Page 47 of Winter at Wishington Bay
In order to try to bring this matter to a swift and final conclusion, our client has decided to agree to the terms detailed in the previous correspondence, although he wishes it be known that this is only because he is ‘rather tired of the situation’ and would prefer it now closed as soon as possible.
I took a few deep breaths, the cool sharp air of the winter morning filling my lungs as I did my best to remain calm. I’d only ever asked for what was mine out of that marriage but my ex had made things as difficult as he could from the beginning, from emptying the joint bank account once he realised I wasn’t coming back – an idea I wish I’d thought of first – to questioning every single point with regards to the divorce, probably knowing that each query would cost me in both money and time. Anything he could do to make life difficult, he’d done. And now suddenly he was ready to settle, and as soon as possible. Whatever the reason for this sudden about-face was nothing to do with him being fed up of dragging things on. I’d watched him do this in business and in his personal life for years. If Jeremy could drag something out and make things uncomfortable for someone, he would. No, whatever this was, it was in order to make things easier for him and him alone. Which probably meant he’d met someone. Well, good luck to her. She was going to need it.
I felt a weight lift off me as I stuffed the paperwork back into my bag. I’d been getting by with the waitressing and cleaning jobs, but I knew I hadn’t realised how privileged I’d been, never having to even think about, let alone worry, about money before. I understood that now and, although it seemed like I was going to be in a far more comfortable position again now that Jeremy had deigned to agree to what were already pretty damn reasonable terms, I knew I’d never again take my situation for granted. I decided not to make any rash decisions about whether to give up the waitressing or not yet – I actually enjoyed meeting the customers and working with Ned, Carrie and Eloise. Corinne and her attitude, however, were a different matter and something I definitely wouldn’t miss if I left. Anyway, until the ink was dry on those documents, I still didn’t trust my ex-husband not to renege, so I wouldn’t count any chickens just yet.
‘You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.’ The quiet, deep voice drifted into my thoughts and I snapped my head up. My mind busy, I’d arrived at the house quicker than I expected, and seeing Nate leaning against an open doorjamb, Bryan resting against his chest, brought a smile.
‘Nothing important,’ I replied, tickling Bryan under the chin as he basked in all the attention.
‘Come in. I’ve just unwrapped what looks like a very delicious apple cake and it’d be a shame to eat it alone.’
I stepped into the warmth of the house and pulled off my boot which Bryan, now back on the floor had a good old sniff round as I yanked the other one off, over balancing slightly and reaching out blindly for whatever was closest to steady myself. That something turned out to be Nate and the chest I landed against felt as solid as the wall I was aiming for.
‘Woah, you all right?’ His hands rested gently at my waist as I looked up.
‘Umm… yes.’ I dropped my hands from his chest so that I, temporarily, stood as straight as a toy soldier. ‘Sorry.’
‘No worries,’ he said as he stepped back, my body suddenly cool from the loss of contact. ‘Tea or coffee?’
‘I’m supposed to be working,’ I grinned, following him and the dog into the kitchen.
He looked round at me. ‘Sorry. I’m sure you have plans after this. I wasn’t thinking.’
‘No,’ I reached out and laid a hand on his arm. ‘Actually, I don’t. I… I guess I just feel a bit cheeky sitting here drinking tea and eating cake with you when I’m supposed to be working.’
‘You’re hardly a slacker, Sophia. This place always looks sparkling after you’ve been. It makes me feel bad to use anything after and mess it up.’
I laughed. ‘Please, mess it up all you like. A home is supposed to be lived in, not look like a museum piece or a show home. It can always be tidied up again.’ I had too much experience of being afraid to sit there or touch that which is why I’d been so thrilled at Nate’s compliment the other day about my flat looking homely. ‘Thanks,’ I said, as Nate put a steaming mug of tea, the perfect colour, down on the breakfast bar in front of me along with a very generous slice of cake.
‘It’s a good job I’m doing the housework after this,’ I said, peering at it. ‘I’ll need to burn some of those calories off.’
He gave me a look. ‘There’s nothing of you.’
Not entirely true, but kind. I’d always kept in shape and never really eaten what I wanted at home, mainly because that’s what everyone else did. But the stress of an unhappy marriage and the act of finally walking away from it and, as it turned out, the rest of my life, had resulted in me losing more weight than I’d planned. I’d gradually put some of it back on, but it had been slow going. But that, like everything else, would settle in time. That was the motto I’d created for myself, and one I did my best to live by. I took a forkful of the cake as Nate picked his up with his fingers, nodding at me.
‘I figured with that accent you’d want a fork.’ The tease flashed in his eyes and played at the corners of his mouth and I tried not to think that, right now, he looked about as delicious as the cake in front of me.
We sat in companionable silence for a few minutes, eating our cake and watching the sea through the glass.
‘Do you mind if I walk back up to the village with you when you’re done? I need to drop something at the post office.’
I thought of the paperwork in my bag. ‘Not at all,’ I pulled my bag towards me. ‘I’ve got something I could do with sending too, actually.’ Reaching in, I withdrew the large envelope and rummaged through for a return envelope. Nothing.
‘Bloody cheapskates,’ I muttered.
‘Everything all right?’
‘I don’t suppose you’ve got a spare envelope, have you? I need to return something and they haven’t included one.’
‘Sure.’ He got up and went across to a bureau Holly had renovated in the palest shade of soft green and opened one of the drawers. ‘This OK?’ He called, holding up a white A4 envelope.
‘Perfect.’
Nate crossed back to the kitchen stool and laid the envelope in front of me.
‘Thanks.’
‘Looks important.’ He nodded at the paperwork. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to seem nosy. I just… you look more serious than I’ve become used to seeing you now we’ve got over our bumpy beginning.’
