The Cottage at Hope Cove

by Hannah Ellis

  “Not really. I’ve had interviews. Even got a couple of offers, but I turned them down.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Why?”

  “They didn’t inspire me,” Josie said flatly. “I want to find something I can do in the long term. Something I love. I just can’t figure out what.”

  Elizabeth picked up her cup of tea only to find it empty. “Have you ever thought of doing web design?” she asked. “You’re good at that.”

  Josie had surprised her when they worked together on her website, showing a flair for the creative as well as the technical side of website design.

  “Boring!” Josie said with a sigh. “Anyway, stop hassling me. You’re the one taking up space in my apartment. It’s your issues we need to address. When are we going on a Max hunt?”

  Elizabeth kicked Josie gently. “We’re not mentioning him! I’ve decided he was my wake-up call, that’s all.”

  Josie sighed dramatically. “But he might be the love of your life! You’re just giving up on him?”

  “I’m not just giving up,” Elizabeth said. “I’ve tried. His aunts have a dog kennels. I met them while I was in Hope Cove. So I looked up the number and tried to call, but they never answer. On the website it says the kennels are closed for business.”

  She’d been so nervous when she’d dialled and then utterly disappointed when it had come to nothing.

  “Drive down there,” Josie said adamantly. “Don’t give up so easily.”

  “It would be completely embarrassing. They’d think I was crazy, arriving on the doorstep asking for his number.”

  “You’re supposed to do crazy things for love!”

  “It’s also about a six-hour round trip. I feel like there must be an easier way.” She paused, mulling things over. “His mum’s house is for sale – the cottage in Hope Cove. I was thinking maybe I could get in touch with her somehow and enquire about it. I could have a chat with her and pretend I went to school with Max, ask how he’s doing…”

  “Okay,” Josie said, unconvinced.

  “Do you think the estate agent would give out her number?”

  Josie shook her head and looked thoughtful. “I think his aunts seem like a better option.”

  “I told you, I already tried that.”

  “You just tried ringing them. Go there.”

  “I did!” Elizabeth said quickly, taking Josie by surprise. “Yesterday, when I said I was going shopping and meeting Karen for lunch. I drove down to Devon and knocked on their door. There was no one there.”

  It had taken so much determination to go there. She’d been a nervous wreck on the drive. Finding the place deserted wasn’t just disappointing, but worrying too. It had been such a hive of activity the last time she was there, with all the dogs jumping around the place. This time it was eerily quiet, without a dog in sight. She’d even called at the local pub and asked about the kennels. The landlord told her they’d had to close for a while due to illness. It was what Elizabeth had suspected, and she was sorry to hear it. She remembered how fond Max was of his aunts, and how kind and welcoming they’d been to her.

  “There must be another way of getting in touch with him,” Josie said.

  “I’m beginning to think it’s just not meant to be. Besides, he hasn’t been knocking down my door.”

  “He might be trying to find you, for all you know,” Josie argued. Her face lit up. “Is your Facebook account searchable?”

  “I have no idea. I told you, I never go on Facebook.”

  “Literally never?” Josie asked.

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Never.”

  “So he might have messaged you and you’ve not seen it?” Josie said.

  Elizabeth grabbed her phone. “Oh my God!” she said when she opened the Facebook app.

  “Did he message?” Josie asked excitedly.

  “Where did this photo come from?” Elizabeth asked, holding up the phone. Her profile picture was now a selfie of her and Phil. She was laughing as Phil kissed her cheek and she was squirming to get away from him. Phil had thought it was hilarious to snap a selfie when Elizabeth was ranting about how much she hated the selfie craze.

  “Oh yeah!” Josie said cheekily. “I messed with your Facebook that day when we were shopping.”

  “My status says ‘Can’t wait to marry my hunk of a man’.”

  Josie giggled. “I told you I’d announce your engagement! I can’t believe you haven’t logged on since.”

  “People can’t see all this, can they?”

  “Just your friends,” Josie said. “Unless you’re an idiot and have your privacy settings on public…”

  They exchanged a look. Elizabeth passed the phone to Josie.

  “You’re an idiot,” Josie announced, grimacing as she investigated Elizabeth’s privacy settings. “Why would you set it to public? Are you insane?”

  “I told you I don’t go on there,” Elizabeth said, her voice rising an octave. “Why on earth did you mess around with my profile like that?”

  “It was a joke,” Josie said. “I presumed you’d change it!”

  “Josie! I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Let’s not forget you were a cow to me back then,” Josie said. Anger flashed over her face and was gone again, quickly replaced by amusement. “It could have been way worse. I’d started typing a status about your fetish for sweaty armpits, but thought you’d probably never speak to me again if I posted it.”

  Under other circumstances, Elizabeth would probably see the funny side. “What if Max did look for me?” she said gloomily. “He’ll think I’m still engaged.”

  “Don’t worry,” Josie said, tapping on the phone. “I’ll fix your Facebook page … and then we’ll track him down and tell him you’re free and single and completely in love with him!”

  “Except we’ve already established that I don’t know how to find him.”

  “You can try to get in touch with his mum, like you said. It might work.”

  “Maybe,” Elizabeth said. There was a short pause, then her forehead wrinkled as memories unlocked themselves. “Her name’s Charlotte. She’s just moved to a nursing home. Fancy place…” She paused, staring blankly at the wall of the living room while she tried to remember. “Henley House.”

  Josie clapped her hands.

  Elizabeth shook her head, almost wishing she’d kept her thoughts to herself. Would she really get in touch with his mum? What on earth would she say?

  Josie reached for her laptop, grinning.

  Chapter 39

  Elizabeth went the next morning, knowing she wouldn’t be able to stop thinking about it until she did. Henley House was located just outside Bath, an hour and a half’s drive from Josie’s place in Oxford. Elizabeth spent the drive arguing with herself about whether or not she should just turn around and go home. Was she really going to visit Max’s mother?

  She realised she had to. She had a flicker of hope whenever she thought about Max that wasn’t going to go away. She needed to see him again, at least once. Even if it was just so she could put it all behind her.

  The nursing home was an imposing building in a couple of acres of neatly kept gardens. Elizabeth manoeuvred into a parking spot and looked up at the grand house looming over her. She was filled with nerves.

  It took some courage to ring the doorbell, and it seemed to take forever before she was buzzed in. The front desk was manned by a tall, dark-haired care assistant whose name tag announced her as Kelly.

  “Hi,” Elizabeth said, walking up to her. Oh, gosh, she was going to sound like an idiot. “I’ve come to visit one of your residents. Charlotte…”

  “Mrs Anderson?” Kelly jumped in, saving Elizabeth the embarrassment she’d been expecting. She hadn’t known her last name. Hopefully there was only one Charlotte living there, or things could get awkward. “I think I saw her in the day room earlier. Is she expecting you?”

  “No. She’s not.”

  “Okay,” Kelly said cheerfully. She
thrust a clipboard and pen across the desk. “Sign in and we’ll see if we can find her.”

  Elizabeth scribbled her name and signature, then trailed Kelly through the impressive entranceway and into a large living room, where residents sat around in armchairs.

  “Mrs Anderson!” Kelly called, waving at a well-dressed lady sitting with another couple of elderly women. “You’ve got a visitor.”

  Charlotte frowned, obviously not recognising Elizabeth.

  “Are you family?” Kelly asked warily. Elizabeth ignored the question.

  “Hi,” Elizabeth said when Charlotte walked confidently over to them. It was odd to think she was Max’s mum. Elizabeth could see no immediate resemblance: her features were stern and her posture was straight and formal. She wasn’t the frail little old lady she had expected. “I’m so sorry to bother you,” she went on, extending her hand. “My name’s Elizabeth. I’m a friend of your son…”

  Charlotte’s features softened and she dismissed Kelly with a quick nod. She lowered herself into the nearest chair and glared at Elizabeth.

  “Sit,” she said, patting the chair beside her. “You’re making me nervous.”

  “Sorry.” Elizabeth did as she was bid and perched on the edge of an armchair.

  “I’m sorry,” Charlotte said when the silence stretched a moment too long. “I’ve usually got a pretty decent memory, but I’m afraid I don’t remember you.”

  What on earth was she going to say? She’d had a script ready in her head but she couldn’t think of it now. “As I said, I’m a friend of your son.” Her heart raced at the thought of Max, and she searched for the words to explain why she’d come.

  “Were you at the wedding?” Charlotte asked. “I’m sorry, there were so many people and I didn’t know half of them…”

  Elizabeth’s insides turned to jelly and she felt sick and faint at the same time. “No,” she said, hardly hearing herself as the sound of her blood rushing round her body muffled everything.

  But he couldn’t be married yet. He’d told her he was getting married in July. Something wasn’t right.

  Charlotte was looking at her expectantly.

  “We’re just acquaintances,” Elizabeth said, trying to compose herself. “I don’t know his wife at all.”

  Charlotte rolled her eyes. “You’re not missing out! She’s an acquired taste, that woman. The wedding was over the top, in my opinion. I’m all for spending money, but she seemed to have something to prove.”

  “Sorry,” Elizabeth said, confused. “For some reason I had it in my head that the wedding wasn’t until next year.”

  “They changed the date! Just like that. It was absurd, expecting everyone to come at the last minute. I’ve never heard anything like it. Apparently there’d been a cancellation. Max told me it was all her idea. Poor old Max – he thought it was as farcical as I did. Not that he’d ever say. He likes to keep the peace. I don’t know where I went wrong, but if there’s one thing my sons have in common, it’s dreadful taste in women.” She paused. “Sorry – once you get me talking about my boys, I can’t stop.”

  “It’s fine,” Elizabeth said, feeling suddenly weak. She felt as if all the air had been sucked out of her. She twisted her hands together to stop them from shaking. She’d been so determined to find him, and it was too late. He was already married.

  Charlotte looked at her with concern. “Do you need a cup of tea, dear?”

  “That would be lovely,” Elizabeth said, wanting to run away but fearing her legs wouldn’t comply. “Sorry. I feel a bit funny.”

  Charlotte fussed and went to the other side of the room where large urns of tea and coffee were set up.

  “Drink that and you’ll feel better,” she said when she returned.

  “I’m so sorry to have disturbed your morning,” Elizabeth said. “I didn’t mean for you to be waiting on me.”

  Charlotte lowered herself into her chair. “If you don’t mind me asking, why did you come?”

  Elizabeth smiled sadly. Max was married. She’d left it too late and now he would spend his life with someone else. She tried her best to push the thought from her mind. She’d have plenty of time to dwell on it when she was away from his mother.

  “I wanted to ask about your house,” Elizabeth said, improvising. “The one at Hope Cove. I heard you were selling it. Is it still on the market?”

  Charlotte sighed. “That’s another subject I could talk about all day!”

  Elizabeth was suddenly desperate to know about Seaside Cottage. It must have shown in her face, because Charlotte kept talking.

  “I’ve had an offer on the place. A couple of offers, actually. I accepted one but now they’re claiming the survey’s shown problems with the roof. There’s no problem with that roof. They want me to drop the price. And they’ve decided they don’t want to keep any of the furniture and are insisting I get rid of it. I think they found out I’m in a home and decided I was a frail old lady they can take advantage of. Well, that’s not going to happen! I told the estate agent he can tell them where to go. I’ll go back to the other offer or put it back on the market. I’m not negotiating with people like that.” She stopped, apparently realising she’d got carried away again. There was a brief pause, then Elizabeth spoke.

  “I’d like to buy it,” she said, bending to put her cup on the floor. She couldn’t help the tears that came.

  Charlotte chuckled, then stopped abruptly when she caught the pleading in Elizabeth’s eyes. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes,” Elizabeth said, clearing her throat. “I’d take it without a survey. I’ll take my chances with the roof. And I’d take the furniture too. I’ll give you the asking price and you won’t have any trouble from me.”

  “You’d buy it without even seeing the place?”

  Tears rolled down Elizabeth’s cheeks and she stroked them gently away. “I visited Hope Cove recently on holiday,” she said. “I loved it. The cottage and Hope Cove … I have such wonderful memories. It was the best time of my life.”

  She swiped at her tears, wishing she could make them stop. “I know I seem like a wreck, but I’m honestly a good person and the cottage would be in great hands.” She touched Charlotte’s arm as determination seeped through her. “I promise I’d look after it.”

  Charlotte covered Elizabeth’s hand with her own.

  “Please don’t make me beg,” Elizabeth said.

  Chapter 40

  Josie was waiting when Elizabeth arrived home that afternoon. She bounded straight into the kitchen to greet her. “How did it go?” Josie asked, unable to contain her excitement. She’d always been an optimist, and Elizabeth hated to break the bad news to her. “I’ve got champagne in the fridge!” Josie said, beaming.

  Elizabeth failed to hide her surprise. “Have you?”

  “Well, cheap fizzy wine. Same thing, isn’t it? Who cares? Tell me what happened before I explode. Did you find him?”

  Elizabeth went into the living room and flopped onto the couch. “He got married,” she said, sadly.

  “What? No!” Tears filled Josie’s eyes and her chin began to wobble. She sat beside Elizabeth. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.”

  “Why are you so upset?” Elizabeth asked. She was trying hard to keep her emotions under control, but seeing Josie’s tears made her eyes fill up too.

  “Because you’ve never asked for my advice before,” Josie said, crying. “And this time you did, and I messed everything up.”

  “Don’t be daft.” Elizabeth said, shuffling over for a hug. “It was still good advice. I needed to find out. Now I can move on.”

  “What will you do now?”

  Elizabeth leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “I’m buying his mother’s house and I’m going to live by the sea.”

  “Ha bloody ha! At least you’ve not lost your sense of humour.”

  Elizabeth started to chuckle and it quickly morphed into a full belly laugh. Josie watched her, confused.

  “I’m serious,”
Elizabeth said when she calmed down. “I’m going to buy the cottage and move to Hope Cove. I can live where I want now I’m self-employed and working from home.”

  “Is this some twisted plot to get Max back?” Josie asked seriously. “Because having a fling before you’re married is one thing, but don’t mess around with a married man. That’s bad.”

  “Oh my God!” Elizabeth said. “What kind of a person do you think I am? I’m not trying to get him back. I love it at Hope Cove, and I need a fresh start.”

  “So you’re going to live in a tiny village where you don’t know anyone? What will you do?”

  “I’ll be busy setting up my business, and I think there’ll be a bit of redecorating to do, to make the place my own.” She imagined what her life would be like at Seaside Cottage. It had been a rash idea to buy the place, but it felt right, and the more she thought about it, the more excited she was. “I’ll read and go for long walks. I’ll eat fish and chips on the beach, and indulge in lots of Verity’s scones. In winter I’ll have a log fire burning every evening…”

  And she hoped that eventually she’d be able to do all of those things without being reminded of Max.

  “But you’ll be all alone,” Josie said sadly.

  “It might be good for me,” Elizabeth said. “And maybe I’ll get a dog!”

  Josie sank back into the couch. “What’s happened to my big sister?”

  “I’m okay.” Elizabeth patted Josie’s leg reassuringly. “It’s all going to work out fine. Wasn’t it you who said that everything always falls into place for me? Well, it will this time too. Now, what about that wine?”

  “I’ll fetch it,” Josie said, darting into the kitchen and reappearing moments later.

  “Josie?” Elizabeth said as she took her first sip of fizzy wine. “Even if everything had gone to plan today, I was only hoping to get Max’s number…”

  “So?”

  “Why would that call for champagne? Or something vaguely similar,” she added, raising her glass.

  “Any excuse for fizz,” Josie said casually.