Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
D illy sat and waited in her car at the bottom of Lighthouse Lane. She stared at the Post-it note stuck to her dashboard. It boldly displayed the highest bid she could afford without risking financial ruin. Inside her bag were all the necessary documents, should she emerge victorious in today’s auction. Her stomach somersaulted with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
As she waited, lost in her thoughts, the sudden opening of the car door made her jump out of her seat.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump,’ Max said, sliding into the passenger seat and pulling the seat belt across his body. He looked at her. ‘You look green.’
‘And it’s not because I’ve tried a new brand of make-up. I’m actually really nervous.’
‘Just try and stay calm. You do remember your highest bid?’
Dilly pointed to the Post-it on the dashboard. ‘It’s there to remind me.’
‘I can’t believe you still have your bright blue panda car. Fame hasn’t changed you at all,’ Max teased lightly.
‘Some things you can never part with,’ said Dilly, defending her beloved car. ‘She’s been a constant in my life since I was nineteen years old. Many many miles under her belt but still going strong. Now, let’s go and win a lighthouse!’
As they set off across the causeway toward the town of Sea’s End, Dilly didn’t know what to expect. ‘I’ve never actually been to an auction before,’ she confessed, turning towards Max for a moment before looking back at the road ahead.
‘I’ve been to a couple, but those were mainly poultry auctions,’ Max chuckled. ‘I had a neighbour who started breeding chickens and soon found herself overrun. The local farmer suggested she take them to auction, but she had this romanticised vision of her chickens being given lovely country homes where they could frolic in idyllic farmyards. In reality, it was local restaurateurs looking for quality meat.’
‘Oh no!’ Dilly gasped, imagining the scene.
‘Oh yes,’ Max confirmed with a grin. ‘There was no way she was going to let them end up as Tikka Masala so you’ll never believe what she did. She bid on all her chickens and won them back!’
Dilly burst out laughing, the tension of the day momentarily forgotten. ‘That’s brilliant!’
Dilly began to feel a little more at ease as they approached Sea’s End, Max’s unexpected anecdotes and the shared laughter having helped. His presence in general provided a comforting distraction from the myriad thoughts that threatened to overwhelm her. Today’s auction would decide the fate of the Puffin Island Lighthouse, and the result of the pregnancy test would decide the rest of her life.
What if the test was positive? Could she really raise a child in a lighthouse? The romantic notion of living in such an iconic place battled with practical concerns. Would it be too dangerous living so close to the water? Would she be able to provide a stable environment for a child? Each question felt like a tidal wave crashing over her, making it hard to decipher what was best to do. She had tried to calm her thoughts but the concern still gnawed at her insides. Everything was happening so fast, and she felt caught in a current that she couldn’t escape. It didn’t help that, deep down, she already knew the result of the pregnancy test. The signs were all too obvious now she knew to look for them: the dizziness, the sickness and the fact that she could no longer stomach the smell of coffee, which she used to adore. How could she have been so stupid?
Max’s voice broke through her thoughts. ‘You okay?’
Dilly nodded, but her heart and head were still pounding. She had two choices: bid on the lighthouse and see what happens, or turn around now and explain why she had suddenly changed her mind. The pressure was immense, but turning back felt like giving up on a dream she had only just realised she’d always held.
‘We’ve got this,’ Max said, his voice steady and reassuring.
Dilly forced a smile, appreciative of his support. They parked the car and stepped out, the fresh air doing little to calm her jitters. It didn’t help that the crowd outside the town hall was larger than she had expected.
Dilly spotted Sam Wilson and Pete Fenwick standing near the entrance. Sam waved energetically, while Pete gave a nod.
‘What are you two doing here? Please tell me you aren’t bidding!’ Dilly called out, trying to keep her tone light.
‘Of course not,’ Sam replied, immediately easing Dilly’s worries. ‘We’ve just come for a nosey. Hopefully it isn’t developers who win. We’re counting on you to keep the lighthouse in the Puffin Island family, Dilly!’
‘The pressure!’ Dilly laughed. ‘I’ll do my best, but I’m not sure if it will be enough…’ she said, looking around them all, and then realising that Max was standing a bit apart from the group. ‘Sorry, I don’t know whether you’ve all met? This is Max Harrington; he’s working with my dad at the boat house for the next few months. Max, this is Sam, owner of The Sea Glass Restaurant, and partner of Verity, who is the local Veterinary Assistant. And this is Pete, the island’s retired vet. He lives up at Cliff Top Cottage, the cottage we could see from the top of the lighthouse.’
‘I used to own the vet’s before I retired and still try to keep my hand in,’ Pete added with a grin as they all shook hands. ‘Pleased to meet you.’
‘We were lucky with the tide today,’ added Sam as he also shook Max’s hand. ‘It only cleared a couple of hours ago.’
‘I forgot to check the tide times until this morning and I tell you now, I’d have been lifting up those emergency barriers to wade across the causeway if necessary!’ Dilly turned towards Max. ‘The barriers were only installed recently, and all thanks to Sam and Pete. In the past, cars have got stuck on the causeway when drivers have misjudged the tide times, but now the barriers remain down if it’s unsafe to cross.’
‘Thankfully they’re doing their job and we’ve had no incidents since they’ve been installed.’ Sam pointed towards the building. ‘We should probably head in soon. Looks like the auction room is already packed.’
‘We’re going to take a seat near the back so we can watch.’ Pete touched Dilly’s arm. ‘Good luck. We hope you win. It will be good for the island.’
As they hovered near the door, Dilly’s heart raced some more, if that was even possible. ‘Are you ready to go in?’ Max asked.
Dilly held out her trembling hand. ‘I can’t stop shaking.’
Offering reassurance, Max took her hands in his, giving them a squeeze. His smile was warm. ‘Come on, let’s go buy you a lighthouse.’
Following the signs, he led her down a corridor towards the auction room. The atmosphere was electric, the crowd’s energy buzzing around them. With each step closer to the door, Dilly felt a mixture of fear and determination. The lighthouse was more than just a property, it was a beacon of hope and a potential new beginning for her and possibly her unborn child.
As they walked into the room she saw it was packed with people huddled in groups, armed with folders and clipboards. The noise was deafening as Dilly scanned the crowd, noticing it seemed dominated by men. In fact, as she took another swift look around, she couldn’t spot another female in the room.
‘It’s so loud,’ Dilly exclaimed, following Max through the throng of people. Rows and rows of chairs were laid out, and they managed to grab two seats in the third row.
‘It won’t be for long. As soon as the auctioneer bangs his hammer, the whole room will fall silent. I’ll go and get the auction list so we can see what lot the lighthouse is,’ said Max, disappearing towards a table at the back of the room. He soon returned, handing Dilly a brochure. ‘Here you go, these are all the properties going up for auction today.’
Dilly flipped through the brochure, trying to calm her nerves as the stage in front of them came to life with movement, the atmosphere in the room growing more intense.
‘We’re lot number five,’ Dilly noted, her eyes scanning the list.
‘That’s good – we don’t have to wait long. Means it’ll all be over before you know it. The next few minutes will go so quickly.’
Dilly wasn’t sure if she wanted it to be over quickly. Once it was over, her fate would be sealed.
The auctioneer strolled onto the stage, commanding immediate attention. He was a tall man with a robust frame, dressed in a tailored grey suit that gave him a distinguished air. His hair was silver, combed neatly to the side, and he wore glasses perched on the end of his nose, giving him a scholarly appearance. His presence exuded authority and experience, suggesting he had conducted countless auctions in his time.
Dilly peeked at the Post-it note that was now inside her bag. ‘Do not bid over this amount,’ she murmured to herself.
The auctioneer switched on the microphone and stood behind the podium. He struck his gavel three times. Just as Max had predicted, the room, which had been full of chaotic chatter, fell silent instantly.
‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today’s auction,’ the auctioneer began, his voice clear and authoritative. ‘We have a number of exciting properties for you today, so let’s get started.’
Dilly’s heart raced as the first few lots were called out and quickly bid upon. The speed of the process took her breath away. She clutched the leaflet, feeling the pressure mounting as the next lot approached.
Everyone’s heads moved in unison, swivelling between the auctioneer and the bidders. Hands shot up, heads nodded, and to the side of the stage, several people were busy taking telephone bids.
‘Going once, going twice, any more bids?… Sold!’ The auctioneer’s gavel came down with a decisive thud, and an official handed a document to the winning bidder. The process was swift, almost dizzyingly so, and within minutes, the first four lots had flown by. Three of the lots hadn’t reached their reserve price, while one had exceeded it, leaving her with no hint as to how the lighthouse sale might go.
Dilly’s anxiety spiked as she watched the rapid pace of the proceedings. She glanced around the room and locked eyes with Sam and Pete, who both gave her enthusiastic thumbs-ups. Their support was comforting, but it did little to quell the panic rising inside her.
‘What if the lighthouse goes beyond my budget?’ she whispered to Max, her voice barely audible over the murmur of the crowd.
Max leaned in closer. ‘Stick to your limit, Dilly. If it goes beyond your budget, it wasn’t meant to be.’
Dilly nodded, trying to absorb his words.
‘And now, lot number five,’ the auctioneer announced. Dilly tried not to hyperventilate. ‘The Puffin Island Lighthouse. This is a very unique opportunity.’
Dilly’s gaze was firmly fixed on the auctioneer as he reeled off the property’s stats, thoughts of her grandparents and her mum flashing through her mind. She really wanted to win this.
The auctioneer started the bidding at the reserve price, which was immediately met.
‘When do I bid?’ Dilly whispered to Max, itching to put her hand up.
‘Don’t drive the price up or show anyone you’re interested just yet, wait until the end,’ Max advised, his voice calm and steady.
‘One bid at the back, one on the right, one on the left.’ The auctioneer was waving his gavel in the direction of the bidders. The price had already been driven up past the lowest amount that would have given Dilly a comfortable living and was rapidly heading for the mid-range price she’d mapped out.
At the side of the room, two bidders were in fierce competition. Back and forth the auctioneer went as the price rose rapidly, just like Dilly’s heartbeat. Her head spun between the bidders and the auctioneer, trying to keep up with the escalating numbers. The price was still within her budget, but it was getting dangerously close to her limit.
‘Any advance on three hundred thousand pounds?’ The auctioneer looked towards the two bidders who were going head-to-head. One of them shook his head, signalling he was out.
This is it, it’s my turn, Dilly thought, feeling a surge of adrenalin.
‘Any more bids? Any more bids?’ The auctioneer lifted his gavel, preparing to close the bidding.
‘Now!’ ordered Max, his voice urgent.
Catapulting her arm into the air, Dilly caught the attention of the auctioneer. ‘Lady in the third row.’
The auctioneer looked back towards the man standing at the back of the room, but he shook his head. Then he looked towards the woman handling the phone bids. She, too, shook her head.
‘Oh my gosh, I think it’s mine,’ Dilly whispered, her heart pounding.
‘Last bids for Puffin Island Lighthouse. Going once…’
Dilly gripped Max’s arm.
‘Going twice… New bidder, woman in red at the back of the room.’
‘No!’ Dilly spun around to see the same woman she had seen Max talking to at the harbour. Without her sunglasses, Dilly recognised the woman who was now staring straight at her – Lydia Harrington. Dilly’s pulse raced for all the wrong reasons and she looked at Max, her eyes narrowing. ‘Have you set me up?’
Max’s smile dropped as he looked over his shoulder.
Dilly thrust her arm in the air, determined not to let Lydia win. She gave Max a scathing look. ‘You want the lighthouse. That’s it, isn’t it? Somehow you knew it was coming up for sale, so you got yourself a job on the island so you could scope out the competition. I opened up to you about my finances and now you’re going to take my dream away from me. Are you still married? Did you take off your wedding ring as part of your scheme?’
‘Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?’ Max replied, his voice edged with frustration.
But to Dilly, it wasn’t ridiculous. Because it was the exact same tactic that Giles had used to get close to her and to get her to trust him with important information before trying to take everything away from her. Dilly had never been more determined to win anything in her life. Her hand was still in the air but she barely heard the numbers the auctioneer was calling out as he looked between Dilly and Lydia. ‘I saw you at the harbour, swapping envelopes the day we viewed the lighthouse,’ she hissed, her voice louder than she’d anticipated. ‘What was in that envelope, my highest bid?’
‘What are you doing? You’re going over your agreed budget. You can’t afford to go any higher,’ Max warned.
‘This no longer has anything to do with you.’ She stared at Max, then looked over his shoulder. Lydia gave them a smug smile then had the audacity to wink.
Dilly watched as Max slid from his chair and walked to the back of the room. What would he and Lydia even want with a lighthouse? Then the penny dropped. Did Lydia want to expand her cosmetic surgery business onto the island? Surely not.
‘Over my dead body,’ mumbled Dilly, bidding again, taking her firmly over her budget limit.
‘Any more bids? Going once…’
Dilly dared to glance behind her. Max and his wife were no longer standing there. She quickly scanned the room but couldn’t see them.
‘Going twice…’ Dilly froze like a rabbit in the headlights.
‘SOLD!’ The auctioneer pointed his gavel at Dilly.
The room erupted in applause. Dilly’s heart was a confusion of relief, triumph and anger. She had won. She had won despite Max’s betrayal, despite the odds stacked against her. What the hell had just happened?
As with the winning bidders before her, an official came over and handed her a document. It felt like she was holding a golden ticket to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
‘Yes!’ Dilly exclaimed, barely able to believe it. She had done it. She had won the lighthouse. Bursting with joy, she leaped from her chair and made her way over to Sam and Pete, enveloping them both in a triumphant hug. A sudden surge of emotion overwhelmed her, and tears began to spill from her eyes.
‘Happy tears,’ she explained, wafting her hand in front of her face, trying to stop herself from crying some more.
‘And breathe,’ said Sam with a smile. ‘You’ve done it! Wait till everyone hears about this on the island. They’re going to be so happy. But it was close there for a second, and that was a hefty sum it got driven up to in the end.’
‘I’d better get busy selling a few more paintings!’
‘Who was that woman?’ asked Pete. ‘We were on the edge of our seats, not knowing who was going to win.’
‘I’ve no idea,’ replied Dilly, not wanting to even think of Max and Lydia in this happy moment. ‘I need to go into the office and fill out all the legal stuff. I can’t quite believe it… I’m the owner of the lighthouse!’
Dilly said goodbye and navigated her way through the crowd to a small office at the back of the auction house, clutching the golden ticket that signified her victory. The office was just how she’d imagined it. The air was thick and stuffy, carrying the faint mustiness of aged paper. The walls, most probably once a crisp white, were now yellowed with time and adorned with framed certificates and photographs that chronicled the town’s history.
The receptionist – a woman in her late fifties, who wore her silver hair in a tight, no-nonsense bun – sat behind the large wooden desk that dominated the room. Her glasses were perched precariously on the bridge of her nose and were attached to a beaded chain that jingled softly whenever she moved. Her desk was meticulously organised, with a computer, stacks of neatly filed paperwork and an old-fashioned telephone that looked like something from the 1980s. Dressed in a sensible cardigan and a floral blouse, she had an air of stern efficiency about her but gave Dilly a smile. ‘Can I help you?’
‘Yes!’ Dilly couldn’t hide her excitement. ‘I’ve just won the lighthouse. Well, not won, as winning would suggest it’s free. I’m about to buy it. I’m babbling, aren’t I?’
‘It’s most definitely not free!’ the receptionist said, clearly not one for jokes. She took the document from Dilly, looked over it, then picked up the telephone, using the rotary dial to dial an unknown number.
‘The new owner of Puffin Island Lighthouse is here,’ the receptionist announced before hanging up and asking Dilly to take a seat on a nearby chair.
Dilly liked the sound of that. She quickly punched a text to her dad.
I won!
Almost immediately, her phone pinged with a reply.
Brilliant news!
She planned to catch up with her dad later, and though she would have to share what Max had done, she wasn’t going to let anything spoil this moment. She had just bought her new home – her dream home! – and was eager to move in and get her second gallery up and running. Everything was coming together!
As she sat in a chair in the waiting room, Dilly logged into her banking app. She had gone a few thousand over her budget, but it wasn’t entirely unmanageable, and she still had some funds left over in her savings. It just meant she would have to tighten her belt a little more than planned, a sacrifice that felt worth it.
Dilly swung a glance out of the reception window and watched the comings and goings in the car park. Her gaze wandered idly until she spotted Max and his wife. She sat up straight, tracking them as they walked across the lot to the same car she’d seen Lydia get into at the harbour. They were deep in conversation and stopped at the back of the car, gesturing animatedly.
Dilly wanted to believe that Max hadn’t used her to get information, but as he climbed into the passenger seat, that familiar sinking ache settled in the pit of her stomach. She wished he would have come and found her, to tell her she had misunderstood everything. Yet, as they drove off together, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had misjudged him entirely.
Despite her disappointment, she took some solace in the fact that whatever game Max and Lydia had been playing, they hadn’t won. They might have driven up the price, but she was now the proud owner of the lighthouse, and she wasn’t going to let them spoil her moment.
The office door opened and Dilly looked over to find a smiley woman who took the document off the receptionist then glanced towards Dilly. ‘You must be the new owner of Puffin Lighthouse.’ She extended her hand. ‘I’m Evelyn Haye. Let’s get the paperwork filled in.’
* * *
Thirty minutes later, everything had been signed and sealed and Dilly left the auction house feeling like she was walking on air. Sliding into the driver’s seat of her car, she started the engine and glanced at her phone. Word had evidently already made its way back to the island, and text messages were pinging in rapid succession, congratulating her on the win. She knew she should be feeling overjoyed, but the next stop was the pharmacy, and the gravity of what the pregnancy test would undoubtedly confirm overshadowed her recent triumph. She dialled Clemmie’s number, her fingers trembling slightly.
Clemmie picked up immediately. ‘You have excellent timing as I’m just on my break. I’ve heard the news! Congratulations! You are the new lighthouse keeper of Puffin Island. How blooming cool is that?’
‘Thank you. Are you free at lunchtime?’
‘Woah! You don’t sound too happy. I thought you’d be jumping for joy. Is something wrong? You have got the lighthouse, haven’t you?’
‘I have but I can’t talk right now, I’ll see you at lunchtime.’
‘Of course. Twelvish?’
‘Perfect,’ Dilly replied before hanging up. She knew Clemmie would be wondering what the hell was going on but she didn’t want to talk about it over the phone. The adrenalin of the morning had got her through the auction but now all she wanted to do was burst into tears.
* * *
Five minutes later, she pulled up outside the pharmacy. The bell sounded as she pushed open the door and walked inside. Thankfully there were no other customers. Her eyes quickly darted to the pregnancy tests on the shelf behind the counter and her stomach flipped as she approached, trying to keep her composure.
The assistant smiled warmly. ‘Can I help you?’
Dilly could never have anticipated that buying a pregnancy test would be on her to-do list today, but it was, so she took a deep breath and plunged ahead. ‘Yes, I need a pregnancy test, please.’
The assistant nodded, reaching for one of the boxes and popping it into a white paper bag. ‘Is there anything else you need today?’
Dilly shook her head. ‘No, that’s all, thank you.’ As she held her debit card against the card machine, she could see her hand was shaking. The transaction completed, she slipped her card back into her purse. She clutched the white paper bag tightly as she left the pharmacy, and when she got back into her car she placed it on the passenger seat and stared at it for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts.
* * *
It didn’t take long to drive back to the island, and though she wasn’t sure she was ready to face a positive result, she couldn’t put it off any longer. She parked the car at the side of the gallery, preparing herself for the conversation she was about to have with Clemmie and the reality she soon might have to face. Walking to the front of the gallery, she spotted her dad waiting on the doorstep. Ralph was beaming, trying to control a handful of colourful balloons that had a mind of their own. Dilly quickly slid the pregnancy test inside her bag, not wanting to broach that conversation until she had concrete evidence.
‘What are you doing here?’ Dilly put on her chirpiest voice.
‘Congratulations, Dilly! You did it!’ Ralph’s voice was full of pride as he opened his arms and hugged her. ‘These are for you! I’ve just got back so I was going to let myself into the gallery and leave them by your desk. Not only a new home and gallery, but the lighthouse! You must be so happy!’
‘Have you got time to talk?’ Dilly asked, her voice wavering slightly despite her best efforts. She wanted to put him straight about Max’s antics before Max had a chance to tell him otherwise.
‘I thought you’d be over the moon. What’s wrong?’
Dilly unlocked the gallery door, and they stepped inside. She locked it again behind her, the sign on the back of the door remaining set to ‘Closed’.
‘Have you enough money to pay for it? Did you overbid? I can help you out if needs must. I don’t want you to worry.’ Ralph’s voice was gentle as he followed Dilly up the stairs, concern etched on his face.
Dilly took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. ‘It’s not that, Dad. I mean, yes, I went a bit over budget, but it’s manageable. It’s just…’
Filled with fatherly concern, Ralph placed a hand on her arm and asked, ‘Just what, sweetheart?’
‘You need to fire Max, I don’t want him working at the boat house.’
Ralph looked puzzled. ‘I wasn’t expecting that. Where has this come from?’
‘I overbid, but I think the price was driven up on purpose,’ Dilly said, switching on the kettle and taking two mugs out of the cupboard. As she made two cups of tea, she continued. ‘I think, for whatever reason, I’ve been played.’
Ralph tied the balloons to the back of a chair and sat down, his expression turning serious. ‘Played? Who has played you?’
Sitting opposite her dad, Dilly took a deep breath. ‘Max.’
Ralph laughed, a mix of disbelief and amusement in his eyes. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh, but Max? How?’
‘I think he was working with his wife to drive the price up on the lighthouse for some reason, though I can’t figure out why. They eventually stopped bidding and then disappeared outside and he left with her, leaving me with no clue as to what had just happened or why.’
‘Max was bidding against you for the lighthouse?’ Ralph’s face showed confusion.
‘Not exactly. But he knew what my highest bid was, and suddenly I was up against his wife?—’
‘Ex-wife, or soon to be ex-wife, I believe,’ Ralph interrupted. ‘She was bidding on the lighthouse?’
‘Did Max mention anything to you or give you any indication that she, or they, wanted the lighthouse?’
Ralph shook his head. ‘Absolutely not. I really don’t think this has anything to do with Max.’
‘He abandoned me at the auction and went home with her. And that’s not all. The day we went to look at the lighthouse together, I saw them exchanging an envelope on the beach. I didn’t realise it was her at the time, but I think he was handing over information on my highest bid.’
Ralph leaned back, frowning. ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. There had to be numerous people bidding on that lighthouse. What has he done, befriended all of them?’
Dilly blew out a breath. She knew her dad was right but something wasn’t sitting quite right with her.
‘You’ve won and that’s all that matters. If they really wanted it, they would have kept going.’
‘They weren’t expecting me to go higher than what Max thought I could,’ Dilly explained. ‘I bid above my budget, taking them by surprise… and myself, too. Maybe they didn’t have the funds to go higher.’
Ralph shook his head, processing the information. ‘So, you’re saying Max knew your highest bid, and they tried to push you to your limit?’
‘Exactly that,’ Dilly replied. ‘I just don’t understand why.’
‘I do hear you,’ Ralph said, his brow furrowed. ‘Max and…’
‘Lydia,’ Dilly filled in the blank.
‘Lydia, yes… From what I gather, Lydia is a highly successful businesswoman from an extremely wealthy family. If they wanted that lighthouse, they could have had it. And Max seems like a genuine guy to me. I honestly think you’ve got this wrong and there is some sort of explanation.’
‘I don’t agree. Why has he arrived on Puffin Island out of the blue? Why is he working for you? He’s an art teacher, not a boat repairer. Something doesn’t feel right to me. Why did you give him the job? You must have asked why his last job ended and what brought him here during his interview.’
Ralph fell silent, a pensive look crossing his face.
‘What aren’t you telling me?’ Dilly pressed. ‘I know there’s something.’
‘I can’t tell you anything about that,’ Ralph said reluctantly.
‘Why not? He must have said something.’
‘I’m afraid it’s confidential.’
‘Dad!’ Dilly’s voice rose in frustration.
‘I can’t discuss it with you,’ Ralph reiterated, looking uncomfortable. ‘Sorry, Dilly, but he’s a member of staff and anything he’s said to me is in confidence.’
‘But it’s okay that he pushed up the price of the lighthouse? For what gain? To put me in a difficult financial situation? To take the lighthouse from me?’ Dilly’s voice was incredulous.
Ralph exhaled deeply. ‘You know I love you, and I know it’s been a very difficult time for you lately… but I do think Max is a good guy and I’m sure there’s an explanation. Talk to him.’
‘Difficult time? Please don’t tell me you think I’m just stressed and overreacting.’
‘You’ve been having dizzy spells lately, and I’ve noticed you haven’t been your usual self. Not everyone is out to get you,’ Ralph said gently.
‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Dilly demanded, though she had an inkling of where the conversation was heading.
‘I know it was over eight months ago now…’
Dilly felt a familiar pang of anxiety in her chest. She knew exactly where this conversation was heading: back to Giles. But the truth was, it hadn’t been eight months since his betrayal. She’d actually been seeing Giles right up until four months ago, when she’d discovered he was a romance scammer. She hadn’t been ready to face her father with that truth, so she’d told him the breakup had happened earlier in the year, making him believe they weren’t as serious as they truly were, and that she’d just needed time to process it all before telling him about Giles’s scheme. It was easier that way, less painful than admitting she’d been so deeply fooled.
‘Do you think this suspicion is a result of your experience with Giles? It’s understandable that his behaviour has had a huge impact on you,’ Ralph said softly. ‘I think his behaviour may have triggered you today.’
Dilly knew he was right, Giles’s betrayal had left deep scars, but she didn’t want to hear her dad’s logic right now. Before Giles, she had seen the good in everyone and everything. Now, she questioned everything and was wary of any new situation, especially when it involved people outside her inner circle of friends, the few people whom she knew she could trust implicitly.
‘Of course Giles’s behaviour has affected me deeply,’ Dilly admitted, ‘but this feels different. There’s something off about Max and Lydia, and I can’t ignore it.’
Ralph reached across the table and took her hand. ‘I understand, but I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. Just be careful not to let past hurts cloud your judgment. Sometimes, things aren’t as sinister as they seem.’
‘The point is that they tried to stitch me up for whatever reason and I think you should sack him.’ Dilly knew she was being unreasonable, but she wanted answers and consequences.
‘I can’t go around sacking members of staff just because their ex-wife bid against you on a lighthouse that is now yours,’ Ralph said firmly, though his tone remained gentle.
Dilly sighed, feeling helpless. ‘I know, I’m just frustrated. I don’t understand why she drove the price up.’
‘I think the best thing is to talk to Max about it. For the record, I really like him. So far, I’ve had no complaints, he’s trustworthy, reliable and a perfectionist. If there was any way I could extend his contract, I wouldn’t hesitate.’
Dilly knew her dad was right. She needed to talk to Max directly and ask what had happened in the auction room. But she hated confrontation, and if Max declared he was back with his ex-wife, she wasn’t sure how she would feel about that. He’d brought a spring back into her step, and she really enjoyed his company. All her old feelings for him had resurfaced, which had taken her by surprise, especially after Giles, but his behaviour this morning had completely thrown her. The fact that he never came back to her, that he walked out with Lydia and never looked back or gave her an explanation, hurt deeply.
‘Today is a good day, Dilly. It’s the start of a new chapter for you. Focus on you and your new lighthouse and I promise the right guy will walk into your life when you least expect it.’
Dilly wanted to say, And I probably won’t even notice as I’ll be up to my eyes in caring for a baby.
‘I saw the newspaper this morning. I assume you did too, and that’s maybe why your emotions are all over the place? It’s a good thing he’s been caught and can’t target any other vulnerable women. You had a lucky escape, and now you never have to think about that man again.’
How wrong her dad was. If the pregnancy test was positive, there were several decisions she needed to make quickly.
‘Focus on what you have: a brand-new gallery to open, turning this place into a community art space, and a new home to move into, which I can’t wait to see inside of, by the way. For now, I’d best get back to the boat house.’ He stood up and kissed his daughter on the cheek. ‘Your grandmother and mum would be so proud of you.’
Dilly walked down the stairs with her dad then watched him walk out of the gallery door. He gave her a wave through the window.
This morning was not exactly going to plan. She’d thought she would be celebrating her new home and popping the cork off the champagne bottle that was chilling in the fridge, with Max by her side.
Instead, she was alone, a pregnancy test hidden in her bag, and a head full of worries about Max and Lydia. The lighthouse was hers, but she wanted answers, and knew she needed to face Max. But first, she needed to know if her life was about to change in an even bigger way.