Page 55 of Broken Beyond Repair

“Please excuse my childish employer,” Sydney uttered. “I’m sure she’ll get over it… eventually. In the meantime, can we borrow a boat, Sam?”

“A boat?” Beatrice asked, regaining her composure. “Where do you intend on taking me?”

“Up the harbour. I thought we might get lunch.”

“I’ll do one better,” Sam said. “I’ll run you up there myself. You’re going to need some help embarking and disembarking.” His gaze fell to the bright pink cast poking out from under Beatrice’s floral dress.

“That’s a great idea. Thanks.”

“I’ll get a boat prepped. Meet me down there,” Sam said as he trundled off towards the jetty.

They followed behind, sticking to the flattest path possible until they reached the wooden jetty.

“Is Sam an ex-boyfriend?” Beatrice asked as they approached the boat.

“Er, we used to be a couple, yes.”

Sam surfaced from below decks. “It’s okay, you can tell her. I don’t hide it,” he said as he jumped from the boat. “Two minutes. I need to fetch something from the workshop.”

“He used to be my girlfriend,” Sydney clarified.

“Oh… erm… oh,” Beatrice garbled as she processed what that meant.

“Is that a problem?” Sydney asked, eyebrows raised.

Beatrice met her gaze. “Of course not.”

“He runs a helpline now for people struggling with gender dysphoria.”

“That’s great. Good for him.”

Her thoughts caught up to her as she realised what that meant about Sydney. Had she already suspected? Or was it wishful thinking that Sydney was inclined that way? The way Sydney glanced at her sometimes could be considered unusual. Beatrice was used to people looking at her, but Sydney gave her sideways glances as if she wasn’t looking. Initially, she had thought it was done with an element of contempt, yet with this new information it could be read entirely differently.

The look of disgust she’d given at the mention of a lesbian film Beatrice now realised must have been disgust for those bullying Alex. Was the way she covered her leg the first time she’d massaged it been to spare her embarrassment rather than Sydney feeling repulsion at her hairy legs? The woman’s reluctance to scrub her back in the bath, was that hesitancy simply restraint? Could her assistant even be feeling the same draw she was?

A smile tore across her face at the ridiculousness of her thought. Someone as young and sexy as Sydney was going to be way out of her league. Just because she was a lesbian didn’t mean she would have any interest in her.

“Something funny?”

“Like you wouldn’t believe,” Beatrice replied.

Sydney gave a questioning frown.

“Never mind.”

The boat trip up the harbour was exhilarating. Beatrice removed her hat for fear of losing it, and the wind blew through her hair, leaving her with a sense of freedom she hadn’t felt in a long time. With Sydney sitting beside her, her body and mind were at ease.

Sydney pointed to where they were going; the noise of the engine would have drowned her out had she spoken. They were heading for a small jetty which led up to a modernised medieval barn with a large balcony overlooking the harbour. It was idyllic, and as they approached on foot — literally, in her case — Beatrice realised it was a Michelin-starred seafood restaurant.

They chose to eat inside where it was quieter, though most customers opted for the balcony to enjoy the sun and warm sea breeze. Beatrice sipped her gin and tonic as she observed Sydney scanning the other occupied tables in the restaurant. Was she being protective? Watching her back in case someone recognised her employer under her enormous sunglasses?

With lunch served, Beatrice decided it was time to find out a little more about her assistant.

“So, tell me about yourself, Sydney. I know nothing about you. I do have to know one thing… what was your nickname at school?”

“Weren’t eavesdropping at that point then?” Sydney pulled her lips to one side and glared at her.

Beatrice smirked as she filled her mouth with salad.