Gayle couldn’t have looked more shocked if Addie had said she was going to run naked down Bay Street carrying a tray of puddings.
‘We do need someone reliable,’ Nancy urged.
‘What about your job?’ Gayle asked. ‘The wages here would be nowhere near on a par.’
‘I have factored that in. Wages would be less, but the cost of living here is cheaper. And it’s time for Isaac and I to have a new adventure. I have savings given I’ve been trying to get a deposit together for a long time. I’d rent for a while and take it from there. There are a couple of two-bed apartments that would be perfect for us. I could do however many hours you needed me to do.’
‘This is all… Well, it’s wonderful,’ said Gayle. ‘But I have to ask, are you doing this so you can keep an eye on me?’
‘Absolutely not. You’d see right through that plan if I tried. This is something for me and for my son. I don’t love my job in London. It’s been a means to an end for so long, but being here on the island, being at the Sweet Life Café, reminded me of how different my life might be if I only took a chance. Susanna agrees with me too.’
‘She does?’
Addie nodded. ‘We’ve had a long talk.’
Gayle looked at Isaac and then back at Addie. ‘It’s a yes on one condition.’
‘Name it.’
‘I’ll employ you full time but only if you move into the cottage with me, or at least agree to have the garden room. I’ll charge you a peppercorn rent so you can save your money and invest in a property on the island if you like it and want to stay.’ Firmly, she added, ‘Take it or leave it, that’s my offer.’
Addie drew in her breath and extended her hand. ‘Deal.’ And then she raced to her aunt’s side and gave her the biggest hug. Nancy disappeared out back and returned with her handbag.
‘Where on earth are you off to?’ asked Gayle.
‘I’m going to buy a bottle of champagne, and I think this calls for fish and chips all round.’
Gayle laughed. ‘I’m not sure my doctor recommends champagne.’
‘A small glass won’t hurt,’ she said. ‘Isaac, would you like to help me buy fish and chips and carry them back here?’
‘Yes!’ Isaac stopped his colouring and clicked the lids back on the felt-tips scattered across the table.
Nancy lowered her voice and said to Addie, ‘He won’t be scarred if he sees me nip into the off-licence, will he?’
‘I’m sure he won’t.’
Moments later, Isaac and Nancy left hand in hand with Isaac delivering his usual rapid-fire questioning by asking Nancy whether the fish they were going to eat were caught from the water surrounding the island.
Her little boy was going to love it here, and she already did.
33
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Susanna
Susanna was filled with excitement at thought of returning to Anchor Island this time. She hadn’t been back since she’d left in October; not because she didn’t want to, but because there was a lot to do in Cambridge.
Alex had found a temporary solution to keep the practice going and it was a case of taking it day by day. But they were in it together now, and they talked, every night, without fail. He’d shut her out before, and she never wanted to feel like such a stranger from her husband again.
The passion had returned to their sex life; it was as if they’d been apart for much longer than they had, although emotionally she supposed they’d been distant for a while.
Alex sat beside her on the ferry from Jersey and took her hand. ‘It’s decent weather, should be a good crossing.’
She squeezed his hand. ‘Let’s hope so.’
‘Do you have your special bands on?’ He pulled back the sleeve of her heavy woollen coat to see for himself.
