Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

28

Olive

Olive was washing up after lunch, hoping that Zach going off to speak to Florence wouldn’t make matters worse. She no longer cared about herself. It was the Boat Hut being showcased as some sort of dump that aggravated her.

She’d managed to get some sleep and woke in Zach’s arms, feeling a little stronger. He had been a lot calmer, and even though she didn’t think facing Florence would help, she’d agreed, on the condition he kept the conversation light. The last thing anyone needed was a full-blown row.

A knock at the door had her heart jump into her throat. Zach had only been gone ten minutes. Were the reporters back, knowing she was alone?

She tiptoed to the living room window to peek behind the curtain.

There was a woman outside on her own. Long, dark, plaited hair, flowery skirt, and light-brown skin. It wasn’t until she turned to glance at the window that Olive recognised a familiar face.

‘Jessica,’ she yelled, then sprinted to the door.

‘Livvy, it is so good to see you.’

Olive pulled her old friend inside and quickly locked the door. ‘What are you doing here?’

Jessica’s wide smile dropped. ‘I saw you online this morning.’

‘And you were on the island?’

‘No. I’ve just flown in.’

Olive widened her eyes in surprise. ‘Flown in?’

Jessica glanced around the hallway. ‘Let’s have tea and a chat.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Olive led her to the kitchen and offered a seat as she went to the kettle.

Jessica sighed. ‘Liv, I’ve been off-grid since Craig’s death. I only came back to England last week, and I’m heading back to Ghana tomorrow.’

Olive smiled warmly. ‘Yes, I know all about your charity work. I remember you leaving after Craig’s funeral. But I didn’t know you stayed away all this time.’ She tried to remember how long ago it was that Jessica’s brother had died. ‘It’s got to be four years now.’

‘Yeah, but some days it feels like yesterday.’

Olive joined her at the table. ‘I miss him too, and your dad. Nigel was the best. It’s only thanks to him that I know a little bit about gardening.’

Jessica smiled. ‘We had some good times at the house in Hertfordshire.’

‘And now you’re here because you’re worried about me.’ Olive gave her a knowing look.

‘I had no idea about your dad, or you. It wasn’t until I read what people were saying online this morning that I found out, and I wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for my boyfriend bringing me back to London to meet his father. He was about to show me the socials he’d set up for one of his charities, and there you were, in your dressing gown. I had to come.’

‘And you just thought you’d fly here from London?’

‘Casper brought me over in his plane. It only took half hour.’

‘Casper?’

Jessica nodded. ‘He’s my boyfriend, and, yeah, he’s loaded.’

‘Did you meet him in Ghana?’

‘Yes. His dad’s company funds loads of charities all over the world, but Casper is more the type who likes to get involved on a personal level. We met two years ago when he came out to Ghana. Over time, we got close.’ Jessica quietly laughed. ‘Never thought I’d be dating a millionaire businessman. You know me, Liv, I’m all nature and moonbeams. Turns out, even though our finances are worlds apart, our personalities aren’t.’

Olive reached over and gave her friend’s hand a gentle squeeze. ‘I’m so happy for you, as long as you’re happy.’ She checked Jessica’s expression for confirmation.

‘Oh, I’m over the moon. I’ve never been so in love before.’

Olive thought about Zach.

‘But, Liv, that’s enough about me. I’m here to help you.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, I read that your dad ripped you off along with everyone else, and I can see your rich mates turned their backs on you.’ Jessica clenched her fists. ‘Ooh, I wish I knew about this sooner.’

‘Hey, it’s okay.’ Olive splayed her arms to the kitchen. ‘Look, I have a roof over my head, and I have a part-time job in a garden centre, would you believe? Maybe Nigel’s watching over me.’

‘My dad would totally look out for you.’

The women shared a smile.

It had been many years since Olive sat with Jessica. Most of their time was spent together as children, and the house in the country was sold by the time they’d hit their twenties.

Jessica shifted forward. ‘You weren’t shown in a good light online, and I know how these things work, but still, it made me worry.’ She tapped her chest. ‘This is me, Liv. I know you’ve never lived a life without money, and then I find out you’re here. What kind of journey have you been on?’

Olive breathed out a huff of a laugh. It certainly had been a journey. ‘I’ve got nothing left, and Emilio, who was supposed to marry me, dumped me. I was no longer good enough for his parents.’

‘Arsehole.’

‘My name became mud, thanks to Dad, and my circle pushed me out.’ Olive sighed, reliving it all. ‘Jessica, I was a mess. Emilio put me in a hotel for a month, then told me after that I was on my own. There were homeless places I could go, and benefit offices, but my mind just shut down, and I couldn’t do anything. I could just about breathe. It was the worst time ever, and I was sure I was going to die.’

Jessica jumped out of her chair and wrapped her arms around Olive. ‘Oh, Livvy, I’m so sorry. I wish I knew.’

Olive sniffed and sat her friend down. ‘Please don’t stress yourself.’

‘But I could have taken you to Ghana with me. We could have worked together. I would have helped.’

‘I would have come. All I wanted was to run away.’

Jessica looked around. ‘Do you still want that?’

‘Oh, I’m not sure I want to live in another country now.’

‘No, I don’t mean that. I mean, do you want to leave here?’

Olive knew she needed to be more honest with herself than her friend. ‘I didn’t, but I do now. The thing is, you saw what the reporters did, and it’s not fair on the man who owns this place. He brought me here from London and gave me a chance at a new life. I don’t want trouble to come to his door because of me. As much as I don’t want to go, I know it’s for the best. I don’t want his business to have a bad name because of me.’

‘Then let me help.’

‘What have you got in mind?’

‘The thirty grand you gave Craig as a start-up fund for his business. Remember?’ Jessica raised a palm. ‘Hear me out. I know it wasn’t a loan, and we both know he died before his business had a chance to take off, and I didn’t have the money to pay you back then, and you should have got that money, not his backstabbing business partner.’

‘Jessica, I don’t know where you’re going with this, but you’re right, it wasn’t a loan. I gave that to Craig because that kind of money meant nothing to me at the time, but it did to him. I haven’t thought about it since.’

‘Well, I have. And Craig would want you to have it back, especially now you need money.’

Olive pulled in her lips and nodded. ‘I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but you can’t just give me that kind of money.’

Jessica shrugged. ‘Why not? You did exactly that for my little brother.’

‘Yes, but you know what I’m like with money. Well, how I was. I’m way more careful nowadays.’ She had to laugh at herself at how much she’d changed in such a short space of time. ‘Jessica, I love you, but I can’t let you ask your boyfriend for money for me.’

‘Actually, it’s my savings, but I hardly need money the way I live, and Casper would never see me go without. He’s already put a huge chunk of his cash into my account. Reckons it was a birthday gift. Liv, I think my bank manager thought I’d won the lottery or something.’ Jessica’s dark eyes warmed. ‘He can be a bit extravagant, like you.’

Olive stared out at the hallway. ‘Where is he?’

‘At the airfield, waiting for me. For us.’

‘Us?’

‘Yes, I was in such a tizz this morning when I found out about you, I asked him to help.’

‘And he thinks I should take the money as well?’

Jessica shook her head. ‘More than that, Liv. Casper said you can stay at his apartment in London while you get back on your feet. With the money to start you off and such a beautiful place to live in, I’m sure you’ll be back to your old self in no time.’

Oh, wow, what a thought. I could stick two fingers up to Emilio, that’s for sure, and once they see I’m friends with millionaires again, my name won’t be spat on. I’ll be back .

‘What you thinking, Liv?’

Olive flopped back in her chair and sighed. ‘Just for a moment there, I believed it was possible to return to my old life.’

‘It is.’

‘Yes, I can see that, but it’s only doable if I want that life.’ Olive shook her head a touch. ‘Since I’ve been here, I’ve been a different person, and I kind of like the me I am now. The new Olive isn’t a spoiled cow or a snob. I can breathe here like I’ve never before, and even though I’m a fish out of water, part of me feels I belong.’

Jessica smiled. ‘If you’re happy here, then I’m happy, and I can breathe too now, but take the money, Liv. It’ll still come in handy.’

Olive met her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn’t want to cry. She just wanted some peace, especially for Zach. ‘I fell in love here, Jessica. His name is Zach Sullivan, and you’d love him too. He’s so nice, and super supportive, and he saved me.’

‘So why do you sound so deflated?’

‘Because I want to take you up on your offer. I want to leave here right now and fly to London with you and Casper. And the thought alone breaks my heart, but I can’t let Zach suffer because of me. If I leave, his life will have peace, and his business won’t be ripped to shreds by the press.’

‘Oh, Livvy, are you sure?’

‘Yes.’ Olive checked the hallway as she stood. ‘How quickly can we get out of here?’

‘I have a taxi outside, waiting for me, and the airfield’s not far, but do you really want to rush?’

‘I’d like to leave before Zach returns.’

Jessica stepped to her side to grab her hand. ‘You don’t want to say goodbye?’

‘If I do, I’ll cry, and chances are, Zach will ask me not to go. It’s too hard, Jessica. I can’t face him.’

‘I understand.’

‘He won’t.’

Jessica gave her a hug. ‘Come on. I’ll help you pack.’

Olive shook her head. ‘I only need one bag. I’ll be two minutes. Meet me outside. I need to write a note. I can do that much.’

Jessica agreed and went out to the taxi.

Olive dashed around upstairs as though she had moments to escape a prison before the guards came. Only, she wasn’t in a prison. She was in a home she loved.

Oh, Farringdon, what the hell are you doing? Breathe. Breathe .

She stopped tossing PJs in a black holdall and sat on the edge of the bed for a second, hoping her heartbeats would slow. There was no way in a zillion years she wanted to leave the man she loved, but she told herself over and over it was better for Zach.

Quickly, she finished packing, dashed downstairs, went into the kitchen to write a note, left her door keys by its side, then went out to Jessica.

‘You ready, Liv?’

‘Yes, let’s go.’

The taxi took off for the airfield, and Olive prayed no one would spot her leaving Pepper Bay. She could feel Zach’s pain already, as she had the same. She just hoped he would forgive her. At least see sense.

It didn’t take long to reach the small private plane, and before Olive had a chance to get to know Casper, they were in the air, with Casper as the pilot.

Olive held Jessica’s hand as they saw the mainland within minutes.

‘Everything will work itself out, Liv.’

Her words were soft and kind, but Olive’s heart was torn in two, and she was quite sure her life once more would never be the same.

I’m so sorry, Zach. Please don’t hate me. This is for you. In time you’ll see. You’ll be happy. I need you to be happy .

Jessica leaned over and wiped the tear that had fallen from Olive’s left eye. ‘We can turn around,’ she said softly.

‘No. Zach deserves a better life than I can give him. My selfish days are over.’

‘You weren’t ever selfish, Liv.’

‘Don’t stick up for me, Jessica. I was shallow, quite often mean, and looking back, I’m pretty sure I hated the world.’

‘You were just unhappy, that’s all. Your life changed after your mum passed away. I remember. My dad used to say you just needed love.’ Jessica smiled. ‘Craig used to say we loved you.’

Olive gazed at her friend. ‘You two were my best mates and I didn’t even stay in touch.’

‘All friends fall out of touch. That’s life. But we show up when needed. Just like you did for Craig.’

Olive bobbed her head. ‘And you for me.’

‘Not long now, Livvy, and you’ll be home.’

Olive turned to look out the window. The Isle of Wight was long gone, and so was Zach Sullivan. London was minutes away, but it wasn’t home anymore.