Page 56 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

Far too kind, thought Valerie. And far too keen to indulge Nessa in this fantasy.

‘Did you know that Magda’s advertising an empty flat above the ice-cream parlour?’ she said as nonchalantly as she could. ‘If this doesn’t work out, I mean.’

‘I did hear that and Lily would love it. But I looked into it, and I could never afford the deposit or the rent.’

‘Surely you could, with all the support that Jacob provides.’

Nessa gave Valerie a straight stare. ‘I’m afraid not. That’s why I’m working so hard on this property.’

When an awkward silence descended, Valerie pointed at a pile of artist’s materials in a corner of the room.

‘What’s this?’ There were several blank canvases, an old easel and a large wooden box. Valerie peeped inside. It was filled with watercolour paint blocks in various shades and half-squeezed tubes of oil paint. ‘I didn’t know you were an artist.’

Nessa smiled. ‘I’m not, though I loved visiting art galleries before I met Jake and… well, life changed. He’s not that keen on art, is he?’

Valerie felt her lips pursing again. It was true that Jake wouldn’t know his Rembrandt from his Vermeer, but it felt like a criticism of her boy, by the woman who’d harried him out of Heaven’s Cove and Valerie’s life.

‘He’s always been far too busy at work to have time for hobbies. But if you’re not the artist…’ She waved a hand at the painting paraphernalia. ‘Who is?’

Suspiciously, Nessa’s cheeks coloured when she answered. ‘This belonged to my gran, who liked to paint. I fished it out of some stuff that Rosie’s storing for me at Driftwood House, in case Gabriel wants to use it. He told me he enjoys painting. Well, he used to.’

‘Gabriel? Is that the man from the property development company? The one I met briefly, who’s staying at Driftwood House?’

‘Mmm.’ Nessa nodded.

‘I heard he was checking up on you a couple of times a day.’

‘That’s right. He is. He calls round first thing in the morning and last thing at night to make sure I’m still here and haven’t bunked off.’

‘Because if you don’t manage thirty consecutive nights here that would affect the lease, right?’

‘Yeah, that’s it,’ said Nessa, her cheeks looking even more pink against the darkness of her hair.

Valerie felt a lurch in her stomach. Nessa was winning Gabriel round to get her own way, just as she’d done with Jacob. Which meant that Lily could end up living in this dreadful place when she should be living in Valerie’s warm and cosy home instead.

It had been wonderful having Lily to stay for the last two weeks. Lily liked a cuddle with Granny when she woke up, and it meant the world to Valerie when she called for her. It gave her a reason to get out of bed. And the days didn’t seem so interminably long if she knew that Lily would be returning from school mid-afternoon, full of chatter.

The thought of going back to a house with only taciturn Alan for company filled her with a cold dread that wrapped itself around her heart.

But Nessa would charm Gabriel, plans to raze Sorrel Cove and build luxury homes here would be scrapped – and Lily would leave Valerie for this health and safety nightmare.

‘Are you OK?’ asked Nessa gently, brushing her hand along Valerie’s arm. Her bangle was cold against Valerie’s skin. ‘You don’t seem quite yourself today.’

Valerie pulled herself together and stepped away from Nessa’s touch. ‘I’m perfectly fine, thank you. Tell me, how many nights have you slept here now?’

‘Fourteen. It was hard at first but, as the cottage becomes more homely, it’s getting easier all the time.’

I bet it is, thought Valerie, wondering if Gabriel was sleeping over. She could imagine the two of them here together, with darkness falling outside and Nessa whispering persuasively in his ear.

‘I need to go,’ said Valerie. ‘Thank you for showing me the cottage, Nessa. You’re doing a grand job of doing it up.’

‘Thank you. I really appreciate that.’ Nessa seemed genuinely pleased with the compliment and Valerie felt a pang of unease at her own duplicity. ‘Also,’ added Nessa, ‘I know I’ve said it before but I appreciate you looking after Lily so well while I’m sorting all of this out.’

‘That’s no trouble at all,’ said Valerie, feeling on steadier ground because she was speaking the truth.

She loved having Lily with her. She knew that for sure. What she wasn’t so sure about was how far she was willing to go to ensure that Lily stayed with her for good.

But there had to be a way, and Valerie was determined to find it.

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