Page 22 of The Clifftop Cottage

Gabriel winced, though his grin didn’t budge. “Alright, alright. Truce.” He raised his hands in surrender.

“I’d just need to figure out which house you’re actually hiding in these days,” she added, reaching for her mug. “It’s hard to direct a getaway car when you’re always drifting between the cottage and the townhouse.”

Gabriel stood, bouncing Callum gently as the baby started to fuss, dipping his legs – a trick that usually settled him.

“So, where are you?” Sorcha pressed.

“I’m in town. The cottage is empty.”

“Oh, you’re not renting it out? Last girl wasn’t there long.”

“I know – she begged me to let her stay there, said she wanted to live here long-term. Then, the moment summer ended, she all but ran for the hills.” He shook his head. “I should’ve just handed it to an agency and let the holidaymakers at it. Now, it’s just sitting there.”

“Well, you can’t let it sit there, Gabriel. It needs someone in it – keeping the heat on. An empty house falls into ruin quickly.”

“It was a ruin not that long ago.” Gabriel gave her a pointed look. “For years, it was just a windbreak for Dad’s sheep.”

Sorcha sighed. “And after all that money Dad put into fixing it up …”

“I know.” Gabriel grimaced. Callum let out a sharp wail, his face scrunching in protest.

Sorcha reached out her hands. “He’s teething. Probably needs a feed.”

Gabriel averted his eyes as Sorcha settled the baby on her lap and nursed him. “Are you gonna do that right now?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, right now, Gabriel. What, still squeamish after all these years?”

He scoffed. “No, I just … look, I respect your modesty.” He turned to fuss with the teacups.

“How very gallant of you,” she teased. Then, with a knowing look, she added, “So, what are you actually going to do about the cottage? Dad left it to you – you can’t just let it sit there on the side of the cliff, forgotten.”

Gabriel exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Alright, alright. I might have an idea.”

In his mind, he pictured the old stone house, perched on the cliff edge, battered by wind and rain, but standing strong. Empty. Sitting there.

If he could get someone in there, make a bit of profit over the winter, and then maybe he could stop thinking about it altogether.

9

The café was warm enough to make Erica pause just inside the door. Heat, sugar, and cinnamon hit her all at once, chasing out the cold that had settled deep in her bones.

Along the window ledge, a string of tiny pumpkin-shaped fairy lights cast a soft amber glow against the glass, where raindrops slid lazily downward. Outside, the wind howled through the harbour, sending ripples across the water. But in here, the storm was something to be admired from a safe, snug distance.

The place had fully embraced the season. On the counter, spiced muffins sat beneath a glass dome, each topped with tiny icing pumpkins. Beside the till, a black cauldron overflowed with chocolate ghosts and sticky toffees.

Maisie traced lazy shapes in the whipped cream of her hot chocolate, spoon clinking softly against the mug. Her eyes kept drifting upward to the paper bats hanging from the ceiling beams, swaying slightly whenever the door opened and let in a gust of cold air.

Their little corner by the window had become theirs, a ritual of sorts. Hot chocolate, a shared slice of something sweet, and the slow, ever-changing view of the sea. Today, a small yellow fishing boat had just moored between two pristine white yachts, like a splash of honest working charm among all that polished wealth.

Maisie sighed, sinking deeper into her chair.

“I like it here.”

Erica smiled, wrapping her hands around her mug. “I know.”

She’d come to enjoy these last few days of picking Maisie up from school – their stroll down to the harbour, the way they lingered by the water, feeding ducks and swans with whatever breadcrumbs they’d saved from breakfast. But now the sky had darkened into an early autumn dusk, and the little yellow boat stood out against the gloom like a marker of time passing.

Erica checked the time, the light already starting to fade. They should head back.