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Chapter 25
‘Well, this is it,’ said Joss, opening the gate with thePrivatesign about halfway down the gangplank. Abigail smiled at the houseboat. Lili was right: with its large patio doors, white clapboard exterior and wooden wraparound deck where you could sit out and enjoy the views across the river of Southwold on one side and Walberswick and the reed marshes on the other, it was pretty cool – despite looking a bit out of place in an English harbour. Ray had neighbours with houseboats of the same style. She could see the appeal. Through the patio doors, she spotted a comfortable, impressive-sized open-plan lounge with a comfortable L-shaped squishy sofa in grey, a large flatscreen television and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves along one wall, crammed with books. The open-plan living arrangements included a table and four dining chairs behind the sofa, and a small white kitchen open to the lounge.
‘Impressive, isn’t it?’ commented Joss, as if reading her thoughts.
She turned to him and smiled. She put her phone in the pocket of her jeans and said, ‘I bet you wish I hadn’t booked you a room at my mum’s guesthouse.’
‘I see what you mean, but no, although it was kind of Ray to offer me his spare room, it’s a bit … well, cosy in there. And he’s invited Sarah for dinner.’
‘Who?’
‘His ex, who he is trying to get back together with.’
Abigail remembered Lili saying something about that, although with so much on her mind after losing Toby, she knew she wasn’t always listening and taking in what people were saying.
‘It’s not exactly the most romantic evening if you’ve got a lodger – is it? Bit awkward for Ray.’
‘For you too, I imagine.’
‘Yes, to be honest, it’s a godsend, the room at your mum’s guesthouse.
Abigail noticed he didn’t ask the cost. She told him the room rate, anyway. ‘Is that okay?’
He shrugged, ‘Sure.’
Abigail looked at him as he closed the gate behind them. She knew nothing about him, apart from the fact that he was that horrible man’s nephew who had come down to Suffolk to visit his uncle over the years. But then Abigail didn’t talk about herself much either. How could she? Every memory she now had was tinged with sadness.
She followed him to the boat. Joss stepped on board first, turning around to hold out his hand for her. Although she didn’t need help – it was only a small step down on to the wooden veranda – she took his hand, anyway. It seemed rude not to. The trouble was that when she joined him, he held her hand longer than necessary. She had already realised that Joss was into her, and she knew she had to make it clear she wasn’t interested in a relationship – not now, not ever.
Abigail was saved from the awkward conversation she didn’t want to have by the sound of the patio doors sliding open. ‘Hey, Joss, you’re back already!’
She turned to the sound of a male voice and found Ray standing there, looking at Joss wide-eyed. She knew it was him from Lili’s description. Tall, in his sixties, with curly grey hair, bright blue eyes, and a ready smile – so said her friend – he wasn’t smiling now. Abigail guessed why. She said, ‘Joss has come back to collect his luggage. He’s staying at The Guesthouse at Shingle Cove, up the road.’
‘You’re leaving?’
Joss nodded, smiling, confirming what she’d said. He introduced her. ‘This is Abigail.’
Ray took her hand. ‘Well, it’s nice to meet you, Abigail. Do come in and wait while Joss collects his things.’
Joss stepped through the double doors and walked across the lounge to a door by the kitchen. Abigail guessed that it led into an inner hall where the two bedrooms and bathroom were. She hesitated before stepping inside. She frowned at Ray.
Ray didn’t notice. With a dishtowel flung over his shoulders, he appeared to be in the middle of cooking. Abigail could see steam rising from pots and pans on the hob in the kitchen. ‘Yes, do come in and wait. I just have to check the dinner.’ Ray strode past the sofa, bare feet walking on the wooden floor. ‘Take a seat, why don’t you?’
Abigail didn’t. She followed him up to the kitchen counter that separated the kitchen area from the lounge diner. ‘Look, I’m not with Joss.’
‘Oh, you’re not his girlfriend?’
Abigail shook her head, watching him open a pan lid and spear a potato with a fork, wondering what had made him think she was. She didn’t ask. He’d probably caught them holding hands as they stepped off the jetty.
He glanced at her. ‘Just a friend helping him out?’
‘Yes, but I didn’t come here to help him with his luggage. I came to speak to you.’
He put the pan lid down and looked at her. ‘Really?’
‘Yes, Lili told me about your heir-hunting service. She told me she’d phoned you and—’ Abigail suddenly remembered what Joss had just said about Ray’s date with his ex. ‘I haven’t got the wrong day, have I?’
Ray pursed his lips.
