As he tidied his paint things away, washing his brushes with the green soap that smelled wonderfully of peppermint, his mind jumped back into the past, when he’d first tried to paint Faye.
‘You’ve made me look like an ogre!’ she’d screamed, slapping his arm playfully.
‘You’re a fidget!’ he’d told her. ‘You can’t sit still for a minute.’
‘But I don’t look like that even when I’m fidgeting!’
They’d laughed and kissed and laughed some more. That had pretty much been the pattern of their relationship. So much laughter. He hadn’t realised until now how much he’d missed that. But Nina had still overstepped the mark with her little matchmaking scheme and he was going to confront her about it. She had no business to meddle in his affairs, no matter how good her intentions were.
When he turned up at the mill the next day, charging into his father’s study, Nina was standing on tiptoes, trying to reach a file on the top shelf of the bookcase.
‘Dommie!’ she exclaimed. ‘Whatever’s the matter?’
‘Nina,’ he began, ‘last night—’
‘Yes, how did the portrait go?’ she asked.
He stared at her for a moment as if she was quite mad. ‘I thought I was going to be painting you!’
‘Me?’ Nina said, returning to her computer with the retrieved file. ‘Whatever would I want my portrait painted for?’
‘You said—’
‘What?’
‘I thought you said you wanted a portrait painting.’
‘I did. But not mine. I meant I wanted you to paint Faye.’
‘Nina?’ he said, his dark eyes narrowed in consternation. ‘Why would you do that to me?’
‘Is it going well?’
‘That’s not really the point, is it?’ Dominic said.
‘Isn’t it?’
‘No, it isn’t! You set me up, didn’t you?’ Dominic said. ‘Nina! Please look at me when I’m talking to you.’
Nina forsook the keyboard, turning around in surprise at the tone of his voice and he saw a faint blush creep over her cheeks.
‘Why did you do that?’ he asked her, his voice quieter now.
Nina bit her lip. ‘I thought you’d want to paint Faye, that’s all.’
‘That’s rubbish and you know it. You’re trying to push us back together again, aren’t you? Just like Mum’s been trying to do. Have you and Faye been talking about it – plotting behind my back?’
‘No!’ Nina cried. ‘Nothing like that.’
‘Really? Why don’t I believe you?’
‘Well, it doesn’t matter what you believe, really,’ Nina said, ‘because it’s not true.’
Dominic stood silent and brooding for a moment whilst Nina’s fingers began tap-tapping at her keyboard again.
‘Nina,’ he began.
‘Yes,’ she said, only giving him half her attention.
‘I think you should know something.’
‘Yes?’
‘It would help if you looked at me when I’m talking.’
Once again, Nina turned around. ‘What is it?’
Dominic took a deep breath. ‘Look – it’s not Faye I’m interested in. It’s you!’
Nina shook her head. ‘Don’t say that.’
‘Why not? It’s about time I said it,’ Dominic said. ‘Every time I’ve been going to say it, I’ve been interrupted by Alex or Faye—’
‘Listen!’ Nina said. ‘You really mustn’t say things like that.’
‘Why not when I feel them?’ Dominic answered hopelessly.
‘Because I don’t feel that way about you,’ she said and there was a dreadful pause between them.
‘You don’t?’ Dominic said.
‘I don’t think I ever could,’ Nina added.
‘Is it because of the whole babysitting thing?’ he asked after a moment.
Nina nodded, her hazel eyes filled with remorse. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, feeling a horrible sense of déjà vu after her conversation with Alex just the day before.
Dominic walked across the room and flopped down in his father’s office chair. ‘Just bad timing, then?’ he said, berating the fact that the universe had played a spectacularly bad joke on him. ‘That seems so unfair.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Nina repeated.
‘But what if we’d just met. I mean – now. What if—’
‘I guess we’ll never know,’ Nina said gently.
Dominic looked at her from across the room. Her face was soft and filled with compassion. ‘You’re just saying that out of kindness, aren’t you?’
‘Oh, Dommie—’
‘It’s Dominic, Nina.’
There was another pause as they both let things settle between them for a moment.
‘I’m really sorry – Dominic. I think you’re a terrific person – I really do. You’re bright and talented and sweet and kind—’
‘All the qualities people highlight when they’re not interested in you romantically.’ He gave the tiniest of smiles. ‘And it’s not because of Alex, is it?’ he added.
‘No!’ Nina said, shaking her head.
‘You’re not – you know – in love with him?’
‘Whatever gave you that idea?’ she said, her eyes wide.
‘Well, you seem to be spending a lot of time with him.’
‘That was a mistake,’ Nina said. ‘I shouldn’t have gone to the beach with him. I just thought it would be fun – that’s all.’
Dominic nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer.
‘Dominic,’ she began again, ‘You will finish Faye’s portrait, won’t you?’
He stood up and was silent for a moment. ‘Well, I can’t not finish the portrait, can I? It’s impossible. It wouldn’t be right. I always have to finish a painting, even if I’m not enjoying it or even when I know it’s not working.’
‘But this one’s working, isn’t it?’ Nina asked.
He nodded again. ‘It’s actually very good.’
Nina smiled. ‘You’re happy with it?’
Dominic looked across the room at Nina. ‘I don’t mean I’m happy with the situation,’ he said, ‘but the painting’s not bad.’
‘Good,’ Nina said. ‘I knew this would all work out.’
Dominic sighed and shook his head. ‘Sometimes, you sound scarily like Mum!’
Chapter Twenty-Three
‘You are a very bad friend!’ Janey chided as Nina entered her living room and flopped down onto a mass of very pink cushions. ‘What have you been doing all these weeks? And don’t say you’ve texted me, because that doesn’t count!’
Nina took the cup of tea she was handed and smiled apologetically at her friend. ‘I’m so sorry, Janey. I meant to call you so many times. I just don’t know where the time’s gone.’
‘That’s a sorry excuse,’ Janey said, tutting and sitting down next to her before taking a sip of tea. ‘I’ve been worried sick.’
‘No you haven’t!’ Nina cried. ‘You’ve been off gallivanting around the Italian coast.’
‘That’s important research for our new Mediterranean brochure,’ she said seriously.
‘You mean you didn’t enjoy yourself?’
‘Oh, it was wonderful! And I met the most amazing guy called Renato! He’s only twenty-six, but he owns his own company and has this incredible villa on the Amalfi coast.’
‘I thought holiday romances were frowned upon at Gulliver’s Travels,’ Nina said.
‘Well, they are for the other members of staff, but I’m a company director now. Dad’s promoted me!’
‘Oh, that’s wonderful,’ Nina said. ‘Congratulations, Janey.’
‘So, I can have as many holiday romances as I like now.’
Nina grinned. ‘And I’m sure you will.’
‘So, tell me what’s been happening with you at the mill!’ Janey said, elbowing her friend in impatience.
All of a sudden, the light went out of Nina’s eyes and her face crumpled into a frown. ‘Oh Ja
ney, I was so looking forward to being back there. It’s the most perfect place. Olivia’s made me so welcome and Dudley’s been brilliant to work with – despite the warnings about his temper.’
‘But? I can definitely hear a but coming.’
Nina nodded. ‘I’m afraid I seem to have caused nothing but trouble since I arrived,’ she said with a sigh. ‘I’ve upset Alex by telling him there’s no chance of a relationship ever developing between us. And Dominic’s furious with me for setting him up with Faye. And to top it all, I’ve no idea what’s going on with Justin.’
Janey looked perplexed. ‘Do you want to start again, because I’ve absolutely no idea who half of these people are!’
Nina filled her in on what had been going on over the past few weeks and, when she came to the end of her tale, Janey stared at her in wide-eyed wonder.
‘So, let me see if I’ve got this straight. Dominic’s got a huge crush on you, but Faye has a huge crush on him and you think they should be back together. You’ve kissed Alex and he’s in love with you, too, but you reckon you don’t fancy him – but you might fancy a bloke called Justin whose dog you keep texting me pictures of, but you don’t know anything about him, and you’re not even sure if you’ll ever see him again.’
‘That’s about the size of it,’ Nina said hopelessly.
‘Gosh, I think we’re going to need more than a cup of tea to get you through this mess.’
After eating their way through a defrosted lasagne and at least three glasses of wine each, the conversation turned back to men.
‘You like this Justin, don’t you?’ Janey said.
‘I really don’t know that much about him,’ Nina confessed.
‘Except that he’s handsome and charming and kind to waifs and strays,’ Janey said with a grin.
Nina nodded. ‘Oh yes, he’s all those things, and I keep telling myself that no man who is so brilliant with animals could be a bad person. You should see him with Bess and Ziggy. It’s really amazing. He’s so patient and kind and he always knows exactly how to handle them.’
‘So, what’s the problem?’
Nina poured herself some more wine and took a thoughtful sip. ‘I just can’t help thinking that he’s hiding something.’
‘Like what? A girlfriend? A wife?’
‘I really don’t know.’
Janey chewed her lip. ‘Renato’s married,’ she said.
‘Your Italian?’
She nodded. ‘But he’s split up from her and she’s living in New York.’
‘Says Renato,’ Nina said.
‘What do you mean?’ Janey said, her eyes narrowing.
‘Are you sure he’s telling you the truth?’ Nina said.
‘Of course he’s telling me the truth!’ Janey said defiantly. ‘Anyway, I don’t suppose it matters as I doubt I’ll see him again.’
Nina rolled her eyes. It was ever thus with her friend – a new country and a new man. That was how she lived. ‘One of the perks of the job,’ she used to say.
‘But I get the feeling you’d like to see this Justin again. Am I right?’ They left the table together, taking their glasses and the second bottle of wine across to the sofa.
‘But the way he ran off after we last met,’ Nina said. ‘It was so odd – as if he really didn’t want to see Dudley. What was all that about?’
Janey shrugged. ‘I don’t know. Maybe he had a run-in with Dudley when he was a kid. You said he knew the Milton boys. Perhaps he was friends with them and got into trouble with their dad.’
‘But he’s a grown man now. Surely he wouldn’t still be scared of Dudley,’ Nina said.
‘But you said he was pretty scary,’ Janey pointed out.
‘Well, to begin with,’ Nina said. ‘I suppose he was.’
‘There you go, then. It’s probably something simple like that. We all have some scary adult we remember from our childhood, don’t we? I’d rather not meet that science teacher, Mr Gipps, again. Not after what I did to his Bunsen burner!’
Nina sighed. ‘I want to trust him, I really do.’
‘Then why don’t you?’ Janey said. ‘Honestly, Nina. It’s not as if you’re planning a big romance or anything. I thought you said you wanted a break from all that after he-who-shall-not-be-mentioned. So why not just take things one step at a time and enjoy a bit of summer fun?’
Nina looked at her friend’s smiling face across the table and couldn’t help thinking she was right. What was she making such a big fuss about, anyway? She probably wouldn’t even see Justin again.
‘Okay,’ she said at last. ‘I’ll try not to worry so much. Now, what’s for dessert?’
Nina got a taxi back to The Old Mill House that night. It was late, but the hallway light had been left on for her, casting a warm glow and lighting her way to the kitchen where Ziggy was sleeping.
She knelt down to stroke his head as he opened an eye and thumped his tail on the quarry tile floor.
‘Have you been out, boy?’ she whispered to him and his head sunk back down into his cushion, which Nina took as a yes. It was then that footsteps were heard on the stairs and it wasn’t long before Olivia entered the kitchen, her red hair tousled and her face cloudy with sleep.
‘Oh, I’m so sorry – I didn’t mean to disturb you,’ Nina said.
‘You didn’t, my dear!’ Olivia assured her. ‘I’m a light sleeper and Dudley’s been snoring away tonight. I thought it best to get up. Did you have a nice evening with your friend?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Nina said, standing up and walking across to the sink to fill a glass with water.
Olivia nodded. ‘I used to have so many lovely nights out with my girlfriends before the boys arrived. It’s not the same afterwards, you mark my words. Everyone says they’ll keep in touch and that they won’t let families change them, but it’s all nonsense, of course.’
Nina smiled. ‘Did I miss anything here?’ she asked.
Olivia’s eyes suddenly lit up. ‘You most certainly did! And I’m sorry you were out because you’ll never guess who dropped by.’
‘Who?’
‘Billy! It was such a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting him at all. Thought he’d gone away.’
Nina laughed. ‘We keep missing each other, don’t we?’ she said.
‘Not to worry. I’ve told him that he’s going to be your partner for the anniversary party.’
‘You have?’ Nina said in surprise.
Olivia nodded excitedly. ‘You’ll make such a handsome couple!’ she said, and Nina sighed inwardly. Was this Olivia matchmaking again? ‘Although,’ she continued, ‘I got the distinct impression that there might be a girl on the scene.’
‘Really?’ Nina said.
Olivia nodded. ‘He didn’t say too much, of course. He never does. Always one to play his cards close to his chest when it comes to women, our Billy, but there was something about him this evening – a certain glow.’
Nina looked at Olivia’s happy face and knew that, in her mind, she was choosing flowers for the church in time for an autumn wedding.
‘Then perhaps I shouldn’t be partnering him at the party,’ she said.
‘Oh, nonsense!’ Olivia said. ‘Better safe than sorry when it comes to partners. This other girl might just be passing through.’
Nina smiled. ‘Well, it’s been a long day,’ she said at last and Olivia nodded.
Once in bed, Nina thought about Janey’s words of advice.
‘Enjoy a bit of summer fun,’ she’d told her. Why did Nina find that so hard to do? Why couldn’t she flirt happily with Dominic and Alex and enjoy the uncomplicated attention of Justin and allow herself to be matchmade with Billy?
‘Because I’m not made like that,’ she whispered into the darkness. She couldn’t help it, but she wanted the big romance – the romance that was definitely going somewhere and had a future rather than a fade out.
Nina turned over in bed. After her experience with Matt, it was surprising to have such feelings o
nce again. The heart was a truly incredible thing, she couldn’t help thinking, but she also remembered that it could get you into a lot of trouble, too.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Days slipped by and weeks passed as Nina continued her duties at the mill. It was an early afternoon in late July and Nina had just finished typing a pile of notes that Dudley had produced the night before. She’d never seen anyone so prolific. They were making good progress on The Solitary Neighbour and Nina imagined that it wouldn’t be long before she typed those two magical words: The End.
After almost two months at the mill, Nina had fallen into a very satisfying routine with Dudley and felt comfortable with his funny little ways and occasional bursts of temper. They didn’t scare her anymore; she merely worked around them, giving him some space when he needed to be alone and taking charge of situations that he was finding hard to cope with, such as navigating certain websites.
She was relieved that his earlier addiction to Labradoodle videos on YouTube had waned and he was now, once again, fully immersed in his novel. Nina was kept busy typing up the previous day’s scribbles as well as continuing to research important facts and figures for his book, which she found both challenging and enjoyable.
It was after Nina had made them both a cup of tea that she decided to ask him something that she hadn’t yet dared to. But, before she could broach the subject, he spoke.
‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve revised the latest chapter of the novel completely,’ he said, walking across the study towards her. ‘I’ve made it much tighter. Anyway, see what you think of it and let me know.’
‘I will,’ she said. She loved the way he trusted her opinion so much now with the novel.
‘Dudley?’ she asked.
He looked up from his computer, his white eyebrows hovering over his eyes. ‘What?’ he barked – it was a bark that Nina had come to be rather fond of.
‘I was just wondering what your plans are for when you finish the novel.’
Dudley looked confused for a moment, as if he had never even tried to imagine such a time. ‘Well, I—’ he paused. ‘I guess I’ll write another.’
‘But what will you do with this one?’
He stroked his chin and looked thoughtful.
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