The Sea Garden by Marcia Willett

Author:Marcia Willett
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781466846524
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

TAMAR

She is waiting for them at the end of the drive, a small figure wearing denim dungarees over a high-necked jersey, her long red-brown hair tied back. She waves enthusiastically to Oliver, who waves back, then gives a sideways glance at Guy, who is summing her up with his usual uncompromising stare.

‘No need to frighten her to death,’ suggests Oliver. ‘You could even try smiling.’

‘Shut up,’ mutters Guy, and gets out of the car. He has already decided that he is going to use his not inconsiderable charm and, before Oliver can introduce them, he’s holding out his hand, saying, ‘You must be Jess. I’m Guy Webster, David Porteous’ stepson. Congratulations on winning his Award,’ and Jess is looking very slightly shy and smiling back at him.

She says something about Kate and how kind she’s been inviting her to Chapel Street, but Guy has caught sight of the sail loft and the river.

‘Pretty good here, though,’ he says. ‘Better than the town, I should think.’

His gaze is taking in the boats at anchor out in the deep-water channel and he instinctively moves towards them, with Jess still at his side, talking to her as he strides across the grass. She turns to look back at Oliver, gives a little apologetic shrug as she hurries to keep up.

‘That was quick work,’ murmurs a voice from behind him, and Oliver swings round to see a fair-haired woman surveying him with amusement. ‘It wasn’t even much of a chat-up line, either. Does he always cut you out like that?’

Oliver is aware of a very odd sensation; as if everything – the world, time, sound – has briefly stopped and now jolts on again but in an entirely different way. Nothing will ever be quite the same again. He shrugs, pretending resignation.

‘Story of my life,’ he says. ‘Are you Sophie?’

She nods. ‘And you’re Oliver. Jess has told me about you, and Johnnie thinks we must have met in the distant past. And that must be Guy. Where d’you think he’s taking her?’

‘It’ll be the boats,’ says Oliver. ‘My brother-in-law is a single-minded fellow. I apologize for him. I don’t think he can have seen you there. I didn’t either.’

‘That’s OK. I can sympathize with that. I’m a sailor myself, and it’s spectacular here, isn’t it? Come in and have some coffee while he gets it out of his system.’

‘Thanks. Jess said something about having coffee in the sail loft. I don’t want to muscle in…’

‘When Jess told us you were coming Johnnie said to be sure to bring you in,’ Sophie says firmly. ‘He’s looking forward to meeting you again. He says it’s years since he saw you.’

Oliver follows her into the house just as Johnnie appears from another room across the hall. He stretches out a hand in greeting.

‘Oliver,’ he says. ‘It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other but I’d know you anywhere as Cass’s son.’

As they all go into the kitchen a bad-tempered little terrier comes stiff-legged from its

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