Page 37 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘Was this before or after you mounted it in the street?’ The giggle was given free rein this time.
I gave her a look and bent to find the next line of string. Sliding the scissor blade underneath, I closed them, making a satisfying snip. Less satisfying was the branches pinging out, a fact I hadn’t accounted for in my distraction, mostly by Flora but admittedly a little by Nate who was now answering Flora’s chatty questions as best he could.
‘Oh, for crying out loud.’ I slapped a hand over my eye as it watered, tears streaming down my cheek. My mother definitely wouldn’t have approved of some of the phrases I’d picked up but at least it was free of swear words which, considering how much it had stung, was a miracle in itself.
‘Sophia?’ Nate crossed the little shop in about two strides. ‘What happened?’
‘Really? Again?’ Flora asked, coming to stand beside him, and coming up to about his elbow. Bustling in, she took my hand away from my eye – she really was stronger than she looked. ‘Look up,’ she said and I did so. ‘Down… left… right.’ Doesn’t look like you’ve got anything in there but go upstairs and bathe it with some cotton wool.’
‘It’s fine, Flora.’
‘Nate, my dear. Would you accompany her?’
‘I said I’m fine.’
Flora looked unmoved and Nate looked awkward.
‘Fine,’ I said and turned towards the door. ‘But don’t go trying to move that while I’m gone.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it. Besides, Nate’s just offered to help us pot it up when you’re done so it’s all sorted.’
I glanced at Nate who shrugged. Flora was the kind of woman who could get anyone to do anything, but never used her powers for evil. Although I wasn’t entirely sure this example counted as using them for good. There was a twinkle in her eye that had me suspicious. I only hoped that Nate hadn’t noticed.
12
I knew my flat was compact but it had never seemed more so than it did now with Nate McKinley occupying what felt like at least half of it.
‘This is nice,’ he said, looking around.
‘It’s a little small, I know.’
‘But it’s welcoming. That’s the main thing. Like Holly’s place. It feels like a home.’
‘Thank you.’ I headed into the bathroom and grabbed some cotton wool pads from a jar and headed back into the kitchen to boil some water. Once it began to warm, I flicked off the kettle and poured some in a bowl. Dipping a pad in, I squeezed out the excess. As I lifted it to my eye, Nate’s hands closed over mine. ‘Here, let me do that. Just sit with your head back.’
‘It’s really not that bad.’
‘I don’t think Flora is the kind of woman to take no for an answer, no matter how sweet she looks.’
He might be the strong, silent type but he was certainly observant. I did as he said and he laid the cotton pad gently on my eye, his hands brushing my cheek as he did so.
‘How’s that?’
‘Fine. Thanks.’
‘Is it still stinging?’
‘A little.’
‘OK, just rest for a bit. Is Bryan all right exploring round here?’
‘Yeah. He’s had the odd sleepover here so he’s familiar with it all.’
‘I think he’s asleep on your bed.’
‘Well, that makes a change, having a man in my bedroom,’ I said, without thinking then immediately wished I could dunk my entire head in the bowl of water before me.
‘I mean…’ Literally I had no idea what I meant or where I was going with that sentence, so I shut up. Momentarily.
