchen and started leaping over the furniture.

‘Terry, get down!’ shouted Jackson, his rotund face growing redder by the second. Grabbing hold of Terry’s collar, he half led, half dragged him back into the kitchen and firmly closed the door.

‘Sorry about that. I was assured he’d calm down once he was past the puppy stage but that hasn’t happened. At least he keeps me on my toes. And he’s company.’

He gave a sad smile that made Nessa’s heart hurt. Jackson had lots of friends in the village but there was an air of loneliness about him.

‘I bet a dog is great company,’ she told him. ‘Lily would love one.’

‘I’m sure she would, but I dare say you’d be the person taking him for walks and picking up poo.’

Jackson gave a rueful grin and gestured for Nessa to take a seat, while he closed the window. The temperature had dropped today and a chilly breeze was blowing in off the sea.

‘Where is your daughter?’ he asked over his shoulder, banging the ill-fitting window shut.

‘Rosie’s looking after her for me. We’re staying at Driftwood House for a while.’

Nessa sat down in an armchair near the fireplace and looked around her. Jackson had lived in Heaven’s Cove for as long as she could remember but she’d never known him to have a partner.

Local gossip Belinda reckoned he’d been sweet on Rosie’s mum, Sofia, back in the day, and heartbroken forever when she chose another man. But whether that was right or not, Nessa didn’t know. All she did know was that Jackson was a kind man who, with any luck, wouldn’t mind giving her some advice for free. There was no way she could afford to pay.

‘So, Nessa.’ Jackson sank onto the sofa, his unruly grey hair in dire need of a comb. ‘What brings you to my door on a Saturday morning? Is everything all right?’

‘Yes, thank you,’ said Nessa, deciding to ignore being strapped for cash, jobless, and currently sharing Driftwood House with an arrogant property developer who was driving her to distraction.

‘So what’s going on?’

‘It’s a matter of life and death,’ Nessa blurted out, then blushed. ‘Well, it is, for a building.’

‘A matter of life and death regarding a building?’ Jackson smiled. ‘That sounds intriguing. You’d better tell me more. Off you go.’

So Nessa gave him a brief version of Gabriel’s plans, how she came by the lease, and her idea for the cottage, trying hard to be matter-of-fact and not let her antipathy towards Gabriel show.

Then, she handed Jackson the document but he rested it on his lap and looked at her over the half-moon glasses balanced on the end of his nose.

‘First of all, can I say how sorry I was to hear about the death of your grandmother. I didn’t know her well but she seemed like a lovely woman.’

‘Thank you.’ Nessa swallowed, willing herself not to cry. ‘She was.’

‘And secondly, you do know that I’ve retired now and I’m no expert on leases?’

‘Yes, but I’m still interested in what you think of it. I’m sure you know more than me. But if you’d rather not give your opinion, I’ll understand.’

‘Oh, I don’t mind.’ Jackson grinned. ‘You’d be surprised how many people ask for my opinion on leases and other documents – from wills and pre-nups to passport applications. I’m happy to have a quick look.’

With that, he picked up the old, yellowing pieces of paper and started reading through them carefully.

‘What do you think?’ Nessa asked after a while. She pulled the key, found in her grandmother’s leather box, from her pocket and turned it over in her hands. ‘Does the lease stand up or am I crazy?’

‘Hmm. It’s an unusual agreement.’ Jackson handed the lease back to Nessa. ‘But my opinion, after a quick read through, is probably, and yes. Probably, because I don’t see why the agreement wouldn’t still be in force, and yes, you are crazy to think you can stop the Ghost Village being levelled by doing up the cottage. But…’ He took off his glasses and peered at her. ‘I do like it when ordinary people do crazy things in a bid to thwart big business. You might not believe it but I was a bit of a rebel in my youth. Up the revolution!’

He punched the air while Nessa decided that she did find it hard to believe. Jackson, a lawyer going to work in his suit and carrying a briefcase, had always looked the sort of man who would stick to the rules.

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