Wish You Were Here – Part 4. Cressida McLaughlin

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СКАЧАТЬ the place with laughter and fun – not to mention music – so it’s going to feel strange without her.’

      ‘Some people are like that, aren’t they?’ Ashley said.

      Robin nodded. ‘And it seems to be the guests who stay in Starcross, for some reason. Though there have been only two so far.’

      ‘Maybe there’s something magical about that room?’ Roxy clapped her hands together, but her husband rolled his eyes.

      ‘Or they’re the two people who have stayed the longest, so they’ve made more of an impression. Will’s back at his aunt Tabitha’s house now, isn’t he? Do you know if he’s planning on staying in Campion Bay?’

      The couple looked slightly anxious, and Robin wondered how worried they were about the rumours of what Tim would do if he bought the property. She knew, now, that their kindness towards Will, bringing him cupcakes and helping him bag up rubbish on his first day working in his aunt’s house, had been sincere, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t also concerned about the seafront changing. Things moved on – it was only natural that they should – but Goldcrest Road didn’t need an upgrade. It was picture-perfect.

      ‘I don’t know,’ Robin said quietly.

      She felt guilty. If Tim was in there, making a deal with Will at that very moment, then she would be responsible. Not in a practical way, but for helping to shape the personal feelings of the two men, which might then impact on their professional decisions. First, hurting Will by holding back the truth, and then angering Tim by rejecting him. If Campion Bay Property made a successful bid, then – despite organising the open mic night – Robin’s hopes of being a valued member of the Campion Bay community would be in tatters.

      ‘Fair enough.’ Ashley nodded. ‘Guess we’ll have to wait and see. Will’s a good guy, it would be nice if he decided to stick around.’

      Robin didn’t voice how much she agreed with him.

      They said their goodbyes, and Darren thrust a piece of slightly crumpled paper and a biro into Robin’s hand. ‘Sign here, please, love, to say it’s all been done proper and correct. I’ve confirmed that the stage was passed back to us in good condition.’ He pointed at his own scribbled name.

      ‘Thank you.’ Robin put the paper on the low wall and signed a scratchy signature. She was relieved the stage was gone, the last remnants of the event removed so the promenade, and Skull Island crazy golf, could get back to normal. It should also have meant she was free to go and see Will, but now she’d have to wait until Tim had left. She couldn’t say everything she needed to in front of him.

      She’d taken two steps across the road when the front door of Tabitha’s house opened and Tim came out. She gave a sigh of relief, which was quickly overtaken by anxiety when Will followed him. He was wearing his usual dark jeans and Wrangler boots, and a green T-shirt with a silhouette of the New York skyline on the front. Robin snuck back on to the opposite pavement and watched them walk to the Audi. Will climbed into the passenger seat without noticing her, but Tim glanced towards the sea, and their eyes met. The smirk he gave her was devoid of warmth, his eyes glittering with triumph.

      He pulled away from the kerb, and it was then that Will’s head turned in her direction. She saw his expression for only a moment, but he didn’t look happy.

      ‘What has that bastard done?’ Molly was pacing, wearing away the floorboards in Sea Shanty.

      ‘I don’t know, but I can take a pretty good guess. He’s told Will something about me, something unkind or made up – or both – and tried to persuade him to sell. I had thought that, after last night, we’d be able to move on from this strange nostalgic dance and be friends.’

      ‘How long did you go out with Tim for?’ Molly’s blue eyes sparkled with anger, but Robin knew it wasn’t aimed at her. ‘Have you still not realised that Tim is only out for himself, that all he cares about is getting what he wants?’

      ‘I thought that—’

      ‘You put faith in him. You’re getting soppy in your old age. So you saw them go off together, in Tim’s car?’

      Robin sank on to one of the sofas and her kitten, Eclipse, climbed on to her lap. ‘He looked so righteous, as if now that I won’t have him, he can go after the things that matter to me. He’s going after Will, and he’s doing that by swooping in on Tabitha’s house.’

      Molly crouched in front of her, her short blond hair moving in the breeze drifting through the open window. ‘Yes, but Will has to agree to it. He has to formally accept Tim’s offer, and I don’t think he’s ready to do that. I saw you sitting next to each other on the sea wall on Thursday, and I heard what he said at the end of the concert last night. Tim will need some pretty strong leverage to get Will to make a decision right now. He’s not even finished going through Tabitha’s belongings.’

      ‘But what if he’s been inventing stories about me to try and turn Will against me? I told Tim that I wouldn’t try again with him because of Will – though of course that’s not the only reason – but he knows how strong my feelings are.’

      Molly shrugged. ‘So add it to the list of things to talk to Will about. He’s seen for himself that Tim can be ruthless. He’s not stupid, and he’ll have to listen to your side of the story.’

      ‘And if he’s already decided to sell the house?’

      Molly held her gaze. ‘Then it was never meant to be. But I don’t think it will come to that.’

      ‘You and Will are together?’

      They both turned to find Lorna standing in the doorway, her bag and guitar case over her shoulders. Her eyes were glistening.

      Robin stood and went to hug her. ‘No, we’re not. It’s complicated. What’s wrong?’

      Lorna sniffed and wiped her cheek. ‘I’m gutted to be leaving, that’s all. My taxi should be here any minute.’

      ‘I could have driven you to the station,’ Robin said.

      ‘You’ve done more than enough for me – I don’t know if you’ll ever realise how much. Thank you for being so amazing.’

      Robin laughed. ‘You were the amazing one. Did you hear yourself up there last night?’

      Lorna did a little shimmy, and her face broke out into a huge grin. ‘It was the most fun I’ve ever had. I’ve caught the performing bug – I’m going to be unbearable when I get home.’

      ‘You deserve to go so far,’ Molly said, waiting her turn and then pulling the younger woman into an embrace.

      ‘Thank you,’ Lorna said. ‘It doesn’t matter how far I go, a little piece of me will always be here, on that stage, looking out at the crowd with the moon shining down on us. I’ve got about twenty glow sticks in my bag – I hope that’s OK?’

      ‘Of course it is! Better that than they end up in the bin.’

      ‘Will seemed to be quite fond of them,’ she said, giving Robin a careful look.

      Robin smiled, replaying Will’s introduction in her head. ‘Yes. I didn’t know about that little quirk.’

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