Page 12 of The Spotted Cottage By the Sea
Sheila shook her head. “No. I got fired this morning. Right before you called.”
She gasped. “Howdarethey fire you! You gave the last ten years to that company –”
“Here’s the thing.” Sheila leaned in, interrupting her. “The timing couldn’t be better. I can see it now! It’s a blessing! Really, it is. You needed someone here to give Derby baths and help rename the tea shop and open it again.”
“It doesn’t need to be renamed,” Patty said.
Reggie shrugged. “I think you might want to consider it.”
“Listen, my visit can be temporary, but let me help. Let me move in for a bit. I’ll pull some weeds, call your insurance, get a painter for the cottage. If you still want to move away in a few months, then fine. At least then I’ll know it’s onyourterms.”
Patty was quiet for a moment, like she was actually considering it.
Sheila held her breath. She was right. Patty didn’t want to leave this place, this home she loved. The boyfriend she’d been hiding.
“I don’t know, Sheila.”
“Maybe she needs a change, too,” Reggie offered. “The sea air can heal hearts, you know.”
Sheila’s eyes flashed up at him, then back to her teacup. Had Patty told him about her? How bitter she was about Brian and the divorce?
She didn’t want to be this way. She didn’t want to be bitter and angry and reactive, but that’s what she was. It had been five years since the divorce, but Brian could still bait her into reacting so easily. She thought time healed all wounds, but what good was that time when she was merely surviving?
Maybe Reggie was right.
Sheila cleared her throat. “Maybe I do need a change. It’s been quiet at home since Emma left for school.”
Patty frowned and put a hand on her shoulder. “It’s the nights, isn’t it? The house feels so empty. So quiet.”
The breath was sucked right out of her. Of course Patty knew about how dark and endless the evenings felt.
“Yeah.” Sheila sighed. “The nights are…strange.”
“What about the girls? What if they expect you to be home, waiting for them?”
“They can come here!” Sheila said, her excitement picking back up. “They love it here. I’ll rent our house out, or something.” She would need to, just to keep up with the mortgage…“Come on, Patty. If it doesn’t work out, then you’re no worse off than before.”
Patty kept her eyes fixed on her teacup. “I think Brian already has an informal agreement with the neighbor. I’d hate to put them out.”
“Your neighbor Barb?” Sheila shrugged. “I’m sure she’d understand if you changed your mind.”
“Not her. Thenewneighbor. The actor.”
Sheila narrowed her eyes. “Is this about Idris Elba again?”
“No.” She leaned in and dropped her voice to whisper, “It’s Russell Westwood. He moved into the house next door a few months ago, and he wants to buy my land to make a farm. Or something. I don’t know. I didn’t want to know.”
Sheila could feel the tea burning her throat. Sure, he had been charming enough when she met him on the ferry, but this was too far. Did that hot-shot overly handsome movie star think he could waltz onto the island and take what wasn’t his?
She set her cup down. “Russell Westwood, you say? I’m going to pay him a visit.”
Seven
The tide report was promising, and Russell didn’t want to miss his chance to enjoy the glorious day. He stood on the shore and pulled on a waterproof jacket, the waves gently rocking his kayak in its partially beached position.
He took a step back and sucked in the salty air. He could not get over how beautiful the water was – clear to the bottom, with a blue hue. If it weren’t so cold, he would be tempted to jump in for a swim.
He was doing the last of his due diligence and rechecking the weather reports when he heard someone yelling.
