Page 69 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘Well, maybe she’s got a shock coming.’
‘Who knows. He didn’t seem to mind the attention from what I saw today.’
Flora tilted her head. ‘Is that a little of the green-eyed monster peeking out there?’
I pushed my shoulders back. ‘Absolutely not. Nate McKinley can see and do whatever he likes. Not my business. I’m just here to make sure the house is cared for.’
‘Right.’ Flora looked at me, her slightly raised brows telling me she didn’t believe a word of it. To be honest, I was having my own struggles, but I figured the more I told myself that, the more I would believe it.
‘So, you’re coming?’
‘Yes, I’m coming.’ Why should I stay in just because Nate was spending the evening with Corinne? The best way to show them both that it didn’t bother me was to go about my business as usual. I’d loved the ceremony and the festive evening last year and there was no reason I should miss it this year. Especially no tall, dark and handsome Australian reason.
‘Good. I’ll see you in a while, then?’
‘Definitely. I’ll just head up and have a shower and then come down and grab something for dinner. Maybe some fish and chips from Jake’s?’
Flora’s eyes lit up. ‘Ooh, now you’re talking.’ Jake the Hake’s fish and chips were legendary in the village.
‘I’ll get you and George some too. We can have a picnic in the shop.’ As I spoke, I felt excitement for the event begin to seep into me, replacing the worry of the magazine comment piece, and the… whatever it was I felt about Nate and Corinne. I wasn’t quite yet ready to admit to Flora’s diagnosis of jealousy, even if I had the sneaking suspicion that she might be right.
‘Right, see you in a bit. And thanks,’ I said, giving Flora a quick hug before scooting out of the shop.
* * *
A short while later I was back outside my flat, having washed and changed and bundled myself up against the cold. The night was bitterly cold. Pinned to the dark sky, a full moon peeked out every now and then through swift moving clouds that were heavy with the threat of snow. Waving through the window to Flora and George I made an eating motion with my hands and pointed up the road. Flora gave me a thumbs-up and then turned to George, I imagined to fill him in on tonight’s menu.
The queue for Jake’s was out of the door, as usual, snaking back past his window and almost past the shop next door. I joined the end and stamped my feet a little to get some circulation back into my toes. Slowly the line advanced and I passed the time chatting to residents of the village as they meandered by, all wrapped up against the chill. Eventually I placed my order, enjoying the warmth of being inside the chip shop, its windows steamed up as the heat from the fryers hit the cold glass. As I waited, I flicked through a local free paper absentmindedly, my stomach rumbling loudly as delicious smells wafted round. I dropped the paper and folded my arms across my tummy until my order was called.
Clutching the warm, precious parcel to me, I hurried back to Flora’s and unwrapped it, handing out a parcel each to her and George, along with a wooden fork. We sat in companionable silence, eating our chips, warm fluffy potato with just the right amount of crisp, fish coated in the lightest of batters that just melted in your mouth. Customers and browsers wandered in and out and we took it in turns to serve them. Manoeuvring a slightly over-large piece of fish into my mouth, I looked up to see Nate and Corinne stood just inside the doorway to the shop watching me. Corinne gave a tiny raise of one artfully styled brow. I ignored it. Fair enough, I’d underestimated that particular forkful but I’d had a lifetime of eating right, doing right, looking right and I wasn’t about to be intimidated by what Corinne thought of my manners.
20
I gave a wave of my little finger from the hand that held the fork. Nate smiled.
‘Hey,’ he said, before glancing round the shop, almost as if he was looking for something.
‘Hello,’ I said, remembering the chat I’d had with myself to be casual and forget the silly hint of a notion I’d had about getting cosier with this man. Annoyingly, he looked just as attractive as usual this evening, which wasn’t helped by the fact that Corinne was, as I’d suspected, looking terribly pleased with herself as she tucked her arm possessively through Nate’s. I had to admit, though, Nate wasn’t looking as thrilled as I’d expected he might. His hands were shoved deep in the pockets of his cashmere coat and as Corinne tilted her head to rest against his arm, I could see his body tense. I looked away. I probably hadn’t made the best job of convincing him that what he and Corinne did was his own business, but I wasn’t about to let him see it bothered me now. I set my face to disinterested and looked past them into the street where the cobbled roads were filling with villagers and visitors, ready for the big switch on.
‘Having a nice evening, Nate?’ Flora asked, as she took the empty fish and chip wrappings from George and me.
‘Yes, thanks,’ he smiled at her, disengaging himself from Corinne to accept Flora’s hug. Was it me, or did he look just a little relieved? Shaking George’s hand, he then looked over at me. ‘How were the chips?’
‘Good, thanks. They’re from Jake the Hake just up the road.’ I inclined my head in the direction as I, unnecessarily, tidied up the gift wrap supplies on the desk. ‘You should try them some time.’
‘I will, thanks.’
‘Ooh, we could get some tonight, Natey.’ Corinne slipped her phone from the back pocket of her sprayed-on jeans and checked the time.
Natey?
Nate didn’t answer and was instead showing great interest in a small decoratively painted elephant made from ceramic. Behind him, Corinne pouted. Flora shot me a look, quickly mouthing the word ‘Natey’. I gave a tiny shrug in reply and continued with my task, preparing some ribbons by curling them with one blade of the scissors.
‘It’s an incense holder,’ Flora said, wandering over to him as Corinne let out a sigh before picking up and putting down a few of the gift shop offerings, a thoroughly bored look on her face.
‘It’s pretty.’ He paused for a moment, turning the item over in his large hands. He’d been less tanned than I expected when I first met him. I’d automatically expected him to be similar to Gabe, if not more so, with reliable weather in which to access the gorgeous beaches he had at his disposal but he wasn’t. His light olive colouring had certainly had a little colour but less than I’d have supposed. Of course, it had made sense when I thought about it. I’d got the feeling that, much of the time, Nate saw little but his work computer. Well, that and the inside of a gym, I’d guess from the sneaky looks I’d stolen at his body. Whether these activities were solely as a mechanism to help him not think about his imploded marriage, or whether he was naturally a bit of a workaholic, I wasn’t sure. Either way, at least here, having to look after Bryan was getting him out of the house and some fresh air. Talking of which…
‘Where’s Bryan?’ I asked, frowning.
