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.George had been ready to cut her hair, but Harry had put him off.For some reason she didn’t mind wearing it a little longer and the dark spikes had formed more manageable curls.Harry ruffled them discreetly whilst Frankie, looking genuinely curious, headed downstairs to see who was there.When he reappeared with a young girl in pink sandals and a peppermint dress, Harry’s hand, which was poised to select a feather-light fairy cake, aborted its flight.Meanwhile Trevor looked as if the mouthful he’d already taken had turned into a bath sponge in his throat.‘Sophie!’‘You didn’t tell me you had puppies, Daddy,’ said the girl, dropping to the basket.Daddy probably hadn’t told her he had kittens either, observed Harry, but it looked as though he was going to.‘Sophie, darling.Is Mummy with you?’ he asked weakly.‘Don’t be silly, Daddy.You know she doesn’t like you.I decided to come by myself.’A phone rang ominously.Trevor blanched, Frankie went red and Harry took action.‘I’d better get on with that elusive bilge leak I was dealing with,’ she said quickly.‘Lovely party, adorable pups … I’ll see myself out, then.’Chapter SeventeenHarry walked back to the boat yard wondering which of them had been most surprised.Trevor had always been a bit soppy about the dogs, but she’d never imagined him as a father.He’d never so much as hinted that he had a daughter.People had all kinds of reasons for keeping secrets; perhaps it was too painful for Trevor to discuss?On the other hand, she had the distinct impression that Trevor’s daughter was a plucky little soul who wasn’t prepared to fade into the background any longer.Perhaps this was yet another new beginning for them all? Harry smiled to herself; a little later she’d phone Frankie and Trevor to ask how they were coping with their unexpected guest; but she had the feeling that, once they’d all got over their initial shock, they’d be fine.Turning back down the lane towards the boat yard, Harry stopped smiling at the sight of a police car speeding out of Watling’s.As it hurtled past as fast as the bumpy road would allow, she caught a glimpse of Johnny MacManus’s dazed face staring blankly out at her.Breaking into a run, she cantered into the yard and found a stricken George standing next to Johnny’s abandoned boat.‘George, whatever’s happened?’He wrung his hands.‘They’ve only gone and taken him away, that’s what.’‘But why?’‘Attempted arson.The empty petrol can ’e used was in the cockpit.’‘Well, that’s no proof.He might have been using it to top up an outboard.Johnny’s too drunk to know whether he’s coming or going.He only moves when he’s run out of lager.What on earth must have got into his head for him to try to burn down the restaurant?’George made a choking sound.Harry had never believed he cared much for Johnny, but the pair of them must have been closer than she’d thought.‘That’s not all,’ he added.‘He managed to find ’is way to Mr Corrigan’s house and deliver a letter from the Little Spitmarsh Liberation Front claiming responsibility.’Harry shook her head; who would have thought that Little Spitmarsh would produce its own extremist organisation? ‘Gosh! You mean it really does exist? In that case there must be some Mr Big behind all this.’‘Not quite,’ said George.‘There ain’t no Little Spitmarsh Liberation Front.The stupid bugger invented them to scare Mr Corrigan.’‘But that’s dreadful! Poor Johnny! The booze must have finally taken its toll for him to start showing these signs of paranoia.’George stood with his head bent, staring at the ground, clearly too upset to speak.Harry still wasn’t convinced that there wasn’t some underlying illness making him look so strained; she’d have to find out what was bothering him.‘Come on, George.’ Harry patted him on the arm.‘Don’t distress yourself.One way or another, Johnny is ill.Hopefully he’ll get the treatment he needs – he must have been a desperate man to have got to this stage.’Harry’s fleeting party mood had been chased away by deeper concerns, so she headed back to her house to change.Finding Matthew standing at the front entrance wasn’t something she’d planned for.She’d attended the meeting about the film festival for Jimi’s sake and had even tried to work up some enthusiasm for something that would take her mind off the threat hanging over her.But, although she managed to wriggle out of talking to Matthew that day, there was no escape now.Looking at him watching her, she was struck by just how easily she could forget the threat he represented.There was gentleness in the hazel eyes and a latent strength in his lean frame that made it hard not to ask him just to hold her and make everything better.Strange what you could make yourself believe if you wanted to; soon she’d turn into the kind of woman who thought the TV weathermen were sending secret messages just for her.Breathe, you idiot, she told herself, realising that she couldn’t just stand there any longer.This, after all – she willed the anger to well up inside her – was the man responsible for the changes that had bothered frail Johnny MacManus so much that he’d actually set the restaurant on fire.‘I wondered if I could have a word?’ he said, softly.‘I can come back if it’s not convenient.’‘What do you want?’ she snarled, wishing she was wearing her dungarees – where her keys would be to hand in her pocket, instead of hiding themselves in the bottom of her useless and unfamiliar handbag.‘I’ve heard about Johnny.’‘Well, congratulations!’ Her fingers closed on the keys; a couple of seconds and she could escape.‘You must be feeling pretty proud of yourself.Not only did you falsely accuse me of arson, but now you also have the satisfaction of knowing that a harmless old live-aboard who’s never hurt a fly is in serious trouble because of you!’As she wrenched the keys out the bag they snagged on the zip and flew out of her hand.Matthew bent and picked them up for her.‘Come on, Harry,’ he urged, holding them out to her.‘That’s not strictly true, is it?’There was no triumph in his voice; in fact, he sounded tired and concerned.The sea-green shirt he was wearing was a little more crumpled than usual and he hadn’t had a chance to shave.About time he used his bed for sleeping, not that it was any concern of hers; although anyone passing looking at the pair of them, heads bowed and awkward, might be wondering if they were looking at a lovers’ tiff.‘Oh, this is stupid, standing on the doorstep like this.Would you like to come in for a coffee?’ Now, where had that come from?He looked as surprised as Harry felt.‘This is a vast area,’ he said, following her through to the main living space.‘You could so easily have fallen into the trap of making it feel like a waiting room, but the way you’ve used the space to create smaller sections is really clever.’Even knowing that his praise was purely professional, Harry was pleased that he’d been so quick to see the difficulties the conversion had presented and the solutions she’d found to overcome them.Whilst she put the kettle on and fetched cups, she tried not to watch him as he looked around, smiling and nodding his approval at the sitting area [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.George had been ready to cut her hair, but Harry had put him off.For some reason she didn’t mind wearing it a little longer and the dark spikes had formed more manageable curls.Harry ruffled them discreetly whilst Frankie, looking genuinely curious, headed downstairs to see who was there.When he reappeared with a young girl in pink sandals and a peppermint dress, Harry’s hand, which was poised to select a feather-light fairy cake, aborted its flight.Meanwhile Trevor looked as if the mouthful he’d already taken had turned into a bath sponge in his throat.‘Sophie!’‘You didn’t tell me you had puppies, Daddy,’ said the girl, dropping to the basket.Daddy probably hadn’t told her he had kittens either, observed Harry, but it looked as though he was going to.‘Sophie, darling.Is Mummy with you?’ he asked weakly.‘Don’t be silly, Daddy.You know she doesn’t like you.I decided to come by myself.’A phone rang ominously.Trevor blanched, Frankie went red and Harry took action.‘I’d better get on with that elusive bilge leak I was dealing with,’ she said quickly.‘Lovely party, adorable pups … I’ll see myself out, then.’Chapter SeventeenHarry walked back to the boat yard wondering which of them had been most surprised.Trevor had always been a bit soppy about the dogs, but she’d never imagined him as a father.He’d never so much as hinted that he had a daughter.People had all kinds of reasons for keeping secrets; perhaps it was too painful for Trevor to discuss?On the other hand, she had the distinct impression that Trevor’s daughter was a plucky little soul who wasn’t prepared to fade into the background any longer.Perhaps this was yet another new beginning for them all? Harry smiled to herself; a little later she’d phone Frankie and Trevor to ask how they were coping with their unexpected guest; but she had the feeling that, once they’d all got over their initial shock, they’d be fine.Turning back down the lane towards the boat yard, Harry stopped smiling at the sight of a police car speeding out of Watling’s.As it hurtled past as fast as the bumpy road would allow, she caught a glimpse of Johnny MacManus’s dazed face staring blankly out at her.Breaking into a run, she cantered into the yard and found a stricken George standing next to Johnny’s abandoned boat.‘George, whatever’s happened?’He wrung his hands.‘They’ve only gone and taken him away, that’s what.’‘But why?’‘Attempted arson.The empty petrol can ’e used was in the cockpit.’‘Well, that’s no proof.He might have been using it to top up an outboard.Johnny’s too drunk to know whether he’s coming or going.He only moves when he’s run out of lager.What on earth must have got into his head for him to try to burn down the restaurant?’George made a choking sound.Harry had never believed he cared much for Johnny, but the pair of them must have been closer than she’d thought.‘That’s not all,’ he added.‘He managed to find ’is way to Mr Corrigan’s house and deliver a letter from the Little Spitmarsh Liberation Front claiming responsibility.’Harry shook her head; who would have thought that Little Spitmarsh would produce its own extremist organisation? ‘Gosh! You mean it really does exist? In that case there must be some Mr Big behind all this.’‘Not quite,’ said George.‘There ain’t no Little Spitmarsh Liberation Front.The stupid bugger invented them to scare Mr Corrigan.’‘But that’s dreadful! Poor Johnny! The booze must have finally taken its toll for him to start showing these signs of paranoia.’George stood with his head bent, staring at the ground, clearly too upset to speak.Harry still wasn’t convinced that there wasn’t some underlying illness making him look so strained; she’d have to find out what was bothering him.‘Come on, George.’ Harry patted him on the arm.‘Don’t distress yourself.One way or another, Johnny is ill.Hopefully he’ll get the treatment he needs – he must have been a desperate man to have got to this stage.’Harry’s fleeting party mood had been chased away by deeper concerns, so she headed back to her house to change.Finding Matthew standing at the front entrance wasn’t something she’d planned for.She’d attended the meeting about the film festival for Jimi’s sake and had even tried to work up some enthusiasm for something that would take her mind off the threat hanging over her.But, although she managed to wriggle out of talking to Matthew that day, there was no escape now.Looking at him watching her, she was struck by just how easily she could forget the threat he represented.There was gentleness in the hazel eyes and a latent strength in his lean frame that made it hard not to ask him just to hold her and make everything better.Strange what you could make yourself believe if you wanted to; soon she’d turn into the kind of woman who thought the TV weathermen were sending secret messages just for her.Breathe, you idiot, she told herself, realising that she couldn’t just stand there any longer.This, after all – she willed the anger to well up inside her – was the man responsible for the changes that had bothered frail Johnny MacManus so much that he’d actually set the restaurant on fire.‘I wondered if I could have a word?’ he said, softly.‘I can come back if it’s not convenient.’‘What do you want?’ she snarled, wishing she was wearing her dungarees – where her keys would be to hand in her pocket, instead of hiding themselves in the bottom of her useless and unfamiliar handbag.‘I’ve heard about Johnny.’‘Well, congratulations!’ Her fingers closed on the keys; a couple of seconds and she could escape.‘You must be feeling pretty proud of yourself.Not only did you falsely accuse me of arson, but now you also have the satisfaction of knowing that a harmless old live-aboard who’s never hurt a fly is in serious trouble because of you!’As she wrenched the keys out the bag they snagged on the zip and flew out of her hand.Matthew bent and picked them up for her.‘Come on, Harry,’ he urged, holding them out to her.‘That’s not strictly true, is it?’There was no triumph in his voice; in fact, he sounded tired and concerned.The sea-green shirt he was wearing was a little more crumpled than usual and he hadn’t had a chance to shave.About time he used his bed for sleeping, not that it was any concern of hers; although anyone passing looking at the pair of them, heads bowed and awkward, might be wondering if they were looking at a lovers’ tiff.‘Oh, this is stupid, standing on the doorstep like this.Would you like to come in for a coffee?’ Now, where had that come from?He looked as surprised as Harry felt.‘This is a vast area,’ he said, following her through to the main living space.‘You could so easily have fallen into the trap of making it feel like a waiting room, but the way you’ve used the space to create smaller sections is really clever.’Even knowing that his praise was purely professional, Harry was pleased that he’d been so quick to see the difficulties the conversion had presented and the solutions she’d found to overcome them.Whilst she put the kettle on and fetched cups, she tried not to watch him as he looked around, smiling and nodding his approval at the sitting area [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]