‘I don’t really know, I didn’t like to ask many questions, I just showed him around.’ He caught a waft of lavender shampoo from the blonde hair he remembered running his fingers through more times than he could count, the locks that had settled around his body as they made love.
‘Leo, he made me an offer.’
Her words had him stop chewing and set down his cutlery as though they weighed more than they actually did. ‘Already?’
‘Yes, and it’s a good one, much more than the asking price.’ She told him how much the man had offered.
He whistled. ‘For a cabin?’
‘That’s what I thought.’
‘You’re accepting the offer I take it.’ He still hadn’t drunk from the glass of water he’d set beside his plate, but he toyed with it now, wondering how many times he could swill it around before it slopped over the edge. ‘It’s a good offer, Nina. And the man has good taste, I mean the location is stunning, you’ve done a stellar job with the décor.’
She pulled out a chair and sat down. ‘It’s happening so quickly.’
‘That’s good,’ he encouraged. Much as he didn’t want her family to sell their cabin to anyone at all, he knew why they were doing it, why Walt wanted and needed the money. He started to eat his fish again. She was right, he didn’t want it to go cold, as it wouldn’t taste very nice if itdid. But having a buyer lined up this quickly might mean she’d leave the bay soon and that didn’t thrill him at all.
‘Yeah, I suppose so. He didn’t even look around for all that long, just a quick inspection and made the offer there and then.’
‘He obviously wants it badly.’ But he almost choked on his mouthful of fish as he said it because all of a sudden it came to him, where he knew the man from.
‘I’m getting a beer.’ He didn’t even ask whether she wanted one, he just brought two bottles out.
He took a big swig and as soon as he swallowed he told Nina, ‘I can’t believe he’s back.’
‘Back?’ She was running her fingers up and down her bottle of beer, loosening the condensation, a habit she’d had for a long time.
‘I saw him earlier and thought I recognised him. He’s come here sniffing around before.’ He shook his head, the nerve of him. ‘Last time he was after the boathouse and my cabin and if I’d agreed he probably would’ve worked on Walt too. But he went away, tail between his legs, when I told him it absolutely was not an option. Not ever. Or at least, I thought he’d gone for good, but it seems not.’ He looked at Nina, her shoulders had drooped, she’d got her hopes up only to have them dashed.
‘So he wants the boathouse and your place too?’ she asked.
‘He did then and I wouldn’t mind betting he saw your cabin come up for sale and jumped at the chance to make a move. He probably thinks that if he gets his hands on one cabin then he’s more of a chance to get mine and the boathouse.’ He harrumphed. ‘He couldn’t be more wrong.’
‘Whatever would he do with a boathouse and two cabins?’
Leo looked at her. ‘Isn’t it obvious? He’ll develop them – into what I’ve no idea, but if he gets his hands on both cabins and my business, I don’t think they’ll last as they are for much longer.’
Nina gulped back her beer. ‘I should’ve known the offer was too good to be true. That money would’ve set Grandad up.’
‘It’s your decision, I can’t tell you what to do.’
She attempted to see a positive side for him. ‘People go mad for water craft and picturesque bays on the south coast. Imagine, if the man does rent our cabin out as an investment, you’d get pre-bookings, have a busy high season and low season even.’
‘It sounds as though you have it all figured out.’
‘Leo … don’t be like that. I came here to talk to you as a friend, I thought you’d understand.’
He was doing his best.
‘I just want to do the right thing.’
‘I know you do.’ But it still reminded him of yet more change coming his way when he’d worked so hard to move forwards and thought he’d done so, here in the bay. ‘I’m taking it out on you and I shouldn’t be. You’ve been clear all along that you’re selling, but that man …’
‘I’m sorry, Leo. I really am.’
When she refused to look at him he said, ‘You can take the offer, Nina. It’s up to you.’ But the thought of that man renting out the O’Brien cabin filled him with dread. It meant different neighbours on a constant rotation. ‘Maybe I should sell up too,’ he announced.
‘What? You can’t do that. This place is your life, Leo.’
