Page 79 of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea

NESSA

Nessa rubbed at a mark on her dress. She’d given Lily orange juice with her breakfast this morning, and had managed to spray it everywhere when she opened the carton.

This was why she rarely got dressed up. Some people suited silk blouses and velvet trousers – grown-ups who could drink red wine without dribbling and eat spaghetti bolognaise without flicking sauce everywhere. She was not one of those people.

‘There’s stain remover in the cupboard under the sink,’ said Rosie, walking past with an armful of freshly laundered towels.

‘Thanks. You’re the best.’

Rosie was the best, Nessa knew that without a doubt.

She’d invited her and Lily back to Driftwood House. And though Nessa didn’t want to impose – again – the lure of a hot shower and soft bed for a few days had proved too much after her month-long stay in the Ghost Village.

It was a whole month, in the end. Nessa had managed only twenty-seven-and-a-half nights in the cottage before her mercy dash to Valerie’s. But she’d gone back and stayed the following night and the two nights after that to ensure that she met the thirty days stipulated – albeit with a brief break.

Gabriel had promised to keep quiet about her few hours away, though she hadn’t seen him in person since reading his text at Valerie’s. He hadn’t been around when she dropped the car back to Driftwood House, and he’d packed up and left for good that same morning.

Nessa had felt disappointed and relieved in equal measure about his flit – as well as worried that it meant he’d given up on her and was going to tell his father anyway.

But Rosie had reckoned otherwise when she’d dragged the whole sorry story out of Nessa.

‘I knew Gabriel really liked you,’ she’d said. ‘I could tell by the way he’d started looking at you. And he helped with renovating the cottage. Why would he do that unless he secretly thought you were adorable? He’s only disappeared without seeing out the thirty days because he’s confused by his feelings now you’ve bewitched him. He’ll be keeping his head down somewhere until he can go back to work and say you completed your task successfully.’

While Nessa was sure she’d never bewitched anyone, Rosie’s explanation was comforting. Even though he hadn’t texted her since, and she’d been too chicken to contact him either.

But, Nessa swallowed and smoothed down her orange-juiced dress, she was going to see him again this morning. And though it was pointless getting excited about that, she’d dressed up nonetheless.

Gabriel was back in his swish London life where he mixed with Seraphina types wearing designer labels. Her dress wasn’t designer. She’d got it in a Primark sale. But it looked fine, and she wanted to show him that she wasn’t just old trainers and combat trousers.

‘You’ve scrubbed up nicely,’ said Rosie, doubling back with the towels. ‘Is that the dress you wore to your gran’s funeral?’

‘Yeah,’ said Nessa, self-consciously tugging at her hair that she’d pulled into a smart ponytail. ‘It’s the only dress I own. Too black?’

‘Not at all. It looks very sophisticated.’ Rosie smiled. ‘Are you dressing up for the benefit of Mr Gantwich Senior or Mr Gantwich Junior?’

‘Neither,’ replied Nessa, trying hard not to blush. ‘But I thought I should look the part a bit more seeing as I’m meeting Billy Gantwich for the first time. It’s probably best to look more grown-up and… and…’

‘Desirable?’ Rosie raised an eyebrow and laughed. ‘It seems like ages since Gabriel left, even though it’s less than a week, and you can’t wait to see him again. Admit it.’

‘I admit nothing of the sort,’ said Nessa, being careful not to catch Rosie’s eye because she, more than anyone, would know she was lying.

‘Just be careful, Ness,’ said Rosie, her expression suddenly serious. ‘A quick snog round the back of the cottage is fine but remember he’ll be going back to his life in London. Watch your heart.’

‘There won’t be any time for snogging. I’ll be too busy ironing out the final details with Mr Gantwich Senior regarding me and Lily moving into the cottage permanently. Though I can hardly believe it’s really going to happen.’

‘Me neither. I’m surprised Billy Gantwich has backed down, though maybe Gabriel had something to do with it. What did Billy’s text say again?’

Nessa pulled her phone from her pocket and brought up the text that had arrived out of the blue two days ago. She read it out to Rosie.

I’m contacting you in relation to the cottage at Sorrel Cove. I understand, following your stay in the property, that you have permission to live there permanently. I’ll be in the area on Thursday and would be grateful if we could meet at the cottage at 10.30 a.m. to discuss how this will work going forward. My son will also be attending. Billy Gantwich

Nessa looked up from the screen. ‘He says I have permission to live there permanently and he wants to discuss how it will work, so it sounds positive to me.’

‘Hmm. Gabriel must have stepped in and changed his mind. But are you quite sure that you want to move into the cottage permanently, Ness? You can still back out. Lily didn’t seem that keen on the idea.’

‘She’ll come around,’ said Nessa, with more conviction than she felt.

She’d taken Lily to the cottage two days ago but the visit hadn’t been a great success. Lily’s bottom lip had wobbled when Nessa had mentioned moving in for good. And she’d had a nightmare that evening and had woken up crying.

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