Page 23 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘Really?’
‘Yes. Ned and Carrie were really worried about her but I think she was in denial about it all,’ I said, dusting the deep windowsill next to where Nate was sat. ‘And of course, once Gabe witnessed her having one, all his “doctory” instincts kicked in.’
‘Plus the fact he had the total hots for her.’
I grinned. ‘Yes. I think that certainly contributed to his attentions. He told you that, huh?’
‘He was gushing. It was pathetic.’
I flicked him with the duster. ‘I think the word you’re looking for is romantic.’
‘If you say so.’
I rolled my eyes at him and continued with my work. ‘Anyway, he just gets a little protective, knowing she has this tendency to be a workaholic. But she does love what she’s doing now. I think she’ll be OK. Holly doesn’t want to ever go back to how she was, and she’s an intelligent woman. She pulls back when she needs to.’
‘That’s good to hear. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better.’
‘She’ll be thrilled to hear that.’
‘To be fair, she doesn’t know I’m an arse yet.’
‘Oh God, you’re not going to let me forget that, are you?’
He gave a small headshake. ‘Nope.’
I straightened the bedclothes and decorative cushions and dusted the bedsides.
‘So, what’s wrong with next door?’
‘Huh?’
‘Earlier, you said if it’d been up to Gabe I’d have been next door and fending for myself. Isn’t that where Gabe was living before? He never said that there was anything wrong with it.’
‘There isn’t. It’s just not had the Holly touch yet.’
‘So that’s still in the time warp?’
‘Very much so.’
‘What are they planning to do with it? Holly owns it too, right?’
‘Yes,’ I said, shooing him out of the room now that I’d finished. ‘I don’t think they’ve decided yet. She bought some paint and just plans to decorate it throughout to start with and then go from there. Whether they keep it or sell, it’s still going to need painting. Once that’s done, she might have a clearer idea of what to do with it.’
‘It must be hard. I mean, I know this was her grandmother’s house, and Gabe said her gran was kind of everything to her.’
‘Yes. She was. She lost her mum young and, from what I understand, their dad didn’t cope so well.’
‘Difficult situation.’
I nodded, agreeing as I entered the guest room. The bed was already made, as always.
‘I feel weird you cleaning up after me.’
‘I’m employed to do it. And if you feel weird, don’t watch,’ I teased.
I picked up a sweatshirt from the chair, preparing to fold it, but Nate whipped it out of my hands.
‘I can do that.’
