‘Yes, we can watch the boats. Before you go, I’ve brought you this.’ Nolan walked over to his rowing boat where it was chained up outside The Little Blue Boathouse. He brought out the canvas that he’d painted of Bea at Castaway Bay, along with the painting of the Boathouse. ‘A memento of our time together. Something to remember me by.’
As soon as she heard those words, she felt a tiny pang in her heart. She didn’t want Nolan disappearing anytime soon. He’d made such an impact on her life in such a small space of time. She hadn’t ever been one for believing in love at first sight but there was something about this man that she couldn’t shake off, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.
She felt panic. ‘You wouldn’t ever sail off without saying good bye, would you?’ She didn’t want to open her curtains one morning to find The Hemingway and Nolan gone.
‘Of course I’ll say goodbye.’ He smiled, handing over the paintings.
‘You’ll be pleased to know you made over two hundred pounds today. Your paintings sparked a lot of interest.’ Bea looked down at the painting of herself and immediately thought of the girl in the other painting. Who exactly was she, and what was she to Nolan?
‘That’s brilliant news. I’ve already researched where I’m off to next and I’ll get some paintings done from the Google images before I arrive so they’re ready to sell.’
‘Is that what you did for Heartcross?’
Nolan nodded.
‘And do you make memories with lots of girls in different bays and paint them too?’
Nolan looked puzzled by the question. ‘Not usually. Why do you ask that?’
‘Because for a tiny moment when we were at Castaway Bay, I thought I was special and that’s why you chose to paint me.’
By the look on Nolan’s face, he had no idea where this conversation was heading and Bea was already kicking herself for showing her insecurities. She had no reason to feel jealous – she knew the score between them – but she couldn’t help the way she was feeling.
‘It was a day I’ll never forget.’ Nolan looked directly at her. ‘That day will always be special to me.’
Bea now wished she hadn’t let her thoughts run away with themselves. But she knew the more time she spent in Nolan’s company, the more she wouldn’t want to say goodbye to him.
‘Is something wrong? I’m sensing you may be upset but I’m not sure why,’ he said tentatively.
‘That painting of a girl that was amongst your other paintings on display today. Was it someone you met here before me?’ Bea knew there was a possibility she wasn’t going to like the answer.
‘I’ve not met anyone here.’
Bea’s head was full of muddled thoughts. All she wanted to know was who it was.
‘Then who is she, that beautiful girl wearing a wedding ring?’
Suddenly, Nolan looked stricken. ‘Where is the painting?’
‘Inside the Boathouse, if it hasn’t been sold.’
‘Can I get it back, please? It shouldn’t be in there.’ His voice was earnest. ‘It’s not for sale and will never be for sale.’
The atmosphere had suddenly dropped to freezing and Bea was beginning to wish she hadn’t said anything.
‘Of course, is everything okay?’ she asked, already knowing the answer.
‘Just … the painting, please, Bea.’
She looked over her shoulder as she led him towards the Boathouse door. ‘Was she someone like me?’
‘And what does that mean?’
‘Someone you had a bit of fun with on your travels?’
‘Why would you even ask such a question?’ Nolan’s tone had suddenly changed.
‘I suppose because my gut is telling me there’s something not quite right here.’
