‘I didn’t realise how hard the divorce would be for you. I should have made more time for you. Come to see you more.’ His voice was heavy with regret.
‘It’s okay, Dad. I had a chat with Nick, and I can see things clearer now. I’m sorry I was so bolshie. I just felt . . . abandoned.’
‘I was so busy, there was such a lot to do, and I thought you were happy with your mum. But I should have realised, made more of an effort.’
‘It’s fine, Dad. Really, it is.’ She went over to him and gave him a hug. ‘We made it in the end, didn’t we? Thanks to Uncle Albert.’
Owen wrapped his arms around her. ‘We did, love.’
‘Come on, let me show you the back garden now. You’ll love it,’ Hattie said, easing herself out of the embrace.
Owen followed her downstairs and outside. His eyes widened as he stepped out into the back yard. ‘It’s incredible. You’ve transformed it, Hattie. No wonder the cottage was snapped up so quickly.’
‘I like to sit out here and eat breakfast in the morning. The sun shines down and I can hear the seagulls squawking and smell the sea.’ She sniffed. ‘Can you smell it?’
Owen sniffed too. ‘Yes, I can.’
He looked at the motorbike leaning against the shed wall. ‘Is that yours?’
‘Yes, it’s so much easier to get about on a bike than in a car, although I’m thinking I might have to get myself a little car.’
‘So, you’ve settled in here, then?’ he asked, looking thoughtful.
Hattie nodded eagerly. ‘I’ve had lots of commissions for photographs. Actually, I thought you might like to eat out tonight at Gwel Teg, the hotel where I photographed the wedding, and took the photos for the website. The people are so nice and friendly. Marcus next door is the chef there – he helped look after Uncle Albert a lot.’
‘That sounds good,’ Owen agreed. ‘How about a cuppa first and then we’ll make our way up there.’
Hattie went in to put the kettle on, pleased that her dad approved of all the changes she’d made to Fisherman’s Rest. She could see he was really impressed.
‘Now, tell me how the B&B is doing,’ she asked as they sat down outside with their cups of tea. ‘I bet Raina is busy without you to help this weekend.’
‘Nick and Glenn are helping out. Business has picked up a bit, thank goodness.’
They both turned around as they heard the door open next door. It was Marcus, heading off for work. He glanced over the wall and waved.
Hattie waved back. ‘This is my dad. Dad, this is Marcus.’
‘I can see that; you’ve got the same features,’ Marcus told her. He nodded at Owen. ‘Pleased to meet you, Mr Rowland.’
‘Owen, please. And thank you for looking after Albert, and helping Hattie,’ Owen told him.
Marcus raised an eyebrow questioningly.
‘I told Dad how you helped me with the decluttering,’ Hattie told him.
‘Ah, well, it was a pleasure. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, I’m due in work soon.’
‘We’re coming up for a meal later. I want to show Dad the hotel,’ Hattie told him. ‘Will you be able to join us afterwards in the bar?’ What made her ask him that? An urge to see as much of him as she could before she left, she realised.
‘I’ll try to, but you’ll have to hang about until just gone ten, I’m working until then.’
‘That’s no problem. We can have a leisurely meal and a drink while we’re waiting,’ Owen said.
‘See you later, then.’ Marcus nodded then dashed off.
‘He seems a nice chap. He’s a chef, you say?’ Owen said.
‘In the evenings. He’s an artist too, so he paints in the daytime. He did a portrait for Lord Thomwell’s birthday, he lives in a big Manor near Truro. And he had some paintings in an exhibition a couple of weeks ago,’ she added, suddenly realising that she hadn’t asked Marcus how he’d got on. She guessed he hadn’t won or he would have told her. She must ask him to show her the portrait of Buddy before she left, though. She could take a photo of it and frame it.
‘Very impressive,’ Owen said. ‘You two seem pretty friendly. I guess he’s going to miss having you as a neighbour.’
‘Maybe.’ She was definitely going to miss him. ‘Do you want to go for a walk along the harbour front then we can head to the hotel?’
‘I’d love to. It was always one of my favourite places in Port Medden. I used to go with Albert on his boat, you know, when I was in my teens.’
‘Did you really?’ Hattie was fascinated. ‘So you were really close at one time?’ She grabbed her keys and they both walked out into the hall.
‘We were,’ Owen said. As they walked down to the harbour he told her about some of his fishing trips with Albert and Hattie thought once again what a shame it was that he had lost touch with his older step-brother. Just as she had almost lost touch with her Dad.
Well now they were back on track. And she and Nick were on a better footing too. Thanks to Uncle Albert they were a reunited family.
They were looking over the harbour now. Hattie took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of sea air and fish. ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’ she said. ‘Uncle Albert was so lucky to live here. No wonder he never wanted to move.’
She felt her dad’s eyes on her. ‘You really love Port Medden, don’t you?’
Damn, she hadn’t meant to sound so enthusiastic. She didn’t want him to feel guilty that she had to move out. ‘Doesn’t everyone love the seaside?’ she said lightly.
Mandy greeted them enthusiastically when they arrived at the hotel, and Sue came out to say hello too, telling Owen how Hattie had saved Ellie and Reece’s wedding day. ‘She works magic with
