The Cosy Canal Boat Dream: A funny, feel-good romantic comedy you won’t be able to put down!

by Christie Barlow

  Nell’s heart thumped faster hearing those words.

  ‘I love you too, Guy Cornish, but there’s something you need to know.’ Nell could feel the emotion rising inside her. She had to tell Guy that she was carrying his baby. He stroked her hair gently, ‘What is it?’

  ‘There have been quite a few changes since you left.’

  ‘Changes? What sort of changes,’ he had no clue what Nell was about to tell him.

  ‘I don’t really know where to start, so I’ll blurt it out quickly and make of it all what you will.’

  ‘Okay, I’m ready.’

  ‘Lloyd Keaton, the guy you rescued on the boat, is an actor, in fact a famous actor, but his real name is actually Lloyd Taylor.’

  ‘I’ve no idea where you are going with this,’ interrupted Guy, puzzled.

  ‘He’s my mum’s brother.’

  ‘How did you not know he was your uncle?’ Guy was even more confused now.

  ‘He’s not my uncle, he’s my father.’

  Guy’s eyes widened and he sat upright. ‘You’ve definitely lost me now.’

  Nell filled him in on everything that had happened while he’d been away.

  ‘I think I need a drink,’ Guy looked over to the wine rack.

  ‘There is so much more to tell you, but I should be meeting Bea in The Waterfront,’ she glanced at her watch.

  ‘I leave you for a second and you’ve been on a roller-coaster of a ride.’

  ‘Welcome back to Little Rock Marina!’ she smiled.

  ‘Surely we need a quick toast to welcome me back?’

  It was now or never, ‘You can have one but I can’t … Guy there’s more to tell you and I’m not even sure how to tell you.’

  Guy stared at Nell, who suddenly looked anxious, ‘You know you can tell me anything,’ he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

  Nell felt nervous. She had no idea how Guy was going to react to the news. She took a deep breath, ‘I’m pregnant and I know the timing isn’t great and …’

  Nell didn’t finish her sentence before Guy pulled her to feet and lifted her off the ground and spun her round.’

  ‘Stop spinning me, you’ll make me sick,’ she giggled.

  ‘Sorry, sorry,’ he tilted her upwards and they locked eyes. ‘You’re pregnant, you’re actually pregnant?’

  ‘I am. What do you think?’

  ‘What do I think? I think it’s fantastic!’

  Guy stood still and looked at Nell, ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I can’t wait to bring this little one into the world.’

  ‘Phew! I think the timing is more than great. In fact, it’s perfect. I can get myself established at the boatyard, there are so many plans to make … where will we live?’

  ‘Whoa! Slow down! All I need to know is this is what you want? Me and the baby.’

  The grin on Guy’s face said it all, ‘Nell Andrews, you have made me the happiest man on the earth. I’m not going anywhere … ever!’

  ‘Good, I’m glad to hear that.’

  ‘I can’t believe it, I am going to be a father.’

  ‘You are and a brilliant one at that,’ she leant up and kissed him, every nerve in her body tingled.

  ‘I love you,’ he whispered.

  ‘I love you more. Now come on, let’s get to the pub before Bea sends out a search party.’

  Chapter 52

  Guy had a barrage of questions he wanted to ask Nell, but they would just have to wait until they got back from the pub.

  ‘I’ll fill you in as much as I can en route.

  ‘I can’t wait! Will they mind if I tag along tonight and gatecrash the party?’

  ‘Mind? Not at all. Lloyd is joining us too. The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned,’ she said leaning in and kissing him on his mouth.

  ‘Do we have to go out?’

  ‘We do but …’ she said, brushing his lips with her finger, ‘I can’t wait for later.’ She replied with a sparkle in her eye.

  ‘What time can we make our excuses?’

  ‘Guy, behave,’ she grinned, pushing him out on to the deck of the ‘Nollie’.

  Within a couple of minutes Nell and Guy joined everyone in the pub. They were all standing around the table in the far corner admiring Fern’s painting.

  Bea looked up and spotted Nell walking towards them.

  ‘Here she is, what’s been keeping you?’ She tapped her watch, ‘That must have been a hell of meeting about re-wiring.’ She pretended to yawn, before noticing Guy standing at the side of Nell.

  ‘I believe congratulations are in order,’ Guy leant in and gave Bea a peck on the cheek.

  ‘OMG you’re back!’ she snagged a quick look at her best friend, who was grinning from ear to ear. ‘How, when, why?’ she exclaimed.

  ‘So many questions,’ laughed Nell, putting her bag down on the table.

  ‘Are you here for a while?’

  ‘I hope so,’ Guy beamed, squeezing Nell’s hand.

  ‘That’s good to hear! And Nell look at this,’ she insisted, turning Fern’s painting towards them.

  ‘Wow! That’s amazing, look at the detail and oh my, the Nollie is on there. You have an amazing talent, Fern.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she blushed.

  ‘Maybe you should paint some pictures to decorate the deli walls, we could even see if you could sell a few,’ Bea suggested, propping the picture up against the wall.

  ‘I’d love that.’

  ‘And please forgive my manners. Can I introduce you to Guy? This is my sister Fern.’

  Guy shook her hand and gave her a huge smile, ‘Pleased to meet you.’

  ‘Likewise.’

  Nathan patted him on his back, ‘Welcome back, mate.’

  ‘Thanks,’ he said, giving him a friendly handshake.

  Bea stared in Nell’s direction and mouthed, ‘Does he know?’

  Nell grinned widely, ‘Yes, he knows.’

  Bea did her best to suppress her squeal. As soon as Guy and Nathan were out of earshot, Bea leant in towards Nell. ‘That’s a turn up for the books. What’s going on? There’s never a dull moment around here?’

  ‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.’ Nell kept her voice to a whisper. ‘You know he only went back to Ireland to try and make it work for the baby’s sake?’

  ‘So what happened?’ Bea’s eyes locked with Nell’s.

  She took a deep breath, ‘Because there is no baby, just a big fat lie.’

  Bea sat back in her chair still staring at Nell. ‘Whoa! Are you telling me she wasn’t pregnant?’

  ‘That’s exactly what I’m telling you. It appears she made it up to lure Guy back to Ireland.’

  ‘But what did he say about your baby?’

  ‘I’ll fill you in later, but I think everything is going to be alright!’

  ‘That’s brilliant, you do make a lovely couple and it’s great to see that twinkle back in your eye.’

  There was no denying Nell shimmered with happiness. ‘I can’t believe he’s actually back. I literally had a heart attack when I saw him.’ Her smile turned into a huge grin.

  ‘He is quite delicious,’ Bea pretended to fan her face whispering, ‘Hot, hot, hot’ under her breath.

  ‘Stop! Seriously, just stop, he’ll hear you,’ Nell stifled a giggle and swiped Bea’s leg under the table. Nell looked up at Guy, her eyes sparkled as he settled in the seat next to her and looped his arm through hers. In the last few hours her life had changed once more in such a short space of time: Guy was back and everything was feeling fresh and exciting again.

  ‘We need a photo,’ Nell suddenly declared.

  Everyone groaned jokingly.

  ‘She makes no apologies,’ Guy said in a heavily accented Irish accent.

  Both Nell and Bea swooned, ‘That accent,’ Nell placed her hand on her heart.

  ‘There’s something about that voice,’ Bea laughed, batting her eyelashes.

  ‘Behave,’ Guy grinned, picking up his pint
glass.

  Nell whipped out her phone from her bag,

  ‘I don’t mind taking the photo of you all.’ They looked up to see Lloyd standing at the side of the table.

  ‘You will not, you need to be in the picture,’ Nell declared, giving the phone to the passing waiter.

  ‘Come on, everyone. Lloyd, you sit next to Mum. Everyone snuggled in close and smiled. Once the photos were taken, Nell picked up her glass and declared a toast.

  ‘Today has been a very special day.’

  Nathan gave his wife a proud look of affection while Fern squeezed her hand.

  ‘Not only is Bea a truly special individual and my best friend, but she without a doubt owns the best deli in the country, and we know that as of today it became official. It’s an absolute pleasure to be part of the team and a huge thank you to Bea for taking me under her wing when I needed looking after the most.’

  Bea’s eyes brimmed with tears, ‘You’d do the same for me.’

  ‘Not only has Bea been awarded with Deli of the Year, Fern has learnt to cook an egg …’

  Everyone chuckled.

  ‘I absolutely love working alongside you all, we are the dream team,’ chipped in Fern.

  ‘Guy is back,’ Nell smiled towards him,

  ‘For good,’ he added.

  ‘And Mum has been reunited with her brother. I think that’s enough drama for Little Rock Marina this week!’

  Everyone laughed.

  Nell raised her glass, ‘To Bea and The Melting Pot.’

  ‘To Bea,’ everyone echoed.

  ‘And to Nell, my best friend,’ Bea raised her glass once more, ‘Here’s to happy ever after.’

  Bea took a sip of her drink then suddenly sadness flashed across her face and her shoulders slumped.

  Nell met Bea’s eyes, ‘What’s the matter?’ She placed her glass on the table.

  ‘Nothing, I’m just being daft.’

  ‘Go on, we’re amongst friends.’

  Her eyes briefly slid from Nell’s, ‘Because, it’s all about to change.’

  Nell grabbed her hand, ‘Don’t get all morose. This is your day.’

  ‘I said I was being daft, but we’re all embarking on new adventures: me with the twins and you with the Old Picture House and the baby.’

  ‘Adventures that no doubt will be bringing us closer together, especially when the boys are on babysitting duties and we are out on the town,’ winked Nell.

  ‘That sounds like a great idea,’ smiled Bea.

  ‘Not to me, it doesn’t,’ laughed Nathan.

  ‘And Gilly and I will be working hard in The Melting Pot to keep things ticking over, especially now I can boil eggs, fry eggs and poach eggs! I’ll be giving Jamie Oliver a run for his money yet.’ Fern smiled at her sister.

  ‘Don’t get too carried away,’ she teased.

  Fern brought her hand up to her chest in mock outrage and grinned.

  For the next hour everyone sat and chatted about anything and everything. Lloyd mesmerised them with stories from his past, from how he got his first acting break to having lunch with Frank Sinatra. Everyone was in awe. It was such a wonderful evening.

  ‘You know when you don’t want an evening to end, well, that’s me right now.’ Everyone looked towards Bea, ‘but I’m beginning to feel tired.’

  ‘I’ll get the bill,’ Nathan stopped the passing waiter and put his bank card down on the table.

  ‘I’ve had the best night,’ Nell squeezed her friend’s hand.

  ‘I think we all have,’ agreed Fern.

  ‘Nathan can you carry the painting to the car for me? And thanks again, Fern, I absolute love it.’

  ‘Of course.’

  Gilly and Lloyd rose to their feet, ‘Lloyd’s going to walk me home,’ said Gilly, ‘Thanks again everyone for such a wonderful evening.’ Nell rose to her feet and kissed them both on their cheeks and waved to everyone as they left the pub.

  ‘And then there were two,’ Nell turned towards Guy, holding on tightly to her smile.

  ‘Two indeed, another drink?’

  Nell scrunched up her face, ‘It’s not much fun when you can’t drink.’

  ‘Ha, yes, sorry! Any other suggestions, then?’ he grinned his handsome smile and swept his fringe from his eyes.

  ‘I have a few, now grab your coat.’

  ‘Okay, captain,’ he saluted, before following Nell through the crowded bar.

  As they opened the double doors and stepped outside the pub they stopped and stared up at the stars, ‘Are you happy?’ Guy asked Nell, linking his arm through hers.

  ‘More than you’ll ever know, Guy Cornish, more than you’ll ever know.

  Chapter 53

  Nine months later

  Guy was standing in the kitchen of the ‘Nollie’ sizzling sausages when Nell slipped her arms around his waist and snuggled into his neck.

  ‘Good morning, sleepy head,’ he said, turning and kissing the tip of her nose. ‘I didn’t like to wake you.’

  ‘Not like that little madam, at one o’clock, two o’clock, three o’clock,’

  ‘I get the picture,’ Guy grinned at Nell, ‘Where is our gorgeous daughter?’

  ‘Can you believe, she’s still fast asleep?’

  ‘Good, because that gives me a little time to spoil you. Now you sit yourself down and breakfast will be served in a minute. There’s some tea in the pot too.’

  Nell cast a glance over her shoulder before sinking into the settee and pulling a grey woollen throw over her lap.

  Nell glanced at the photograph on the side, a photo of her, Guy and Annie the day their daughter was born. Both Lloyd and Gilly had been over the moon when they’d announced they were going to call the baby Annie after Lloyd’s wife and Nell’s biological mum. Both of them were as proud as punch and were certainly the doting grandparents.

  Everything was going from strength to strength. Guy had moved into the ‘Nollie’ and Ed had offered him a partnership at the yard. Nell couldn’t wish for anything more; she was truly happy and burst with love for Guy and Annie.

  ‘What time have you been up since? This looks all very grand. I could get used to this,’ she smiled and poured herself a mug of tea.

  Guy took the plates out of the oven and popped them down in front of her.

  ‘Have you warmed the plates too? I’m very impressed,’ she smiled.

  ‘I have indeed, now help yourself, there’s sausages, bacon, mushrooms, tomatoes – the full works,’ he said placing the steaming food on to the table. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘I can’t believe the day is finally here! I’m excited, nervous and can’t wait to cut that ribbon and open the doors to The Red Carpet Cinema for the very first time.’

  ‘I’m so proud of you, you know and Ollie would have been too.’

  Nell tucked into her breakfast, ‘I know and thank you for everything. I couldn’t have done any of it without you.’

  ‘When Annie wakes up, I’ll bath her, get her dressed and fed – you just worry about yourself this morning.’

  ‘Everyone should have a Guy Cornish in their life – you are simply the best.’

  ‘And don’t you forget it,’ he smiled lovingly towards Nell and her heart soared with love for him.

  She watched as he stood up and buttered the toast. ‘Have you seen outside this morning?’ asked Guy, staring out of the porthole of the ‘Nollie’.

  ‘No why?’

  ‘Close your eyes,’ he ordered.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Just do it!’

  Nell closed her eyes and he took her by her hand. He led her carefully on to the deck of the ‘Nollie’.

  ‘Open them.’

  Nell gasped, ‘The whole marina appeared silent, except for the snow falling lightly on the roofs on the boats. The frost had polished the boathouse, the deli and there stood The Old Picture House glistening in silver sheen.

  ‘Oh Guy, this is just perfect.’

  He pulled her in close, wrapping hi
s arms around her body, while they looked up at the flakes falling.

  ‘That’s not all. I have another little surprise.’

  Nell followed him to the front of the boat, ‘I know we haven’t got much room for a Christmas tree inside the Nollie so, ta-dah!’

  There on the bow of the boat was a small pine Christmas tree with its lights twinkling away.’

  ‘It’s so magical, I love you.’

  ‘I love you too. Come on, let’s eat, then I’ll clear up and get our daughter ready.’

  Nell stood for a moment watching the flakes fall, her heart bursting with happiness, she stood and thought about everything that had happened in the last twelve months, and how her life had changed. She smiled, even though Ollie wasn’t around she was now on a different path and he’d never be forgotten. He’d always be part of her life. She hoped somehow he knew that he would always hold that special place in her heart.

  ‘Hey, what are you doing standing out here? You’ll catch your death,’ Nell swung round to see Nathan pushing the double buggy up the wharf.

  ‘We are admiring our new tree. How are Alice and Arthur this morning?’ They both smiled down at the twins, wrapped up tightly in their woven blankets and pink and blue hats.

  ‘Had us up every hour on the hour – if it wasn’t one, it was the other. The joys of parenthood,’ he grinned.

  ‘But look at those bundles of cuteness,’ oozed Nell, ‘Utterly gorgeous.’

  Nathan looked adoringly towards his children, ‘Yes, I wouldn’t swap them for the world. Bea is having an hour to herself, hence the reason I’m out for an early morning walk in the snow and Jacob is still asleep.’

  ‘It’s alright for some,’ Guy smiled.

  ‘I’ll leave you to it and we’ll see you later for the grand opening!’

  ‘Can’t wait,’ beamed Nell, sliding her arm around Guy’s waist.

  Nathan manoeuvred the buggy through the slushy snow and waved his hand above his head as he disappeared along the towpath.

  ‘Come on, let’s get you inside and eat our breakfast before it goes cold.

  They stamped the snow off their slippers and Guy leant forward and wiped a snowflake from the tip of Nell’s nose, then kissed her gently.