Ranulph followed her into their shared bedroom,which for now, was also a storeroom. Cass got out her rucksack. ‘What do you think she wants?’
‘Something to sleep in. Toiletries. Nothing much.’
‘I have a spare T-shirt. Some shorts. My soap and toothpaste are already in the bathroom. I’m not prepared to share my toothbrush.’ She smiled to prove she was perfectly happy to give Becca anything else she required.
‘One other thing – I’ve told Becca she can sleep in here with you. I’ll sleep on the veranda. She said she’d feel nervous sleeping more or less in the open.’
Cass’s irritation turned into rashness. ‘Tell her that I’ll sleep on the veranda. You stay here. It’s better for your leg and I’ll be fine.’ She paused. ‘You can have more time to “catch up”.’
Ranulph frowned and took the bundle Cass handed to him. ‘Are you sureyouwon’t be nervous?’
Cass tossed her head. ‘What is there to be nervous about? Anyway, I’m sure Friendly will keep me company.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cass didn’t feel generous enough to lend Becca her sleeping bag. If she was going to sleep under the stars – or more accurately under the roof of the veranda – she’d need the very high-end pure down sleeping bag that her mother had bought her years ago and which she loved.
In spite of her bold statements, Cass knew that she might well feel anxious about strange noises when she was sleeping outdoors, and she decided rum was the answer. She went into the kitchen and found the bottle that Delphine kept there for anyone who was cooking. She poured herself a large measure, added the lime slices left over from earlier, and a large spoon of sugar.
She leant against the wide teak rail as she looked out to sea and sipped her drink.
Austin came up to her. ‘So, it must be tough for you having Becca here.’
Instantly she was on the defensive. ‘Not really.’
‘No? She and Ranulph obviously have a real connection.’
‘Maybe, but it’s nothing to do with me.’
‘You don’t need to pretend with me, kid.’
Neither of them spoke for a minute or two.
‘So were you serious when you said you’d come with me when I leave Dominica?’
Cass shrugged. The island was so beautiful, in spite of the hurricane. There was still work to do, and while Ranulph would never be hers, not now Becca was on the scene, was being near him enough? Or should she take her pride and her backpack and leave as soon as she could?
‘I need to think about it some more,’ she said at last.
‘Well, don’t take too much time over it. I’m off as soon as I get the chance. I want to get my book in; the deadline is very close. That’s why I came here the moment the hurricane was over.’
Bastian had the same deadline as Austin, Cass realised. How near was he to completing his work? Austin would have been working on his project until he’d set off for Dominica and would carry on with it the moment he was back, but Bastian would have put his community before his work so his deadline would be even tighter than Austin’s, even if they were roughly at the same stage when the hurricane struck. If she could help Bastian, she definitely should.
‘I’ll sleep on it,’ Cass said. ‘I’ll tell you my decision tomorrow.’
She watched him go back to the group and then took her drink to the part of the veranda where she would be sleeping.
Cass didn’t want to waste the powerful effect of her drink and the moment she started to get sleepy she settled herself in her spot on the veranda. It was a littleway away from where the others were still talking. Their voices would be a calming background noise and she would sleep soundly, she told herself sternly. It would be lovely waking up with the birds. She would feel happy and in tune with nature and the world around her. She wouldn’t care about Ranulph and Becca and she certainly wouldn’t wonder what they might be getting up to in the storeroom. The more logical part of her brain said that Ranulph had a bad leg, the beds were extremely narrow and he and Becca hadn’t seen each other for years.
Delighted to find someone else sleeping where he usually slept, Friendly took advantage of Cass’s good nature and snuggled up next to her. Cass, soothed by low voices, the sound of the sea and strong drink, did manage to drop off to sleep quite quickly. She awoke shortly afterwards, aware of Friendly sitting bolt upright, listening. Then a few moments later, she heard a vehicle. It was Bastian’s pick-up. Friendly jumped off the wide seat and went to welcome his master home.
‘What are you doing here?’ Bastian said quietly, seeing her on the veranda. ‘Is Ranulph snoring?’
Cass shook her head. ‘No – at least I don’t think so. He does snore a bit but that’s not why I’m here.’
‘So why?’
Caught off-guard by this question, Cass suddenly felt tears pricking her eyes. ‘Becca is staying. She didn’t want to sleep on the veranda so I offered her my space.’
