Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

13

Zach

Zach was up at the crack of dawn, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the kitchen fitters and central heating team. He hadn’t been too bothered before he had a shipmate, but now he was hoping to push forward with moving into the house.

The sky was overcast and the air freezing, but inside the house, he felt warm as thoughts filled him of his mother and grandfather smiling down on him and their home. It choked him a little, but he took a deep breath, then opened the street door, ready for the workers.

The walls were freshly plastered, and any flooring yet to be laid. The high ceilings and large window frames gave the rebuild a bigger look than what he remembered of the old version. He hadn’t changed the layout too much, as he wanted the memories.

There was no scent of his mother, none of his grandfather’s belongings around, and no signs of his little brother anywhere, but it was still home.

He stepped outside to stare over at the old kiosk that Cody had saved from destruction. The repairs and paint job Cody and Heath had done made the hut usable again for ticket sales, and he was pleased his brother had talked him out of tearing it down. It was now the only original feature of the Boat Hut.

‘I can use the other hut as toilet facilities, perhaps,’ he said quietly, pointing over to the trees.

Another unit was due the next day, large storage, ready to use for boat equipment and repairs.

Zach made his way to the river, noticing how dark and icy it looked. The times he’d been out there in a rowboat in all seasons. Just like his grandfather, he didn’t care. It was just a joy to be on the water, and he wished he could be out there now.

The workers pulled up outside his house, so he jogged their way to greet them and show them inside, and it didn’t take long for them to get started.

Zach left them to it, going back outside to assess the land. He had a rough idea of where everything was going to go, but there was always room for improvement. He wanted it to be perfect. Similar to how it was but with more options and room to manoeuvre.

He whipped out his rolled notepad from his back pocket and checked over how much had been ordered, having a mini panic when he thought he’d forgotten to add a first aid kit onto the list. ‘Ah, there you are.’ He chewed the end of a pen, then glanced up when he saw Fran coming across the small iron bridge close by.

She waved one hand whilst the other held a wicker basket. ‘Morning, son. Did you sleep well?’

He approached and kissed her cheek. ‘It was okay.’

She handed him the basket. ‘Here, I brought you some pastries from Edith’s Tearoom.’

He peeled back the pink gingham cloth to peer inside at the assortment. ‘Lovely, thanks. How much do I owe you?’

‘Pfft! Can bring you brekkie, can’t I? Your brother is married to my granddaughter. You’re family now, so let’s not make me feeding you an issue.’

He grinned as he gestured at the boat. ‘Thanks. Do you want to come inside for a cuppa and one of these?’ He lifted the basket.

‘Actually, I wanted to talk to your young lady.’

Zach was sure his face heated. Probably just the icy wind bashing his cheeks. ‘She’s my… friend.’ He had no idea what to label his relationship with her. It seemed to come out of nowhere and definitely took him by surprise.

‘I know all about Olive and what happened yesterday with our Florence. I want to speak to her.’

‘I don’t want any trouble.’ He made sure he sounded firm about that.

Fran swiped back her white hair that the wind had blown onto her mouth. She offered one of her warm smiles as she nodded. ‘I’m not here for that.’

He went to ask what she did want, but Olive appeared on the bow. She stretched, coughed, wrapped her coat further around her pyjamas, then slouched her way to the portable loo, not noticing anyone watching.

‘Olive’s been through enough, Fran,’ he said softly, hoping for a quiet day where everything went according to plan.

‘Yes, I heard.’ She tapped his elbow, motioning towards the narrowboat. ‘Come on. You put the kettle on.’

He quickly followed her to the boat, surprised by how fast her small frame could move. The kettle was already on, and he guessed Olive was heating some water for a wash. He gestured at where he had spent the night, now transformed back to a table and bench seats.

Fran sat and put the pastries onto the plates he handed over. ‘It’s not bad in here. Barney did you a nice favour letting you use this. Wouldn’t catch me sleeping here. Too many spiders.’

Zach laughed. ‘Don’t tell Olive. We haven’t seen any yet.’

‘It’s probably too cold for them.’

Zach pointed at the doorway. ‘Barney put a load of conkers down. Supposed to help keep them away. Not sure if he was winding me up. I guess we’ll see.’

Fran chuckled. ‘Oh, Zach. You could make life easier for yourself and just stay at mine. Willow and Cody are on their honeymoon, so there’s plenty of room.’

‘I’m fine here. Besides, I’ll not leave Olive here alone, and it would be a problem for her being that close to Florence if you invited her to yours.’

‘Hello,’ said Olive, stepping down into the saloon.

Fran introduced herself and asked Olive to take a seat. ‘I want you to know I’ve spoken to Florence, and there’ll be no more trouble. She’ll stay away from you.’

Zach could see Olive looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m not sure we’ll see Florence much anyway. We’ve got a lot on here, right, Olive?’

There was a small flicker of a smile as she nodded.

‘About that,’ said Fran, looking at Olive. ‘I know you were supposed to be helping at the stables, and that kind of thing can put a person back on their feet. I know your story, lovely, and I want to offer some help.’

Seeing how Olive didn’t say anything, Zach spoke. ‘What did you have in mind?’

Fran’s soft blue eyes were on Olive. ‘Would you like to work at my garden centre? I was thinking you could do two hours a day, perhaps one day a week to wean you into work. If that’s daunting, then maybe one hour, or even twenty minutes.’ She turned to Zach. ‘I think anyone who has been out of work for a long time would benefit from a scheme like that. Slow and steady wins the race, as they say.’

‘What about Florence?’ asked Zach, knowing she lived close by.

‘I’ve already told her my plan, and when Olive is at the garden centre, Florence is not to come by. Not that she does much anyway. Between her job and helping at the stables, she’s a busy one.’

Olive looked at Zach, so he offered an encouraging smile. She turned to Fran. ‘What would I have to do at the garden centre?’ she asked quietly.

‘Not much to start with. Helping customers know where things are, make sure the trolleys are put back in the bay, straighten things on shelves. Bits and bobs like that.’

‘I guess I can do that.’

Fran smiled. ‘And I’ll pay you at the end of each day until we get you into a proper routine.’ She reached over the table to pat Olive’s hand. ‘It’ll be something to do while you figure out what job you really want. I always find keeping busy helps.’

‘Zach said I should take things easy to help clear my mind.’

Fran glanced his way, and he hoped she wasn’t thinking he was trying to spoil Olive by leaving her to do nothing but rest. ‘Well, taking things easy is good for you too, but what you need, lovely, is a starting point, and a couple of hours here and there gives you the best of both worlds.’

‘I agree,’ said Zach, trying to make his thoughts on the matter clear to both women.

‘Zach brought me here so I could try something new, so I accept your offer, Fran.’

Fran stood. ‘Great. How about you start tomorrow, say ten a.m.?’

Olive looked a tad startled as she nodded.

‘I’ll bring her over,’ said Zach.

Fran seemed pleased. ‘I won’t stop for tea. Got a lot on. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

Zach followed her out.

‘It’ll be okay,’ she whispered, patting his arm before walking away.

He went back inside to find Olive sorting a bowl of water for her wash. ‘How you doing?’ He scanned her cheekbone. ‘That looks a lot better.’

Olive breathed out a small laugh. ‘Don’t tell fibs. I’ve already looked in the mirror. I’m surprised Fran would want me at work looking like this.’ She pointed at her face.

Part of his brain told him it would be a good idea to lightly stroke over her wound, but another part made sure his half-raised hand lowered to the counter. He gestured at the pastries. ‘Breakfast?’

She nodded as she lifted her bowl of warm water. ‘I’ll just get washed first, then join you.’

Zach made some tea and dressed the table with what little they had. He sat and stared out the window, looking over at his house, deciding he’d show Olive around Pepper Bay to get her acquainted with the area.

‘Zach,’ came her small voice. ‘Do you think Florence will write about me in her paper?’

I hope not .

‘No. Of course not. What is there to say anyway? Your dad’s story isn’t yours.’ He didn’t know what else to add. ‘Hey, do you fancy a mooch around today? I can show you Pepper Lane. We can have lunch in the pub there.’

She poked her head around the galley, toothbrush in mouth. ‘I thought I saw workers at your house.’

‘There have been workers at my house for months. They’re okay on their own. Not as though I have anything to steal.’

Olive frowned. ‘Where is your furniture?’

‘Being delivered soon. My flat in London came furnished, as I didn’t want to spend money on that sort of thing until I got back here, and what I do have is in storage at Fran’s, and the rest I had to buy.’

Olive grinned and went back to the confined space that was their bathroom.

‘What are you grinning about?’ he called after her.

‘I’m going to start calling you Scrooge.’

Zach chuckled. ‘I’m not tight. I’m just a good saver.’

‘And your savings will stretch to lunch at the pub, will it?’ she asked, approaching the table.

‘I think it just might.’

She picked up a cinnamon swirl and bit into it with an appreciative smile. ‘Hmm, this is good.’

‘It’s from Edith’s Tearoom, which I’ll show you when we visit Pepper Lane.’

‘And when I get paid tomorrow, I can buy you lunch.’

Zach sipped his tea. ‘There’s no need for that. You can start saving yourself.’

Olive frowned. ‘Now that I think of it, I’ve never bought a man food before.’ She gave a slight shrug. ‘This really is a new start for me.’

Zach lifted a croissant. ‘Here’s to new beginnings.’

Olive grinned and tapped his food with her own. ‘I’m starting to like these toasts.’

‘You can think of the next one then.’

‘Maybe this Pepper place will inspire me.’

Zach gazed out the window, warming at the thought of finally being back home. ‘Yeah, it definitely inspires me.’