The Cosy Canal Boat Dream: A funny, feel-good romantic comedy you won’t be able to put down!

by Christie Barlow

‘Just gone 6.45.’

  ‘I have been up for hours.’

  ‘I can easily sort out some cover if you don’t feel up to coming in.’

  Nell shook her head, ‘Thanks, but I need to keep busy. I’ll be along as soon as I’m ready.’

  Bea gave her a quick hug before flicking the latch and stooping down to climb through the door. Her footsteps echoed on the plank that connected the towpath to the boat as she ambled across towards the deli.

  ‘Right, Nell Andrews, it’s time to paint a smile on your face, life must go on,’ she murmured to herself, unconvinced, standing up and running her hand over Ollie’s photograph while she blinked away the tears. Birthdays and anniversaries always hit her hard.

  Five minutes later, she stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. ‘Jeez, Andrews,’ she said out loud, smoothing down her wild hair and washing away the smudged eyeliner.

  ‘I really need to learn to take my mascara off before climbing into bed,’ she muttered, reaching for her wash bag. Then, just like every morning, she took out her pack of contraceptive pills. She stared down at Tuesday’s pill in the palm of her hand and suddenly had no idea why she was still taking these little pills after all this time. Everything had carried on in the same routine for the last two years. Her life had been on auto-pilot and she’d never wanted to completely let go of it, up until now. Even though Ollie wasn’t coming back, she felt strong enough to look towards the future. Nell switched on the tap and made the decision to swill the pill down the sink.

  After a quick shower, she twisted her blonde hair up into a bun, threw on her favourite jumper and dabbed on a smidgen of lipgloss. She was ready to face the world. Once outside, the cool morning breeze whispered around her ears as Nell stood on the deck of the ‘Nollie’ and breathed in the early morning fresh air.

  She glanced across towards the blue and gold lettering of a neighbouring boat, ‘The Old Geezer’. Fred Bramley had been their neighbour since they’d moved on to the ‘Nollie’. Nell found him an interesting character with his grey bushy eyebrows and matching beard. He always wore a flat cap and a nattily kempt white cable knit that resembled a cricket jumper. He was retired and spent most of his days sitting on the deck of the boat fishing, even though in all these years she’d never actually seen him catch anything. For a brief moment the doors of the flagship opened and Fred appeared on the deck clutching a mug of tea.

  ‘Good morning,’ chirped Nell, catching his eye.

  He tipped his cap in acknowledgement. He was a man of few words but always gave a nod and a smile.

  ‘Have a good day,’ Nell called cheerfully before he disappeared back inside his boat. She gazed across at the other narrowboats with their brightly coloured names and flowerpots scattered on the roofs. Even in winter the marina was arrayed with colours that glistened in the early morning frost. This morning there was a chill in the air and, according to the weather forecast on the radio, it threatened snow.

  ‘Happy birthday, Ollie. I miss you so much,’ she whispered up into the grey sky.

  As she stepped down onto the towpath she stumbled, then heard a loud yelp as she was knocked clean off her feet and landed with a bump.

  ‘Ouch.’

  ‘You okay?’

  Startled, she looked up and then was yanked to her feet by two strapping arms.

  ‘Down boy, sit still.’ The man’s voice was firm. He clipped a lead on to an excited red setter, whose front paws excitedly danced.

  Feeling like a fool, Nell swallowed, ‘Handsome dog.’ She had no idea where either of them had sprung from. A second ago, there’d been no one even in sight.

  ‘Killer dog this one. Not one for making friends,’ the man replied, with a massive smile etched on his face.

  ‘Really?’ she answered slightly bewildered. The dog looked harmless enough to her, in fact kind of dopey.

  ‘Yep, really, trained to kill, this one.’

  Nell took a step back but didn’t take her eyes off the dog.

  ‘Watch this,’ the man cleared his throat. ‘Roll over.’

  Immediately the dog dropped to the ground and swiftly rolled on to his back and waved his gangly legs into the air.

  ‘Killer dog, indeed,’ she chuckled.

  ‘Daft as a brush,’ the man replied with a playful grin. ‘I’m sorry, we weren’t looking where we were going.’

  ‘No harm done,’ replied Nell, brushing down her coat.

  ‘Are you sure?’

  She nodded, ‘No broken bones, this time.’

  The man was of average height, and as he raked his hand through his dark floppy fringe and pushed it to one side, Nell noticed his glistening hazel eyes. ‘Let’s hope there isn’t a next time,’ he smiled.

  They held each other’s gaze for a moment longer than necessary and for the first time in a long time Nell felt a strange sensation, her heart gave a little flutter.

  ‘Your accent, Irish?’

  He gave her a lop-sided grin, ‘It sure is.’

  ‘Not one you often hear around here.’

  Nell was just about to introduce herself properly when his phone rang and he delved into his jacket pocket. ‘Excuse me,’ he smiled, glancing at his screen, then answered the call. Nell watched as he strolled up the path towards the boathouse. He flicked a glance over his shoulder and caught Nell’s eye, then waved his hand above his head. Who was that handsome stranger? She hadn’t seen him around these parts before.

  She was just about to make her way to the deli when she remembered she needed to refill the water tank.

  Damn.

  If she didn’t fill it up now she’d be kicking herself later, especially if the weather turned any colder today. Unravelling the hosepipe from outside the marina shower block she stretched it towards the water tank of the ‘Nollie’. After hooking up the pipe to the tap and dangling the hose inside the tank, she switched it on, then stood and waited.

  ‘Aunty Nellie!’ She heard a squeal.

  Spinning around she spotted her five-year-old godson in a pair of bright-yellow wellies clomping up the wharf, with Nathan quickly following behind him.

  ‘Aunty Nellie, look at my new wellies,’ Jacob screeched to a halt in front of her.

  ‘Wow!’ She squatted in front of him for a closer look. ‘Two questions, Jacob Green. Have you grown and do you think I can borrow those wellies?’ asked Nell beaming.

  Jacob giggled, ‘Don’t be silly, Aunty Nellie, they’ll be too small for you!’ His eyes sparkled, then he giggled as Nell scooped him up in her arms and hugged him tight.

  ‘Daddy said you may need extra hugs today,’ Jacob said, and that familiar feeling of grief rushed to the surface as she placed Jacob firmly back on the ground.

  ‘Jacob,’ Nathan interrupted.

  ‘Are you sad today, Aunty Nellie?’ Jacob asked, pulling at her scarf and ignoring his dad.

  ‘A little,’ she murmured, pinching her thumb and forefinger together, ‘But all the better for seeing you,’ throwing her arms open for another hug and burying her face in his mousy locks. As he pulled away, tears threatened in Nell’s eyes. Nathan leant forward, squeezed her arm and pressed a swift kiss to her cheek.

  ‘We all miss him,’ he whispered softly in Nell’s ear.

  She nodded and smiled. ‘So, Jacob, where are you off to this bright and early?’

  ‘Before-school club. It’s the only time Daddy can take me today.’

  ‘Day off work. I’m off to a trade show,’ Nathan answered. ‘I’m still searching for the parts to the …’ he hesitated.

  ‘Motorbike,’ Nell’s voice faltered. She had a sudden flashback of Ollie and Nathan stooped over the lump of metal, building the old machine.

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you,’ Nathan said, gently touching her arm.

  Over four years ago, Ollie and Nathan had decided to build a motorbike from scratch. The pair of them had spent hours in the shed at the bottom of Nathan’s garden working on the machine together. It was at times like
this Nell missed washing his greasy overalls and hearing all about the mechanical parts that they needed next, even though she’d no idea what any of them did or what they were for.

  ‘You haven’t upset me. I’m doing just fine. Good memories are what I need to cling on to, especially on days like today,’ she said suddenly, swinging her head around and remembering that the hosepipe was still attached to the water tank.

  ‘I think the tank’s full. Jacob, are you strong enough to switch off the water?’ she asked raising her eyebrows in the direction of the tap.

  ‘I am, Aunty Nellie,’ he saluted heartily.

  Bea spotted them from the deli window and joined them outside. Everyone smiled as Jacob clumped towards the tap. He grasped it with both hands and spun it around until the water stopped.

  ‘All done!’ He shouted triumphantly.

  Nell gave him the thumbs-up and pulled the hose from the tank.

  ‘Will you ever live in a proper house, Aunty Nellie?’ he asked her and she cupped her hands around Jacob’s bright-red chubby cheeks.

  ‘I love my floating home,’ she answered, planting an enthusiastic kiss on top of his head.

  Tears threatened again, thinking of Ollie and how proud he would be of Jacob, who was such a bundle of fun and growing into a remarkable young boy.

  ‘Right, young man, say goodbye to Mummy and Aunty Nellie. Let’s get you off to school.’

  Bea kissed his cheek then swung him round before planting his feet firmly back on the floor.

  ‘See you later, alligator,’ Nell smiled, holding up her hand for a high-five.

  They both stood outside the deli and watched Nathan and Jacob walk hand and hand up the wharf until they disappeared.

  Nell felt a pang of sadness, ‘I only have one regret in life so far,’ she said sadly.

  ‘Which is?’ Bea answered softly.

  ‘That we never got round to having children,’ she replied, wiping away a tear. ‘I always hoped to be a mother.’

  Bea placed her hand in the small of Nell’s back as they walked inside the deli. ‘You’ll make the perfect mother one day.’

  ‘Maybe one day.’

  ‘Definitely one day,’ Nell reassured her.

  Chapter 2

  The morning had passed quickly and by lunchtime the deli was pleasingly heaving with customers. There were the regulars who lived on the canal boats who placed frequent orders and those folks who were just passing by. Today everyone seemed in good spirits despite the miserable grey February weather outside.

  Nell heard a clonk on the deli window and looked up to see her mum sliding from the saddle of her bike. She balanced the handlebars against the window and grabbed her purse from the basket. Catching Nell’s eye, she waved.

  ‘You’ve got to love the smell of freshly baked bread,’ she beamed, swinging open the door to the deli and sniffing the air. ‘Pop one of those bloomers in a bag for me, love.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Mum,’ said Nell, smiling, reaching for a lightly baked loaf. ‘Not too dark,’ she added quickly.

  ‘Are you trying to suggest my bloomers are burnt,’ Bea chuckled, scooting towards Gilly and kissing her on both cheeks.

  ‘Absolutely not, wouldn’t dream of it. Oh and one of those iced buns too.’

  Nell reached into the glass cabinet, which was bursting with mouth-watering cakes and pasties while Gilly rummaged around in her purse.

  ‘They are on the house today, Gilly!’

  ‘Very kind of you, Bea, thank you.’

  ‘You’re welcome. I hear you’ve gone and gotten yourself some very cute additions to your household.’

  ‘Indeed, you must bring Jacob over, he’ll love them!’

  ‘I will!’ Bea touched Gilly’s arm before disappearing back into the kitchen.

  ‘You look tired,’ Gilly said, lowering her voice as she spoke to Nell.

  ‘Honestly, I’m okay.’

  ‘My guess is you barely slept,’ she narrowed her eyes and gave Nell her ‘she knows best’ look.

  Nell gave her a weak smile, ‘A little bit of a restless night, that’s all, Mum.’

  ‘Understandable. Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries are always the hardest,’ Gilly raised her eyebrows knowingly.

  Ollie’s first birthday without him flashed through Nell’s mind. She’d spent the day a blubbering wreck up at Bluebell Cottage, with only her mum for company. They’d been on a long walk, visited the lake and after dinner they’d curled up on the settee with a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates and watched a marathon of rom-com films. That day had felt hollow, but despite all the heartbreak, Nell knew she’d come a long way in the last two years; those feelings weren’t as painfully raw as they had once been and that was all down to the love and support of her mum and Bea.

  Nell slid the bag over the counter towards her mum.

  ‘I’ll see you later,’ Gilly said warmly, before grabbing her bread and walking out of the deli.

  Nell took a breather for the first time today as the deli began to quieten down. She wandered into the kitchen and quickly loaded up the dishwasher before washing her hands and hanging the tea towel over the rail of the stainless-steel oven. Bea was glazing a tray of sausage rolls.

  ‘I could murder a cuppa,’ said Nell, ‘Shall I put the kettle on?’

  ‘No need, I’ve read your mind. I was just about to bring you through a skinny cappuccino,’ she nodded towards the two steaming mugs.

  ‘Skinny, are you trying to tell me something?’ Nell brought her hand up to her chest in mock outrage, pretending to look hurt. ‘Do I need to go on a diet?’ she joked.

  ‘Ha no! It was my new year’s resolution to try and cut down, but you know what, sod that,’ she said taking hold of the mugs, ‘Wait there! Two luxury hot chocolates with the works coming right up!’

  ‘Now you’re talking!’

  Five minutes later Bea and Nell were leaning against the counter, holding the most scrumptious-looking drinks, laced with marshmallows, cream and chocolate flakes.

  ‘Wow, I’m going to need an afternoon kip after this!’

  Bea chuckled, ‘It’s calorific but, my gosh, it tastes good,’ she said, scooping up the cream with a spoon.

  ‘Look at this place,’ Bea flicked her eyes around the small café. ‘It looks like a bomb’s hit it after that mad rush.’

  There were half a dozen empty tables that were littered with crumbs. ‘I’ll brush up after this and wipe the tables down,’ offered Nell.

  ‘You are a superstar. What would I do without you?’

  The pair of them both cupped their mugs and sipped their hot chocolates while staring out over the marina through the window of the deli.

  Suddenly, Bea placed her mug down on the counter with a clatter and hit Nell’s arm. She nodded towards the window.

  ‘Who’s that? I’ve not seen him around these parts before.’

  Nell’s eyes darted over to where Bea was looking and smiled at her friend’s sudden enthusiasm. The man standing in front of the deli window was the same man whose dog had knocked her clean off her feet this morning.

  ‘Put your tongue back in, Bea, you’re physically panting,’ she ordered, but not admitting to her that her own stomach had done a slight flip at the sight of him again.

  ‘The hot chocolate’s too hot. Well, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it,’ Bea giggled.

  ‘You’re married,’ grinned Nell.

  For a second they both watched the handsome stranger, taking in his navy-blue jumper that clung to his toned abs, his overalls tied around his waist and wild, dark hair, which he constantly raked away from his eyes.

  He flicked his head up and down the jetty and seemed quite anxious before spinning round and locking eyes with Nell for a split second.

  Damn, he’d caught her staring.

  ‘It doesn’t stop me from looking, though. He’s …’ Bea grabbed Nell’s arm and gave it a squeeze.

  ‘Coming in,’ she smiled.

  All eyes
were on the man as they watched him push open the deli door, letting in a blast of cool air. ‘Hello again, I thought it was you,’ he said, in his soft Irish accent.

  ‘Hello again?’ Instantly Bea swung towards Nell, raising her eyebrows. She was itching to know who the stranger was.

  ‘This is …’

  The man smiled and acknowledged Nell’s hesitation, ‘Guy,’ he said, thrusting his hand towards her. ‘Guy Cornish. I don’t think we introduced ourselves properly this morning.’

  ‘This morning?’ Bea queried.

  ‘Nell, Nell Andrews. Pleased to meet you,’ she beamed, shaking his proffered hand ‘And this is …’

  ‘Bea,’ Bea chirped, with a wicked glint in her eye, ‘So come on, what am I am missing? How do you two know each other?’

  ‘This morning Guy swept me off my feet.’

  ‘He did, did he? And how come I know nothing about this?’ Bea enquired playfully.

  ‘Well not Guy, technically, but his dog.’

  ‘And he’s the very reason I’m pacing up and down the marina like a mad man. The lolloping hound has run off. We’ve only been here a couple of days and I’ve no clue where to start looking for him.’

  ‘How long ago was this?’

  ‘About five minutes,’ he glanced at his watch anxiously.

  ‘Don’t worry. He can’t have gone far. I bet he’s headed up the path near the woodlands. He’ll have sniffed out a rabbit or something.’

  ‘I don’t think he’s that intelligent,’ he joked, but there was no mistaking the worried expression firmly planted on his face.

  Nell stood motionless for a moment wondering what to do, then taking a deep, calming breath she said, ‘I’ll help you look. That’s okay isn’t it, Bea? We’re over the dinner-time rush now.’

  ‘Yes, of course. You go. This time of day it’s always quiet.’

  He gave Nell a grateful smile, ‘You will?’

  Nell nodded, ‘I know the back paths,’ she answered, thrusting her arms into the sleeves of her coat and quickly zipping it up. ‘Come on, I’m sure it won’t take long to find him.’

  Once outside the deli they headed towards the far end of the marina and strolled past all the shops, before hitting the trail that led to the woodlands.