Page 71 of Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea

‘We have fabulous beaches. But the ones near me tend to be busier. They’re absolutely rammed in the summer with sun loungers. This one is very… unspoiled.’

Liam visited this beach almost every day. Every inch of it was familiar to him, but now he saw it through fresh eyes. Itwasvery unspoiled and beautiful. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky – the first really hot day of the year – and children in swimsuits were running in and out of the retreating tide and splashing in rock pools. An expanse of washed sand glittered like it was scattered with diamonds and huge boulders that had tumbled from the cliffs cast welcome shade at the back of the beach.

‘Shall we walk then?’ asked Rosie, swinging her strappy sandals between her fingers. ‘Aren’t you going to take off your boots?’

He didn’t usually bother, for a quick walk with Billy. But he unlaced his boots, took off his socks and sank his toes into the warm sand. That felt good.

Together, the two of them started walking just above the tide line on the cooler, more solid sand, while Billy splashed in the water.

‘Any more news from the Eppings?’

Rosie stiffened beside him. ‘Nothing as yet.’

‘How were they when they visited Driftwood House? You didn’t say much about it.’

‘They were… odd. Neither of them seemed to like the house very much, and Cecilia hates me.’

‘Are you sure?’ He laughed. ‘No one could hate you, Rosie.’

‘You’d be surprised.’

When she grinned and turned her face towards him, he noticed the freckles scattered across her nose and the glow from her bare, tanned skin. He quickly looked away, across the waves to a yellow boat on the horizon.

‘So when will they tell you what they’ve decided about the house?’

‘It doesn’t matter because they’re not going to go for the guesthouse idea anyway.’

‘Are you sure?’

When she side-stepped a wave, her hand brushed against his. ‘One hundred per cent. Cecilia’s torturing me by stringing it out, that’s all.’

‘I see. That’s a shame. Driftwood House will disappear and the Eppings will win again.’

‘They always win, don’t they?’

‘Seems that way.’

Rosie stopped and squinted into the sun. ‘You don’t like anything about them, do you?’

‘Why would I? They care about no one but themselves and don’t give a monkey’s about Heaven’s Cove. So what happens to you now?’

‘Now I finish packing up Mum’s things and I go back to Spain in a few days’ time. There’s nothing to keep me in Heaven’s Cove any longer.’

‘Not even the rain or the cream teas or the fabulous people?’Fabulous people?Why did he say that? It made him sound full of himself, like when he was at school. Rosie gave him a straight stare. ‘And what about the search for your dad?’ he asked, quickly.

‘I’ve given up on that.’

‘Why?’

She brushed away a fly that landed on her bare shoulder. ‘The only dad I ever knew is gone and that’s that. I don’t need another one.’

There was something else. The way she bit down hard on her bottom lip gave her away, but before Liam could say anything more Billy ran out of the waves and started leaping around them. He was barking loudly and getting totally over-excited. Oh, he wouldn’t. Not again.

‘Billy, no! Oh, for f—’

Water droplets flew through the air, splitting the light into mini rainbows, as the really,reallystupid dog decided to shake himself. Good grief, the water was absolutely freezing. When Rosie squealed, Liam pushed her behind him, trying to save her from the worst of it, and took the full force.

‘I can only apologise. Again.’ Liam licked his wet lips and tasted salt. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with the daft dog. He never normally misbehaves like this. I think you bring out the worst in him.’