The Beach House

by Jane Green

  ‘I’m not sure whether you can actually do that,’ Daff says cautiously. ‘But –’ and she has to look away as she says this next bit – ‘I know that Mark Stephenson is desperate to buy this house.’ There. It’s out there. She put his name forward and it wasn’t so bad. It wasn’t as if she had to talk Nan into selling Windermere: Nan is going to sell it anyway. Now she’s just made sure that Mark Stephenson has a shot, that her own future is protected.

  A six-figure number. She should feel good about this. Hell, she should feel great. She doesn’t. She feels shifty and guilty, and suddenly she wants to be out of this room.

  ‘Mark Stephenson! The perfect man!’ Nan says. ‘I’m going to give him a call right now.’

  ‘Mom?’ Michael stands up. ‘Are you sure about this?’

  Nan’s eyes sadden. ‘Oh Michael, even though I love this house more than anything, at the end of the day it’s only a house. It’s more important I have the people I love around me. I fully intend to buy a little house on the beach somewhere, a tiny cosy cottage that I will make just as much of a home as Windermere has been. A place to start afresh. A place that doesn’t hold the memories.’

  ‘Okay.’ Michael steps back as Nan walks into the kitchen, and Daniel and Jess move silently out of the room.

  ‘Wow,’ he says, turning to Daff. ‘It would never have occurred to me that he’s come back for the house. Do you really think that it’s possible he would end up with it?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Daff says, unable to quite look him in the eye. ‘But I very much doubt it. Either way, though, it’s probably better to be safe than sorry.’

  ‘Are you okay?’ Michael says.

  ‘Fine. Why?’

  ‘You suddenly seem a little odd,’ he says. ‘Distracted.’

  ‘I’m fine.’ She forces herself to smile and look at him. ‘I guess I am a bit distracted. I got a call this morning about a client looking for a house back home, and I’m just trying to think of the inventory I can show them when I get back.’

  ‘Of course! I always forget you work in real estate. You need to help Mom do this. You’re the perfect person to hold her hand and make sure that Mark Stephenson doesn’t take advantage of her.’

  ‘Sure,’ Daff says, wishing he hadn’t said that.

  ‘Mark Stephenson?’

  ‘Speaking.’

  ‘It’s Nan Powell here.’

  ‘Mrs Powell!’ His voice is loud and cheerful on the phone. ‘What a glorious surprise.’

  ‘I’ve told you before,’ Nan says. ‘Please call me Nan. And it may turn out to be an even better surprise. I have a business proposition I want to discuss with you. I was hoping we could get together sometime.’

  ‘Now that’s exactly the kind of phone call I enjoy receiving,’ Mark Stephenson says. ‘How about I come over this afternoon?’

  ‘Why don’t we say five? Cocktail hour. I’ll make Martinis.’

  ‘Now how do you know that’s my favourite drink?’

  Nan laughs. ‘I’ll see you at five, Mark.’

  Daniel is not used to picking up the phone and asking someone out for dinner. He was never particularly good at it, hence his tendency to stay in long relationships. However, he is single again and at some point he is going to have to get out there, to actually live his life as a single gay man. He knows that the hardest part will be the beginning; once he starts, it will be plain sailing.

  Matt is clever, and helpful, and good to be around. He’s also handsome, funny and cute. He seems a little like Daniel’s guardian angel, and the very least Daniel can do to repay him for his kindness is take him out for dinner. Somewhere nice. Somewhere special. Somewhere Daniel can truly thank him.

  ‘I was wondering about the Pearl,’ he says, after Matt has picked up the phone and they have exchanged the requisite niceties. ‘I thought perhaps you’d like to have dinner there.’

  ‘Is this a date?’ Matt smiles down the phone.

  ‘No! I mean, yes. I don’t know… is it?’

  ‘I’m kidding,’ Matt says. ‘You sound so awkward. It’s adorable. Yes, I’d love to have dinner with you and the Pearl is just fabulous. When were you thinking?’

  ‘When are you available?’

  ‘If I said tonight would you think I was easy?’

  Daniel laughs. ‘Tonight would be great. The girls are with Bee. Everything’s gone slightly crazy here.’

  ‘I’ve heard,’ Matt says. ‘Is it really true that Nan’s husband, presumed dead, has suddenly reappeared to claim the house?’

  ‘Oh my God.’ Daniel’s eyes widen. ‘Where did you hear that?’

  ‘You can’t keep anything a secret on this island,’ Matt says. ‘So it is true. I hope you have good stories for me tonight.’

  ‘I can’t say anything.’ For as much as Daniel is tempted to gossip, his loyalty lies with Nan. ‘Shall we meet there?’

  ‘Absolutely not. If this is a date you can come and pick me up.’

  Daniel laughs again. ‘Okay, I’ll pick you up at eight.’

  ‘Nice to see you again.’ Mark Stephenson winks surreptitiously at Daff as he shakes her hand, and she shivers, knowing how awful it would be if Michael found out, how wrong it feels to be taking a kickback.

  ‘The house looks wonderful,’ he says to Nan. ‘It looks like you’ve spruced it up hugely since I was last here.’

  ‘A little.’ Nan laughs, handing him a Martini, straight up, with olives. ‘I had to get it ready for the tenants. You still love it, then?’

  ‘I do.’ Mark leans forward on his chair, the excitement in his eyes clearly visible. ‘As I told you before, Nan, I’ve always wanted this house.’

  ‘I’ve loved it here,’ Nan says. ‘But I think the time has come for me to move on. I’m not entirely convinced – not yet – however I’m curious as to what you think the house might be worth if, say, I were to sell.’

  ‘Well, it would depend on a number of factors.’ Mark Stephenson stalls for time, wanting to delay having to give an actual number for as long as possible. ‘How many acres do you have here? Seven?’

  ‘Nine point two,’ Nan says firmly.

  ‘Right. That’s good. Ocean views, direct beach access. I’m interested in it for me, as my family home, but I’d still need to put a fair amount of money into it. I noticed there are a number of missing shingles and the windows will all need replacing. With these old houses once you start renovating they usually turn into a money pit, so I’d say it would probably need around a million put into it.’

  ‘A million dollars?’ Nan gasps.

  ‘Absolutely. That’s the starting price.’ He nods sincerely. ‘Most people would just knock it down and start again, it’s probably cheaper in the long run, but I love these old houses and I’ve always wanted to live in something like this.’

  ‘You really wouldn’t knock it down?’ Michael is dubious as Mark Stephenson shakes his head. ‘Surely you’d get far more money if you sub-divided it and developed, say, three or four houses here.’

  ‘Most other builders would do that, you’re absolutely right. I see this as a home, a home that’s held wonderful memories, and you can’t build that. I could see my children growing up here, climbing up the ladder to the widow’s walk, running down to the water.’ He is looking at Nan as he talks, trying to convince her, and doesn’t see Michael look at Daff and suppress a grin.

  ‘So what do you think it would fetch?’

  ‘Difficult to say,’ Mark says. ‘I would think anywhere between three and four.’

  ‘Three and four million dollars?’ Nan says incredulously.

  ‘I know. Property has gone up tremendously on the island.’

  ‘Is that all?’ she says imperiously. ‘Tell me, Mr Stephenson –’ he has gone back to Mr Stephenson, which, in this case, is not a good sign – ‘how is it that the Clearys’ house, on five acres, which was torn down to make way for two giant houses, each of which, incidentally, is on the market for around five million, sold for six point se
ven? And the Harbinger house, on ten acres, with no ocean view, sold for eight?’

  ‘Ah…’ He stalls. ‘I’m not completely familiar with those houses. I’d have to look into them more. That’s the problem with pricing,’ he says unhappily, dismayed that Nan has done her research. ‘I didn’t want to give you a figure because I haven’t had a chance to go through the comps.’

  ‘Well, I suggest you do,’ Nan says cheerfully, holding up her glass. ‘Cheers.’

  ‘So what did you think?’ Michael watches as Mark Stephenson’s Land Cruiser takes off down the driveway, spraying gravel.

  ‘What do I think?’ Nan says slowly. ‘I think he’ll be knocking Windermere down faster than I can say Sconset, that’s what I think. And he’ll put up four huge houses, sell each one for five or six million dollars, minimum.’ She turns to see Jessica staring at her with her mouth open. ‘Darling, close your mouth. You look like you’re catching flies. I showed him, though, didn’t I?’ She grins delightedly. ‘I’m not quite as dumb as I look.’

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Now when Michael’s mobile phone rings and he sees Jordana’s number, he has to answer. With a sinking heart he realizes, as he presses the green button, that he will have to answer every time she calls for the rest of his life.

  He can’t divert the call when she is the mother of his child, can’t pretend she doesn’t exist in the hope she’ll go away. Every time she calls, for the rest of his life, he will have to answer because it may be something important. He never realized until this moment just how much of an impact that will have.

  ‘Michael, it’s Jordana.’

  ‘Hi.’ An awkward pause. ‘How are you?’

  ‘I’m okay,’ she says. ‘I’m leaving today. I thought you ought to know.’

  Michael feels the panic rising. ‘Where are you going? How can I get hold of you? There’s still so much left to talk about.’

  There is a pause, then: ‘Not any more.’ The bitterness in her voice is palpable. ‘You’ll be happy to hear I am no longer pregnant.’

  ‘What?’ Michael gasps, unsure he has heard correctly.

  ‘I miscarried yesterday,’ she lies, although part of her has convinced herself that it is true, that her period was unusually heavy, therefore it must be true, could not possibly be a late period due to something as prosaic as stress.

  ‘So,’ she continues, ‘you’re off the hook.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Yes, I’m serious.’ She spits out the words. ‘I take it you’ll be out celebrating.’

  ‘No… I’m sorry. I didn’t expect this to happen. Why didn’t you call me? Are you… okay?’

  ‘Not really. I feel awful. And I’m calling you now, aren’t I? I’ll be fine.’ She knows she will be, for as much as she tried to convince herself she wanted this baby, that this was a child conceived out of love, she can finally admit that the low-grade anxiety she has been carrying with her the last week or so has disappeared.

  ‘Jordana… I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you had to go through that on your own.’ Mixed in with the relief, Michael feels a sadness, realizes suddenly how lost Jordana is.

  Not because of him, not because of Jackson, but because of who she is, because she is a woman searching for happiness. Michael sees quite clearly that until she can look within herself, until she can find peace inside, she will never find the answers she is looking for.

  But the relief… oh Lord, the relief is huge. After he says goodbye, he turns to Daff, his eyes dancing in a way she hasn’t seen since Jordana turned up on the doorstep.

  ‘Good news?’

  ‘I can’t believe it,’ Michael says, pulling out a chair and sitting at the kitchen table. ‘It was Jordana. She’s not pregnant.’ And as the relief overwhelms him, he bursts into tears.

  ‘This is my favourite restaurant,’ Matt confides, as he and Daniel walk through the door of Water Street.

  ‘I’m glad.’ Daniel smiles. ‘When we couldn’t get into the Pearl I chose this one because the food’s organic, and home-grown. That seemed to be right up your street.’

  ‘That’s exactly up my street. I couldn’t have chosen anywhere more perfect myself. Thank you for doing this, it’s a real treat.’ He smiles at Daniel, who feels his heart flutter ever so slightly, in a way it hasn’t done in a very long time.

  ‘So give me some dish.’ Matt leans forward, lowering his voice. ‘What’s going on with the house?’

  ‘All I can say is that what you heard may be true.’

  ‘I’ve a reason for asking, though. Do you remember Stephen and Keith from the dinner party at my house?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Well, Stephen is seriously wealthy, and he did say the Powell house is the one he’s always wanted. I know that if Nan’s truly considering selling, he would definitely want to buy.’

  ‘Could he afford it?’ Daniel looks doubtful. ‘I don’t want to be rude, but the prices here are extraordinary. I think the house is worth millions.’

  ‘That’s not rude.’ Matt laughs. ‘It’s true. He can afford it, though. I know he’d be devastated if the house sold to someone else. If the rumours are true, would you at least tell Nan there’s someone interested in buying it who really would do it justice, because he wouldn’t tear it down, he really would renovate it and do it beautifully.’

  ‘I’ll tell her,’ Daniel says, pausing before asking, ‘Do you know anything about a guy on the island called Mark Stephenson?’

  ‘The builder?’ Daniel nods. ‘Nasty piece of work, I’ve heard, although I don’t know him personally. I’ve always believed in judging people as you find them, not by what you hear. Is he the one trying to buy it?’

  ‘Maybe.’ Daniel shifts uncomfortably.

  ‘Makes sense,’ Matt says. ‘Just make sure Nan knows he may not be what he seems.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Daniel says. ‘Forewarned is definitely forearmed.’

  ‘It is in this case.’ He sits back in his chair. ‘So, how much longer are you on the island?’

  ‘Another two weeks,’ Daniel says. ‘I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone.’

  ‘Neither can I.’ There is disappointment in Matt’s eyes. ‘I can’t believe how much ground there is to cover in such a short space of time.’

  ‘Ground to cover?’

  ‘You know, the getting to know you bit. We’ve just met and boom, you’re disappearing before we even know anything about one another.’

  ‘What do you want to know?’ Daniel smiles. He likes how direct Matt is, likes that there’s no pretence. The longer he looks at him across the table, the cuter he’s becoming. He likes that Matt has intelligent eyes that crease deeply when he smiles. He likes that his forearms are strong, suntanned, with light golden hair bleached by the sun. He likes that Matt is interesting and, seemingly, interested in him.

  He likes that not only is he attracted to Matt, but that he’s allowed to be attracted to Matt. He doesn’t have to feel guilty, as if there’s something wrong with him. He doesn’t have to go home and mentally beat himself up for not being like every other husband in town.

  Matt smiles. ‘Tell me what your perfect date would be,’ he says. ‘Then let’s see if we can make it happen.’

  Their passion is intense, the excitement so strong, Daniel can hardly breathe, until Matt pushes him away.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ Daniel gasps, for they have only just sat down on Matt’s sofa, only just begun kissing.

  Matt sighs. ‘Oh God.’ He buries his head in his hands.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘I don’t know how to tell you this,’ Matt says slowly.

  ‘What?’ Daniel looks at him, a twinkle in his eye. ‘You’re straight.’

  Matt bursts out laughing.

  ‘Hardly. But I’ve been out for years, forever. I’ve had more casual encounters than you’ve probably had hot dinners, and I shouldn’t be doing this. I knew this would happen. Jesus, I wanted it. to happen, but now…’ His eyes sof
ten as he raises them to meet Daniel’s. ‘Now I can’t. This isn’t what I want any more. No, that’s not true.’ He shakes his head with a small smile. ‘I do want this, but I can’t do flings any more. I can’t do this.’

  ‘Who says this is a fling?’ Daniel says, confused.

  ‘I do,’ Matt says sadly. ‘I do, only because I’ve known too many men who have been in your situation. We’re in very different places. I’m ready to settle down, to find my life partner, to grow roses around the door and settle in with my slippers, my dog and my man –’

  ‘I want that too…’ Daniel interrupts, but Matt shakes his head.

  ‘You might, but you’re not ready for that, not yet. You need to experiment, have fun, get it all out of your system before you’re ready to settle down. There is nothing I’d like more right now than to sleep with you, but I’d get too involved, and I’d be the one who would end up getting hurt. Not to mention,’ he adds sadly, ‘you’re leaving in two weeks’ time.’

  ‘I wouldn’t hurt you,’ Daniel says, looking Matt straight in the eye. ‘If anyone’s likely to get hurt, it would be me.’

  ‘No,’ Matt says. ‘I think you’re wonderful. I think you’re exactly the kind of man I’ve been waiting for, but it isn’t the right time for us. You need to play the field, and then perhaps we can see how it goes, if, of course, you ever come back to Nantucket.’

  ‘You could come to Connecticut,’ Daniel offers.

  ‘I could,’ Matt says. ‘And maybe I will.’

  ‘Oh God,’ Daniel groans. ‘I was really looking forward to seeing you without clothes on.’

  Matt laughs out loud. ‘I’m sure you will, just not tonight.’ His face turns serious. ‘Know this, Daniel. I’m saying no not because I don’t like you, but because I like you too much. I hope during the rest of the time you’re on the island we see each other, get to know each other better, maybe see whether it’s worth staying in touch, because God knows, people come and go here, never to be heard from again.’