Page 65 of The Boathouse By the Loch

They walked in. ‘It’s a bit dark in here.’

‘Oh look. Gayle has lit some candles.’ Robyn walked up to the dining table in the centre of the room. It was smaller, more intimate than the kitchen table. Gayle had removed the other two chairs, so there were now just two chairs, one at each end of the smooth chestnut oval table.

David suddenly rushed towards Robyn. She wondered what he was up to. Then he said, ‘Here – let me.’ David pulled out the chair for her.

Robyn smiled at him as she took a seat. She watched him take a seat opposite her. He undid his top shirt button and glanced at the fire in the grate. ‘Why did she light that on a summer’s evening?’

‘For atmosphere.’

‘Oh, right.’ He rolled up his shirt sleeves.

Robyn couldn’t believe how thoughtful Gayle had been. She recognised the tablecloth as Gayle’s favourite. The she glanced around the room. She rarely ventured into it; she’d spent most of her time in the lounge or the kitchen when she’d lived there. The dining room felt like a rather posh room for special occasions, which apparently was how Gayle’s parents had thought of it – sort of like a parlour, in old-fashioned parlance.

The times she had gone into the room had been when she had redecorated and furnished it. The interior design had come from the doll’s house; the matching cosy armchairs in a floral print either side of the fireplace, the standard lamp in the corner, the bookshelves in one alcove with a lamp on one shelf. The lamp had a low-wattage bulb and a pretty porcelain lampshade, and Gaylehad thoughtfully switched it on; it gave off a warm yellow glow.

‘What are you thinking?’ David asked.

‘I’m thinking I agree with you. The stew smells delicious,’ said Robyn. She picked up the napkin that was neatly arranged in a champagne glass.

‘No, I meant what I said about the boathouse.’

Robyn put the napkin on her lap. She did not want to talk about the fact that it wasn’t the boathouse itself, but something in her past. She looked across the table and said instead, ‘Yes, I’d love to stay on here for the weekend.’

David frowned at her. ‘Itisthe boathouse, then.’

Robyn was saved from having to respond by Gayle appearing in the doorway. ‘Dinner is served.’

Robyn turned in her chair. ‘That smells delicious, Gayle.’

Gayle smiled as she walked in, carrying a tray. She set it down on the table and picked up a plate and the ladle in the casserole dish. Robyn avoided David’s gaze as Gayle passed them a large bowl of stew each. She put a plate with crusty bread and butter on the table.

Robyn looked at the stew. ‘It’s so lovely of you to go to all this trouble.’

‘Not at all. What are friends for?’

Gayle’s other friends, Marty and Nick, had obviously been told to make themselves scarce. Robyn said as much.

Gayle nodded. ‘It’s true. I couldn’t very well have them turn up while you two are having a romantic meal together.’ Gayle looked from Gayle to David. ‘That is what’s going on here, isn’t it?’

David frowned.

Robyn avoided Gayle’s gaze.

David said, ‘Robyn wants to stay for the weekend.’

Gayle turned to look at her.

‘Yes, I do. If that’s all right with you?’ Robyn was aware that although Gayle had said in the past she liked to keep their room aside in case they came to stay, the reality was that she was running a guesthouse, and the room wouldn’t always be free.

‘All right,’ she said slowly. ‘Is that just you?’

Robyn looked across the table. ‘No, David too.’

He managed a smile.

Gayle looked relieved. ‘Good, that’s good. I have to say I do miss you guys.’ She looked at Robyn. ‘Hey, you know what? You might get to meet one of the Rosses.’

Robyn had just picked up her spoon and was about to taste the stew. She looked up sharply. ‘Pardon me? Did you just say—?’

---