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

‘You’re going to take a chance on setting up on your own then?’ Owen clearly knew what Nick was talking about and Hattie felt a bit sad that Nick had a closer relationship with her dad than she did. She pushed the resentment away. The past was done with – at least she and her dad were building a stronger relationship now.

‘We’re still talking about the details but yes, I think we’re going to give it a go,’ Nick told him.

‘That’s great. And seriously, thank you both for all your hard work there. I really think this will make a huge difference to how quickly the cottage sells as well as to the price. And I really need a quick sale.’

‘It’s going on the market Monday, Dad,’ Hattie told him.

‘That’s such a relief,’ Owen told her.

Then Raina joined in and they all sat chatting for a while. Owen gave them a bit of a tour of the hotel, and even Lacey gave them a wave and a cheery ‘bonjour’. For the first time in years, Hattie felt like she had her dad back. It was a lovely feeling.

‘You’ve done a good job on this,’ Marcus said approvingly as Hattie and Nick showed him around after they’d transferred a very perky Buddy back into his large cage in the corner of the lounge. ‘I’m not usually a fan of white walls but it’s opened up the rooms, and those yellow cushions really brighten it up.’

‘Gorgeous, aren’t they? I fell in love with them as soon as I saw them,’ Hattie told him.

‘You should have seen the struggle we had carrying them home!’ Nick quipped. ‘We decided to walk, rather than take the car, in case I was still over the limit, and then we ended up loaded up like packhorses.’

Marcus grinned. He could imagine. ‘The new bathroom suite makes a difference too. That’s one of the things I changed as soon as I moved into Curlew Cottage.’ He nodded. ‘I reckon this will get snapped up.’

Why did that make him feel sad? He had always known that Hattie was only here temporarily.

‘I’m going to have to accept the first reasonable offer; I’m sorry if it’s someone who wants to rent it out as a holiday let but my dad can’t afford to wait.’ He could see that Hattie was genuine.

‘It’s okay, you do what you’ve got to do. I’ll cope.’

He opened his rucksack and took out a dish covered in tin foil. ‘I don’t know if you two are hungry but there’s some leftover casserole here from the hotel. It’ll only go to waste.’ The same words he used to say to Albert.

‘That sounds perfect. Does it need warming up?’ Nick asked.

‘It should still be hot, it’s in an insulated dish,’ Marcus replied.

‘I’ll get the plates,’ Hattie said, going over to the wall cupboard where the plates were kept.

‘I’ll open a bottle of wine.’ Nick went to the fridge.

Marcus grinned as he watched them. Nick and Hattie had certainly jelled this week and he was pleased for Hattie. When she’d told him about her parents break-up and her father moving to France, he had got the impression that she’d been a lonely, resentful child but now, thanks to Albert leaving this cottage to Hattie and her father, that all seemed to have changed.

It was a noisy, fun meal, with them all exchanging anecdotes and memories. They demolished the casserole and swigged glasses of wine. Albert would have loved this, Marcus thought, remembering how he used to sit with the old man, sharing leftovers from the hotel and sipping a glass of whisky. But Albert had gone. And soon Hattie would be gone too.

He watched her talking to Nick, her face alive, her eyes sparkling, and thought how much he was going to miss her.

‘Well, I need to be getting to bed, I’ve got a ferry to catch tomorrow and if I drink any more wine I won’t be fit to drive.’ Nick held out his hand to Marcus. ‘It’s been good to meet you, mate, and if you ever decide to take a trip over to France do look us up. Better still, pop over with this one. She’s coming for a visit once the cottage is sold.’ He grinned at Hattie. ‘Maybe we’ll even persuade her to stay there.’ He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Night, sis.’

‘Night.’

‘Night,’ Marcus replied automatically, his head reeling at Nick’s words. Was Hattie seriously thinking of living in France?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Nick left early the next morning and Hattie went straight to the Saturday market to look for curtains and a new blind. She found some pretty white curtains with tiny yellow roses on them that would go well with the yellow cushions, and some light blue blinds for the bathroom. She bought some new duvet covers too, knowing they would brighten up the bedrooms. As she stuffed her purchases into the saddlebags and top box on her motorbike, though, she thought about getting a car. It would certainly come in handy for shopping, and if she wanted to expand her photography business she could do with getting some props and would need a car to carry them around. A motorbike had been great when she lived in Bristol, she could get in and out of the traffic so much quicker, and it was easy to find a parking space, but she didn’t fancy moving back into the city. She was enjoying the slower life in Port Medden. Maybe she could move to Exeter instead?

She pulled up outside the back gate of Fisherman’s Rest just as Marcus came out of his yard. He looked at her packed bike in amusement. ‘You’ve been shopping, I see.’

‘Yes and I got a little carried away.’

‘Well, next time let me know and I’ll give you a lift in the van. It’d be safer than carting all that on your bike.’

‘It’s quite safe. The saddlebags and top box