“Yes, you are, which is why you’re going to tell me you’ve already handed over the story to someone else.”
“Something’s being hushed up, I’m sure of it.” She was also sure that even if Nell wasn’t part of it, she certainly knew about it.
Shona waved at her. “Hello? Earth to Mattie. It’s not your story anymore.”
“When has that ever stopped me?” Her headache upped its tempo, and she winced. She was about to say she needed painkillers when she was distracted by a cat’s tail wagging in front of Shona. “Juno!”
Shona attempted to grab the cat but Juno shot off. “Juno is in my bad books.”
Mattie grinned. “Another mouse gift?”
“Two mice gifts.” Shona sighed. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed your change of subject.”
“You’d love it here. You should bring Lisa down for a weekend away. Fantastic sea views, excellent walking. Cove House is cosy, and the people here are lovely.” Mattie recounted the first evening’s wine o’clock on the patio and how Angie and Nell had looked after her yesterday.
“Hang on, reverse! The neighbour and the policewoman are one and the same? Wait, I’m just calling up your news report again.” The sound of clicking was followed by Shona whistling. “Chief Inspector Nell Abraham, right? She’s hot.”
Mattie’s face warmed from more than just the sunburn.
“Bet you noticed.”
“Of course I did.” How could she not? Most of all, she remembered a hand cradling her face. The gesture had flooded her with the sort of comfort she hadn’t felt in years, but she kept that to herself. “I also noticed that she reminds me of blackberry brambles. Sometimes sweet, sometimes sharp, but almost always prickly.”
“Very descriptive.” Shona stretched. “Now I know that you’re safe and your libido has finally woken up again, I’m going to have a shower and take my lovely dad out for lunch.”
“Say hi to him from me. I’m going to have another shower. My hair still stinks of smoke.” Mattie wrinkled her nose comically. Then she turned serious again. “Thank you forlistening and everything. And thank Lisa for letting me borrow her wife’s shoulder yet again.”
“You’re welcome. And do try to stay away from breaking news stories for the next few days, eh?”
Mattie hung up. Another five minutes of rest, and she’d have a shower.
When she checked the time again, it was gone noon. She’d dozed off, still clutching her phone. Her head was woolly, and her mouth was dry as sand. There was a sharp knock on the door, followed by Angie calling her name.
“Hang on.” Mattie’s tongue stumbled on the words, and she slurped at a glass of water. Then she threw on a pair of shorts before opening the door.
“Ah, you’re still with us. I just needed to check, after last night’s events.” Angie seemed to assess her. “Did I wake you?”
“It was good that you did. I’m still a little dehydrated, I think.”
“That’s unsurprising. You must be hungry, seeing as you missed breakfast. How does a toasted bacon sandwich sound?”
Mattie grinned. “Divine. But I do feel guilty at all the extra meals you’ve been providing.”
“Don’t be.” Angie brushed away her concern with a dismissive flash of her hand. “Come down to the garden when you’re ready.”
Twenty minutes later, after a shower in which Mattie finally managed to get her hair to smell more of jasmine blossom shampoo than toxic smoke, she sat at the patio table under the shade of the parasol. “I feel a million times better than I did when I sat here last night,” she said.
Angie handed her the sandwich. “You did give us quite the fright.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Mattie took a bite of the delicious food. “I’m not quite up for gallivanting around today, but Ithought of taking the bus into Brixham tomorrow. Is the Golden Hind still moored there?”
“It is, and it’s as popular with today’s kids as it was with mine when they were growing up,” said Angie.
Mattie smiled as her own memories flooded her. The timber ship was a replica of the one that intrepid explorer Sir Francis Drake and his crew had used to sail around the globe more than four hundred years ago. When she and Simon visited it, they’d pretended to be pirates, played hide and seek below decks, and had learned how to haul and tie ropes. Knowing that a new generation found the same joy was heartwarming.
Angie went inside to prepare room four for a new set of guests. On her return, she brought a pot of tea and a plate of biscuits.
Mattie chose a ginger nut. “You’re spoiling me again.”
