Twenty-one
‘I’m moving back to Bluewater Bay,’ Jasper said when Lara eventually let him in.
She hadn’t intended to, but the man kept banging on her door and ringing her bell until she had opened the door just a fraction to tell him to go away.
‘We don’t need to talk,’ she said, her eyes scanning his body. She wasn’t sure if she was pleased or disappointed that he was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, both of which were damp. He hadn’t stopped long enough to dry himself properly.
‘We do,’ he said softly. ‘At least hear me out. Then, if you still want me to leave, I will. And I promise I won’t bother you again.’
That sounded fair. She still hesitated though.
‘Please, Lara. If not for me, then for Gramps.’
‘For Tom? What’s happened? He’s okay, isn’t he?’
‘He’s fine. He misses you though. As do I. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Please may I come in? Just for a minute or two.’
Reluctantly, she opened the door wide and let him step inside.
‘It’s lovely to see you,’ he said. ‘You look … beautiful.’
‘Thank you. So do you. I mean. Whatever. What do we need to talk about?’
‘Us,’ he said.
She was taken aback by that.
‘There is no ‘us’ and if you think there is you’re delusional.’
‘I didn’t mean ‘us’ as a couple. I meant ‘us’ as neighbours.’
‘Oh.’
Why was she disheartened by what he had said? What had she expected? That he would proclaim his undying love for her or something?
She was clearly the one who was delusional.
‘I’m moving back to Bluewater Bay. I’ll be living with Gramps for a while. So we’re bound to bump into one another. I know you’ve kept yourself busy here, but you need to know I won’t be leaving anytime soon. In fact, I won’t be leaving at all. As I said, I’ll be living with Gramps. Just until my flat is sold.’
‘Oh?’
‘I’m reopening Bright Bonn Construction. We’ll probably change the name though, my partner and I, because his name is Taylor. As you know, I’m an architect. He’s a builder, so we’re thinking, Bright Bonn and Taylor, Architects and Builders. It does what it says on the tin. There may only be one architect and one builder for now but we have plans for expansion, so it isn’t exactly a lie. Bluewater Bay this year, next year the world. Well, the county. Plural always sounds more impressive than the singular though, don’t you think? And there are two of us in the business.’
It was as if he had rehearsed that speech.
‘Two is always better than one, in my opinion,’ said Lara, unable to believe what she was hearing.
‘I’ve got some savings, and so has my partner. He’s a mate of mine from here and we’ve both always wanted to work for ourselves. We talk about it every time we speak, especiallywhenever I come back here. I can’t quite believe it’s finally happening.’
‘It’s exciting. I wish you immense success.’
‘Thank you. It is exciting. I’m looking forward to being back here permanently. I love London, but my heart has always been in Bluewater Bay. Even more so recently.’
Lara wasn’t entirely sure what he meant by that, but she didn’t want to get her hopes up. He had said he was selling his flat but he hadn’t mentioned his girlfriend.
‘It’s a shame this didn’t happen sooner. I could’ve been your first client.’
He smiled at her and nodded slowly. ‘Yes. That is a shame. Then again, I don’t think it’s wise to mix business with pleasure, so perhaps it’s for the best.’
