The Gin Shack on the Beach by Catherine Miller

Author:Catherine Miller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2017-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

There was something wholly disheartening about remaining in one place for any length of time. It was Tony who was Olive’s salvation and suggested they go out for a walk. Up until the gin confiscation, she’d not wanted to, but the audacity of it proved she needed to not take it lying down, and she’d not been doing much else.

‘Where do you want to head?’ Tony had today’s newspaper under his arm and it was nice to be outside for a change. Olive had missed the fresh air and salty sea scent.

‘It feels so strange to not be going to my beach hut.’

‘We can head to mine?’ Tony offered.

‘It won’t be the same. It will be odd seeing my hut on the end of the row without being able to use it.’ They’d probably renovated it and ripped all her things out, knowing how heartless Matron and her son were being. It was upsetting even thinking about it. It was hard to explain to anyone why Richard could be the way he was without going into details of a past she didn’t wish to share. Even Richard didn’t know the full story. It was her responsibility to keep that a secret. And there were days when that was a hard cross to bear, but it wouldn’t resolve anything. Talking about it wouldn’t change what had happened, however much she wished it would. All of a sudden she knew exactly where they should walk to. It wasn’t often she wanted to go there, but today it was a fitting place to visit. ‘Let’s go to the sunken gardens.’

The gardens were quite the feature along the Esplanade. Set on the green was a square of bushes that, once you were through one of the entrances, led to a hidden garden sunk into the cliff. It was a curious spot and one her husband had always loved, so much so it was here she’d chosen to have his memorial bench placed. It was part of the reason Olive didn’t come here very often. This was her husband’s place and with it always came the flood of memories made fresh all over again. But today she wanted somewhere to hide away from the world and put her inner turmoil to rest. What had happened in the past shouldn’t affect the here and now. ‘Matron confiscated the gin you kindly delivered.’

‘What? Surely she can’t do that?’

Olive was pleased to hear Tony sounded as horrified as she had been.

‘She has it in her head that I’m going to try and sell shots to all the residents or something ridiculous like that.’

‘More like she can neck it herself. I do hope I bump into that nameless busybody soon. What kind of person makes everyone refer to them as Matron? So, are you gonna break into her office and claim it back?’

Olive did want the bottle back, but that alone wouldn’t quell the unease that had settled within her. ‘We need to find a way to restart The Gin Shack Club.

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