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

Although it was only a basic white suite, with the new shower and a clear screen it really looked good.

‘This looks so much better. I’ll get a new blind and light shade too and a colourful bathmat.’ She was already imagining the colour scheme, coral and white she thought, with a heated towel rail with a fluffy towel hanging on it, a cheerful coral bathmat, a cream roller-blind . . . Then she remined herself that Jonathan had told her to keep the colours neutral.

‘Good idea.’ Nick surveyed the room thoughtfully. ‘It could do with retiling and new windows ideally, but the new buyers will probably sort that out.’

‘There’s such a lot of potential here, isn’t there?’ Hattie said. ‘A bit of money and TLC and it could make a lovely home.’

‘You’re right. Not my cup of tea, though, I prefer something more modern. And with central heating. I bet it’s freezing in the winter. I’m amazed the old guy didn’t freeze to death.’

Hattie hadn’t thought of that. She’d guessed Uncle Albert hadn’t wanted the upheaval of having radiators fitted. Or hadn’t got the money, she realised. According to Albert’s will, apart from the cottage, there had only been a couple of hundred pounds in his bank account that he’d left to the RNLI. Maybe he’d been living hand to mouth, huddled around a gas fire in the lounge, and only the gas heater in his bedroom upstairs. How did he manage when he had a shower? she wondered. The thought made her feel sad and once again she felt a twinge of guilt that she had lost touch with him.

‘I expect you could get radiators put in. Has Marcus modernised his place much?’ Nick’s voice cut through her thoughts.

‘What?’

‘Does he have central heating? Has he replaced the windows?’

Hattie cast her mind back to the couple of times she’d been in Marcus’s cottage. ‘He’s replaced the kitchen cupboards and put doors in the archway but I’ve no idea about central heating or the windows. I’ve not noticed. I’ve only been in the lounge and kitchen,’ she added.

‘Well, it’ll be up to the buyers to make any other changes. They might want to put a couple of radiators in to make it more comfortable for holidaymakers who stay out of season.’ Nick stretched. ‘Well there’s just time for us both to try out the new shower before we head next door. I’ll go and put the kettle on if you want to go first?’ He checked his watch. ‘What time did he say to be there?’

‘Seven,’ Hattie replied. ‘I haven’t heard from him since yesterday, though, so I wonder if I should text and check that it’s still on.’ She still couldn’t believe that he’d invited them both.

Nick looked surprised. ‘Why would he cancel?’ He shrugged. ‘But yeah, go ahead if you feel you should. We can always go out for a pub meal if he has changed his mind.’

Hattie wondered whether to text or phone Marcus, then decided to phone – she’d be able to pick up on his mood better if she could hear his voice.

‘Hi, Hattie, is it all going okay?’ Marcus’s voice sounded warm and friendly, she noticed with relief.

‘Hi, yes. We’ve had a new bathroom suite fitted and painted the bathroom walls. It’s all looking good.’

‘That’s great. You’re not calling to say that you’re too busy to come for dinner, are you?’

‘No, I was double-checking the time you wanted us there – unless you’re busy and want to cancel?’

‘Definitely not. I’ve already started the prep. Any time after seven is good. We can have a drink before the meal. And I have plenty of wine so there’s no need to bring anything.’

‘I don’t want to come empty-handed . . .’

‘Just bring yourselves, it’s all in hand. You can return the favour another time, if you feel guilty.’

Was he inviting himself around to hers for a meal? ‘I’ll hold you to that,’ she said.

Marcus had been thinking about what to cook for Nick and Hattie ever since he’d dished out the invitation to them, and had finally decided on grilled salmon with dauphinoise potatoes and roasted vegetables, followed by warm brownies and ice cream. Simple, but tasty. He didn’t want to be ages in the kitchen cooking, leaving Hattie and Nick to entertain themselves.

He hadn’t actually planned on inviting them around for a meal, the words had just come out of his mouth before he’d even realised he was going to say them, spurred on by a desire to see Hattie again. They’d had such a wonderful weekend – he’d felt that they’d grown closer, reached an understanding – then Nick had arrived and suddenly it was back to being distant again. That was probably his fault for getting all huffy over the painting. He’d seen her eyes cloud over as though she’d sensed that she’d done something wrong but wasn’t sure what it was. She probably wouldn’t have spoken to him again if she hadn’t needed the travel cage for Buddy – and his help getting the parrot into it. Which would have been a shame, as he liked Hattie. Really liked her.

Well, don’t get too hung up on her, she’s only here for the summer, he reminded himself as he turned the oven on to warm up then set about peeling and slicing the potatoes. When that was done, he placed them in a bowl with grated garlic and seasoning, poured cream over them and mixed it all well before transferring into a large gratin dish. The dauphinoise needed to go in first, as they took the longest to cook. He pressed the potatoes down firmly with the back of a spoon and put the dish in the now-warm oven. He wished that it was a meal for two, and that he was spending the evening with just Hattie as they planned for the other night, but now he thought that probably wouldn’t