Guy stood with a goofy grin on his face and watched Nell walk up the wharf and disappear out of sight before he turned back towards the boat shed. Her words were ringing in his ears, ‘Once Little Rock gets under your skin.’
Since the night Nell had shared the Chinese with him, he’d found himself thinking about her more and more and he couldn’t deny she was on his mind the second he woke up, and the moment he fell asleep.
In the past week alone Guy had felt happier than he’d been in a long while. Perhaps the change of scenery was doing him good. He made himself a brew, cupped his hands around the mug and stared out over the peaceful marina. Sam came and sat by his side, thumping his tail on the ground. ‘What are we going to do, Sam? I think I’m falling in love with this place. I mean how can anyone not? Everything is just more laid back and there’s no shirt and tie throttling my neck every day. What exactly have we got waiting back for us in Ireland?’
Sam cocked his head to one side and Guy laughed, ‘Jeez, dog, it looked like you were actually listening to me there for a minute.’
Sam gave a woof and stayed by Guy’s side.
‘Right then, Sam, we’ve a couple of options,’ Guy continued to speak, ‘We could find a job and a house to rent here and hopefully live with Ed in the meantime or we could go back to Ireland for a life of misery in the financial world. What do you reckon?’ he laughed to himself.
Sam began to whimper, ‘I take it you’re not keen on going back either? I’m not sure if I want to go back to that situation we left behind.’ Sam woofed again.
Guy turned to him and raised his eyebrows, ‘You neither? Are you actually answering me?’ He ruffled the top of his head. ‘I think I know why Ed loves this place so much. It certainly does have a good feel.’
Guy turned his thoughts to Nell. Even though he knew he’d only known her for a short space of time, he didn’t like the thought of returning to his old life, one he wanted to escape from so much, leaving her behind. He found himself thinking of Nell more and more. She was so different to anyone he knew and he felt a sense of belonging and calmness when he was around her, something that had been missing from his life for a long time.
Guy glanced towards the moored narrowboats. They were pretty, with their brightly coloured flowerpots and bicycles strapped to their roofs.
‘Back to work,’ he said, fishing in his pocket and throwing Sam a treat. He placed the mug down on the bench and began to black the hull once more. ‘Yep, that’s looking good,’ he said, talking to himself again. Then his face softened into a smile as he jigged away to his favourite tune on the radio.
As he began to paint the boat he began to think about Nell’s idea, the restoration of the Old Picture House. He was more than happy to view the property with her – in fact he was delighted to.
If they made an appointment to view the inside of the dilapidated building he could certainly gauge how much money she’d have to set aside for the project. He took a moment and gazed towards the old building. It was definitely in a prime position, such a beautiful spot, and he could actually imagine it being restored to all its glory, even though he was sure Nell would be up against some stiff competition. He stared at the for-sale board and took out his mobile phone, punching in the number for the estate agents.
He waited patiently for them to answer, ‘John German Estate Agents, Jennifer speaking, how can I help you?’
‘I’m enquiring about the Old Picture House that’s up for auction at Little Rock Marina, is there any possibility I could arrange an appointment to view inside ahead of the auction?’
‘Certainly, sir. When would be best for you?’
He took the bull by the horns and provisionally booked an appointment for tomorrow lunchtime.
He hung up the call and surfed the estate agent’s website from his phone for the property details and pressed print. The printer began to whirl and spat out the details of the property in the office. He’d have a good read over them later on tonight. After sliding his phone back in his pocket he looked around for Sam.
‘Here boy, come here,’ he patted his thigh a couple of times, ‘Don’t you be wandering off on me.’ Guy looked around the boatyard but he couldn’t spot him anywhere. Panic began to rise inside as he hurried to the office to see whether he’d curled up on the old battered armchair in the corner of the room, but still there was no Sam.
‘Sam, where are you Sam?’ Guy bellowed and walked to the front of the yard and stood by the huge wooden doors. ‘You couldn’t have gone far, you were only here a second a go,’ he muttered to himself. He swung his head up and down the marina, but there was no sign of him anywhere. Guy noticed a shop assistant propping up a blackboard outside the boutique.
‘Excuse me,’ Guy shouted across the path towards her.
The woman looked up and smiled. ‘You haven’t by any chance seen a red setter? He’s about this big … and red,’ he gestured with his hands, ‘He was here a moment ago and now he’s completely disappeared.’
She shook her head, ‘I’m sorry, I haven’t.’
‘Thanks anyway.’
Guy walked over to the railings and anxiously glanced towards the jetty. He peered towards the water and his heart sank. ‘Sam,’ Guy shouted with all his might. There was Sam struggling to swim in the freezing-cold water. Guy knew the recent icy weather would make the water even more dangerous.
Guy had no idea what to do. He couldn’t see any movement on the narrowboats moored nearby. People were probably enjoying a lazy Sunday morning lie-in. He looked up and down the wharf, praying that Nell would miraculously appear on her way back, but she’d only been gone five minutes and of course wasn’t in sight. His whole body was trembling as he watched Sam struggling to swim near the same narrowboat that they’d rescued him from last time.
Before Guy knew what he was doing, instinct took over and he powered his legs towards the ‘Nollie’. He jumped off the jetty on to the deck of the boat and flung open the lid to the box of life jackets. As he slipped his arms into the jacket and pulled the toggles tighter, he felt physically sick and heaved.
‘Deep breaths, deep breaths, you can do this, it’s only water,’ he muttered to himself but wasn’t convinced as his head pounded with absolute fear.
After ducking under the railings he hovered in front of the same little rowing boat that Nell had borrowed last time. He flicked a glance over towards Sam, who was scrambling up a small ramp on the water’s edge. His back legs slipped and he fell into the cold water once more. Guy winced. With one more attempt he saw Sam clamber again and this time he made it on to the bank and immediately scrambled on to the deck of the same boat as last time, then collapsed. At least if nothing else, he was safe for the time being.
Guy exhaled and rubbed his hands in his face, ‘Hang on in there, boy. I’m coming to get you.’
His fingers fumbled trying to untie the rowing boat. Finally the rope loosened and he grasped the side of the boat and pulled it towards him.
Stay calm, stay calm.
The little rowing boat bobbed on top of the water and Guy steadied himself as much as he could. He perched on the end of the wooden slacks and rubbed his sweaty hands on his knees. His heart was hammering against his chest as he pushed the oars through the rowlocks, placed the blades in the water and pulled. At first, he found it difficult to manoeuvre the boat. Nell had made it look so easy, but he soon got into a rhythm and the little boat began to glide through the water, thankfully in the right direction.
He anxiously stared across towards Sam, who was now standing on all fours barking at the closed door of the narrowboat. Guy gritted his teeth and pushed the oars harder through the water. In no time at all Guy was at the side of the boat and Sam had mustered up some energy and was scratching furiously at the door.
‘Sam, here boy.’
Sam cocked a look towards his master but he didn’t stop. Guy remembered to tie the boat to the wrought-iron ring, just like Nell had done before so it didn’t float away, before jumping on to the deck.
He heaved a huge sigh of relief before crouching down and pulling Sam towards him by his collar.
Sam was shivering but his eyes were bright, ‘Let me look at you – what are you doing? We’ve got to get you back now,’ he said, relieved that Sam didn’t seem too traumatised by the freezing waters.
Despite Nell’s previous assurances that the little boat was safe the very thought of climbing back into the rowing boat sent shivers down Guy’s spine, especially without Nell to help steady Sam. He didn’t quite know how he was going to manage it. But as soon as Guy let go of Sam’s collar he ran straight back towards the door, his nose to the ground, sniffing a scent on the deck. He began to dig at the door once more.
‘What is it, boy?’ Guy cupped his hands around his eyes and peered through the glass of the door. He was mystified, ‘There’s no one home, Sam. What the heavens has got into you?’
Sam sat down and his front paws danced while he continued to bark. Guy tried to calm him down and with one last glance through the door something caught his eye. He gasped. There, lying on the floor of the canal boat, was a body. He knew the body hadn’t been there a couple of days ago but didn’t have a clue how long it had been there. His stomach performed a double somersault as Guy immediately yanked down the handle of the door to try and get inside, but it was locked. He took a deep breath, stepped back and tried to barge his whole body weight against it, but the door wouldn’t budge. Quickly, he peered around the boat. Apart from the brightly coloured flowerpots and logs tied up on the roof, he spotted two very large painted rocks on the deck. He picked one up and smashed it through the glass pane of the door and then carefully bashed the splintered shards away. After reaching inside he felt for the key and promptly twisted it.
In a matter of seconds Guy was by the man’s side. He grabbed his wrist and felt for a pulse, ‘Yes thankfully,’ he whispered to himself. It was weak but it was there.
‘I’ll get help.’
He reached for his mobile and rang for an ambulance, explaining he was on a narrowboat at the Little Rock Marina. He couldn’t even give any details about the man lying there except that he looked approximately in his mid-sixties. He didn’t even know his name. Guy placed a cushion under the man’s head and quickly grabbed a blanket from the sofa.
Suddenly, he heard the man gasp for breath, ‘Stay with me, please stay.’ Guy murmured, ‘Help is on its way.’
Sam began to bark again and Guy prayed it was the paramedics. He quickly stood out on the deck and looked towards the jetty and couldn’t believe his eyes, there was Nell bobbing in a canoe at the foot of the narrowboat.
Guy heaved a huge sigh of relief, ‘Am I glad to see you. I thought you were at your mum’s.’
Nell looked confused, ‘She wasn’t in. What the heck is going on? I spotted the rowing boat tied up over here and heard Sam barking on the deck,’ she said, grasping Guy’s hand as he hauled her onto the narrowboat.
‘It’s a long story,’
‘You’re shaking,’ Nell said.
‘I’m not surprised, probably shock, fear and I’m just waiting for an ambulance but have no idea how that’s going to work.
‘Ambulance?’ she asked, bewildered.
‘There’s a man collapsed on the floor inside.’
She glanced earnestly into the boat. ‘Oh no, is he okay?’
‘He’s barely got a pulse but he’s still with us.’
Nell quickly rushed to the man’s side and held his hand.
‘How on earth did you find him?’
He nodded towards Sam, ‘Well that’s all down to this clever boy, except I didn’t think he was clever at the time, launching himself back into the icy cold water. He disappeared and I spotted him swimming across to this boat again.’
‘He must have sensed there was something wrong. How long do you think he’s been here like this? Fingers crossed help arrives soon.’ Nell swung her head around the boat, ‘Wow, look at this place, it’s like a shrine to the West End.’
The walls were littered with posters and memorabilia of stage and theatre productions.
‘Obviously a fan of the theatre,’ mused Guy, taking in his surroundings. ‘There are plays on these posters that goes back years.’
In no time at all, two paramedics appeared in the doorway and Nell moved out of the way. Guy provided as much detail as he could, then moved aside to the deck of the boat.
‘Good boy,’ Nell praised Sam, ‘And you …’ she turned back towards Guy, ‘You did amazingly well to row across here all by yourself.’
Guy nodded and smiled, ‘I think I’ve surprised myself but am now in need of a stiff drink.’
‘Firstly, I think you are in need of a hug.’
Nell took him in her arms. She could feel him trembling as she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
‘I’m proud of you,’ she whispered softly.
‘Thank you, replied Guy rather coyly, ‘But it’s this boy that’s the hero.’
‘You are both heroes in my eyes,’ said Nell, leaning forward and brushing her lips against his for a split second. ‘Come on, let’s get you back to the Nollie.’