“He went to Thurlestone.”
“Why? He’s the manager here, not in Thurlestone.”
“He’s interested in that robber.”
“So he went to do a little detective work?”
“Exactly.”
“Good. Now we can all sleep better at night.” She sipped her coffee.
“I don’t think Jake’s presence there is going to be of much help in finding the burglar.”
“He obviously thinks he can make a difference.”
“Amateur detective.”
“He should put his energy into his job here or I’ll give it to someone else.”
Grey glanced at the clock on the wall. “I think you should wake Clementine or she might find herself begging you for a job as well.”
“That girl needs to learn to be responsible.”
“Necessity is the mother of invention.”
“A bit late to teach her to stand on her own two feet. She knows you’ll always bail her out.”
“If she wants to go back to India, she has to earn the money herself.”
“Grey darling, she shouldn’t be going back to India. She should be getting a proper job. India is simply a way of avoiding the rest of her life.”
“She loves travel.”
“I had to fend for myself when I was her age. I didn’t have rich parents to support me.”
“So, isn’t it lucky that Clementine does?”
“Did. We don’t have any more beans to share.”
“I don’t see anything wrong in traveling and seeing the world while she’s young and free.”
“Of course, there’s nothing wrong in that. But she’s doing it for the wrong reasons. She won’t grow up until she takes responsibility for her life. You’re too soft. You always have been.”
“I’m a guilty father.”
“You have no reason to feel guilty. You’ve given those children everything they’ve ever wanted. Jake lives and works here, Clementine has spent every holiday traveling the world. She didn’t even have to work to pay for her university fees. They’ve both had it good and as a result are highly spoiled. But they are not my children so”—she shrugged—“I shouldn’t criticize.”
“But you do.” He looked at her indulgently.
“Because I care.”
He smiled. “I know.”
“They don’t. They think I’m the enemy.”
“That’s not true. Deep down they like you.”
“Then they don’t show it.”
“Neither do you.”
She sighed. “Stalemate.”
“Have a croissant.”
“You’re changing the subject.”
He grinned. “Yes, I am.”
“Very well, I’ll have a croissant. Soon it will be time to meet ‘the Dog Biscuit.’”
“And wake my daughter.”
“I won’t be thanked.”
“But you’ll have done good.”
Marina drained her coffee cup. “I suppose you’re out fishing this morning.”
“It’s a good day for it.”
“Beautiful. Sometimes I wish I could come with you.”
“I wish you would. It would do you good to get away and think about something else.”
“I wouldn’t know what to think about. This place is all-consuming.”
“That’s what I mean.” He got up. “I’ll be back for lunch. Good luck with the Biscuit.”
She pulled an anxious face and sighed helplessly. As he passed her chair, Grey bent down to kiss her head. He lingered there a moment, absorbing her apprehension, aching to carry her burden for her. He closed his eyes and inhaled her warm vanilla scent. “No matter what, darling, we’re in this together.”
She placed a hand on his as he squeezed her shoulder. His touch was loaded with so many unspoken words she didn’t have the courage to reply, so she squeezed him back instead. They remained still, allowing their love to console them where syllables could not. Then he kissed her again and left the room.
Clementine awoke with a head full of warring rhinoceroses. She put her hand to her brow and rubbed it ineffectively. As she slowly came to her senses, fragments of the night before surfaced one by one, until an unsavory picture began to form in her mind. She groaned at her own folly. Not only had she allowed Joe to kiss her, which had been quite nice at the time, but she had allowed him to do all sorts of other things, of which she had only jumbled recollections and a lingering sense of shame. She rolled over and pulled a pillow onto her head. Had they gone the whole way? She was mortified to discover that she couldn’t remember.
The door opened and Marina crept in. “Clementine, you have to get up. It’s eight fifteen.” Clementine lay inert, pretending not to hear. Marina walked over to the window and opened the curtains. Sunlight tumbled in. “It’s a beautiful day again. Not a cloud in the sky.” She approached the bed and lifted the pillow. “I know you’re awake. Heavy evening?”