Page 56 of Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea

‘It’s fine when you get used to it. I didn’t want to ask over lunch, but now we’re on our own… did you manage to track down your elusive Morag MacIntyre?’

‘I did, thanks to Belinda. I paid her a visit earlier this morning, actually, before I came round.’

‘Why exactly did you want to see her?’

‘To find out more about my mum, when she was young and I was a baby.’

‘Was it helpful?’

‘Kind of.’

Liam nodded, encouraging her to go on.

Rosie gnawed at her bottom lip. Should she tell him, or might it get back to Katrina – who’d love the fact that she didn’t know who her father was?

‘Morag didn’t know much,’ she said, making a snap decision. ‘But we had a good chat about Mum in her younger days.’

‘Are you glad you went to see her?’

‘Yeah. She was a nice woman.’

‘That’s good. How’s the decorating going at Driftwood House?’

‘The sitting room’s looking much better already and I’ve filled and sanded every window frame in the house, ready for painting. My life is nothing but glamour and excitement.’

Liam grinned. ‘Sounds like it. Do you think these cosmetic changes will do the trick?’

‘Maybe. I hope they’ll be enough to show the Eppings what an amazing guesthouse Driftwood House could be.’

‘Hmm. I could nip up this week and sort out your front door?’

‘You really don’t have to.’

‘I know, but it’s not very secure, and it won’t give a good first impression of the house when the Eppings turn up. I’m busy tomorrow but I can come up on Tuesday morning. It’s a date.’ He paused. ‘I mean—’

‘I know what you mean.’

Liam nodded and pointed to the land that sloped towards the beach. ‘Those fields over there are the ones we rent from Charles Epping at an extortionate price. I’m hoping we get a good crop from them this year. It’ll make all the difference.’

‘Then I hope so too.’

Rosie held on tightly to the gate, the hem of her dress wafting in the breeze. A skylark swooped and trilled over her head and there was a faint wash of waves against rock in the distance. Everything was perfectly peaceful.

‘I used to think that staying in Heaven’s Cove and becoming a farmer would be boring, but I can see the appeal,’ she said, quietly.

‘I can too, now. I resented the farm madly when I was a teenager and my future was all mapped out. I envied you.’

‘You envied me?’ When Rosie wobbled alarmingly, Liam put out a hand to steady her.

‘I did. You had big dreams that could come true. You weren’t tied like I was.’

‘I didn’t think you minded, and I envied you because, unlike me, you were popular and un-nerdy.’

‘Is un-nerdy even a word?’ He laughed. ‘You were different from the other girls, Rosie, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.’

‘Katrina thought so.’

‘Katrina is very mainstream.’ He turned carefully on the gate until he was looking directly at her, his eyes cornflower-blue against his white shirt. ‘I admire you for doing your own thing and moving away from Heaven’s Cove.’