Page 94 of Be More Octopus

'You should get a job on Newsnight.'

'Sorry - it's too personal. I shouldn't have asked. It's the wine talking.' He looked at his empty glass. 'Top up?' He picked up the wine. Em nodded. Jack distributed what was left in the bottle between their glasses.

Em swilled her wine around, wondering what to say to him. She might as well be honest. 'The truth is I'm scared I'll be a terrible mother.'

'Why do you think that? I don't get that impression of you at all.'

'My mother didn't set a good example. She was a lot like Isabella, by the sounds of it. I think she only agreed to have a child so she'd have someone to look after her in old age. I worry I'll turn into her. I'm not even sure I know how to be a good parent.'

'But she showed you how to be a bad one. So don't do the bad things.'

'You make it sound so simple!'

'Life often is. It's just us overthinking things that makes it difficult.' He looked thoughtful again. 'Perhaps I should take my own advice.'

'What do you mean? What have you been overthinking?'

He turned to face her. She saw that look of loneliness in those deep blue eyes again. It made her catch her breath. An almighty bang from next door broke the spell.

They could hear the muffled sound of Mrs Smith through the wall. 'For fuck's sake, Joseph, why won't you do as you're told for once?'

Em sighed. Perhaps she and Jack weren't meant to be any more than friends. Fate seemed to have an uncanny knack of ruining the moment whenever it looked like he wanted more.

Jack looked at the clock on the mantelpiece. 'Why don't we go for a walk and watch the sunset? It will be more relaxing than listening to World War III next door.'

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

'Do I need walking boots?' Em asked as Jack grabbed the picnic rug from the hall stand and shut the door to his cottage.

'No, it's an easy route. There's a short stretch without a path, but you'll be fine in trainers.'

He led the way across the courtyard, through the gate into the paddock and then turned right, heading towards the old open barn in the corner. Tucked behind the barn, partially hidden by an overgrown hedge, was a small gate labelled PRIVATE.

'I've never noticed that before,' Em said.

'Few people do, which suits me as this is where I go for peace and quiet when I want to think.' He opened the gate for her. 'Don't put this walk on Instagram.'

The gate led into a copse and onto a path with a sharp right turn leading deeper into the trees. They walked along the trail, but once they'd turned the corner, Jack stopped.

'This way. Mind your head.' He had to bend double to get under the low branches. Em followed him along what looked like an animal track.

A few seconds later, they came out into the open again.

Em gasped. In front of her was a small field full of tall grasses and the last few wildflowers of late summer waving gently in the evening breeze. 'It's beautiful, like something out of a dream.'

'It is, isn't it.' Jack smiled at her. 'And you haven't seen the best bit yet. Come on.'

He took her hand and led her through the grass. Em smiled to herself. It felt like she was starring in one of those over-the-top perfume commercials, shot in slow motion in golden evening light, her hair streaming behind her as she ran across a field with her lover. Except her ankle wasn't up to running, and Jack wasn't …

'Turn around,' he said, bringing Em back to reality as they reached some more woodland on the other side of the field.

Em looked. 'Oh, that's amazing.'

The field fell away steeply, giving an uninterrupted view over Dashford, the cliffs and the beach way below. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the sea.

'I know you said no Instagram, but am I allowed to take a photo just for me?' Em had a feeling she'd want to paint this view in future. Jack nodded.

He laid out the picnic rug and sat down while she took several shots.