It took a couple of seconds for the words to register.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s not possible, we haven’t slept together for months.’
‘The opening night of the town hall project. You came back to the house, we had sex.’
Guy vaguely remembered that night. He’d been a little bit worse for wear and the whole night had been a blur, thanks to the free bar. But he had remembered spending the night with Kate and he could kick himself now
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘What, that we had sex?’
‘No, that you are pregnant.’
Kate flounced towards the front door.
Guy watched in horror. ‘Kate NO!’
But it was too late. Kate flung the door open to see innocent Nell standing there, smiling up at her.
‘Oh, hello,’ Nell said, instantly she recognised the woman standing before her, ‘I think we’ve met before.’
‘I don’t think so,’ Kate replied rather abruptly.
Nell noticed Guy standing behind the woman – he was visibly shaking.
‘Yes, we have, the deli competition – you were the mystery shopper, the judge?’
Kate stared at Nell, ‘I’ve no idea what you are talking about,
‘You came into the deli.’
‘You’ve been here recently?’ Guy asked puzzled.
‘I wanted to see where you’d run off too, there’s no crime in that is there?’
‘Have you been spying on me?’
Nell clearly had no idea what was going on.
Guy felt devastated that she was about to be dragged into this unholy mess. His pulse was throbbing on the side of his head and his heart was thumping.
If only he’d told Nell about Kate before.
Kate turned towards Nell, ‘Let me introduce myself, I’m Kate, Guy’s wife, and I hope you’re going to be the first to congratulate him on becoming a father,’ she announced, before pushing past Nell and storming off up the path. She quickly disappeared out of sight, leaving Guy lost for words.
Nell swallowed as dread rose through her body. She stumbled backwards and reached out for the fence as the words rang loud and clear in Nell’s ears … WIFE. She met Guy’s stare and shuddered as panic rose through her whole body.
‘What did she just say?’ her eyes filled with tears.
Guy didn’t want to repeat it. He didn’t want to believe it himself. He could see the hurt in Nell’s eyes and was aware he could hear his own breathing.
‘I’m sorry, Nell,’ the colour drained from his face.
Nell felt as if she’d been kicked in the stomach.
She stared at him as the hurt stabbed her entire body. She felt sick and wanted to scream and shout, thump his chest.
He had a wife, who was pregnant.
Nell edged backwards, clutching her heart.
‘Nell, please wait. Please.’
‘Don’t you ever come near me again.’
‘Please let me explain,’ said Guy desperately.
But it was too late. Nell’s legs were already powering her out of sight. She didn’t look back.
Chapter 31
As Nell’s legs pounded up the wharf, the tears blurred her eyes and the pain gripped her stomach. She felt as if she was riding an emotional rollercoaster, a feeling she’d never wanted to experience again as long as she lived. How could he do this to her?
Turning the corner by the side of the boatyard, Nell bumped slap-bang into Lloyd, who was ambling along, stretching his legs.
‘Whoa! Slow down, where’s the fire?’ he asked, straightening his cravat, then waggling his cane in the air.
It took Nell a moment to steady herself, ‘I’m so sorry, I should have been looking where I was going,’ she said, forcing a smile and wiping away the tears with the back of her hand.
Lloyd ushered her towards the railing, suddenly noticing the distressed look on her face.
‘Lean against this for a moment, catch your breath,’ he didn’t take his eyes off her. ‘That’s your boat, isn’t it?’
Nell nodded, ‘Yes,’ she could feel her lips beginning to tremble again and the tears cascaded down her cheeks again.
‘Let me walk you home.’ He touched her lightly on her arm and she didn’t object when he linked his arm through hers. He pointed his cane towards the colourful narrowboat. ‘Nearly there,’
Nell snagged a look towards the sky. What a fool she’d been, trusting Guy. Ollie had never hurt her or lied to her like this. How could Guy do this to her? What was he playing at? She’d let him into her life and he’d made her world come crashing down around her once again.
Arriving at the edge of the jetty, Nell dabbed her nose with a tissue, ‘Thank you, I’ll be okay.’
‘If you don’t mind me saying, you don’t look okay. Is there anyone you’d like me to call?’
Nell shook her head and the tears began to run down Nell’s cheeks once more, ‘I’m sorry, I don’t mean to cry on you,’
‘Come on, at least let me see you through the door,’
His voice was soft and his eyes were kind. ‘I don’t like to see anyone upset.’
‘Thank you, I can stretch to a cuppa and a slice of Victoria sponge?’
‘That, m’dear, sounds like an excellent invitation,’ he smiled kindly. ‘Are you sure?’
Nell nodded.
Once inside, Nell passed Lloyd a drink and a slice of cake. She settled down at the table opposite him.
‘Sometimes, you know, things are never as bad as they seem,’ he said wisely.
‘I wish I could believe that,’ Nell swallowed down a lump in her throat and wished with all her heart that she didn’t have any feelings for Guy, but the pain hammering against her chest was telling her otherwise.
‘In my experience, cake as delicious as this always makes things a little better,’ Lloyd wiped the sugar from around his mouth, ‘This is actually damn good.’
‘Thanks, it’s baked by my friend, Bea, from the deli.’
‘A jolly fine baker.
‘The best,’ agreed Nell.
‘Do you want to tell me what’s upset you?’
Nell really didn’t feel like spilling her worldly worries to Lloyd and as much as she was hurting she didn’t want to tell tales on Guy either. The only thing she needed to do was stay out of Guy’s way and concentrate on winning that auction and moving on with her life. A completely fresh start. But both were easier said than done.
‘It’s safe to say someone I trusted has let me down,’ Nell said, not giving any more away.
‘I’m sorry to hear that. Do they know they’ve let you down?’
‘I think the answer to that would definitely be a yes.’
‘Then let them come to you and apologise. Anything is solvable if both parties are willing to forgive and forget.’
‘I’m not sure I can do either at this moment in time,’ said Nell, pushing her plate away. She’d completely lost her appetite.
‘Give it time.’
‘Maybe.’ She felt herself sigh and her shoulders sag.
They exchanged looks. Nell folded her arms and leant on the table. ‘I was looking forward to life again, then it’s all changed in a blink of an eye, but now I’m going to concentrate on what’s important.’
‘Which is?’
‘Winning that auction tomorrow.’
Lloyd turned his head towards the porthole and stared out towards the Old Picture House.
‘I have a good feeling about that place,’ he gave Nell a nod.
‘Do you want to see my plans?’
‘That would be grand! Now that’s dedication – plans before you’ve won.’
Nell smiled at his old-fashioned way of talking as she retrieved the plans from the cupboard and rolled them out on the table in front of him.
Lloyd took a sip of his tea, ‘This, young lady, looks fantastic. Talk me through it.’
Nell slid next to him and was grateful of the chance to be distracted. She t
alked Lloyd through her plans, her vision of bringing all the generations in the community back together. ‘I’ve kept all the original features inside the Old Picture House too,’ she said proudly, ‘And I can’t wait to get started and co-ordinate it all. This is just what I need, something for my future.’
‘This is just what this place needs. It will be the icing on the cake, so to speak,’ he chuckled, finishing off his slice of cake.
For a split second Nell beamed, forgetting all of her troubles.
‘I think so. As well as something for the community, it will be a memorial to Ollie. I’m doing it in his honour.’
‘Very commendable and these plans look perfect. It’s a jolly good idea. You are an amazing young lady.’
‘It’s a shame my mum doesn’t think so, she seems quite opposed to the idea.’
‘Your mum?’
‘Yes, I think it’s because I’ve never undertaken anything like this before. Have you been into the deli? She works in there too – Gilly.’
Suddenly there seemed a strange tension in the air and Lloyd took a breath.
‘I think she thinks I’ll end up in some sort of financial mess. I suppose she just worries about me,’ Nell quickly added, not wanting to appear disloyal to her mum.
The pair of them looked up towards the window as they both heard footsteps drumming along the jetty. Nell spotted Bea jumping on to the deck of the ‘Nollie’ and the door flung open.
Lloyd stood up and grabbed his cane, ‘My cue to disappear and leave you youngsters to it,’ he raised his eyebrows towards the plans lain on the table, ‘Mark my words, go for it. Do you and your Ollie proud.’
‘I will and thanks for bringing me home.’
He nodded towards Bea and was soon on his way, walking up the wharf.
‘Was that the man who collapsed?’
‘Yes, he’s rather an eccentric old thing but adorable.’
‘Looks like an old movie star the way he dresses, and anyway, what’s going on? I’ve just read your text but it was rambled,’ Bea’s eyes were wide as she unbuttoned her coat and sat down next to Nell, ‘I didn’t quite understand it.’
‘I don’t quite understand it either,’ Nell took a deep breath, ‘Guy has a wife …’ She watched Bea’s face change as the words registered.
‘He’s got a what?’
‘And not only has he got a wife, she’s pregnant.’
Chapter 32
Nell and Bea were now sitting on the bench on the deck of the ‘Nollie’, with a blanket wrapped around their shoulders. Nell brushed away the tears with the back of her hand before glancing up at her friend.
‘Oh Bea, I’ve been so stupid’ she snuffled, looking at the brown substance in the glass.
‘What’s in this, by the way?’
‘Nathan’s whisky, drink it,’ Bea insisted, squeezing her friend’s hand, ‘It will help with the shock.’
‘I’m not sure anything will help with the shock.’
Nell took a swig and felt the burn in the back of her throat, ‘I thought my life was about to change. I thought Guy was different …’ she sobbed into her tissue.
‘I’m still trying to take it all in. Why would he not mention he’d got a wife?’
Nell shrugged, ‘I even asked him outright and he said he was single.’
‘Why in God’s name did he feel the need to lie? It’s not as though at some point you wouldn’t find out.’
Nell’s shoulders drooped, ‘Maybe I wouldn’t have. Maybe I was just a so-called holiday fling, something to keep him occupied while he was here. He could have disappeared back at any time and I would have been none the wiser where or who he’d gone back to.’
‘I’ve no words, Nell, I really haven’t.’
Nell turned towards Bea, ‘Wait until you find out who she is.’
Bea sat upright and locked eyes with Nell, ‘You mean I know her?’
Nell took a deep breath before speaking, ‘In a kind of roundabout way … you know the snooty woman, the judge, the mystery shopper for the deli competition – well she’s not the judge.’
Bea looked confused, wondering where Nell was going with this, ‘The power-suit woman wearing the Jimmy Choos? How do you know she wasn’t the judge?’
‘Because that woman is Kate Cornish, Guy’s wife.’
‘Whoa! Really? I wasn’t expecting that,’ Bea exclaimed taken by surprise. ‘I wouldn’t have put them together in a million years, he’s so …’
‘Nice,’ Nell said, finishing off Bea’s sentence. ‘Or so we thought up until this moment.’
‘And she’s so …’
‘Up her own arse,’ Nell finished off,
Bea could see the sadness in Nell’s eyes.
‘Maybe they’re separated.’
‘Separated enough to get her pregnant?’
‘Fair point.’
‘But that’s not all,’
Bea’s eyes widened, ‘Go on.’
Nell took a deep breath, ‘We’ve been sleeping together.’
Bea locked eyes with her friend, then tipped the glass towards her mouth, ‘Drink some more.’
Nell didn’t hesitate and did as she was told.
‘Why Bea? He was so lovely to me, genuine, I trusted him; the first man I’d let get close to me since Ollie. He made me feel loved again, special.’ Her whole body drooped, ‘And now he’ll be going back to Ireland to play happy families.’
The tone of her voice broke Bea’s heart, ‘Oh Nell.’
She held out her arms and Nell fell into them.
‘What am I going to do, Bea?’ Nell asked, hoping her best friend had the answer.
‘There isn’t anything you can do, except hold that head up high and get on with it like a trooper. Concentrate on this week. You are still going to the auction aren’t you?’
‘Yes, of course, that’s not changed. I’m doing this for me and Ollie, the man who never let me down.’
‘Good girl, let’s just focus on the positives and soon Guy Cornish will become a distant memory.’
‘Why does it hurt so much in here?’ asked Nell, clutching at her chest.
‘Even at our age, a broken heart doesn’t get any easier.’
Bea glanced at her watch, ‘It’s getting late now, try and get some sleep,’ Bea stood up and Nell followed her inside the Nollie. ‘Tomorrow is a new day and a big day for you and when you are the proud owner of The Old Picture House then we will celebrate in style … maybe with a take-away.’
‘We know how to enjoy ourselves,’ Nell said, attempting a weak smile.
Bea noticed a shadow cast over the porthole, then there was a gentle rap on the door. They both looked up, startled to see Guy standing on the other side.
He sheepishly pushed the door open, ‘Can I come in?’
Nell’s heart was pounding and immediately tears sprung to her eyes, ‘It’s okay, come aboard.’
‘I’ll leave you to it. Ring me if you need me,’ said Bea, standing up and glaring at Guy.
Bea left and Guy hovered nervously in the kitchen.
‘Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be looking after your pregnant wife?’ Nell knew she sounded bitter and childish, but she couldn’t help herself.
‘Can I sit?’
‘If you must.’
He slid in the seat next to Nell and leant on the table, clasping his hands together.
‘How are you?’
She closed her eyes and forced back the tears. Nell was afraid if she opened her mouth she’d throw up. She felt that sick about Guy’s lies.
‘Silly question, I know,’ he said softly.
‘How the hell do you think I’m doing?’
‘It’s not what it seems,’ he said, raking a hand through his hair.
‘So, she’s not your wife and she’s not pregnant?’ She was praying it was all some terrible nightmare and that she’d wake up any minute.
She stole a furtive glance at Guy while she waited for the answer.
‘No, she i
s definitely my wife and, according to her, she is pregnant.’
Nell’s voice cracked, ‘Why did you lie to me, Guy? How did I get this so wrong?’
Silence.
‘You can’t even explain yourself,’ Nell shook her head in disbelief. ‘Do you know how much this hurts, after everything? I feel such a fool.’
A tear ran down Guy’s cheek and he brushed it away with the cuff of his jumper, ‘It really isn’t what it seems, Nell.’
‘Is this the ‘my wife doesn’t understand me’ speech? Because if it is, please don’t bother. I don’t want to hear it.’
‘I promise you it’s not,’ his hand crept towards Nell’s, but immediately she moved hers away.
He paused for a moment and cleared his throat and took in a deep breath, filling his lungs with air before he began talking. ‘I met Kate on a job. She’s a property developer and her father’s company employed my granddad’s business to construct a handful of new-builds on the edge of town. It was a huge contract and provided work for nearly twelve months. Once we started work on the site, she seemed to find more and more excuses to visit. Granddad put me in charge of the project so I was always her first point of contact. She was vibrant and full of fun and began to text or ring me most days. The lads told me to stay clear, she already had a reputation.’
‘A reputation for what?’ Nell chipped in.
‘For being a bit of a player, putting it about a bit. It didn’t bother me. I was young and wasn’t looking for anything serious. I was one of the lads, enjoying my Friday nights playing pool, drinking beer and ending up in the curry house. Life was simple. Then she started turning up wherever I was. The lads used to joke she’d had me tracked. But I liked it. She wasn’t like anyone I’d ever been out with before, she dressed in the latest designer gear, drove a BMW convertible. She reeled me in hook, line and sinker. We married after six months, a whirlwind romance. Everyone said it was too soon. My granddad warned me against it …’
‘But you think you know best at that age.’
He nodded. ‘As soon as we were married, she seemed to change overnight.’
‘In what way?’ asked Nell.
‘She was pushing, all the time, for me to ask my grandfather for the business, but I wasn’t going to do that. I was happy with the job I was doing. Like I said, I was young, one of the lads, I didn’t want to become their boss. My mates down the pub were down to earth, but hers were different to mine. I never felt comfortable around them. And she couldn’t ever bring herself to say I was a builder’s labourer. I was proud of my granddad and what he’d achieved but she did nothing except ridicule him. Then, one day, she came home holding up a designer suit. She’d set up an interview for me to go and work in her dad’s office. We argued about it, but she convinced me it was the right thing to do if we wanted to start a family, and the extra money would come in handy. It makes me sound weak, I know, but at the time I’d fallen in love with her and would have done anything for her. I went for the job, got it and hated every minute of it. I missed working with Granddad, missed working with the lads. Then around six months after that it all came to a head.’
The Cosy Canal Boat Dream: A funny, feel-good romantic comedy you won’t be able to put down! Page 19
