Summer at West Sands Guest House: A perfect feel good, uplifting romantic comedy. Maggie Conway

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СКАЧАТЬ as long summer holidays for university lecturers and that the academic grindstone never truly stopped.

      ‘I’m working on proposals for a funding initiative and supervising some students completing their final projects. I’m also preparing a workshop on the study of Medieval Scotland,’ he explained with his usual enthusiasm as he topped up their glasses.

      ‘Think I get the picture – no rest for the wicked,’ Molly teased. ‘So you’ve already met your colleagues?’

      ‘Most of them, they all seem very nice,’ he murmured vaguely. Molly smiled to herself. Often suspecting her brother’s mind was somewhere in the fifteenth century half the time, she knew that even if his colleagues were awful, he probably wouldn’t notice or comment.

      With a sigh, Molly sat back in her seat and took a sip of her wine, her eyes sweeping the room. Buttermilk-coloured walls complemented the oak furniture and a large seagrass rug sat on the wooden floor. There was a small side table piled with brochures and local maps for visitors and a small indoor bay tree sat next to a comfy cream wicker armchair. The room oozed comfort and style.

      Following her gaze, Anna smiled. ‘Isn’t this house just perfect?’ she said.

      Molly had felt it as soon as she stepped into the house earlier: an ambience which seemed to draw you into its warm embrace. And judging by the toy-strewn floor – she’d already had to avoid stepping on Luke’s cars – the children had made themselves very much at home.

      ‘So it’s Ben’s wife Eva that runs the guest house, is that right?’ Molly asked.

      Anna nodded. ‘She used to run this house as a bed and breakfast but she lives next door now with Ben and her son Jamie. Obviously she knew our situation and she explained that as this was her first summer renting out the whole house, a longer let suited her perfectly. So, we’ve been so lucky to get it for as long as we need.’

      ‘A case of good timing.’

      ‘Definitely. Eva came round and had a coffee and stayed chatting for ages. She’s just set up her own interior design business and her son Jamie is a year older than Lily so she’ll be going to the same school as him.’

      ‘Ben teaches physics, is that right?’

      Stuart nodded. ‘He’s been showing me around the university and introducing me to a few people which has been really helpful.’

      Molly nodded with a smile. ‘Well, I’m glad to hear it’s all working out so well.’

      ‘And of course, as long as we are here, you can stay. There’s no immediate rush for you to go back is there?’ Stuart lifted an eyebrow.

      Molly took a moment to gather her thoughts.

      ‘Well, I’ll have to deal with the house sale at some point but it’s only just gone on the market. Then after that, I’ll need to find somewhere to live – I was thinking I might rent for a while. And of course, I’ll need to find another job.’ Damn that little wobble in her voice. She cleared her throat, noticing the small exchange of glances between her brother and Anna.

      Molly knew they had been concerned about her and she appreciated being able to speak them but she’d done enough sobbing down the phone. She’d told them she’d love to visit them in St Andrews but on the proviso there was to be no post-mortem of her marriage. She really didn’t want to rake over the ashes of her marriage. She’d vowed she wouldn’t let her newly divorced status intrude on their family holiday and so she drew in a deep breath, determined not to falter. I’ll be fine.

      ‘We just wish there was something more we could do.’

      ‘Being here with you now is enough,’ Molly said firmly. She gave Stuart a pointed look. ‘And you don’t need to tiptoe around me. You’ve never done it before and don’t you dare start now,’ she told him. Stuart held his hands up in mock surrender, lightening the mood.

      ‘Okay, but remember I am still your big brother despite the fact you’ve bossed me about your whole life.’

      ‘That’s because you needed it for your own good,’ Molly countered with a grin.

      ‘Anyway, I’ll have Mum for back up when she arrives.’

      Molly rolled her eyes. ‘You always were her blue-eyed boy,’ she said affectionately. ‘Do we know exactly when they’re arriving?’ she asked.

      ‘Dad managed to get them tickets for the last day’s play of the tournament at the old course in a couple of weeks.’

      Molly took a gulp of wine, her mind calculating how long she had to shore up her defences before facing her mother’s barrage of concern.

      A sudden high-pitched scream from outside indicated delight had turned to disaster and five seconds later Lily marched in followed by a sheepish looking Luke. They were both drenched.

      ‘Mum, he squirted the water at my face on purpose and hit my eye.’ Lily was close to tears, her face puce with indignation. Anna sighed, automatically rising from her seat to mediate.

      ‘Remember I said no faces, Luke? Say sorry to Lily, please.’

      ‘Sorry, Lily,’ he parroted. Then with all remorse instantly forgotten he turned to Molly. ‘Is Uncle Colin not coming to see us anymore?’

      ‘Shut up, Luke.’ Lily scowled.

      The simplicity and unexpectedness of the question took Molly by surprise, as did the tears that suddenly welled in her eyes.

      ‘Right you two. Upstairs for showers now!’ Stuart interjected. ‘Tell you what,’ he said, turning to his wife and Molly. ‘Why don’t you two take a stroll? Go and have a drink somewhere and I’ll deal with these two little horrors.’

      Molly wasn’t sure she was in the mood to go out. All her recent interactions with people had been confined to work colleagues and even having a meal with Stuart and Anna had felt slightly alien. But Anna was clapping her hands together, rushing over to plant a kiss on Stuart’s cheek.

      ‘Come on, Molly, let’s go before he changes his mind.’

      After a quick freshen up – and in Molly’s case a few private moments to compose herself – the two women were soon strolling along the cobbled streets, the setting sun casting the last of its golden rays over the town. Most of the shops had closed but there were plenty of people milling around, choosing where to have their evening meal.

      Anna turned her head towards Molly. ‘Sorry about Luke earlier. We didn’t say anything to him but he must have overheard us talking.’ She grimaced.

      Molly waved her hand indicating it was nothing. ‘Don’t worry. Besides, he’s only five. It’s not his fault.’

      ‘I understand you don’t want to talk about things, but you are okay? Stuart has been worried about you.’

      ‘I know,’ Molly sighed, hating the thought of her family worrying about her.

      She frowned, trying to remember the last time Colin had even seen her family, realising he had managed to extricate himself from any recent gatherings. She’d always hoped Colin and СКАЧАТЬ