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

‘What are you going to do when the cottage is sold? Have you thought any more about coming to stay with us, give you chance to think about your next step?’ he asked.

She had no idea what she was going to do. And tempting as it was to take up her dad’s offer, she knew it wouldn’t work out. It was one thing going to visit him once she had sorted out a home for herself but another to go and stop with him indefinitely. Yes, they were back on a friendlier footing now and she would like to spend some time in France with her dad and his family, and to see Nick again, but this wasn’t the right time.

‘Thanks so much, Dad, but maybe I can come over later in the year? Christmas, perhaps? Right now, I really need to get myself a home and start building up my photography business. Maybe even get a part-time job.’

‘Of course, whenever suits you.’ There was a pause. ‘Look I know we agreed to pay you back out of the sale for what you spend doing up the cottage. But I want you to have more than that. I’m instructing my solicitor to give you an extra ten thousand pounds of the money. And please don’t argue over this. It’s thanks to your hard work and time that’s the cottage has sold so quickly.’

It was a nice thought, and she appreciated it, but she didn’t want to take his money, he needed it. ‘It’s fine, Dad. I’ve lived here rent free and I’ve enjoyed sorting things out.’

She pushed away the thought that she didn’t want to leave the cottage. Or leave Marcus. She had always known it wasn’t forever. It had only ever been for the summer. They would still have a couple of months together, while the sale was going through.

They chatted a bit about the formalities, with her dad promising to come over to sign the papers when the buyers were ready to exchange.

‘What about all the furniture? All Uncle Albert’s things?’ she asked.

Her dad sighed. ‘I’m afraid that it’s all going to have to be dumped. I know it’s sad but I’ve got no room for anything here. If there’s anything you want, take it, but apart from that get some house-clearance people in. We’ll take whatever it costs you out of the sale of the cottage.’

‘There’s papers and photos too,’ she told him.

‘Put them to one side. I’ll come over the weekend before the sale goes through and look through them. Anything important, I’ll take back with me . . .’

His image started to flicker.

‘Sorry, love, I’m losing the connection. It’s because I’m outside. Message me if you need me and I’ll phone you back later.’

‘Okay. Bye, Dad.’

Well, that was it, Fisherman’s Rest was sold. She had about six weeks to find herself a new home.

She phoned Jonathan to let him know they were accepting the offer; it went to answerphone so she left a message. Then she texted Mali to let her know the news and tell her that she and Lou needed to come down for their holiday as soon as school had finished for the summer as she wasn’t sure how quickly the sale would go through.

Mali phoned straight back. ‘I’ve got a free period,’ she explained. ‘It’s wonderful news, isn’t it? I can’t believe you’ve got a sale so quickly.’

‘Neither can I. Now I’ve got to decide where I want to live and get myself a new home.’

‘Why don’t you move in with me and Lou while you sort yourself out?’ Mali suggested. ‘You don’t want to make a rushed decision, take your time.’

‘Thanks. I think I’m in shock. I don’t know what I want to do.’

As she ended the call with Mali she realised that she felt lost, adrift. She’d started to feel at home down here, building up her photography business. And then there was Marcus. She was falling for him, she acknowledged.

Then she realised that she hadn’t messaged him to let him know that they’d accepted the offer. She took out her phone and typed a message quickly. Perhaps they could meet later and talk about it.

Marcus read Hattie’s text again.

I’ve spoken to Dad and we’ve decided to accept the offer. I told Jonathan and he said the sale will only take about 6 weeks. Hattie x

So that was it. The cottage was sold and in six weeks’ time Hattie would be gone. Out of his life forever. There was no mention of see you later. Or I’ll miss you. She had barely said goodbye to him earlier, too busy dialling to tell her dad that the cottage was sold, which had said volumes to him. And now rather than phone him and talk it over she had sent him a text ending with one single, solitary kiss.

Well, that’s his fault, wasn’t it? He’d suggested a ‘no strings’ summer romance. He’d always known that Hattie wasn’t here to stay. They hadn’t made each other any promises. She wasn’t to know that he had fallen for her.

So, where did they go from here? Continue with their romance until the house was sold and Hattie finally rode off into the sunset on her motorbike?

He shook his head. He couldn’t do that. They should never have made love but he knew he wouldn’t be repeating it, not now he knew the effect Hattie had on him. He wasn’t going there again. Hattie was leaving and he wasn’t going to get his heart broken a second time.

Except the feelings he’d had for Kaylee were nothing compared to the fire Hattie lit up in him. He had to protect himself and keep away from her as much as possible. It was the only way he would cope with her moving away.

He thought carefully about how to respond to her message, then finally typed out a reply:

I’m pleased for you. You must have a lot to do with the sale going through so quickly. Let