Page 99 of A Letter to the Last House Before the Sea

‘I do, which is silly, really. We’re both old codgers now. What if he’s out?’

‘We’ll track him down. I don’t think Claude ever goes very far,’ Lettie reassured her for the third time since leaving Carro Lodge.

Lettie stole a glance at her passenger. She was wearing an A-line skirt in heavy cream cotton, a thin pink jumper with a round neck, and a cream jacket with gold buttons. There were pearls around her neck and her hair was pinned up in a bun. She’d made quite an effort before seeing her old beau.

Lettie got the taxi driver to drop them on the quay and handed over the fare, trying not to think of her dwindling savings.

Claude’s cottage was ahead of them, bright in the sunshine, and Esther swallowed hard. ‘Nothing’s changed at all,’ she murmured, before turning to Lettie. ‘I’m sorry to be a nuisance but I’m not sure I can do this after all. Perhaps I’d be better off going straight home?’

‘We’re here now. Why don’t we take it slowly and see what happens?’

Esther stared at Lettie for a moment. ‘Why are you doing this for me and Claude?’

‘Claude is a one-off, and you remind me of someone I used to know. She would approve of the two of you getting together after all this time. Not everyone has the chance of a reunion.’

When Lettie’s eyes filled with tears, Esther patted her hand. ‘Come on then. Let’s get this done.’

Together they walked towards Claude’s ramshackle cottage. Esther stayed by the low wall outside, leaning on her walking stick, while Lettie went to the door and raised her hand. She had no idea how this was going to go.