Pepper River Boat Hut (Pepper Bay #15)

30

Olive

After a walk around Hyde Park, Olive sat in a bistro to have some lunch by herself. Since Jessica had gone back to Ghana with Casper, she’d spent all her time alone. She had no idea what to do with her life or the thirty thousand pounds she’d accepted.

It was coming towards the end of March, and Olive knew the Boat Hut would be opening to the public soon. She had no idea if her presence there had ruined the business, as she’d stayed well away from the internet. She just prayed it would work out for Zach.

Each day he had entered her mind and heart. She had hoped the feelings she had for him would fade, but no. The pain of not having him in her life was unbearable some nights.

Thinking about how unfair life was being to her again, she wondered how Gio was getting on down by the river. She never did get around to buying him some socks.

I’m going to do that right now .

She called a taxi, headed for some shops, then walked down to the little makeshift home by the bridge where Gio lived.

There was a man outside, but it wasn’t Gio. Knowing how he made friends with anyone and everyone, she figured the man was a lunch guest.

‘Hello,’ she said, leaning over the stairway. ‘Is Gio around?’

A worn face turned her way. Ashen skin and deep-set eyes. ‘Gio has gone,’ he croaked, jabbing a dark-stained finger to the sky.

Olive felt her heart sink. ‘But I bought him socks,’ was all she could think to say.

The man turned to the river, ignoring her, and the people passing by didn’t seem to care that she flopped to the steps, with her head in her hand.

Oh, Gio. You deserved so much better .

She glared at the fluffy white clouds.

Why did you have to take him? Why is this world so bloody cruel?

She dipped her head and took a calming breath. There was nothing she could do, but she stayed glued to the cold, hard steps, not wanting to go anywhere.

The hustle and bustle on the bridge seemed muffled somehow, and the strangers going about their day became as invisible as she felt.

‘Ah, Liv, I thought that was you. What are you doing sitting there?’

Just for a moment, she thought she had imagined Gio’s voice. She jolted upright to see him walking up the stairs towards her.

‘You’re alive?’ she said, not entirely sure if she had spoken at all.

Gio beamed as he stopped before her. ‘And so are you, I see.’

Olive pointed at the man in Gio’s home. ‘When he said you were gone, I assumed… Oh, never mind. You’re still here, that’s all that matters, and look.’ She waggled the socks. ‘I bought you these.’

‘Thank you, Liv. Very kind of you.’

She gave an awkward shrug. ‘I bought you a jar of coffee too.’ She glanced at his small stove. ‘Shall I make us one?’

Gio smiled at the man sitting outside the tent. ‘I don’t live there anymore, Liv. That is Alan’s home now. I gave it to him when I moved into my flat.’

Olive looked at Alan, then back at Gio. ‘You have a flat?’

He nodded, smiling. ‘Life can be strange, yes?’

‘Yes.’

‘Why don’t we give Alan the coffee and socks? He needs them more than me.’

She agreed, following him down to the nook beneath the bridge.

‘Alan, this is my friend, Liv. We have some things for you.’

She watched him hand over more than her gifts. He had a carrier bag of food for the older man. Leaning against the wall, she looked out at a boat as the two men put the items away in the tent.

All the boats will have arrived by now. Tied up along the riverbank .

She visualised Pepper River, so much smaller than the Thames.

‘Come, Liv,’ said Gio, waking her from her trance with the dark water. ‘I’ll get you some cake.’

She said goodbye to Alan, but he didn’t respond, so she followed Gio up to the bridge. ‘Where are we going?’

‘To the restaurant where I work.’

Olive smiled widely. ‘You have a job too?’

‘It all came as a surprise to me as well.’

They walked to the traffic lights and crossed the road.

‘I’ll tell you my story if you tell me yours,’ he said, nudging her elbow.

Olive stopped smiling. ‘Yours sounds happier.’

‘Then I’ll go first. Do you remember the man who was going to jump off the bridge? I saved him. I told you, yes?’

She nodded. ‘He brought you vegetable stock.’

‘He did more than that. He now owns his own restaurant, and he gave me a job there and pays for my training.’ Gio raised his chin with pride. ‘I’ll be a chef one day.’

‘Oh, wow, that’s brilliant.’

‘I am pleased.’

Olive felt pleased for him. It was such a wonderful story, and she was rooting for him all the way.

‘There are rooms above the restaurant,’ he added. ‘That’s where I live now.’ His smile widened. ‘I have a lovely bath.’

Olive’s mind went to the wash she used to have on the narrowboat to the hot shower at the house. She understood Gio’s appreciation. ‘Saving that man changed both your lives.’

He nodded. ‘This is why we have to live. We must see what’s around the next corner for us.’

They stopped at a building made with red bricks that had white writing on the double doors.

Olive gaped at the sign. ‘He called his restaurant The Bridge.’

‘Turning point in his life.’ Gio opened the door, letting her go first.

Inside was light and modern, with soft seating and colourful artwork on the walls. Customers were enjoying their lunch, and the wide-open area at the back revealed the kitchen in full swing.

Gio led her to a table-for-two and sat opposite, handing her a menu. ‘Choose a dessert, and I’ll bring it to you.’

She looked at the mouth-watering choices. ‘Ooh, thank you.’

‘And while you decide, tell me what you have been up to.’

She peered over the menu. ‘Do I have to?’

‘Yes. You look like a person with weight. It’s good to talk. I always talk. I made time for everyone on the stairs. That’s why we’re friends.’

He had a point, but how was she supposed to talk about Zach without crying into the chocolate mousse she was about to order?

‘Liv, what is wrong?’

‘I was all alone, Gio, then a man took pity on me, I guess. Like your friend here, he offered me a place to stay, somewhere I could breathe. I had a job, not much, but a start.’ She sighed, lowering the menu. ‘But the happiness didn’t last.’

‘Why, what happened?’

Olive shrugged. She was still asking the same question most days. ‘Because my father committed a terrible crime that made a great story for the news, someone told reporters where I had moved to, so they came to pick on me, and they brought my friend into the mix. Called me a riches to rags story. Badmouthed my friend’s home. All he was trying to do was start his business, but they trash-talked it online. I had to leave. My life might be ruined because of my dad, but it doesn’t mean Zach’s has to be as well.’

Gio’s head bobbed. ‘Ah, I see.’

‘Another friend said I could stay at her boyfriend’s place, so here I am, back in London.’

‘Looking pretty miserable.’

She breathed out a small laugh. ‘Something like that.’

‘Seems to me you ran away when you should have stood and fought.’

Olive sat up straight. ‘No, I was trying to save Zach. His business means everything to him. I won’t let them destroy what he is building.’

‘That’s exactly why you fight.’

‘But if I’m not there, no one will need to fight.’

Gio linked his fingers on the table. ‘There is more than his business to fight for, yes? I can see it in your eyes, Liv. If he is saved, you should be happy, but you’re not.’

‘I love him, and I miss him so much.’

‘Then be with him.’

She shook her head. ‘My name brings trouble.’

‘No, your father’s name is the trouble. You need to show everyone you are not him.’

‘It’s not that easy, Gio. Innocent people went to prison because of my dad.’

He leaned forward. ‘Do you not hear your own words? Because of your father , not you. You cannot hang by another man’s rope. Fight for your name, Liv. Fight for your life.’

She drooped her shoulders, slouching in the soft chair. ‘I can see now how you talk people out of jumping off bridges.’

Gio wrinkled his nose. ‘Pointing out the obvious isn’t hard. Some people just need a fresh set of eyes. All you see are your father’s walls.’ He tapped her hand. ‘Tell me what you’d like to see.’

Olive smiled automatically. ‘Zach. The Boat Hut. How happy we are.’ She sighed. ‘Were.’

‘I’ll go fetch you something sweet, and while you eat, you can continue to think about all of that, because that, my dear, is your life. Not your father’s.’

As soon as he got up, another man sat in his seat. ‘Hi, I’m Jonah. I own this place. I see you’re one of Gio’s friends.’ His thin-lipped smile showed warmth and kindness. ‘He has many.’

‘That’s because he talks to everyone.’

Jonah chuckled. ‘He does. And he likes to feed people.’

‘Oh, I can pay.’

He waved a hand. ‘No, I wasn’t thinking that. It’s just, well, whenever he brings someone to the restaurant, it’s usually because he’s trying to help them with something. He uses food to break down barriers. He thinks if more people were to sit and break bread with each other, all problems would be solved.’

‘Perhaps he’s right.’

‘I just wanted to come over and say hi. See if you needed anything.’

Olive smiled back. ‘Thank you, but I’m okay. I went to the bridge today to give Gio some socks. I had no idea he had moved on.’

Jonah chuckled. ‘Yeah, it took some doing. He didn’t want to leave his home. He was happy, but I persuaded him in the end with a cooking course. I know how much he loves to share his food.’

‘It worked. So, well done.’

‘Least I could do for him.’

Olive didn’t want to mention she knew about Jonah’s suicide attempt. ‘He’s a good person.’

Jonah stood, raising a hand to someone in the kitchen. ‘He is. Sorry, I have to get back to work. Look, if you need anything, you can always pop in here.’

She thanked him, then watched him go back to work. Everyone had their place in the world, and she had found a job in the garden centre. If she hadn’t left Pepper Bay, she’d be working now. She still had no idea which road to take next. She was starting to think she had rubbish decision-making skills.

Gio brought her some dessert, then told her he had to start his shift.

Olive perused the other customers as she made light work of her food. People were chatting away happily. One couple looked madly in love, and a family were taking pictures of everything. She remembered how it felt being part of a group, then she thought about how friendly the locals were in Pepper Bay.

Zach wouldn’t leave her head, and she wanted to be close to him in some way, so she said goodbye to Gio and Jonah, then headed off to the hotel where her story with Zach had started.

Stepping foot in the place again never occurred to her, but there she was, scanning the foyer as if Zach would appear any moment.

Yes, Miss Farringdon. No, Miss Farringdon. Flipping heck .

She sat by the fruit display, mentally shaking her head at how bad things felt back in December. Was that really the lowest point of her life or had she made it that way?

‘Miss Farringdon?’

Olive glanced up and frowned, trying to put a name to the face.

Was he the concierge?

‘Adrian,’ he said, adding a polite smile.

‘You remember me?’

‘I remember all the guests.’

Olive smiled back. ‘That’s a lot to remember.’

‘Skill of mine.’ He sat by her side and asked if she would like some tea.

‘No, thank you. I’m just…’ She had no idea how to finish her sentence. What was she doing exactly? Reminiscing? Feeling closer to Zach? Hoping he would miraculously appear?

‘It’s been a while since you were here,’ said Adrian.

One minute it seemed like yesterday, the next, a hundred lifetimes ago.

‘Would you tell the staff I’m sorry for how awful I was when I stayed here. I’m sure I was rude to more than one housekeeper.’ She side-eyed him to check his expression. It stayed neutral.

Oh, you’re a professional .

‘Will do,’ he replied simply.

Olive cleared her throat. ‘I bet you all miss Zach here. Erm, Mr Sullivan.’

The slightest of twitches hit his mouth. ‘Yeah, but we keep in touch.’

Oh, he knows about Zach and me .

‘And I’m seeing him next week,’ he added, staring over at the reception desk.

Olive’s stomach flipped. ‘He’s coming here?’

Adrian met her wide eyes. ‘No. I’m going to his home for his grand opening day.’

She folded her hands in her lap, clutching her fingers to stop herself from twiddling with her handbag.

‘Should be a good day, especially since the Boat Hut went viral online,’ he added. ‘That story did him a right favour.’

Olive wished she could shrink away to nothing.

‘Anyway, best get on. Work to do and all that.’ Adrian walked over to the front desk.

Everyone had work to do but her, and it was starting to get a little annoying. She had enjoyed working at the garden centre and helping Zach at the…

‘Wait a minute,’ she called to Adrian. ‘What do you mean, that story did him a favour?’

Adrian scratched his cheek as he turned. ‘Helped put him on the map. If it’s good enough for an heiress, it’s good enough for anyone.’

Olive dipped back to one heel. ‘But I’m nobody now,’ she said quietly.

Adrian looked amused. ‘Who put that in your head?’

‘My name is mud.’

‘Your dad’s name is. Yours, well, do you remember how many people used to follow you online before the scandal?’

She had a pretty good idea but didn’t want to brag.

Adrian stepped closer and pulled out his phone. ‘They’ve not gone anywhere. Look.’

Olive hadn’t thought about her socials, thinking it best not to look. The screen only reminded her that she should have deleted the lot.

‘In fact,’ added Adrian, ‘you’ve got more.’

It was true. The number of followers had risen. Probably to mock her. She looked at her shoes.

‘So much support for you since the press went into snob mode.’

Olive glanced back at the phone. ‘Really?’

‘Yep. And there’s a lot of love for Zach too.’ He laughed. ‘It’s those piercing eyes of his. Always gets him attention.’

Olive frowned, not meaning to, but the thought of women booking boat rides just to gawp at Zach was quite annoying.

‘Your name isn’t as buried as you think, Miss Farringdon.’ Adrian’s sigh sounded rather dramatic. ‘Shame you’re not there to post and boast at just how wonderful life is. Think about the billboard. Visual advertising.’

She wasn’t entirely sure what he meant.

Adrian grinned. ‘Pretty woman, lovely home, family business, supportive partner. All adds up to a profitable brand.’ He theatrically splayed one hand in the air and made his voice higher. ‘I’m going to make some cupcakes to sell at the Boat Hut. Ooh, look at this wonderful food mixer I use. Honestly, this is the best brand. Instant sale.’ He nudged her arm. ‘Check me out keeping our country kitchen so tidy with this product. Face of company.’ He swiped his brow. ‘Ooh, I’ve been gardening all day, but, wow, look how my makeup has stayed intact. Contract signed.’

Olive chuckled at his animated moves and silly voice. ‘Are you telling me to become an influencer?’

‘You already are. You just don’t see it. But now I’ve brought it to your attention, don’t waste such a gift, eh?’

Olive was slightly taken aback. She had no idea anyone would want to follow her life again.

Adrian came into her eyeline. ‘You left him because you thought you were bad news, didn’t you?’ he said softly.

She nodded.

‘Thought so. I hope you see now the good you’ve done for him just by being in his life. He didn’t just help you. You helped each other. He paid for your food here. Now you’re helping to feed him. Funny old life.’

‘He just shared some of his lunch once or twice.’

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. ‘All those meals you thought were free or were his, he paid for. I guess he didn’t tell you.’

‘No,’ she said quietly, feeling a lump stick in her throat.

‘He was good to you. Never seen him do anything like that for a guest before.’

And I didn’t even say a proper goodbye .

She smiled softly at Adrian doing his best to fix her relationship with his friend. It was all a bit too much.

Zach had cared for her, did everything he could to help, showed true friendship, and love.

She swallowed hard, forcing a wide smile whilst holding back tears. ‘I’m glad he’ll be all right. Perhaps with so many now knowing his name and business, and those gorgeous eyes of his, he would be the better choice for the influencer job. Pitch to him when you visit.’ She turned on her heel, needing some air. ‘Bye, Adrian.’

A cool breeze lifted her hair as she met the pavement, and the concierge had lifted her spirits. It was good to hear that Zach’s business hadn’t been torn to shreds, and she was relieved to know the world didn’t hate her guts, but she couldn’t return to the island. He wouldn’t want to see her. Not now. Would he?