AllFreeNovel
Share Us
In the meantime, Jess and Rik were inseparable as summer turned to autumn and autumn turned to winter. They were besotted with each other. There was almost a Ready Brek glow about them, radiating an aura that made everyone sigh with envy and longing. Oh, to have that connection. That chemistry. Their arms were wound around each other, holding on even whilst talking to someone else. They were almost like one person.
Nikki tried to avoid them, but it was impossible, for there they were, in the Neptune or in the kitchen at Mariners. They were mostly living on the boat, for Rik didn’t like to leave it empty, but when it got too cold, or the sea mist rolled in, Jess would insist on going back home, for central heating and hot water and comfort food.
Rik had settled into the North family, and it was as if he had always been part of them. He and William chatted for hours about boats, and he joined the lifeboat crew. It was as if he had always been a part of them too, for he was more at home on water than on land, and had that innate understanding of the sea that was so crucial when it came to saving lives. His mother, Sabine, came over from France, and they all saw where he got his magical charm from.
It was a fairy tale come true, and Nikki learned to live with the pain of having Rik so close but so totally out of reach.
There were definitely chinks, though. Nikki had heard more than one argument. Jess’s voice rising in indignation made its way through the thick walls of the house. This was par for the course. Jess’s relationships were always volatile, because she was demanding, and unreasonable. And inconsiderate. Nikki never heard Rik raise his voice back.
It was New Year’s Eve when she saw them arguing in the hallway. Jess wanted to go to the Neptune for their end-of-year festivities, but Rik was desperate for a quiet night after a week of seasonal indulgence, and he was on call for the lifeboat. It was teeming with rain outside too. Hot chocolate in front of the telly at Mariners seemed a much more enticing option but Jess didn’t see it that way.
‘I didn’t realise you were so boring,’ she complained.
‘You go,’ he said, quite reasonably. ‘I’m totally OK with you going.’
‘Oh, thanks,’ Jess snapped back. ‘You’re totally OK with me doing what I want, are you? Good to know.’
‘You know what I mean.’ Rik was starting to look desperate. He looked up and saw Nikki at the top of the stairs, ready to head out for the night. She wanted to disappear back into her room and not intrude on their argument. Jess scowled, and grabbed her coat off the hook.
‘OK. Sleep well, Grandad.’ She stormed out of the door.
Rik looked dejected as Nikki made her way down the stairs.
‘If it helps, it’s not you,’ she told him. ‘She’s always been like this. She doesn’t mean it.’
‘I’d better go.’ Rik sighed.
‘Leave her. She’ll be as happy as anything by the time she gets to the pub. Jess’s tantrums never last long.’
‘I know,’ he said. ‘But … it can be hard.’
That was the price you paid with Jess. She was an immoveable force, an inspiration in lots of ways, larger than life, filled with energy and fun. But tricky.
‘You learn to live with it,’ said Nikki. ‘We all have. She is worth it, I promise. She’s one in a million.’
Why was she defending her, when this was a prime opportunity to put doubt into Rik’s mind? Because it was true, she supposed. She loved Jess. And deep down she doubted that Rik would ever choose her over her ebullient, dazzling sister, so she didn’t want to play that card.
He didn’t reply at first. He seemed weighed down by the row they’d just had, his shoulders slumped. The light in his eyes had gone out.
‘Nikki …’ He sighed her name, and there seemed to be longing in it.
‘Yes?’
‘I wanted to say … I’m sorry.’
‘What for?’
‘I know there was something between us.’ He pointed back and forwards between them. ‘I could feel it. And I think you could too.’
She shook her head as if she didn’t understand what he was saying. She gave him a helpless half-smile but couldn’t meet his gaze, because she knew she would fold under its intensity. Was she supposed to agree? Or deny it? She ended up shrugging, but she was burning inside. He was too close. The heat of him …
‘The thing is, I thought you and Woody were together. That day I first came to Mariners.’
‘Me and Woody?’ She almost laughed.
‘That’s why I backed off. I didn’t want to cause trouble. Or come between you.’
‘Me and Woody are best mates. That’s it.’
