‘Yeah?’ I get up and walk to the bottom of the stairs. He’s poking his head over the banister.
‘Will you bring her up?’
I do as he asks, offering April over as I enter her room, but Charlie just nods at the wall. I turn around and look, April still in my arms.
‘Oh, it’s so pretty,’ I enthuse.
April reaches out her hand, trying to touch it. I step in closer so she can.
‘Gently,’ I warn softly. She’s surprisingly careful as she traces her fingers across the painted and natural wood. ‘I love it,’ I say, wishing I had one myself. ‘You should sell these. I bet they’d go down really well in the gift shops around here.’
He shakes his head. ‘Wouldn’t be enough money in it.’
He does it for love and love alone.
‘How are you getting on?’ he asks me, jerking his chin in the direction of the office as he relieves me of April, his warm arms brushing against mine.
‘Fine,’ I reply, feeling a little jittery as I take a step backwards.
‘Fancy getting out of the house tomorrow?’
‘To do what?’ I ask, immediately perking up.
‘I know you want to go to the Lost Gardens of Heligan...’
I smile at him. I haven’t stopped bleating on about it.
‘But there’s also another place I think you’d like. They’re not far from each other. We could probably squeeze both in.’
‘Are you sure you’ve got the time?’
‘I can work on the weekend if I need to,’ he says, kissing April’s temple. He returns his gaze to me, concern etched onto his face. ‘Are you all right? You’ve seemed a bit down the last couple of days.’
‘I’m okay.’ I shrug. ‘You?’
‘Better.’ He nods at me. ‘I could do with a day out, though.’ He pauses. ‘Don’t you think?’
I nod. ‘That sounds good.’
He picks me up from the campsite the following morning.
‘So where are we going?’ I ask when I’m safely installed in the passenger seat.
‘A place called Lansallos Beach. It’s National Trust-owned.’
‘Driftwood?’ I ask.
‘Unlikely,’ he replies. ‘It’s just really beautiful, and it’s a nice walk down to the cove.’ He checks my choice of footwear: flip-flops. ‘Actually, you’re going to need walking shoes. Sorry.’
‘No worries.’ I get back out of the car and go to retrieve my Vans.
I return a short while later and kick off my flip-flops, pulling on my shoes as Charlie drives out of the campsite.
‘Was Lansallos inThe Secret Life of Us?’I’ve been racking my brain, but have come up with nothing.
‘Nicki didn’t use the location, but she planned to for the sequel.’
‘Oh!’ I say with surprise. ‘Well, that’s brilliant, then. Thanks for taking me.’
