Page 73 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘But I don’t think I could go through all that again. Initially I enjoyed trying to make my wife happy but in the end, when nothing was good enough, it just got exhausting.’
Flora studied him for a moment, then reached up and gave him a big hug which he returned. Pulling back, she rested a hand on his cheek.
‘There’s someone out there who’s right for you, love. Someone who knows love is a two-way street.’
Nate pulled a face. ‘Maybe, maybe not. Right now I’m just enjoying taking things as they come, and spending some quality time with Bryan.’ He rubbed a hand across his forehead. ‘I should never have said yes to coming out with Corinne.’
‘Oh, you weren’t to know what she was up to. And in the meantime,’ Flora glanced up at the clock on the wall, ‘It’s nearly time for the big switch on. Let’s lock up, go unearth George from the pub and then find a good spot to watch from. What do you say?’
He nodded. ‘Sounds good to me.’
Flora waved me over. ‘Come on, Soph.’ I picked up my coat from the hook and shoved my arms in as Flora dashed to the back room to get her own.
‘Are you still annoyed with me?’
I looked up at his question. ‘I’m not annoyed.’
‘See, your mouth is saying that, but your face is saying something else entirely.’ There was a hint of smile at the corner of his lips which, irritatingly, made it quite hard to be annoyed with him. He had explained and really it was none of my business anyway. I should just be pleased he’d been able to laugh and relax, even if it was with Corinne, especially as, remembering the strain his face had shown when I’d first met him, it hadn’t seemed like he’d done much of either for a long time.
‘I’m not. Really,’ I said, feeling myself relax.
He studied me for a moment before accepting. ‘Good. I don’t want to fall out with you, Sophia.’ His voice was soft and low, both of us aware of Flora bustling about in the next room.
‘No, me neither.’
His smile widened a little and I felt myself respond in kind.
‘Just so you know, it’s not that no one else wants to wait on you at the restaurant – it’s more that none of us get the chance these days.’
‘Ah. I see. Well, somehow I can’t see her being in a rush to serve me again after tonight.’
I shrugged. ‘Who knows with Corinne.’
‘So…’ he looked round again before his gaze dropped and met my eyes. ‘I maybe thought you might be here with someone tonight.’
I frowned up at him.
‘The guy from the photo. I saw you with him the other day and thought that, maybe…’
‘No,’ I replied simply, as Nate’s question tailed off into silence.
‘Busy?’
I shook my head. ‘No. My choice.’
‘Oh.’
I felt the corners of my mouth turning up. ‘Whatever it is, just say it, or ask it as you look about as comfortable as someone with a hedgehog rambling about in his trouser leg.’
‘Ouch.’
‘Quite. So what is it?’
‘Your gardener,’ he held up a hand. ‘Sorry. The gardener. I just… I guess I thought you and he were… an item. Maybe.’
‘We just went for coffee, Nate. People here do love a gossip. You shouldn’t listen to it.’
‘I haven’t listened to anything. I’m just going by the way he was looking at you at the restaurant.’
