Secrets at the Last House Before the Sea

by Liz Eeles

  ‘Sorry, Matt, I’m leaping to conclusions.’

  ‘Maybe, maybe not. Hold on, I’m going outside.’

  Rosie heard muffled voices, a door closing and then the sound of traffic zooming past. She could picture the busy street, lined with palm trees, and Matt sheltering in the shade.

  ‘Do you really think this Epping bloke could be your dad?’

  ‘Possibly, maybe, probably. I don’t know.’

  ‘Have you spoken to him about it?’

  ‘God, no, and I’m not planning to. You should see him, Matt. He’s cold and unfeeling and I’m not sure I want him to be my dad anyway. I already had a dad.’

  ‘One who left you and your mum when you were a kid.’

  ‘I don’t need you to remind me of that.’

  ‘Sorry. I don’t mean to be blunt. This is just a lot to take in.’

  ‘I know. It’s all too much on top of everything else.’

  What Rosie needed right now was to talk to her mum. She’d wrap her arms around her and explain and make everything all right. But that could never, ever happen. Nothing would ever be the same again.

  ‘I want to come back to Spain.’ Rosie was crying now, as she reached the cliff path. ‘You were right, Matt. I was stupid to stay here and to try and save Driftwood House. It doesn’t matter. None of it does. Mum’s gone.’

  ‘Well, yeah, but you were trying to do right by your mum. That’s understandable.’

  ‘Understandable but still crazy. Charles Epping and his horrible wife will do exactly what they wanted to do in the first place. It’s hopeless. I’ll get the first flight back to Málaga.’

  ‘Now, don’t be hasty, Rosie. There’s no point in rushing back while you’re not thinking straight. Why don’t you take a day or two to collect your thoughts and pack things up at the house, and I’ll be waiting for you when you get back? I’ve got to head indoors to the Jimsons before they change their minds, but promise me you’ll take the time to get your head together before you do anything else.’

  Rosie stopped on the cliff path and let the breeze cool her hot face. She could see that bolting from Heaven’s Cove would cause its own problems. Many of her mum’s possessions were still scattered around the house and needed to be boxed up. ‘OK, I promise, though I can’t wait to get back. I miss you, Matt.’

  ‘I miss you too, babe. Gotta go.’

  Rosie dropped the phone into her jacket pocket and gazed across Heaven’s Cove. The village looked beautiful from up here. At its centre, the church tower rose above huddled cottages and narrow streets. Boats bobbed at the quay, and close to the bright strip of sand at the cove, she spotted the fields that made up Meadowsweet Farm. Liam would be there right now, working hard, and paying rent for his fields to a man he couldn’t stand. The man who might be her father.

  When Liam had rung her yesterday, to ask about the Eppings’ visit, she’d said nothing about Charles also being known as Jay. She didn’t want to say anything before finding out more. That’s what she’d told herself. But the truth was she didn’t want Liam to think badly of her, as he surely would if she turned out to be an Epping herself.

  With a deep sigh, Rosie trudged on for home. Her head had started to ache after talking to Matt, and Driftwood House seemed musty and full of old secrets when the front door banged shut behind her. She paced from room to room, unable to settle, and spent the rest of the day packing up precious possessions of her mum’s that she wanted to keep. Another restless night followed, filled with dreams of perfect red roses turning to ash in her hands.

  CHAPTER 21

  Liam dropped the axe he’d been wielding and pulled up his T-shirt to mop his face.

  Dee used to watch him chopping wood because she said he looked sexy. Today, all he looked was hot and miserable, and Billy, his only audience, was staring at him with a bored expression.

  ‘Are you fed up too? Would you like a walk, boy?’ The dog’s excited barking at the ‘w’ word gave him his answer. ‘Come on then. A quick run on the beach will do us both good.’

  Was he talking too much to his dog? Probably, but Billy was good company who gave out far more than he expected back. Last night, Liam had been to the pub with Alex, but knocking back pints and flirting with any woman who came close had lost its sheen. At least with Billy he didn’t have to pretend he was the person he no longer seemed to be.

  Shutting the yard gate firmly behind him, Liam started walking towards the beach with Billy trotting obediently at his heels. The lane was empty of traffic this afternoon and the only sounds were the chirping of birds nestling in the high hedges on either side of the road, and the dull boom of waves crashing into the headland.

  The sun on his face was cheering and made him feel calmer. He’d had a busy morning but, however hard he worked, there was only so much income the farm could make. And he was still worried about the rent rise on his fields. Charles Epping really had no clue how normal, un-rich people lived. And he wouldn’t give a damn about Driftwood House. Liam wondered again how Epping’s visit to the house had gone two days ago. Rosie had been distant and unforthcoming when he’d rung her to find out, so he hadn’t called again.

  ‘No cars so you can come off the lead, Billy.’ Liam unclipped it but the dog stayed by his side.

  Ahead of him, a woman in a flowing lilac sundress had just reached the beach. A canvas tote bag was slung over her shoulder and her hair was shining gold in the sun. It was only when she stopped and stooped down to take off her sandals that he realised it was Rosie.

  Liam’s first instinct was to turn around and head back to the farm. Not because he didn’t want to see her – he really did, but that was the problem. Every time he saw Rosie, he felt closer to her and that just wouldn’t do. What was the point of getting closer if it meant he’d miss her more when she was gone?

  He stopped walking, ready to retrace his steps, but the stupid dog ruined everything by suddenly running ahead. His barking alarmed a flock of birds who rose from the hedgerow as one.

  Rosie shielded her eyes to see what was causing the ruckus and stood up slowly, holding her shoes.

  ‘Hey,’ said Liam, when he reached her. ‘How are you doing?’

  ‘All right, thanks. And you?’

  ‘Yeah, OK.’

  ‘Good.’

  Rosie squidged her toes into the sand while Liam tried not to think of the last time he’d seen Rosie, when he’d run his fingers along the soft skin of her arm.

  ‘Have you been busy today?’ she asked.

  ‘Yeah, very.’

  ‘Spring must be a busy time of year.’

  ‘It is.’

  ‘How are your mum and dad?’

  ‘Fine.’

  This was quite pathetic. How many women’s arms had he stroked over the years? Absolutely loads, without turning into a monosyllabic idiot. Alex would tell him to get a grip.

  Liam pulled himself together and gave Rosie his best twinkly smile. ‘I was about to take Billy for a walk on the beach. Why don’t you join us?’

  ‘Why not?’ Rosie gazed out to sea and smiled. ‘Wow, the beach is looking good today. I needed some fresh air and knew it would cheer me up.’

  She put her hands on her hips and turned her face to the sun while Liam bent to pat Billy’s flank.

  ‘Off you go, boy. Have fun.’

  The dog needed no further encouragement. He sped away, barking joyfully as he weaved among the tourists who had spread their towels out across the warm sand.

  Liam straightened up. ‘I’m sure you have good beaches in Spain.’

  ‘We have fabulous beaches. But the ones near me tend to be busier. They’re absolutely rammed in the summer with sun loungers. This one is very… unspoiled.’

  Liam visited this beach almost every day. Every inch of it was familiar to him, but now he saw it through fresh eyes. It was very unspoiled and beautiful. The sun was shining in a cloudless sky – the first really hot day of the year – and children in swimsuits were running in and out o
f the retreating tide and splashing in rock pools. An expanse of washed sand glittered like it was scattered with diamonds and huge boulders that had tumbled from the cliffs cast welcome shade at the back of the beach.

  ‘Shall we walk then?’ asked Rosie, swinging her strappy sandals between her fingers. ‘Aren’t you going to take off your boots?’

  He didn’t usually bother, for a quick walk with Billy. But he unlaced his boots, took off his socks and sank his toes into the warm sand. That felt good.

  Together, the two of them started walking just above the tide line on the cooler, more solid sand, while Billy splashed in the water.

  ‘Any more news from the Eppings?’

  Rosie stiffened beside him. ‘Nothing as yet.’

  ‘How were they when they visited Driftwood House? You didn’t say much about it.’

  ‘They were… odd. Neither of them seemed to like the house very much, and Cecilia hates me.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ He laughed. ‘No one could hate you, Rosie.’

  ‘You’d be surprised.’

  When she grinned and turned her face towards him, he noticed the freckles scattered across her nose and the glow from her bare, tanned skin. He quickly looked away, across the waves to a yellow boat on the horizon.

  ‘So when will they tell you what they’ve decided about the house?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter because they’re not going to go for the guesthouse idea anyway.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  When she side-stepped a wave, her hand brushed against his. ‘One hundred per cent. Cecilia’s torturing me by stringing it out, that’s all.’

  ‘I see. That’s a shame. Driftwood House will disappear and the Eppings will win again.’

  ‘They always win, don’t they?’

  ‘Seems that way.’

  Rosie stopped and squinted into the sun. ‘You don’t like anything about them, do you?’

  ‘Why would I? They care about no one but themselves and don’t give a monkey’s about Heaven’s Cove. So what happens to you now?’

  ‘Now I finish packing up Mum’s things and I go back to Spain in a few days’ time. There’s nothing to keep me in Heaven’s Cove any longer.’

  ‘Not even the rain or the cream teas or the fabulous people?’ Fabulous people? Why did he say that? It made him sound full of himself, like when he was at school. Rosie gave him a straight stare. ‘And what about the search for your dad?’ he asked, quickly.

  ‘I’ve given up on that.’

  ‘Why?’

  She brushed away a fly that landed on her bare shoulder. ‘The only dad I ever knew is gone and that’s that. I don’t need another one.’

  There was something else. The way she bit down hard on her bottom lip gave her away, but before Liam could say anything more Billy ran out of the waves and started leaping around them. He was barking loudly and getting totally over-excited. Oh, he wouldn’t. Not again.

  ‘Billy, no! Oh, for f—’

  Water droplets flew through the air, splitting the light into mini rainbows, as the really, really stupid dog decided to shake himself. Good grief, the water was absolutely freezing. When Rosie squealed, Liam pushed her behind him, trying to save her from the worst of it, and took the full force.

  ‘I can only apologise. Again.’ Liam licked his wet lips and tasted salt. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with the daft dog. He never normally misbehaves like this. I think you bring out the worst in him.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it.’ Rosie looked at Liam’s sopping wet T-shirt and started to laugh. He’d never heard her properly laugh before and the sound of it lifted his spirits. ‘You’d better stretch out on the sand to dry off. You’re absolutely soaked.’

  Liam sank down onto the warm sand and leaned back on his elbows. Rosie sat down next to him, pulled up her knees and locked her arms around them. ‘Billy is quite a character.’

  ‘That’s one word for him,’ said Liam, tutting at his ridiculous dog. Billy was now rolling around on the beach and his fur was stiff with sand. ‘I’ll be hosing him down in the yard when I get back.’

  ‘He won’t much like that.’

  ‘I don’t suppose he will.’

  Rosie lowered her cheek onto her knees, with her face towards the sea. Liam watched her hair dance in the breeze for a moment. She seemed so worn out, so bowed down by life and its secrets.

  ‘So you’ll still be here tomorrow, then,’ he said.

  ‘I will. Why?’

  ‘There’s an eighties disco in the village hall tomorrow night. Belinda and her committee put on dances there quite regularly. Why don’t you come and switch off for a couple of hours?’

  Rosie raised her head. ‘Do you go?’

  ‘Always.’ That was a lie. He hadn’t been to one in ages.

  ‘I bet you’re a good dancer on the quiet.’

  ‘You saw me dance at school discos so you know full well that Strictly’s got nothing on my moves.’

  When Rosie turned her head towards him, he realised that his mouth was very close to hers. She really did have the most beautiful skin and her teeth were so white against her golden tan. A fair curl of hair had tumbled onto her shoulder and, without properly thinking it through, he pushed it back behind her ear, his hand brushing against her cheek.

  Rosie stared at him, her eyes the colour of the autumn leaves that blew across his farm. Neither of them moved as seagulls wheeled overhead and children ran past them to the sea.

  Liam, the ladies’ man, would have rested his hand on the back of her neck and gently pulled her towards him until their lips met. But that wasn’t who he was any more. Globe-trotting Rosie already had a boyfriend and wasn’t interested in a failing farmer from Heaven’s Cove anyway.

  He’d just dropped his hand when a long, dark shadow loomed over them. Shielding his eyes, he looked up into the sun.

  ‘Oh!’ Rosie was scrambling to her feet, shaking sand all over him. ‘You came! You didn’t tell me.’

  She threw her arms around the neck of the man standing in front of them while Liam got to his feet and wiped away the sand sticking to his damp T-shirt.

  ‘Been for a swim?’ asked the man, staring at Liam over Rosie’s shoulder. He was sporting a tidy moustache and goatee, and his arm around her waist was the same colour as Rosie’s skin.

  ‘We were walking and Billy, Liam’s dog, shook water everywhere.’ Rosie grinned. ‘I can’t believe you’re here, Matt.’

  ‘You didn’t think I’d be happy letting you cope with all this on your own, did you?’

  Matt hugged Rosie tightly to him while Liam raised an eyebrow. It seemed to him that Matt had been perfectly content to let Rosie cope with ‘all this’ on her own up until now.

  ‘Let me introduce you properly.’ Rosie disentangled herself from his embrace. ‘This is Liam, who I’ve known for ages. He’s the person who’s been helping me with the painting.’

  ‘I’m Matt, the boyfriend. It’s kind of you to help Rosie out, Liam.’ Matt’s beady grey eyes bored into Liam’s. He didn’t smile.

  ‘It’s not a problem.’

  ‘So how do you two know each other?’

  ‘We went to school together.’

  ‘Really? Rosie’s never mentioned you before. Mind you, she rarely mentions Heaven’s Cove. She’s far too busy with our life in Spain.’ He grabbed her hand and pushed his fingers between hers.

  She folded her fingers over his. ‘How come you’re in Heaven’s Cove, Matt, and how did you know I was on the beach?’

  ‘I was worried about you so I decided to ditch work and jump on a plane. Juan said he and Carmen can manage until we get back. This place really is in the middle of nowhere, isn’t it? It took me ages to get here from the airport, and then a strange woman called Linda or something noticed my suitcase and started chatting to me. She said she knew you and she’d seen you heading this way. So I took a chance and spotted you on the beach. Both of you.’

  ‘I went for a walk and bumped into Liam –
he runs a farm nearby.’

  ‘So, you’re a farmer, are you, Liam?’

  ‘Uh-huh.’ Every time Matt said his name, it put Liam’s teeth on edge.

  Matt pushed a hand through his short, brown hair and smiled, his teeth as dazzling white as a toothpaste ad. ‘You have my gratitude. The world needs more farmers. Farmers rock, though I could never do it – be stuck in one place, year in, year out. I need more adventure in my life. That’s why Rosie and I gelled so quickly and became soulmates. We’re made for each other, aren’t we, babe?’

  Was Liam mistaken or did Rosie wince slightly?

  She hooked her arm through Matt’s. ‘Come on, I’d better get you home to Driftwood House so you can unpack. I still can’t believe you’re here. Liam, thanks for the walk and I’ll see you again sometime.’

  ‘Sure. You get your boyfriend settled in and Billy and I will finish our walk.’

  ‘Good to meet you, Liam.’

  He clearly didn’t mean it and Liam felt himself bristle. ‘Yeah, you too.’

  Matt picked up his shiny black suitcase and hooked his other arm around Rosie’s waist. Together, the two of them walked off across the sand.

  ‘Well, Billy, what do you think of Matt, then?’ Liam bent down and pushed his fingers through the dog’s matted fur. ‘What’s that you say? Matt seems like a total dick? Yeah, that was my first impression too.’

  CHAPTER 22

  ‘You didn’t mention the mountaineering,’ huffed Matt, hauling his suitcase to the top of the track. Dust puffed up around him when he dropped his case and stood, hands on hips, staring at Driftwood House.

  ‘What do you think?’

  Rosie wasn’t sure why she felt nervous. It really didn’t much matter what Matt thought of her childhood home. It would soon be rubble anyway. But she was still pleased he was seeing it at its best. Sunlight sparkled on the windows facing the clifftop, which was sprinkled with bright spring flowers. A light aircraft hummed overhead, adding to the faint rhythmic boom of waves hitting rock.

  ‘You weren’t joking when you said it needed some work.’ Matt whistled softly. ‘What a dump.’