Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

19

Zach

Zach woke, looked out the window, and swore loud enough to stir Olive down the other end of the boat.

‘Is it a spider?’ she called out.

‘No, it’s bloody snow.’

‘Ooh.’ Olive leapt out of bed, dashing to his side. ‘Oh, wow, it looks amazing.’

‘Yes, but those hefty flakes falling means the roofers won’t be working today.’ He saw her shoulders sag.

‘On no, why not? It’s not that bad.’

Zach squinted out at the blizzard. ‘Think it just might be.’ He tried not to laugh at how crazy his life felt lately.

Olive started to put some wood in the burner. ‘I like snow,’ she said, yawning.

‘I do too when I’m not out in it or it’s messing with my schedule.’

Olive giggled. ‘At least the roof is covered.’

‘You’re taking this quite well.’

She shrugged, moving to put the kettle on. ‘Not much we can do about it, that’s why.’ She stabbed a finger towards the window. ‘When it stops, we can build a snowman. Give him one of the oars and a lifejacket.’

That cheered him up. ‘Okay, but we don’t want to get too wet. It’s not like we can have a lovely long hot shower.’

Olive groaned and flopped on his bed, face down. ‘The shower.’ She glanced up. ‘Do you think the plumber will still come?’

‘Only if the roads are clear. And they won’t be along here. Not with the snow this thick.’

She lifted one arm directly upwards. ‘We can clear the road.’

‘You really want that shower, don’t you?’ He laughed.

‘I’ll risk frostbite digging a pathway for the plumber if it means I get a shower.’

‘Fran said we could use hers anytime.’

Olive groaned again. ‘I know, but I heard Florence pops in and out of her house. It’s for the best if we stay away from each other, and it would be just my luck she’s there at the same time as me.’

‘I’m sure Fran can make arrangements so that doesn’t happen.’

‘I guess.’ Olive sat up and sighed. ‘It’s not as though we could get over there now anyway. I’ll wait for the plumber. If he can’t get through today, I’m sure the roads will be better tomorrow.’

Zach glanced over at the house. ‘If we dig one out, you mean.’

Olive laughed.

He turned her way. ‘At least it hasn’t destroyed your soul.’

‘I don’t think anything can now.’ She stood, thumping her chest. ‘I am strong.’

Zach chuckled. ‘Let’s see if you stick by those words when you have to use the loo.’

Olive peered out at the snow. ‘Oh, flipping heck!’

‘You can go first.’

‘I need to now you’ve brought it up.’

He gestured at the bathroom. ‘Use a bowl. We can chuck it down the loo later when this has calmed down.’

Olive’s nose wrinkled. ‘I haven’t peed in a bowl in my life.’

‘Yes, but think of the new skills.’

She chuckled and tossed a tea towel at his head as she went to remove the kettle from the stove. ‘I’m going to be brave.’

‘No, you can’t. Look at it.’

‘It’s just a bit of snow blowing in the wind.’

Zach went to speak, but she grabbed her coat, slipped into her boots, and made a dash for the bow.

‘If I’m not back in five, send a search party.’

‘Olive, no.’ He made it up top just as she was blown sideways on the snow-covered grass.

‘I can do it,’ she yelled, her words mingling with the blizzard.

Zach saw her stumble and rushed out to help, completely forgetting he had no coat. Not even his dressing gown. ‘Bloody hell, Olive. You all right?’

‘Get back inside. You’ll freeze.’

‘You come back in.’

She made it to the loo and tugged him inside. ‘Whoa! That was intense.’

Zach laughed, trying to manoeuvre around the tiny space. ‘Now what?’

‘Respite.’ She grinned. ‘Let me catch my breath, then you can run back to the boat while I sort myself here.’

‘I need to use the loo as well now.’

‘Okay, well, you go first. You’re always quicker than me. I’ll wait outside.’

The snowstorm blew the container, rattling its walls.

‘I’ll wait outside, and you can go first,’ he told her, steadying her as she wobbled.

‘We don’t have time to argue about this, Zach. We’re about to turn into snowmen. People. Whatever.’ She pointed towards the toilet. ‘Just get on with it.’ She opened the door, then fell back onto him as the wind slammed the door in her face.

‘You okay?’

‘Yep. Just startled me.’

Zach tried to move her to the toilet. ‘You go. I’m not letting you wait out there for me.’

‘Right, that does it.’ She pushed him at the loo. ‘Be quick. I’m going to stand in the doorway, close my eyes, and cover my ears.’ And she did just that, the whistle of the wind blowing through her body blocking the door.

Zach opened his mouth to protest, but his bladder got the better of him, so he quickly used the facilities. ‘Done,’ he said loudly, using the hand sanitiser from the side. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’ He changed places with her, fought the wind to close the door behind him, then waited in the blizzard, shivering, to make sure she got back to the narrowboat in one piece.

Oh, wow, I think I’m going to actually die .

He started to jog on the spot, relieved to see Olive depart the cubicle quickly.

‘Why are you still here?’ she yelled over the wind, flapping a hand as if trying to swipe the snow away from her eyes.

He made a grab for her cold fingers and hurried them back to the warmth created by the wood burner that had fast become their best friend.

‘Jeez, I can’t feel my face.’ He gasped whilst holding his shaky hands in front of the fire.

Olive held a tea towel to the warm kettle for a moment, then pressed it to Zach’s cheeks, making him groan with delight.

He closed his eyes and melted a little into her touch. ‘Looks like we’re having a day on the boat today.’

‘Oh, can’t we at least try to dig a path?’

‘Once it’s stopped, but that doesn’t look to be anytime soon.’

Olive snuggled herself in his bed. ‘We need a television.’

Zach pulled out a pack of playing cards from a drawer. ‘We have these.’

She tapped her side, and he clambered under the cover. ‘Let’s play Snap.’

He chuckled, then set up the game.

An hour later, and they were both falling asleep from the heat of the burner.

It took a moment for Zach to gather his bearings as he woke with Olive attached to his chest. He was sweating and really needed to open a window, but part of him didn’t want to move, so he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.