A Summer Escape: The perfect feel-good, sun-drenched summer romance (Locke Isle Book 1) by Emily Harvale

Author:Emily Harvale [Harvale, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Crescent Gate Publishing
Published: 2023-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

Ten

The evening air is surprisingly balmy in the garden. The grass smells freshly cut, and vies for attention with scents of lavender, rosemary, and other herbs, along with several fragrant flowers. Even the sea air finds its way to my nostrils, but then again, the garden is near the edge of a cliff, sitting on a small island surrounded by salt water.

I can’t help but smile when I see the Watershed. It looks exactly how I had pictured it from Tracy and Roger’s earlier descriptions. The red, white, and blue bunting flutters in the warm breeze and although it isn’t dark yet, the fairy lights are already twinkling, as are the battery-operated candles.

Roger looks relaxed lounging in one of a set of reclining, garden chairs with integrated footrests. There’s a matching dining table, sofa and two side tables. The padded cushions are a plain, but pleasant grey, but I can’t help thinking that they should be red, white, and blue to match the bar itself, and the bunting. I could have some made for them.

And that reminds me that I haven’t given him and Tracy the rest of their gifts. I bought handmade chocolates, some heavenly-scented soaps, an ornately crafted candle, two watercolours of the Harbour Arm, one as it was in its heyday of steam packets to France, and one as it is now. I know that this bar folds up, but the watercolours might be right at home here.

‘I have a few gifts for you,’ I say, as Tracy hands Roger the champagne and asks him to do the honours.

‘Gifts?’ Tracy says, looking not all together pleased. ‘I told you, Geneva, we don’t need gifts. But it’s lovely of you, of course.’

I smile at her. ‘You don’t know what they are yet. And they’re only small. I bought them in Folkestone at the Marketplace. I’ll nip inside and get them if you’ll tell me the way to my room, please.’

‘I’ll show you,’ Tracy says.

‘No need. You sit and relax. I’m sure I can find it. Left or right at the top of the stairs?’

‘First door on the left,’ says Roger. ‘We thought you’d like a sea view. I won’t pop this cork till you’re back. Don’t want the bubbles going flat.’

‘Or the room at the back on the right is free, if you prefer a view of Locke Keep.’ Tracy winks mischievously.

I grin at her. ‘The sea view sounds perfect, thank you. I won’t be long.’

I hurry inside and up the stairs, wondering if they’re slightly slanted or if it’s me, but when I reach the top and look back down, and it’s definitely the stairs.

Is this old settlement from the hundred or so years this cottage has been here? Or is this a more recent shift in the land on which the cottage sits? Is it subsidence, or worse? Tracy said Roger owns this cottage. I assume it’s insured, but what about against coastal erosion? Not all homes can be, I’m aware of that. And some home

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