I want you back, please come home. All my love, Carl xx

  The flowers were addressed to The Little Blue Boathouse, which meant Carl knew exactly where she was staying. There was only one person who could have shared that information with him – Emmie.

  As Nolan walked back through the door with two mugs, he was chatting away. ‘Last night when I arrived back in the storm, I realised something was going on. I could see Drew’s Land Rover and all the villagers were out on the banks of the river and as I anchored The Hemingway, I heard them saying you had gone after Lucas and they didn’t know where you were. I didn’t like the thought of that. I can’t even describe the feeling in the pit of my stomach. I felt physically sick.’

  ‘It’s good to know you care,’ she said, smiling.

  ‘You’re a good person, Bea. You have good qualities.’

  ‘Don’t stop there, do feel free to list them all,’ she teased, winding her hand round in circles to encourage him.

  ‘We don’t want your head swelling as big as your ankle,’ he said cheekily, ‘But you’re kind, considerate, not to mention beautiful and funny, even if that chin of yours is stitched up in a funny zig-zaggy sort of way.’

  Bea liked what she was hearing, but it didn’t take away the fact that soon after the River Festival Nolan would be back on the water. In the meantime, though, she was going to enjoy every bit of his company.

  ‘Aww, it sounds like you care just a little,’ Bea teased.

  ‘Don’t go overboard.’ Nolan grinned. ‘And I think it’s brilliant that you want to get Heartcross Rescue up and running on the river. I quite agree that it’s in everyone’s interest to make the water a safer place.’

  ‘I’ll do everything in my power to rally the community around on Monday night,’ she said, taking a sip of her tea. ‘And I was going to ask, are Hemingway and Fernsby back on the case? Because I think I may have a development…’ Bea was just about to tell him about the painting on Martha’s caravan wall when she heard the crunch of tyres outside on the gravel followed by a slam of a car door, then the sound of voices that Bea immediately recognised. She froze.

  ‘This is it, The Little Blue Boathouse. That’s the name of the place from her email.’

  ‘You had no right to go snooping in her emails.’

  ‘I have every right. Her name is on the rental agreement for our flat, just like mine, and if she’s quit her job how is she going to pay rent?’

  Nolan looked through the open hatch and saw a man striding towards the door with a woman struggling to keep up. ‘It sounds like we have customers.’

  ‘They are not customers. Brace yourself.’

  ‘We’re looking for Bea,’ Carl announced as he strode inside the Boathouse.

  As soon as Emmie saw Bea, she raced towards her. ‘There you are. We didn’t know if you would still be in hospital.’ She flung her arms around Bea’s neck. Bea said nothing as she stared over her sister’s shoulder at her ex. The day had been going so well up until now.

  As Emmie pulled away, Bea glanced towards Nolan, who’d probably guessed this was her sister, as there was no mistaking the striking resemblance, but it was possible he’d think the man standing behind her wafting a piece of paper in the air was Emmie’s husband.

  ‘Nolan, let me introduce you to my sister, Emmie.’

  Emmie’s eyes widened as she shook his hand. Bea was regretting telling her sister about Nolan and she prayed that conversation had stayed private. Nolan shook her hand then held out his hand towards Carl.

  ‘And this is my ex, Carl.’

  Nolan didn’t flinch as they shook hands. ‘Pleased to meet you.’

  There was nothing pleasing about this situation at all. In fact, Bea hoped she was fast asleep and would soon wake up from this nightmare. Unfortunately, the pain creeping back into her ankle because the painkillers were wearing off told her this was very much real.

  ‘What are you both doing here?’ asked Bea. ‘It’s a long way to come just to hire a kayak for the weekend.’

  ‘Always the joker,’ Emmie said, evidently trying to make light of the situation by rolling her eyes in Nolan’s direction. ‘You’ve been caught in a storm, trapped on some rocks and ended up in hospital. Why wouldn’t we be here? We’re family.’

  ‘This came for you.’ Carl pushed an envelope into her hand.

  Bea looked down at the opened envelope then turned it over. It was addressed to her. ‘You’ve opened my mail. Isn’t that against the law?’

  ‘What was I supposed to do? You went missing.’

  ‘I didn’t go missing. I left you. Or did you forget that part?’

  Carl briefly looked over his shoulder at Nolan then lowered his voice. ‘It’s not as simple as that.’

  Bea wondered whether he really wanted to do this in public but it seemed so. ‘Because your father passed away?’ Her voice softened. She’d always been fond of his father, a successful businessman but more importantly a genuine, kind man who was completely devoted to his family and would never have dreamed of committing any kind of infidelity.

  ‘It’s been difficult for me.’

  Bea couldn’t believe what she was hearing. There were no words that she could muster up so she looked down at the envelope. It contained a letter from her previous employer, accepting her resignation.

  ‘You’ve resigned.’

  Bea noticed how he’d swiftly changed the conversation so that she was the one on the hot seat. He had a habit of doing that.

  ‘I have, and feel so much better for it.’

  ‘I should leave you all to it,’ Nolan said, edging towards the door. ‘I’ll go and take a walk on the jetty.’

  Once Nolan was outside, Emmie was the first to speak. ‘We’ve been worried about you. I let Carl know where you were when I heard about your accident last night. He’s really sorry for what he’s done. He’s been a part of the family for such a long time. Surely you two can work it out so you can come home?’

  Bea’s jaw dropped wide open. Speechless didn’t come close. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. These two were standing in front of her assuming she had no self-worth and was a weak woman who couldn’t live without a two-timing rat in her life.

  ‘I’ve made a mistake, I’m only human.’ He couldn’t even look her in the eye. He was shuffling from side to side.

  If this was his pitch to win her back it had already gone down like a lead balloon.

  ‘I will never take you back, Carl.’

  ‘But we have a good life together. We’ve known each other since school. It was me and you, for ever. Against all odds. Come on, Bea. Come home. I’m sure the supermarket will give you your job back.’

  ‘I don’t want my job back. I have a job and a place to live here.’

  ‘But it’s only for a few weeks. I know you’ve extended your holiday but you’re coming back, right?’ Emmie stared at Bea.

  Carl put his hand out towards her. ‘Look, I know it’s been tough and that’s all my doing. Please just come home and we can sort this out. You belong with us. You like routine and being surrounded by what you know. You don’t really want all this, do you?’

  There were those words again. The words he always used to try and manipulate her into doing what he wanted her to do.

  Just at that moment some customers walked through the door, followed by Nolan, who took his place behind the counter. He mouthed ‘sorry’ towards her.

  ‘We’re staying at Starcross Manor for a couple of nights, if you want to talk.’ Carl walked towards the door and waited outside for Emmie.

  Carl had a confidence about him that suggested he thought Bea would go and see him, but she knew that in the last week she’d come to see that the only person you can rely on is yourself. Everything is figureoutable. It’s like a super power … figureoutable. Bea didn’t even know if that was a word, but she liked it.

  Emmie hadn’t moved.

  ‘What were you thinking, bringing him here?’ Bea’s voice was low as she looked at her sister.

  ‘We’re allowed to be worried about you. He still cares for you and wants to care for you. This isn’t where you belong.’

  Bea felt exasperated. Once again, Emmie was telling her what was best for her. ‘Do you know what I’ve learned since arriving here?’ She didn’t give Emmie a chance to answer. ‘That nothing in life is that complicated. Things change, people change and nothing is ever set in stone. I may not know what my career path is but on a personal front I know how I want to be treated, the main quality being honesty from the person who is meant to be my partner.’ Bea pushed herself up on her crutches. ‘I do appreciate you were worried about me, but I’m okay. I really am.’ Bea pointed her crutch towards the door. ‘It’s a nice walk along the river path, through the village and back towards Starcross Manor.’

  ‘Please let me say this,’ said Emmie, as they walked towards the door. ‘All this is just a holiday. You aren’t thinking straight. Don’t go throwing everything away on a romantic notion that life is hunky-dory here and you’re going to fall madly in love and live happily ever after, because it’s too soon. You’re on the rebound.’

  ‘I’m just living in the moment,’ replied Bea. ‘I’ll drop you a text later.’

  Watching Emmie and Carl walk away up the path, Bea heaved a sigh of relief, but Emmie’s words were still whirling around in her head. Was this just a holiday and was she still hoping that Nolan would stick around? For the few days that Nolan was gone she’d thought about him non-stop, checking the river every morning as soon as she woke up to see if The Hemingway had returned. Whether she liked it or not, Emmie had planted a tiny nugget of doubt in Bea’s mind.

  What if she was right?

  Carl had been Bea’s whole world and she didn’t really know life without him. With Carl she knew exactly what she was getting, but the life she could potentially create for herself in Heartcross now would be a magical mystery tour. Bea had to work out whether she was brave enough to buy a ticket for the unknown.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As soon as there was a lull in customers Nolan blew out a breath. ‘You okay? That all seemed a bit heavy.’

  Bea was sitting outside on the bench, her crutches leaning against the picnic table. ‘I expected Emmie to turn up but didn’t realise she would have him in tow.’

  ‘How are you feeling about that?’ asked Nolan, perching on the end of the bench.

  ‘Braver than I expected. Hopefully, I’ll get to see Emmie on her own before she goes, but I won’t be rushing over to Starcross Manor for a reunion with Carl any time soon.’

  ‘You can’t,’ Nolan said cheerfully, pointing to her ankle. ‘We need to work out how to get you back to the B&B, but I think I’ve got the solution.’ He grinned and disappeared around the back of the Boathouse, reappearing a moment later holding a bike that had seen better days.

  Bea burst out laughing. ‘I can’t ride a bike, in case it’s escaped your notice.’ She gestured towards her ankle. ‘And that contraption doesn’t look very safe.’

  Nolan pretended to be hurt. ‘This bike is as safe as houses.’ He patted the seat. ‘We can balance your crutches across the handlebars, you can sit on the seat and I’ll pedal.’

  ‘Are you insane?’ Bea threw back her head and laughed. ‘That chain is as rusty as hell and that seat has seen better days. It’s an antique. I think a penny-farthing would be safer.’

  ‘That’s nothing a bit of oil won’t fix and the seat isn’t too bad.’

  ‘You don’t have to sit on it! Life with you isn’t boring, is it?’

  ‘Who wants boring? More customers, wait there.’

  ‘Funnily enough, I’m not going anywhere.’ He leaned the bike against the wall and greeted the customers. Bea took the opportunity to watch him. He was very charismatic. Just then he looked up from under his fringe and caught her looking at him. He gave her a cheeky wink and her heart gave a little flip. He was everything she imagined the perfect partner to be. Charming, talkative, fun… She also admired his courage. It must have taken a lot to pick himself up and carry on after Hannah’s passing. Bea’s thoughts turned to Carl. What did she admire about him? Nothing sprang to mind. Bea couldn’t even remember the last time they had laughed.

  ‘Penny for them,’ Nolan asked, once the customers disappeared.

  ‘Nothing worth mentioning,’ she replied, tilting her head towards a couple who were looking through Nolan’s paintings. ‘I think you’re about to get a sale,’ she mouthed.

  ‘These are really good,’ said a woman, bringing the painting inside. ‘Is this artist local?’

  Bea pointed to Nolan. ‘You’re looking right at him.’

  ‘I would love to take this one. Can I ask, is this a real place?’ The woman placed the painting down on the counter, her partner standing next to her.

  Bea took a look at the painting and recognised the place straightaway. Castaway Bay.

  Nolan nodded. ‘It is a real place but a secret place. Only a few have had the pleasure of stumbling across it.’ He smiled across towards Bea.

  ‘Wherever it is, it’s beautiful.’ The woman handed over the money and Nolan signed the back of the painting for her.

  As soon as they walked out of The Little Blue Boathouse, Bea was flapping her hand in front of her face. ‘That reminds me! I forgot to tell you. I was just about to share this when Carl and Emmie showed up. I think this snippet of information promotes Fernsby to the front of the partnership.’

  ‘Because…’ Now Nolan was waving his hand to hurry her up.

  ‘I think Mystic Martha has been to Castaway Bay.’

  Nolan took in the information. ‘I’m sure a lot of locals know about the secret secluded bay.’

  ‘I’m sure they do, but when I went to have my fortune told there was a painting hanging on the wall. It didn’t mean anything to me at the time but I admired it and now I recognise it was of the bay. And there’s something else.’

  Nolan had her full attention. ‘Go on…’

  ‘I may be wrong but during my meeting she mentioned a boat, a different type of boat, and then I mentioned The Hemingway.’ Bea narrowed her eyes as she remembered. ‘Martha looked at me in a way that was a little unnerving and brought my reading to an abrupt end.’

  ‘Describe “unnerving”,’ encouraged Nolan.

  ‘She stopped looking into the ball and stared at me. She asked me to say it again. As soon I did, she stood up and gestured towards the door. The reading was over.’

  ‘That does sound a little strange. Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?’

  ‘Duh! You weren’t around and it’s only now I think it’s of some significance. What are you going to do about it?’

  ‘I think I should go and see Martha and ask her about the painting and Patsy. See what she knows. But in the meantime, it’s nearly lunchtime so I’m going to straighten up the kayaks, hang up the life jackets from this morning so they dry out, and take you to lunch.’

  Bea pointed to the bike. ‘I’m not getting on that thing twice in one day.’

  Nolan laughed. ‘You don’t have to. Lunch is on The Hemingway. It’s anchored right by the riverbank and I’ll carry you on board.’

  Fifteen minutes later Bea was giggling like a schoolgirl. Nolan had squatted down as low as he could and she’d climbed on to his back.

  ‘Stop squirming,’ he protested, ‘otherwise I’ll drop you and that will be two busted ankles.’

  ‘Do not drop me,’ she ordered.

  ‘Wait until you see The Hemingway. I’ve done a little rearranging.’

  With her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Bea briefly closed her eyes as she took in the gorgeous aroma of his aftershave. Nolan took a big stride onto the deck of The Hemingway and lowered Bea into a soft padded chair before jumping back onto land and grabbing her crutches.

  Bea couldn’t believe her eyes when they went through the doorway. The inside of The Hemingway looked very different from the last time she was on board. The space had been cleared and – with the exception of a small living area in the corner – had been turned into a floating art gallery. All of Nolan’s paintings were hanging on the wall, with some displayed even more prominently on easels.

  ‘What do you think?’

  Bea pushed herself up on her crutches and scanned the paintings. ‘I think you have a wonderful talent. It’s like a mini art gallery on the water, which was your dream.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I was trying to achieve.’ He picked up a wooden board that was propped up against a small table. ‘I’m going to leave The Hemingway anchored by the bank. I’ve spoken to Flynn and Roman about all this. If I stand this sign at the bottom of the jetty it will hopefully encourage tourists to come on board. Fingers crossed, I’ll make a few more sales than usual, and while I keep an eye on the gallery I can get more painting done.’

  ‘This is a wonderful idea.’ Bea was impressed. Nolan had set the area up beautifully and she loved each and every painting. Right in the middle of the exhibition was the painting of Patsy and his grandfather Morgan. ‘Surely you aren’t going to sell that painting?’ She looked at him.

  ‘No, but there’s a method to my madness. If it’s on display you never know who might walk on to the boat and recognise Patsy. It might spark something in someone.’

  ‘Good idea. She really is captivating, such a natural beauty … and look at that hair. It’s right down her back ... I’m planning to invite the local press to the River Rescue meeting – maybe you could have a word with one of the reporters about Patsy? You never know, their archives may just throw up something, especially from when The Little Blue Boathouse opened up all those years ago.’

  ‘Why didn’t I think of that? You’re not just a pretty face, are you?’ said Nolan, catching her eye and grinning.

  ‘Nope, I have a bust ankle too!’ Bea laughed as she pointed to the empty easel. ‘What’s going on that one?’

  ‘That’s something I wanted to talk to you about.’ There was a painting in the far corner, covered by a cloth. Nolan picked it up and gestured for Bea to sit down. She hobbled back to the chair and rested her crutches against the side of it. She didn’t know what to expect as he slowly uncovered the painting.