Page 89 of A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea

‘Are you going back to Driftwood House now?’ asked Simon, turning his attention back to Lettie. ‘You shouldn’t be on your own tonight, especially in such foul weather. You won’t sleep a wink up there on the cliff with the wind howling and the rain lashing. I’m sure you can stay at the upmarket B&B where I am and I can keep a close eye on you.’

It was kind of him to offer – perhaps he felt unwarranted guilt for not running into the water with her. But there was something about the way he said, ‘I can keep a close eye on you’ that sounded sleazy, and Lettie felt Corey bristle beside her. Was he expecting her to go with Simon?

‘That’s really thoughtful of you,’ she heard herself say, ‘but I’ve already accepted an offer to stay at Mrs Allford’s house.’

‘Are you sure about that?’ asked Simon, shooting Corey a filthy look.

‘Quite sure,’ said Lettie, though she wasn’t sure at all. Florence wouldn’t be happy to see her, but the thought of being on her own at Driftwood House with nothing but her thoughts for company suddenly seemed overwhelming.

‘Well, I’ll call you at your guesthouse tomorrow to make sure everything is all right,’ said Simon sulkily, before turning and walking back to his car.

‘Are you taking up my offer, then?’ asked Corey.

‘I am, if your offer still stands.’

‘Of course it does. I just wasn’t sure you’d accept.’

‘You’re right. I don’t want to be alone tonight.’

Corey’s eyes searched Lettie’s face and he opened his mouth as though he was going to say something but then snapped it shut. ‘Come on then. Let’s get you back to Gran’s.’

An hour later,Lettie was wrapped up in a blanket in front of a roaring fire with a hot chocolate in her hands. She was wearing an old pair of Corey’s pyjamas and her sodden clothes were already in the washing machine.

Florence, initially hostile and suspicious at Lettie’s sudden arrival, had thawed considerably after hearing of Buster’s rescue.

‘That was a ridiculous thing to do, my girl, walking into a stormy sea like that,’ she berated Lettie, bending to wrap the blanket tighter around her legs. ‘My mother… my mother…’

When she couldn’t continue, Lettie put her hand on top of Florence’s and squeezed. ‘I know about your mother, and I’m so sorry.’

Florence squeezed Lettie’s hand in return before straightening up and going into the kitchen to find a hot water bottle. And it was Florence who was first to suggest that Lettie should stay overnight, before Corey had a chance to do so.

‘You can stay in Cornelius’s room.’

‘I’m not sure I should,’ said Lettie, feeling awkward, but Florence waved her concerns away.

‘It’s been used a few times over the years and I can’t have you going back out tonight after what happened. Cornelius wouldn’t want that, I don’t want that and my grandson certainly doesn’t.’

When she gave Corey a glance, he got to his feet from the chair where he’d been sitting with his fingers steepled beneath his chin.

‘Then I’ll go and make sure the room’s ready. Thanks, Gran.’

‘He’s a good boy,’ said Florence when it was just her and Lettie left, sitting in front of the crackling fire which was casting shadows around the room. ‘He was terribly hurt by Grace and I would hate him to be hurt again.’ She gave Lettie the same sideways glance she’d just given her grandson. ‘He deserves to be happy.’

‘That’s one thing we definitely agree on.’

‘Hmm.’

Florence stared into the fire as Lettie pulled the blanket tighter around her and watched shadows dancing on the thick stone hearth.