Fully Booked – Part 2. Cressida McLaughlin

down her panic, ‘this is—’

      ‘Tim Lewis.’ Tim was advancing on Will with his hand out, a grin planted firmly on his face, beaming smile switched on like Christmas lights. ‘Great to meet you. Robin’s been telling me a lot about you. It’s so nice to see a new face in Campion Bay – these seaside towns need a new insurgence of life from time to time, don’t you think?’

      Robin watched as Will gave Tim a wary smile and held his free hand out. Tim had, in only a few seconds, already made her complicit in his plans by suggesting she’d been talking to him about Will. She wanted to kick his ankles, to push him out of the front door and tell him never to come back. Instead, she offered the two men cups of tea and hurried to the kitchen, thinking her only chance now was to act as mediator, to temper Tim’s advances.

      She didn’t want to leave them alone for too long. Knowing Tim, she thought it might only be minutes before the damage he did was irreparable.

       Chapter Two

      Robin carried the tray with teapot, mugs and plates down the hallway, the crockery jingling. She heard the two men laughing before she had reached Sea Shanty, and swore under her breath. Planting a smile firmly on her face, she put the tray on the coffee table and sat on the sofa next to Tim, as if by being close to him she could somehow control what came out of his mouth.

      ‘I was just telling Will about Campion Bay property,’ Tim said, taking over the role of mother, handing out the plates and opening Will’s box of cupcakes. ‘It’s not as heartless a job as people think it is. We encounter a lot of sadness, houses that have fallen into disrepair because of a death in the family, businesses that have run out of capital and have had to close. Tabitha was loved by everyone she knew – I used to visit her, along with Robin, when I was a teenager. I was very sorry to hear about her death, Will.’

      Will waved a dismissive hand, but Robin thought she could see a tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before. ‘If I’m honest, I didn’t know her as well as I should have done. She was estranged from her brother, my dad, and mentioning her name in our house was forbidden. My mum finally put me in touch with her, against my dad’s will, when I was old enough to make my own decisions. I only started to get to know her in my twenties.’

      Robin felt a squeeze of sadness alongside the flurry of questions Will’s words had opened up. Why had Tabitha and her brother been estranged? Had Will’s dad cast him out when he found out he’d been in touch with her? What did Tabitha think about the whole situation? But she didn’t want to ask him while Tim was there. She could see that Will wasn’t entirely comfortable, but already, in a couple of swift moves, Tim had made him open up more than he had to her. She didn’t want to break down his defences any further or he wouldn’t survive the evening, and would have signed the house away to Tim – maybe his soul too – before his tea was cold.

      ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said instead. ‘I didn’t realise any of that had happened, though it explains why I didn’t meet you when I was growing up. Tabitha never mentioned it.’

      ‘She wouldn’t discuss it with me either,’ Will said. ‘The subject of my father was strictly off limits whenever I visited.’

      Tim whistled through his teeth. ‘That sounds tough. It must be hard, having to face it all now. I know what it’s like having to work through a property of someone who’s sadly passed on, and if there’s a family rift, that must make it all the more difficult.’

      Robin could see Will’s jaw muscles work as Tim played the sincerity card a bit too strongly.

      ‘I don’t think any situation like Will’s is easy,’ she said carefully. ‘But Tabitha was his aunt, so even though it’s hard, I think it’s worthwhile to go through her belongings, to find out more about her.’ She risked glancing at Will, and he gave her a quick smile. ‘You know I’ll help you as much as I can.’

      ‘You?’ Tim laughed gently. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be running a guesthouse, Robs? You don’t want to spread yourself too thinly. I can always give Will a hand. I’ve offered to pop in tomorrow and take a look at the place, and we’ve got professional house-clearers if it comes to it. As I said, I’m familiar with this kind of situation. Besides, Will, if you’re a friend of Robin’s, then you’re a friend of mine. I’m sure we can sort something out.’

      Robin rolled her eyes.

      ‘More kindness.’ Will shook his head.

      ‘What do you mean?’ Tim asked.

      ‘I’ve been wondering if Campion Bay is the friendliest place in the world. The cupcakes came from Ashley, down the road. Robin’s already offered to spend time at Tabitha’s house when she can, and now you. Though I’m sure your services come at a price.’

      Robin looked into her tea mug and held her breath. Was Will suspicious, or was it just Tim’s overbearing nature putting him on edge?

      ‘A very fair price,’ Tim said, offering Will his winning smile. ‘I agree that Campion Bay is great, and you’ve fallen on your feet with Robs here, but the house clearly doesn’t have very happy memories for you.’

      Robin sensed that his assault was moving to the next level. Tim wasn’t stupid; he would be aware that the residents of Goldcrest Road would be against any kind of change to the seafront houses, and now he knew that not only was Will dealing with some difficult family business, but he was being treated as a Very Important Visitor – and Robin was doing some of the treating.

      Will ran his finger round the edge of the plate, scooping up the butter icing that had tried to escape. ‘The house always had happy memories. It’s the situation around it that doesn’t. My time at Campion Bay certainly hasn’t been all bad, so far.’

      Robin’s insides flipped as he trained his green eyes on her, the smile not quite reaching his lips. ‘And just having one more person to sift through things will make it easier,’ she added, encouraged. ‘I often get some free time in the middle of the day, and I’m perfectly placed to help Will out.’

      ‘I don’t think living next door trumps being an industry professional, Robs.’ Tim patted her knee.

      Robin opened her mouth to speak as irritation coursed through her, but she didn’t want to raise her voice. If she did, Tim would win. He needed to leave. He had already had a cupcake that wasn’t meant for him, and he was circling closer and closer to Will, like a charming vulture. Robin remembered Molly describing Tim’s boss, Malcolm, as weaselly, and wondered how she could suddenly be feeling the same way about Tim when only two days before she’d been entertaining the possibility that their romantic reunion was in the stars.

      It was Will, she realised. His appearance in her life – his presence, his eyes, his warmth – affected everything, as if he’d tilted her world on its axis and given her a different perspective.

      ‘Right then,’ she said, injecting forcefulness into her voice.

      Tim cut her off. ‘Of course, Robin’s not been back here very long, have you, Robs?’ This time his hand stayed on her knee, rubbing it.

      Robin stared down at the white shirt cuff with another expensive cufflink, this one with a dark red stone. She was too shocked to move his hand, and instead looked up at Will, who turned away just as she caught his eye.

      ‘September,’ she said. She moved her knee, forcing Tim to release his hand. ‘But it was the right decision. Leaving one life behind and starting a new one – even if it’s returning to a place you know well – is always difficult. It’s hard to be absolutely certain you’re making the best choice, but I have no regrets about moving back here.’

      ‘Some things are worth coming back to, aren’t they?’ Tim gazed at her adoringly.

      Robin inhaled, trying to work out whether Tim was being genuinely territorial