Chapter Eleven
“Mission Impossible”
Anna must have spotted Ellie’s rigid frame, and she bit her lip.
Oliver frowned. ‘Anna?’
‘Oh! Yes, of course. There’s always plenty.’ She sent Ellie an apologetic look, then beamed at Will, who hovered uncertainly by the door.
Ellie’s skin was tingling, but she straightened her shoulders, chin held high as Will’s gaze met hers briefly before his expression assumed the inscrutability with which she’d become familiar of late.
‘This is Will Farmer, Ellie,’ Oliver introduced them as Will came to join him. ‘He’s just moved in locally.’
‘We’ve met.’ Will’s tone was even as he added, ‘Had to dig her car out the other day.’
A light knock came on the door, and Oliver opened it, holding out his hand to shake that of a man almost as tall as his host, but a little younger and with dark red hair. He held the hand of an elegantly attired brunette, who accepted Oliver’s kiss on her cheek before heading over to hug Anna.
‘Ellie, this is Kate and Dev. Kate’s an old friend of many years. She came to live in the cove about eighteen months ago.’
‘You’re here to help Nicki?’ Kate’s mouth curved as they shook hands. ‘We both work at the hotel. She’s very fond of you. Weren’t you together on that holiday, back when she met Hamish?’
Ellie’s mouth opened, but Kate continued. ‘She told me all about that too, a while back. Said what a great summer you’d all had.’
Hoping that was all Nicki had said, Ellie didn’t dare look in Will’s direction as she shook Dev’s hand. She cleared her throat. ‘Yes, it… er, was a lot of fun.’
Well, that at least was true. The aftermath, less so.
‘Wine?’
Oliver offered them a glass, then did the same for Dev and Will, who raised them.
‘Cheers. I hope it’s okay, my gatecrashing.’
‘There’s always too much food in this house,’ Oliver said dryly, as they moved into the sitting room, but Ellie held back.
Anna had returned to the kitchen to inspect the pans on the stove top, and Ellie hurried over.
‘Can you give me something to do?’ she pleaded.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Anna said quietly, dropping a spoon into the sink and placing a comforting hand on Ellie’s arm. ‘Truly. If you want to help, I’ve popped some extra cutlery and a spare napkin on the table, but haven’t had the chance to lay a place.’
Thankful for the respite, Ellie did as she was bid, but when she returned to the kitchen, Anna urged her to join the others.
‘Go on, it’ll be easier with company around. And that will help.’ She gestured at Ellie’s glass on the island and picked up the oven gloves, and with little choice, Ellie reluctantly walked over to the sitting area.
Dev and Kate sat next to each other on one of the sofas, Dev’s arm across the back, his hand resting on Kate’s shoulder.
Oliver had taken one of the high-backed armchairs by the hearth, and Will the other.
They were laughing about something, and Ellie scooted across to the other sofa, taking the seat furthest from Will.
‘Are how’s pre-production going?’ Kate addressed Will. ‘We’ve had a van parked at the hotel sporadically.’
Boyish enthusiasm spread across Will’s face, and Ellie took a generous sip of wine as her heart fluttered at the flash of the man she’d once known. Without the hat pulled low over his eyes, his once oh-so-familiar features constantly drew her gaze, though she hastily withdrew it time and again.
He expounded a little on the process, but despite his obvious delight in the project, he was evasive on the details. ‘I’m tying up some loose ends – need to do a bit more research of the area, carry out some interviews – but we’re not filming until early next year.’
‘Hoping for better weather?’ Dev suggested.
‘That and better light.’
‘You’ll get the best of that where you’re staying. Will’s moved into Peaches Cottage,’ Dev explained to Ellie, unaware she’d already put the pieces together. ‘I offered it to Oliver for his property project, but it was too remote and there were no takers.’
Then, recalling Marcus’s words, Ellie blurted out, ‘I thought the cottage belonged to someone called Rick Devonshire?’ Damn. Would Will think she’d been asking questions, after seeing him there? She attempted a nonchalant shrug. ‘Marcus – he owns the campsite up there – mentioned it, that’s all.’
‘That’s Dev,’ Oliver responded.
‘I had the same confusion when I first came here.’ Kate smiled kindly at Ellie, before turning to Will. ‘It’s very generous of you to offer an inflated rent so the extra funds can be channelled into community projects.’
Will laughed, and Ellie schooled her face to hide her delight in the sound. ‘I’m keen to give back where I can, so when you mentioned not being able to use it for Oliver’s scheme, it seemed the best compromise.’
Puzzled, Ellie looked to the man himself, and Oliver shrugged, saying nothing, but Anna joined them then, sharing that her husband had, for some years now, been purchasing property in the cove to offer back to locals only at affordable rents.
So many residents had been forced to leave because they couldn’t afford a home in the place where they’d grown up or longed to raise their families.
‘That’s fabulous!’ Ellie turned shining eyes on Oliver, but he waved her praise away.
‘I happen to be in a fortunate situation. I’m sure there are many others who’d have liked to help out.’
A suppressed snort from Dev and a shake of Kate’s head was the end of the subject, though, as Anna declared the meal ready, and they made moves towards the table.
Ellie trawled behind. She knew exactly where she didn’t want to be placed: next to Will, opposite Will or at any table where Will might be.
Ever.
Her eyes fell to the mat which housed Dougal and Heathcliff’s feeding bowls. Perhaps they’d let her eat there instead?
During this pointless speculation, Oliver went over to help Anna ferry the dishes, and Dev and Kate took the chairs facing the window.
Assuming the hosts would sit at either end – and the wine glasses already in place confirmed it – that left the two remaining, neighbouring chairs.
Will said nothing, and stood behind one of them, but as Ellie moved round by the window, he pulled out the one nearest her, indicating she sit.
‘Thank you,’ she muttered, slipping into the seat, relieved to see Kate’s friendly face directly opposite.
‘It’s a habit for me to sit facing this way,’ she said with a smile. ‘I used to ponder what Dev was doing over there.’ She gestured out into the darkness, and the man at her side grasped her hand and pressed a kiss on it.
‘Not any more.’
The food arrived then, and Oliver topped up everyone’s glasses as they tucked into a sumptuous fish stew.
‘This is delicious, Anna.’ Ellie savoured the rich flavour of the sauce. ‘Do the twins appreciate what fabulous meals they are going to enjoy as they grow up?’
Oliver gave a short laugh. ‘As their current favourites are a range of Cow we shared it on the hotel’s account. They were amazing, especially the black-and-white version.’
Stirring in her seat as all eyes, even Will’s, turned in her direction, Ellie fixed her attention solely on Kate. ‘Thank you. It’s my favourite too.’
‘But I thought you did history at uni, then a masters,’ Will blurted out as Ellie picked up the cracker.
‘I… chose a different path.’
Was Will going to challenge her on changing her mind? If only he knew the cause…
The conversation moved on to other subjects, but Ellie’s concentration had been shot from the moment Will took the butter dish from her, his hand brushing against hers so unexpectedly, she almost dropped it.
Had he done it on purpose, or was it just wishful thinking?
‘Ellie?’
With a start, she looked up from the hands clasped in her lap. Everyone had risen from the table. She shot to her feet, Will drawing her chair out for her.
She said another quiet thank you and hurried after Anna.
‘This was lovely, but I’m going up now.’
‘No coffee? Oliver’s a dab hand at it.’ She indicated where her husband was pushing various buttons on the state-of-the-art coffee machine.
Ellie would lie awake all night as it was.
‘No, thanks. Is it okay if I take Dougal for his last walk? I just need some air before bed.’
Anna sent her an understanding look. ‘Of course.’ Then she lowered her voice. ‘They’ll all be gone in a half-hour. I’m so sorry.’
‘Not at all. It was no one’s fault, and you’re right. Building up some immunity had to start one day. Especially as I’m stuck with it for the foreseeable.’
‘Stuck where? Not your car again?’
Ellie’s heart picked up its pace at Will’s voice just behind her. Had he heard more than that?
‘No.’ She swung around, raising her chin to meet Will’s dark gaze. ‘I’m staying here, so I didn’t need it tonight.’
Anna had gone back to the kitchen and Ellie’s eyes remained locked on Will’s, but then, he gave a quick nod and turned back towards the living room.
Flustered, Ellie said a quick goodbye to Dev and Kate, who’d resumed their places by the hearth, and was touched when Kate invited her for coffee at the weekend.
Will was setting mugs on a tray at the island as Oliver finished making the coffees, and she waved a casual hand before ushering Dougal into the boot room.
Stepping outside, Ellie leaned back against the wall. An autumnal chill had settled over the cove and the smell of woodsmoke wafted through the air from various chimneys.
‘You did it,’ she said under her breath as she pushed away and walked swiftly out into the lane, Dougal trotting companionably at her heels. ‘You survived.’
No lights shone from Nicki’s cottage, and Ellie could imagine the pleasure she was having in being near Hamish and not having to cook or deal with laundry for a few days.
By the time she returned to Westerleigh, the guests had gone, and Ellie helped Anna as she plumped sofa cushions and ferried mugs to the dishwasher, before bidding her and Oliver goodnight and scooting up the stairs.
Ellie flicked on the light in her room, then stared at her face in the full-length mirror as she tossed her coat on the bed.
What did Will think of her now? She tried to see the familiar reflection objectively. She favoured a more natural style, warmer colours, floaty things like full skirts and scarves, and an indulgence in statement earrings.
Ellie turned her head side to side, eyes narrowed. Would Will still consider her attractive, despite the changes the years had brought?
‘Enough. It doesn’t matter what he thinks.’ She spoke firmly. ‘It’s been over for years, and don’t forget, he rejected your attempts to mend things.’
With that, Ellie grabbed her sleepwear and headed for the bathroom. Before clambering under the covers, however, she succumbed to temptation, retrieving the velvet box. Nerves jangling, her mind in conflict over whether it was wise to do so, she slowly unzipped the lid.