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

by Christie Barlow

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘My gut feeling was telling me she was having an affair. She of course denied it, but the tell-tale signs were there. And every time she convinced me it was all in my head. I was mentally exhausted with it but however hard I tried … it just didn’t work out.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I just couldn’t stand it anymore. I gave it, gave her, my best shot, but when I discovered she was having an affair with my boss that was the final nail in the coffin. I’d put up with her antics for years and years, enough was enough. I moved out three months ago and told her it was over. It was Mum who suggested I take some time away and when Ed said he needed help while he was recovering from his operation, I jumped at the chance.’

  ‘Oh Guy, but why did you tell me you were single? You could have told me the truth, you know.’

  ‘I know, I’m sorry, Nell,’ His voice faltered and he took her hands in his. ‘I was so ashamed. I always thought I could make my marriage work, be as happy as my granddad and granny were for all those years but it just never happened. I felt such a failure.’

  ‘But what I don’t understand is if you’ve been separated for a few months how far pregnant is she?’

  He sighed and took a deep breath, ‘I hadn’t slept with her for nearly seven months. Then just before I came to England we ended up at the same place one night and I was drunk. I’m not proud of it and the second I woke up the next morning I regretted every minute of it. This is the first time I’ve seen her since then. When she turned up on the doorstep I was shocked. It was the first I knew about her pregnancy. I’ve messed everything up haven’t I?’ He locked eyes with Nell.

  Nell couldn’t find any more words.

  What a mess.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Nell, I really am. I just wanted to move on, forget about my failed marriage and I thought that telling you I had a wife, with everything you’ve been through, would ruin things between us, but now I can see I was wrong to keep it from you. I’ve been an idiot. I should have been straight with you from the start.’

  ‘Yes, you should,’ said Nell.

  ‘I’m feeling pretty ashamed.’

  Nell pulled him gently towards her and he didn’t object. She grasped at his jumper. ‘You know I never thought I would have feelings for anyone else again.’ She sobbed quietly. Guy kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair softly.

  ‘You know I feel the same, Nell …’

  ‘But …’ Nell pulled away, her blurry eyes locking with his. She was conscious her heart was pounding and a feeling of trepidation ran through her entire body.

  ‘But?’ he pressed.

  ‘This can’t happen; there’s a bigger picture now. Divorce I could deal with, but now you have a baby who needs a father.’ Her voice was shaky. ‘The baby has to come first.’

  Nell stood up, the tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘This is too difficult, Guy. I think you just need to leave, my heart is breaking enough.’

  Guy shook his head, ‘I don’t want to leave.’

  ‘You have to do the right thing,’ she said, looking up through her tears.

  ‘But I feel like we are only just beginning and it’s been snatched away from us. You are beautiful, warm and funny and I never dreamt you would look at someone like me.’ He brushed her hair out of her face.

  ‘Someone like you? Guy, I’ve fallen for you, more than you will ever know.’

  ‘I know,’ he said kissing her gently on the lips, ‘And I feel the same, believe me I do. We can make this work, Nell. I know we can.’

  Nell shook her head, ‘Your main priority is your family. I can’t do it Guy. I can’t have you hopping between countries or staying here with me, knowing I’m keeping you away from your child. I’d feel too guilty. As long as I win that auction, I’ll be okay. I’ll throw myself wholeheartedly into the Old Picture House. I’ll get over you – I’ve done it before.’

  The silence echoed all around.

  There was nothing more to say. She could see it in his eyes he was hurting as much as her.

  ‘Another lifetime, hey?’

  Another lifetime,’ he echoed.

  ‘Damn that timing,’ she whispered.

  He wiped away his tears and kissed her tenderly, not wanting to pull away. He took her hands in his. ‘I’ve never felt so much alive and have loved every second I’ve spent with you.’

  They both stood up and Nell walked him to the door. Guy held her hand and he pulled her in close and they wrapped their arms around each other one last time.

  They both reluctantly let go.

  ‘Good luck with the auction.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘And remember to stay calm and don’t get lost in the moment.’

  ‘The story of my life – joke, joke,’ she said, trying to lighten the mood a little.

  He smiled at her, ‘Just stick to your budget. Don’t go over it.’

  ‘I won’t.’ she promised.

  ‘Night, Nell.’

  ‘Night.’

  She took a shuddering breath as she watched Guy with his head bent low, turn and walk up the jetty, out of her life. She closed the door, lay down on her bed and wrapped the duvet around her body. The tears fell on to her pillow, her heart breaking once more.

  Chapter 33

  Nell tossed and turned all night, until she finally drifted off to sleep somewhere around 5.30a.m., only to be woken by the alarm clock an hour later. She stretched out her arm to shut off the constant beeping, then snuggled back down under the duvet. She was exhausted.

  She lay there for a second, thinking about the day ahead – auction day –, and hopefully the start of the rest of her life. She had no idea how it was all going to pan out, but there were a couple of things she knew for certain: by the end of the day she was either going to be the new proud owner of the Old Picture House or she wasn’t, and soon Guy would be on his way back to Ireland. Bea and Gilly had to work in the deli today, but Nathan had offered to be by her side, every step of the way …

  She reached for the bedside lamp and switched it on, the light dazzling her eyes for a split second before she stood up and stumbled towards the kitchen still half asleep. After grabbing a quick cuppa, Nell sat down at the table and opened the brochure and browsed through the properties that were being auctioned off today – the Old Picture House was lot number five. She glanced across at the figures that Guy had prepared – she knew her financial limits and needed to make sure she didn’t carried away. She lay down the paperwork on the table and reached across to the photograph of her and Ollie. She traced his face with her finger, ‘Wish me luck,’ she murmured.

  Hearing a gentle rap on the door, she looked up to see her mum standing on the deck of the ‘Nollie’ and by the look on her face, Nell knew she certainly had something on her mind.

  ‘You look as bad as me. What’s up?’ asked Nell, unlocking the door and standing to one side as her mum came on board.

  ‘Why, what’s up with you?’ quizzed Gilly, automatically filling the kettle up with water.

  Nell sighed, ‘Me and Guy, it’s over before it began.’

  Gilly’s eyes widened, ‘Why, what’s happened?’

  ‘He forgot to mention he had a wife … oh and he found out yesterday she’s also pregnant.’

  ‘What?’ exclaimed Gilly, alarmed.

  ‘Apparently they’d separated, but it appears they had a drunken one-night stand just before he came here, and hey presto, she’s pregnant.’

  ‘Oh Nell, I’m so sorry,’ Nell felt her mum’s reassuring touch as she squeezed her hand.

  ‘Not as sorry as me. He’s going back to Ireland in the next couple of days or so.’ Nell could feel the emotion rising inside, her breath caught in her throat, ‘He’s doing the right thing, he’ll make an amazing father.’ Her eyes blurred as the words left her mouth. ‘Anyway, I’m trying not to think about it. Today I want to concentrate of winning that Old Picture House for me and for Ollie.’

  ‘T
hat’s why I’m here.’

  ‘Why?’ Nell asked, making her mum a cup of tea and sliding it in front of her. ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Please don’t do this,’ said Gilly. ‘Don’t go to the auction.’ Once the words were out there was no taking that back.

  For a second no one said a thing and the air felt tense.

  ‘Why wouldn’t I go to the auction?’ Nell narrowed her eyes at her mum. ‘Why are you so against me doing this?’

  Gilly’s face turned white and she dropped her gaze to the ground, ‘I just have a feeling it’s not the right thing to do.’

  ‘Based on?’ Nell asked, feeling a little annoyed.

  ‘Please just trust me on this one,’ Gilly’s face was flushed and her tone was borderline manic. ‘It’s a waste of Ollie’s money. He wouldn’t want you to put yourself in that position.’

  ‘Whoa! Stop there! That’s a low blow. I’ve worked out my finances and I think I would know more than you what Ollie would or wouldn’t want me to do.’

  Gilly’s face looked defeated.

  ‘So unless you’re going to give me a valid reason …’

  Gilly looked as if she was going to say something, but clamped her mouth shut.

  Determined not to lose her temper, Nell said calmly, ‘Mum, this is silly, it’s my money. I’m a big girl and it’s most definitely not something to fall out over,’ as she leaned across and grasped her mum’s hand. ‘I know you’re only worried about me, but honestly there’s no need.’

  Gilly just nodded.

  Hearing another rap on the door, they both looked up to see Bea smiling back at them.

  Nell gestured for her to come in.

  ‘Have I interrupted something?’ asked Bea, detecting a somewhat chilly atmosphere.

  Nell left it to Gilly to rescue the situation, ‘No, not at all. I’m just off. I’ll see you in work in an hour.’ She stood up and walked towards the door.

  ‘Aren’t you going to wish me luck?’ shouted Nell after her, but she was already walking down the jetty.

  ‘What was all that about?’ Bea asked.

  ‘Honestly I’ve no idea. For whatever reason, she’s acting all weird and doesn’t want me to go to the auction today.’

  ‘Why?’ Bea asked puzzled.

  ‘Your guess is as good as mine,’ Nell answered, not having a clue why her mum was so against it. ‘I simply have no idea.’

  ‘Strange, that’s not like Gilly, usually she’s very supportive,’ replied Bea, shrugging her shoulders, ‘She hasn’t said anything to me.’

  ‘Me neither, except Ollie wouldn’t want me to do this,’ she raised her eyebrows, ‘but I know Ollie would support me in this.’

  ‘And how are you feeling, after everything?’

  ‘All over the place. Sad that it didn’t work out with Guy, but excited that I may win the auction.’

  ‘Nathan will pick you up just before 8a.m. Don’t be nervous.’

  ‘I’ll try my hardest.’

  ‘Right, I’d best get back to baking and make sure you text me when you know one way or the other.’

  ‘I will, I promise.’

  ‘And good luck. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be!’

  A while later Nell walked along the wharf towards the main road. She waved at Ed, who was pottering about inside the yard and Sam was at his heels, but Guy was nowhere to be seen. She waited by the roadside and spotted Nathan’s blue BMW driving towards her. He pulled over and she climbed inside, clutching her bag, which contained all the paperwork for today.

  Once inside the car Nell let out a sigh.

  ‘That’s a big sigh.’

  ‘Yes, I think the nerves are kicking in now.’

  Nell focused on the road ahead. She hadn’t been to a house auction before and didn’t know what to expect.

  ‘Bea told me about Guy.’ Nathan gave Nell a quick sidelong glance as he changed gear. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘Me too,’ Nell said, still staring at the road ahead.

  They drove in silence for a couple of minutes before Nell spoke, ‘How’s Bea doing after Dot’s death? She hasn’t really mentioned it.’

  ‘She hasn’t spoken to me much about it either. I think it’s had a massive effect on her but she’s keeping it all bottled up.’

  ‘Has she seen or heard from Fern again.’

  Nathan kept his eyes on the road but shook his head. ‘No, thankfully, and I’m hoping it stays that way. The less stress she has in her life the better, especially with the baby.’

  The road into town was already busy and they began to crawl towards the town centre. Nell glanced out of the side window of the car, ‘Whoa! Look at that crowd of people already gathering outside the auction room.’

  ‘There’s a fair few here, but, remember, there are an awful lot of properties up for auction today. They aren’t all going to be there for the Old Picture House.’

  ‘Yes you’re right. I’m just beginning to feel the nerves. Look, I’m shaking,’ said Nell, holding up her wobbly hand.

  ‘Don’t be nervous, just go with the flow,’ said Nathan, manoeuvring the car into an empty space a stone’s throw away from the auction house. As they climbed out of the car there seemed to be a frenzy of people.

  Nell heard her name being hollered from the other side of the street. She turned round to see Lloyd standing on the other side of the road, dressed in his usual flamboyant style, waving his cane in her direction. Nell smiled as they crossed the road towards him.

  ‘Good morning, Lloyd, what are you doing here?’ asked Nell as they began to walk along the pavement together.

  ‘Just some early morning banking. And yourself?’

  ‘I’m here for the auction, for the Old Picture House.’ She held up her crossed fingers and smiled.

  ‘I hope you win and beat all those pesky developers. It’ll be good for the marina.’

  ‘Thanks, I’ll let you know.’

  ‘You make sure you do.’

  He saluted and ambled up the road, tapping his cane as he walked.

  ‘He’s quite something, looks like a right character.’

  ‘He does, doesn’t he? Come on, let’s get inside.’

  ‘Are you ready to do this?’ asked Nathan, ‘I’m feeling nervous for you!’

  Nell stood still and fumbled inside her coat pocket, grabbing a coin, ‘Let’s ask Ollie, ‘Best of three … Heads!’ she called flipping the coin in the air and catching it.

  ‘Heads.’

  ‘Heads.’

  ‘Heads.’

  Nathan grinned, ‘You and your coin! But it looks like he’s on your side!’

  They joined the back of the queue and filed into the auction room, which was already packed to the rafters.

  There were clumps of people huddled together flicking through folders and comparing notes, and the noise was deafening. The place seemed to be dominated by men. In fact as Nell scanned the room she only saw another couple of females and one of those was the estate agent who had accompanied her and Guy on the viewing of the Old Picture House.

  ‘The noise, it’s so loud, is this normal?’ Nell enquired with concern, following Nathan through the crowd of people.

  ‘Yes, once the auction starts you’ll be able to hear a pin drop,’ Nathan answered. The room was laid out with rows and rows of chairs and they managed to grab two spare seats near the front.

  ‘Oh God, my heart is actually racing. It feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest at any minute,’ said Nell, fidgeting in her seat.

  ‘Just relax, take some deep breaths,’ ordered Nathan, looking over towards the podium, where the auctioneer was standing skimming through the brochure.

  ‘Not long to go now, he’s getting ready.’

  There was a buzz of excitement in the room as the auctioneer blew into the microphone and just like Nathan had said, the whole room fell silent.

  Immediately, everyone sat down in their chair.

  ‘Jeez,’ Nell whispered. ‘I feel like
I’ve gone deaf.’

  ‘I told you!’

  Nell gazed towards the front of the room. The auctioneer introduced the first lot and began to spout words so fast that Nell couldn’t keep up. Everyone’s head synchronised between the bidders and the auctioneer. Hands were raised, heads were nodding and then the entire room turned towards the front, ‘Going once, going twice … sold.’ The hammer thudded and within a matter of seconds the first lot was sold.

  ‘That was quick,’ Nell muttered, amazed.

  ‘Soon be your turn,’ Nathan whispered.

  The two of them watched while the next three lots passed. One didn’t reach the reserve price but the other two went way beyond.

  ‘What if the Old Picture House goes way beyond my budget, too?’

  ‘You can’t speculate but any second now we are about to find out,’ replied Nathan, squeezing her arm. ‘Are you ready?’

  ‘Ready as I’ll ever be. Oh God.’

  Nell spun her head around the room and then spotted a colourful figure standing right at the back of the room … Lloyd.

  He tipped his head and waved his cane in the air.

  Nell smiled nervously back at him.

  ‘What’s he doing here?’

  ‘Probably intrigued to see if you win. Here we go,’ Nathan chimed.

  Nell listened intently as the auctioneer’s voice bellowed out the details.