Page 44 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Through the front door. My grandmother left me a key.’

That was true enough, this time, because copious amounts of WD40 squirted into the keyhole had freed up the lock. Nessa didn’t mention clambering through the window on her first visit.

Gabriel looked around him. ‘It’s all a bit of a mess, isn’t it?’

‘That’s not surprising. No one’s lived here properly for decades, but a few hours of cleaning and painting will make all the difference.’

‘If you say so.’

Gabriel brushed dirt from his trousers, while Nessa wondered if it was wise being on her own in such a lonely place with a man she hardly knew.

But, much as he annoyed the life out of her, she felt safe. He was arrogant at times, single-minded and hard-nosed, but she didn’t sense any aggression behind his pomposity. According to Lily, he was ‘a very nice man’ but five-year-olds weren’t always the best judge of character.

‘What’s this?’ murmured Gabriel, walking to the mosaic on the wall.

‘It was made by my great-grandmother.’

‘Wow, it’s beautiful. She had a rare talent.’

Gabriel stretched out his hand to touch the stones but drew his fingers back when Nessa said: ‘If you’ve arrived to try and dissuade me from living here, you’ve had a wasted journey.’

Her words came out more sharply than she’d intended, but she didn’t want him to touch the mosaic. Not when his wrecking ball would destroy it, along with the cottage.

He looked at her thoughtfully, dark hair falling across his forehead.

‘Are you really going to live here for a whole month?’

‘I am.’

Did that sound determined enough? Nessa squared her shoulders and pulled her mouth into a tight line.

‘What about your daughter?’

‘She’s staying with her grandmother, like I said, until I’ve got the place more together.’

‘And how long will that take?’ He glanced around the derelict room and raised an eyebrow.

Nessa pulled herself up to her full height of five feet and two inches. ‘Not long.’

‘I’m not sure you appreciate the size of the challenge you’ve taken on. I’ve spoken to my father and he’s not happy with the way things are going.’

‘Oh well, if your father’s not happy…’

‘He’s not a man to be trifled with.’

‘So are you here to threaten me?’

‘What? God, no.’ Gabriel pushed a hand through his fringe. ‘Of course not. I’m not some heavy out of The Sopranos. But you should know that my father will query the lease and fight it in the courts if need be. Can you afford that?’

Nessa’s resolve began to falter and she instinctively reached for the bangle on her arm and smoothed her fingers across it. Gabriel’s hectoring tone reminded her of Jake. But she’d had enough of being pushed around.

She folded her arms. ‘I’ll take my chances. I’ve moved in here for a month and then I’ll take it from there.’

‘There’s no point in making the effort. My father never loses.’

‘There’s always a first time.’

When Gabriel stared at her, Nessa picked up the broom and began to sweep again, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She’d lost so much over the years – her parents, her husband, her grandmother and her home. She wasn’t about to lose this chance of a new start too. Not without a good fight.

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