23
Zach
It was the end of January, and Zach had been doing nothing but sort his house. Unboxing, decorating, arranging. There was so much to do, and Olive had kept him company throughout. He had started to wonder if she wasn’t going to leave his side at all. She hadn’t even been to the garden centre, and he’d lied to Fran, telling her Olive was unwell.
Watching Olive walk down the stairs, dressed in a jumpsuit and wearing a scarf in her hair, made him want to stay home from the wedding he was about to attend and join in with painting the hallway instead. She looked like a land army girl, and he thought the look suited her. The Miss Farringdon he’d first met at the hotel hadn’t made an appearance for quite some time, and he had to admit, he preferred this version of her, especially the part where she now thanked people.
Olive approached him and faffed with his navy tie. ‘You look very smart.’
‘Been a while since I wore a suit.’
‘Hmm, I noticed.’
‘You can still change your mind and come with me.’
Olive met his eyes. ‘I’m quite happy here, painting the panelling.’
He really wanted to lean forward and kiss the tip of her nose, but he thought better of it, so he picked up the wedding present from the sideboard instead. ‘Right, better get a wriggle on.’
Olive waved him off from the doorway as he clambered in his car.
Zach didn’t normally care about going places on his own. He’d been to many weddings as a solo guest, but this time he felt a tad disheartened being alone.
The car park at Castle on the Mead was packed with people he knew were locals. Finn’s whole fire department were there, some in uniform with the fire truck, ready for a few pictures but also ready to leave if needed.
Zach said hello to most people, avoiding Florence, as he’d promised Olive he wouldn’t say anything to her about their dispute. A wedding wasn’t the time or place anyway, so he kept his distance, even sitting at the back of the room during the service.
It was a lovely wedding. A few tears were shed, and laughter roared through the castle at moments. Vivien looked radiant in a long, cream, loose dress, her baby bump hardly showing, and Finn held all the love in the world in his eyes for his new wife.
Zach had never felt so lonely. For years, he’d focused on his goals and Cody, not letting anything interfere with his life. Since being back home, since Olive, his heart had woken once more.
Once the meal was over, and Cody and Willow were huddled in a corner, chatting with some friends, Zach went out into the grounds, finding a bench tucked away behind a hedge.
The sky was dark, the stars twinkling, and the air not as cold as it had been. The party music was muffled, giving him some respite for a while. It was nice to hide away in the night.
He closed his eyes and took a calming breath, thinking he’d stay five more minutes, then head home. He wasn’t in the mood to dance the night away or have a friendly natter with anyone. He wasn’t in the mood for much at all.
Rowboats were arriving in a couple of days. The Boat Hut was coming together, and springtime was just around the corner. If he stayed focused on that, rather than worrying Olive might decide to leave, he could lift his spirits a touch, he was sure.
The noise of horses had him standing on the bench to see the carriage Willow’s parents owned. He knew it was used for rides around the castle so assumed the happy couple were off on a few laps.
Loosening his tie, he jumped down and headed to his car. There was no way he was telling Cody he was heading home. His brother would only try and make him stay longer.
Zach took one last look back at the castle, smiled at the newlyweds entering the carriage, then drove off.
Olive was standing by the river when he pulled up outside the house. Just seeing her brought back his spark. He really had got used to her being around.
He went straight over to the river and was about to ask her why she was standing outside in her PJs and dressing gown, when he noticed the narrowboat was gone.
‘Two things happened while you were at the wedding,’ she told him, pointing at the dark water.
He looked at her, then the river. ‘What two things?’
‘The narrowboat was towed away, and that was left in its place.’
Zach followed her eyeline over to a wooden rowboat. He frowned at the old vessel, then at her. ‘Barney said the boat was going on Tuesday.’
‘Change of plan, he said.’
‘And that?’ Zach bobbed his head at the rowboat.
‘He said you can have it back.’
‘Back? What’s he talking about?’
Olive shrugged. ‘He said it was your grandfather’s.’
‘Was it?’
‘I don’t know. He just said he didn’t need it anymore, so you might as well get some use out of… Pudding , he called it.’
Zach laughed. ‘Pudding?’
‘Apparently so. And good for fishing, he added.’
‘Oh, that’s just made my day, that has.’
Olive frowned. ‘Do you name all the boats?’
‘No, but why not? We can have names painted on the side of each one. You can get your thinking cap on.’
‘We can call one Barney. In honour of the man who sheltered me in times of trouble.’
‘I thought that was me.’
‘Hey, it was Barney’s narrowboat. Don’t take the credit.’
Zach grinned. ‘We need to try this one out now.’
‘Not sure we can live on that.’
He leaned into her arm. ‘Come on, let’s go rowing.’
‘What now?’
Zach sprinted to the house. ‘Grab a blanket, and I’ll get a lamp.’
Olive stood still for a moment, then followed him into the warmth of the hallway.
It wasn’t long before he had her wearing a lifejacket and climbing into the boat.
‘Let’s hope it’s seaworthy,’ he said, laughing as he joined her.
‘Goodness, are you serious? Are we going out to sea?’
‘No. I just meant I hope there are no holes. Oh, wait, how did he bring this here?’
‘He rowed.’
‘Ah, well, that’s that worry over.’
Olive draped the blanket over her legs, then held the battery-operated lamp up. ‘It is?’
‘Yeah, we won’t sink.’
‘Perhaps this would be better in the morning. It’s pitch black.’
‘Oh, Olive, where’s your sense of adventure?’
Olive giggled. ‘I feel like I’m in a B-movie.’
‘I assure you there are no piranhas in Pepper River.’
‘What about an alligator?’
Zach used the oar to push them away from the bank. ‘We’ll soon find out.’
Olive’s face beamed under the low light of the lamp as she raised her head to stare at the stars. ‘Do you think we’ve lost the plot, Zach?’
‘Quite possibly, Olive.’
She chuckled, settling back. ‘At least it’s peaceful.’
Zach stopped rowing for a moment. ‘Here, you take the oars and have a go.’ He waggled his hand for the lamp.
‘Are you sure? I’ve not done this before.’
‘Yeah, go on, give it your best shot.’
Olive took the oars, plunging them back into the freezing water.
‘Make sure you’ve got a good grip,’ he added, showing her what to do.
Olive moved them gently along, her expression filled with determination, making Zach laugh on the inside.
‘You’re a natural,’ he said, lifting the lamp into the middle so he could see her clearly.
‘This could be quite relaxing if it wasn’t so eerie out here.’
‘This is our part of the river, Olive. Be at one with the ripples.’
She chuckled. ‘I’d rather stay in the boat.’
Zach adjusted his lifejacket, shifting it slightly to the right, then swapped the lamp for the oars when Olive said he could row again.
‘I wasn’t expecting you back so soon,’ she said quietly, peering over the side.
‘Fancied an early night.’ It wasn’t a complete fib. He was tired at the wedding, but now he felt recharged.
‘How did it go?’
‘Good. No hiccups.’
‘That’s nice.’
Zach looked at his lap as Olive moved some of the blanket to his knees. ‘I’m okay.’
‘It’s cold.’
‘Do you want to go back in now?’
She shook her head and the lamp. ‘Not yet. It’s growing on me.’
‘I used to come out here when I needed space. A bit like running away, I guess. Feels good being back.’
‘Maybe I’ll start doing that.’
Zach smiled. ‘Tell you what, you can have this rowboat as your own. As long as you wear a lifejacket, feel free to take off whenever. You can rename it Barney.’ He saw her perfect teeth light up in the night.
‘Are you really giving me Barney ?’
‘Yep. But you have to promise to wear a lifejacket or the deal’s off. You can’t take chances with a river.’
‘Deal.’
He reached over to shake her outstretched hand but almost lost control of an oar so quickly tugged it back, laughing.
Olive lowered the lamp to the water. ‘What happens when you lose your oars?’
‘You swim.’
Her dark eyes widened. ‘Seriously? But you just said not to take chances with the river.’
He gestured at her chest. ‘Got your lifejacket. Just jump in, grab the boat, and pull it along.’
‘Oh, that sounds simple.’ She laughed, then pushed the light towards him. ‘Wait, have you done that before?’
‘A few times.’
‘Rescuing people?’
‘Saving myself. And Cody.’
‘I should learn in case I have to save someone.’ She dipped her head. ‘You know, if I’m still here when you open.’
‘You got plans?’
‘Nope. You just might be sick to death of me by then.’
‘Never.’ He smiled, hoping she would smile back.
Olive glanced up through her lashes, her smile faint, her cheeks pink. ‘Zach, do you really want me to stay here for as long as I want?’ she asked quietly.
‘Well, someone has to look after Barney .’
Her smile widened, and Zach had to take his eyes off her. He gazed at the stars and noticed she looked up as well.
‘I’m going to go back to work at the garden centre.’ Olive looked as though she were telling the sky. ‘I’ll call Fran in the morning.’
Zach smiled.
‘Ooh, we should have brought some hot chocolate out here,’ she added.
‘Let’s head back and make some.’
She nodded. ‘Part of me doesn’t want to go home yet. It’s quite magical out here, isn’t it?’
He studied her face as she looked towards the house. ‘Very magical,’ he said softly, not wanting to disturb the tranquillity.