Nell sat huddled on the ‘Nollie’, playing a game of snakes and ladders with Jacob.
‘Whoosh, down the ladder again, Aunty Nellie!’ Jacob giggled once more.
‘It’s not my day today, is it?’ she grinned, as Jacob threw a six and landed on the final square.
‘I’ve won! I’ve won!’
Nell ruffled his hair, ‘You certainly have. How about a jammy dodger to celebrate?’
‘Yes please!’
Nell heard a soft laugh behind her. She spun round to see Guy standing in the doorway, ‘What’s all the commotion?’ he smiled.
‘Jacob here, has beaten me at snakes and ladders … again!’
‘Well done! Can I come in?’
‘Of course,’ Nell smiled, ‘No Sam?’
Guy shook his head, ‘He’s keeping Ed company. I left my phone at work and just nipped back to get it.’
‘Cup of tea?’ Nell asked, filling up the kettle.
‘If you have time?’
Nell smiled, ‘Oh and a jammy dodger,’ she said, sliding the plate of biscuits on to the table.
Guy sat down next to Jacob, while he was already chomping through his first biscuit.
‘I’ve just seen Lloyd,’ Guy said, taking a mug of tea from Nell. ‘He was standing outside the Old Picture House.’
‘Did you speak to him?’
Guy shook his head, ‘No, he didn’t see me.’
‘I was thinking about having another chat with him about his contacts. I’m quite intrigued by his wife being an actress and his links to this place. He didn’t actually say why he was back in the area.’
‘Good idea. How does he get to his side of the marina?’
‘I noticed a small boat floating at the back of his boat or he could walk the long way round.’
Guy nodded.
‘Was that nice?’ Nell turned her attention back to Jacob, whose hand was hovering over the biscuit plate once more.
‘I think I need another one, Aunty Nellie, so I can make my mind up!’
The two of them exchanged mischievous grins.
‘You, Jacob Green, are a little rascal,’ she wagged her finger at him in jest.
‘What do you think, Guy? Is he allowed another one?’
‘I think so, he’s a growing boy,’ grinned Guy, while Jacob high-fived him. ‘So, what are you doing here, little man?’ Guy asked him as he moved the counters on the board back to the beginning.
‘Just spending time with his Aunty Nellie,’ Nell answered, while checking the message that had just landed on her phone.
Nell stared at the screen and Guy noticed she looked a little alarmed.
‘You okay?’
She nodded, then looked towards Guy,
‘Jacob, would you nip into the bedroom?’ she asked ‘And fetch my handbag?’
He saluted and trundled off in the direction of the bedroom.
‘What’s up?’
‘It’s Bea’s mum,’ said Nell, keeping her voice to a whisper, ‘She’s passed away this evening.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘They haven’t spoken for a few years, but it’s hard for her. Jacob doesn’t know, but she’s on her way over to collect him and I think she’s in need of a strong drink … only she’s pregnant.’
‘Would it help if I take him over to the yard for half an hour? Give you some space?’
‘Would you mind?’ asked Nell, feeling thankful that Guy had offered.
Guy shook his head, ‘Not at all, I’ve even spotted a couple of fishing rods in the office at the yard. We can have a look at those.’
‘Thanks Guy,’ she touched his arm affectionately.
‘Right, young man, would you like to go and check out a couple of fishing rods at the yard with Guy for twenty minutes?’
Jacob’s eyes grew wide, ‘Would I ever!’ he squealed, grabbing his coat and stuffing another jammy dodger in his pocket.
‘I saw that, Jacob Green!’
Nell watched them stride up the wharf and out of view. She thought to herself how quickly Guy had slotted into her life and how much she loved his company. Offering to look after Jacob was such a kind thing to do and she trusted him implicitly. She switched the kettle back on and ten minutes later she heard footsteps echoing up the jetty.
Nell looked up to see a tear-stained face peering around the door.
‘Oh Bea, I am so sorry.’ Nell flung out her arms and wrapped them around her friend.
‘I never thought my day would turn out like this,’ she forced a smile through her tears and sat down.
‘You okay, Nathan?’ asked Nell, pressing a swift kiss to his cheek. He slid off his coat and scooted on to the bench next to Bea.
‘Yes, I’m fine,’ he said softly.
‘Cuppa?’
They both nodded, ‘Where’s Jacob?’ asked Bea, spinning her head around the ‘Nollie’.
‘Guy’s showing him a couple of fishing rods over at the yard. Hope that’s alright?’
Bea nodded, ‘I’ve no idea what to tell him.’ Her lips began to wobble and she stared at her handbag, twisting the strap, then sighed.
Nell’s heart went out to her.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’
Bea paused for a second and Nathan slid his arm around his wife’s shoulders and squeezed her.
She took a deep breath and met Nell’s gaze, ‘Oh, Nell, it was awful, it was so sad.’
Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Nell placed a cup of tea in front of them both and sat down next to them.
‘I’ll be honest, I don’t know what I was expecting.’ She took a breath. Bea sniffled and Nell passed her a tissue.
‘Our relationship was always challenging, but it didn’t mean I didn’t love her. We just didn’t have that close a relationship.’
Nell felt sorry for Bea. Her own relationship with her mum was one of friendship, they enjoyed shopping trips and lunches together but she knew Bea had always longed for the same, but it just wasn’t there.
Nathan squeezed his wife’s hand, ‘But you were there at the end.’
‘I was – we were.’
‘Did she know you were there?’ Nell asked tentatively.
Bea look up at Nathan, ‘I think so, but it was hard to tell. I thought she’d squeezed my hand, but she couldn’t speak or open her eyes.’
‘I’m sure she would have known.’
Bea nodded, ‘I am glad I was there – it was just difficult. I never got to say what I really wanted to say or try and put the situation right.’
‘You did put it right – you went to say your goodbyes. Did you see Fern?’
Bea shook her head, ‘The nurse said she was due any moment, but I didn’t want to hang around. The last time I saw her she was …’ Bea winced, ‘She was bawling at us through the window all those years ago. I knew we shouldn’t have gone out that night. I didn’t want to go out that night,’ she turned towards Nathan.
‘I know, but it’s done now,’ he said, ‘We can’t turn back time.’
‘That night still seems so surreal,’ Bea said as she wiped a tear from her eyes.
‘I’m not sure how anyone could leave a child like that to cry, let alone her own nephew’ Nell said softly, remembering how distraught Bea had been at the time.
‘I think we all felt the same,’ replied Nathan. ‘It was one thing leaving Jacob to cry like she did, but for Fern’s boyfriend to bawl after us like that. He’s a bastard child because we weren’t married. And Fern did nothing!’
Bea shuddered, ‘And for Mum to stand there and do nothing too. He was a child, for God’s sake. He wasn’t being naughty, he just needed a cuddle. I trusted them to look after Jacob. How could I have ever left him with them again, if that’s what they thought of him?’ Bea blurted, the hurt still visible on her face.
‘We couldn’t, we made the right decision to walk away from them.’
For a moment everyone was silent and sipped their tea, ‘What about the funeral? Are you going to go?’ asked Nell.
Bea flicked her eyes between the pair of them, ‘I’ve no idea. I’ve not given it a second thought yet or what are we are going to tell Jacob. Do we even need to tell him?’
Nell glanced through the window and spotted Guy and Jacob strolling up the wharf hand in hand. Jacob was hanging on every word Guy was saying, with a huge smile on his face. Guy looked a natural with him. He oozed charisma, his manner was gentle and he would definitely make a good father one day, Nell thought to herself.
‘They’re coming now,’ Nell nodded towards the porthole as Nathan and Bea peered through it.
‘I’ll nip to the bathroom and clean up my face.’ Bea swiftly stood up and disappeared towards the bathroom.
‘Let’s not say anything in front of Jacob.’
Nell nodded, acknowledging Nathan’s request.
‘Daddy,’ Jacob burst through the door, ‘I’ve had the best time.’
‘Glad to hear it.’
‘What have you been up to?’ Bea reappeared from the bathroom.
‘I beat Aunty Nellie at snakes and ladders and then Guy showed me the fishing rods at the yard. They were taller than me!’
Guy clapped Jacob on his back, ‘I’ve got a feeling this one is going to be a natural fisherman one day,’ he grinned.
‘I think Guy may be right,’ laughed Nathan, ‘Looks like I might need to get myself a pair of wellies.’
Nell took a moment and watched the banter between her friends. Nell had no idea how anyone could ever think of hurting Jacob – it was unforgiveable as far as she was concerned.
Guy sat down at the table and Jacob slid on to his knee. Guy looked up and caught Nell’s eye.
‘You alright?’ he mouthed at her.
‘More than,’ she replied warmly.
‘Glad to hear it.’ His eyes sparkled at her and suddenly Nell felt a huge rush of affection towards him. Without question Guy had stepped up the mark tonight and Nell couldn’t thank him enough. Guy was becoming a huge part of her life, in fact it was safe to say she didn’t want him going back to Ireland any day soon, if at all.
‘Right, Jacob Green, I think it’s time to get you home and bathed before bed.’
‘Aww,’ he protested and wrapped his arms around Nell’s neck.
‘I’ll see you very soon,’ she said, before turning towards Bea, ‘And you ring me if you need anything.’
‘I will, I promise, and thanks for having Jacob and thank you Guy. We’ll miss you when you leave us.’
‘Leave you?’
‘When you go back to Ireland.’
‘I might just stick around. I’m getting used to this place, it certainly has its attractions,’ he smiled at Nell, who felt herself blush a little.
‘That’s good to hear.’ she said.
Two minutes later, Nell and Guy watched Nathan and Bea walking up the towpath, swinging Jacob between them.
‘What a lovely family,’ Guy said.
‘They are indeed,’ replied Nell, placing the empty plates and mugs into the sink.
‘Have you ever thought about having a family?’ Guy looked up at her.
‘I always thought I’d have a couple of kids by now, but then when Ollie passed it just wasn’t an option.’
‘And now?’
‘And now I’ve realised that time moves on and one day I’d love to be a mother.’ She sat down next to Guy.
‘I’ve seen how you are with Jacob and you, Nell Andrews, will make the most fantastic mother one day.’
‘What about you? I saw the way you were with Jacob too, such a natural.’
‘I’ve always wanted a family, kids, grandkids, and the more the merrier. I’ll always cherish the relationship I have with my parents and grandparents,’ Guy answered quite honestly.
‘You, without a doubt, would make a fantastic dad.’
‘Why, thank you,’ Guy leant forward and kissed the tip of Nell’s nose. He felt a pang of guilt inside, knowing he hadn’t been quite honest with Nell, but as their relationship grew he was finding it harder to tell her the truth. If only he’d been honest with her from the start.
‘Do you need to get back?’ asked Nell, hoping he would stay.
Guy shook his head, ‘No, not at all. No plans whatsoever.’
‘Cuppa or a glass of wine?’
‘Could murder a glass of red.’
‘Me too,’ Nell answered happily.