“What damage is inside? Is my sofa okay? What about the pub kitchen?” The flat was directly over the pub’s kitchen and if there’d been a leak, it could’ve damaged that. The boiler, however, only served the flat, so it being broken didn’t mean that the rest of the inn was affected.
Guilt was the overwhelming feeling. I’d moved in there as a student and Amelie had moved in with my dad. She’d treated it as my private space, not interfering, but if I hadn’t have been there she would’ve done the building work that was needed much sooner.
“We had a leak and had to close the kitchen over the weekend, but it’s safe and clean to use now. Not your fault, just one of those things, but you’re both homeless. There’s a temporary solution though.” She glanced at my dad.
“Not the hotel?” I didn’t fancy staying in a hotel for at least a few weeks and I knew Zoey definitely wouldn’t.
Amelie shook her head. “No. Mavis’ cottage is empty. It’s only small – probably the same size as the flat but over two floors – kitchen, living room, bedroom, very small boxroom and bathroom, but the town council has said you can stay there in the interim.”
Mavis had left her house to the town, to be maintained by the town council and for use of the townsfolk in case of emergencies. So far, it’d been lived in by one of the elderly residents who’d needed somewhere to stay while her flat was redecorated and by a mum and daughter who’d come to Puffin Bay to escape a toxic situation in England.
“I’ll take it. Zoey?”
She grinned at me and nodded. “I think it’ll be fun and I need to get myself sorted with somewhere permanent to live anyway. Maybe you could lodge with me then.”
I saw a look pass from Amelie to my dad, knowing them too well to not know what that look meant.
“Roe’s already checked the house out for security and installed a system inside and that also covers the gardens and footpath.”
“You knew we’d say yes?” I frowned at my dad.
“There wasn’t another choice. The rooms here are fully booked. Your sofa’s fine – that part of the flat wasn’t affected, so you just need to pack up what you need and store everything else at Finn’s. Want a coffee? I know you’re on call tonight.” He put his hand on my shoulder and guided me over to the bar, leaving Amelie and Zoey carrying on with whatever they were saying. “That dip was impressive.”
“It was, I agree.”
He nodded, glancing over at Zoey. “There were lots of photos of you in the media. You made it look very convincing that you were a couple.”
There’d been another published this morning, then reposted on Zoey’s socials because it was an insanely good photo where we did look like a couple who were besotted with each other.
“We might be.”
His expression gave nothing away. “Might? Did something happen when you were in London?”
“Yeah, it did.” I wasn’t into sharing details with anyone about things like that, and definitely not my dad.
He nodded, glancing over at Zoey again, who was still talking at speed with Amelie. There was a lot of gesturing going on as well, so she definitely wasn’t paying any attention to me.
“I’m not surprised. Maybe I am, but that’s because I’m surprised it’s taken this long to happen.” He asked Alys for two coffees.
“I don’t know how long she’ll be here for though.”
“She’s talking about buying a house here, kid.” He frowned. “That tells you something.”
“Maybe. But she can have a house here but end up being based somewhere else. My job’s here – unless I’m on a research project, and she’s burned out. I don’t know if the decisions she’s making now will be ones she’s happy with in a few months’ time or when everything with this stalker’s finished with.” Those were my fears.
The wind was blowing my ship, we had movement after years of stagnation, but where I ended up and in what state was unpredictable.
“You’ve just summed up my life with Amelie.”
I frowned at him, curious. “You’ve been here for fourteen years. You’re married. She loves it here.”
He shrugged. “She changes her mind frequently. I’m never a hundred percent sure she’s not going to suggest selling up and opening a bar on a tropical beach somewhere I’ve never heard of, or starting a new business selling pixie dust. I like it that way though.”
“And if she wanted to do that, you’d follow her.”
“Of course. And she knows that, even when I argue the toss with her about it. This weekend’s been interesting with the flat and what to do with you.”
“I’m thirty. I am sort of capable.”
