One Summer in Cornwall by Karen King (best books to read for success .TXT) 📕

completely empty bar a couple of chairs and the heavy wall unit. They scrubbed the doors and walls first intending to get up the next morning and start painting.

‘I hope it will all be safe out in the back yard,’ she said. ‘There’s no forecast of rain so it should be dry enough, and surely no one will want to pinch old stuff like that?’

‘I wouldn’t think so.’

‘Now, how about we pop out for a walk along the harbour and a drink?’ Nick suggested. ‘I think we deserve it after all our hard work.’

‘Sounds good to me,’ she agreed. She’d found it quite sad sorting through Uncle Albert’s things, and although she didn’t admit it to Nick, she was disappointed that Marcus had asked for the painting back; she’d wanted to keep it as a reminder of her uncle, and of Marcus. How could she deny Marcus it, though, when he had painted it? And been like a son to Uncle Albert? She could see how all this must look to him – no one had been to see Uncle Albert for years and now here she and Nick were going through the cottage quicker than you could say ‘inheritance’. They must look like a right pair of vultures.

She hated this feeling guilty all the while. And she was far too bothered what Marcus thought of her. He really was getting under her skin. The sooner the cottage was sold and she was away from him the better.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Straight after breakfast the next morning, Hattie and Nick both donned the overalls they’d bought yesterday, and got ready to start painting the lounge.

Buddy was watching them beadily from his cage. He must be wondering what’s going on, Hattie thought. All these people coming and going – her, Mali and Lou, and now Nick. And all this upheaval. Then another thought struck her.

‘Do you think Buddy will be okay with the paint fumes?’ she asked worriedly.

‘I hadn’t thought of that. We could put him in the back garden while we paint,’ Nick suggested.

Hattie shook her head. ‘I don’t trust Marcus’s cat, Mr Tibbs. He sneaked in yesterday when we had the back door open to carry the stuff out, and I had to shoo him off. He stalks Buddy if he gets the chance. Marcus said Mr Tibbs even jumped on the cage once when he was looking after Buddy, that’s why he brought him back to Fisherman’s Rest and came in regularly to feed and check on him instead.’

Maybe she should put Buddy up in the attic – at least he would be out of the way of any paint fumes there, or of Mr Tibbs if he sneaked again, and it was a lovely bright room.

She mentioned it to Nick. ‘Marcus has a small travel cage. I’ll ask him if I can borrow it to carry Buddy up to the attic in. We’ll struggle trying to carry that big cage up the two flights of narrow stairs and it could unsettle Buddy.’

‘That sounds like a good idea, if you can transfer him without him flying off.’

‘Marcus can, he’s used to it. He’s probably back from surfing now. I’ll pop around and ask, I’ll only be a few minutes.’

She went around next door and knocked loudly, knowing that Marcus was often up in the attic painting. She actually felt a bit awkward seeing him after how close they had been at the weekend, and then the business with the painting yesterday.

‘Coming!’

Marcus opened the door, his hair dishevelled, T-shirt paint-stained as though he wiped his brushes on it, and in cut-off denims and bare feet.

‘Sorry for disturbing you . . .’

‘It’s fine. It looks like you’re busy too.’ His eyes lingered on the overalls she was wearing.

‘Actually, we’re just about to start painting and thought we should move Buddy up to my room because of the paint fumes.’ She paused. ‘I was wondering if I could borrow your travel cage and if you could help me get him into it?’

Marcus ran his hand through his hair. ‘The fumes could be bad for him, yes. Look, why don’t you leave him with me until you’ve finished? He might be better off here.’

Hattie shook her head. ‘It’s kind of you to offer but Mr Tibbs sneaked in yesterday and I had to shoo him away from the cage. And I really would like to keep him with me. I don’t want to unsettle him any more than we have to.’

Marcus nodded. ‘Point taken. Well, give me a few minutes and I’ll bring the cage around.’

‘Thanks so much.’

Marcus shut the door and went back inside, leaving Hattie to turn and walk away wondering why he hadn’t asked her in and how they’d got so formal all of a sudden when at the weekend they’d been laughing and dancing together.

True to his word, Marcus came around ten minutes later, now with trainers on his feet and carrying the travel cage and a banana.

‘All right, mate?’ Nick looked up from the dust sheet he and Hattie were spreading over the unit that had been too heavy to carry out.

‘Just come to move Buddy.’ Marcus looked over at Hattie. ‘Can you give me a hand?’

‘Sure.’ She eyed the banana. ‘I’m guessing that’s to tempt him into the smaller cage?’

‘It is.’

‘Hello! Hello!’ Buddy squealed excitedly as soon as he saw Marcus. ‘Where you been?’

‘Hello, Buddy.’ Marcus went over to the cage and Buddy whistled loudly, then climbed down the bars as Marcus put his face to the cage.

‘Well, he sure loves you. That’s the chirpiest I’ve seen him,’ Nick said.

‘He’s got to know me over the years. I used to pop round most nights after work. Albert was in the habit of sitting up late and liked me to join him for a chat and a drop of whisky,’ Marcus said. As before, Marcus used the banana to tempt Buddy into the smaller cage. Then he quickly pushed the cage door shut.

‘Want me to carry him up