Kate laughed and Dan was reassured by that. There was a hint of relief in it. ‘Well at least I can rely on Lucy to try to sneak some healthy dishes into your diet.’
‘Diet? What’s that?’ He shrugged. ‘She can try,’ he said placing the cup and plate into the dishwasher. ‘I’ll see you later, Mum.’
He dropped a kiss on her head and she tapped his arm. ‘And thanks, Daniel.’
’Happy to help. Even if some of the stuff we’re finding out is a bit… unsettling.’
A few hours later, Dan still found it hard to focus on the documents the consultancy firm he now worked for had sent through. As he sat by the window in the café trying to concentrate on his tablet, his gaze kept turning towards the old hotel opposite. It was no longer a cause of friction between its owner — Oliver — and the family, thank goodness. He didn’t think there was anyone else in the world who could have affected such a change as his little sister, Lucy. But now it had scaffolding around it and a stream of tradesmen coming and going as it underwent a major renovation.
But it wasn’t the hotel which he was looking at, but the roof of the tennis club rooms, just visible through the trees. Augustini would be there right now. He smiled to himself at the thought. They hadn’t made a time or place to see each other again, but now he knew they would.
‘You must be having some good thoughts to be smiling to yourself like that.’ Lucy offered him a refill.
‘Great!’
She raised an eyebrow. ‘The thoughts or a refill?’
He widened his smile. ‘Both.’
‘Good to see you looking happier. Amazing what good loving will do.’
He nearly spluttered over his coffee. ‘Good loving? Sounds like a pop song.’
She scoffed. ‘Pop song? What are you? A hundred?’
He wasn’t perturbed. He didn’t think anything could upset his equilibrium these days. ‘Only in terms of experience,’ he said.
He turned to talk to a man who sat at the table beside him, who commiserated on the teasing of sisters, before he was joined by a friend.
Dan sat back to finish his coffee and watched his two sisters who now stood at the counter.
‘Goodness,’ said Jen, bringing the Property Press closer to her. She closed it again, and slid it back onto the rack for customers to take. She glanced up at Lucy. ‘A property in MacLeod’s Cove has come up for sale.’
‘Oh, wow!’ said Lucy, handing an order to the chef. ‘There will be a scramble for that. Which one?’
‘Page four,’ said Jen, as Lucy retrieved the Property Press.
Lucy let out a slow whistle. ‘About time, that’s all I can say. Might bring in some interest from outside the region. It’s a great position.’
‘What about for you and Oliver?’ asked Jen. ‘It’s only around the corner from the café and the hotel. It would be very convenient for you both.’
‘Nah. I think I’ve pushed my luck far enough with Oliver on old houses. Besides, we both like new. We’ve decided to keep his Wellington apartment because, well, we both love it. And we’re going to build on the sea front. There’s an old asbestos-clad 20s house which is on its last legs but has a brilliant section. We’ll bowl that and build something. Oliver’s having plans drawn up. Do you think Sam would be interested in project managing?’
‘I can ask. Now he’s finished building our house.’
Lucy nudged her with her shoulder. ‘I love how you say “our”. It’s like you’re finally putting down roots.’
‘Honestly? I don’t think my roots were ever broken. Just stretched and a bit tatty round the edges. But,’ she said placing her head beside Lucy’s so it was touching, ‘they’re mending now.’
Dan rose and went to pay his bill. ‘Good to hear it,’ he said.
‘And what about you, Dan?’ said Lucy, turning to him with a look which made his heart sink. He’d have been best off remaining seated until their conversation had finished and Lucy had moved on. ‘You can’t stay at Mum’s forever.’
‘I’ve only just moved in!’ he said, focusing on paying as quickly as he could.
‘Yeah, but I’m just saying you need to look to your future.’ She leaned in so only he could hear. ‘Yours and Augi’s.’
She laughed and walked away before he could respond.
