The Cosy Canal Boat Dream. Christie Barlow

may have already put in an offer.’

      ‘According to the paper, it’s up for auction.’

      ‘Okay, so that’s a little different.’

      ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘Auctions are all about ready cash. Once the auction is won you usually have about fourteen days to complete the transaction, and you’ll have to take the property in whatever state it’s in. The local builders will have the means to snap up projects like this quite easily and the workforce to carry out any work.’

      ‘What if I had the ready cash?’

      He held her gaze and from the look in her eyes knew she meant business.

      ‘Then I would say if you held your nerve at auction you would be in with a good chance of winning, depending on the reserve, your budget and the money needed to actually furnish it too.’

      ‘So, you’re saying I need the money to win the auction and then a little bit more.’

      ‘A hell of a lot more. Okay, if your bid was successful and you renovate the Old Picture House, what are you going to do with it then? Are you going to run it as a business, film museum? What’s the plan? Are you in it to make a profit? A project like this could cost you even more in the long run. The place closed down for a reason.’

      So many questions. Guy sounded just like her mum now and Nell had to admit she hadn’t really thought that far in advance, but one thing she did know, she had fire in her belly and something was telling her to do this. Nell sucked in a breath, ‘It sounds all very expensive now you are throwing these types of scenarios at me,’ she said.

      Guy placed his cup down on the table, ‘Hey, I’m not trying to put a dampener on it all.’

      ‘Like my mother,’ she interrupted and couldn’t get her head round why her mum was so dismissive of the idea.

      ‘All I’m saying is don’t go into this with your eyes shut. It will be a hell of a lot of money to lose if it doesn’t go to plan and I’ve spent a lot of time with my granddad and have seen many a project unfinished due to lack of funds.’

      Nell’s eyes began to prick with tears and she came over all emotional, ‘I think I was dreaming there for a minute,’ a tear rolled down her cheek.

      ‘Hey, don’t knock dreams. Anyone’s dreams can come true; you have to believe in yourself.’ Guy caught Nell’s eye. ‘You have to budget for costs that you may never have even thought of. Here,’ he fished inside his pocket and handed her a tissue.

      ‘Thank you,’ she said dabbing her eyes. ‘I just feel I have to do this. Something in Ollie’s memory.’

      Nell hadn’t really thought about the whole project in that much depth. She’d on many occasions watched re-runs of Homes Under the Hammer on a Saturday afternoon and admired anyone who took on a mammoth task of knocking down and building houses. She cast her mind back to her childhood and remembered the stress of her parents replacing their kitchen. But surely this project would be different: she wouldn’t be living in it, she could manage everything from the safe haven of the ‘Nollie’.

      Guy smiled then nodded encouragingly, ‘It’s definitely achievable, but do your homework first.’

      Nell knew Guy was right. When Bea had taken over the deli everything had gone wrong initially. The boiler had packed in, the ovens were on their last legs, the roof had leaked and the whole place had needed bringing into this century. But she had done it, and she had an amazing business now.

      ‘So …’ she smiled over at Guy, ‘Your granddad, did he have his own construction business?’

      Guy nodded, ‘He was a very successful, very reputable man over in Ireland. He never had to advertise, all his work came about by word of mouth. Back in the day, he gave me a Saturday job: I was his lackey, at his beck and call,’ he smiled, ‘the tea boy.’

      ‘You have to start at the bottom,’ Nell chipped in.

      ‘That’s exactly what he said! But I loved working alongside him and had visions of Cornish and Sons becoming a building phenomenon. I loved the dirt on my hands, the muck in my hair, working outside in the fresh air.’

      ‘But you became a suit? Stiff collars and ties.’

      ‘I did,’ he rolled his eyes, ‘but that’s a story for another day.’

      Nell didn’t press him any further, but peered up at Guy through her fringe and grinned, ‘So you like getting your hands dirty?’

      ‘I do,’ his eyes danced playfully. ‘What is going on in that little mind of yours, Nell Andrews?’ he gave her a lopsided grin that sent her heart into a spin.

      ‘Maybe you could help me, guide me and point me in the right direction. If I decided to go ahead with the picture house?’

      ‘I suppose I could be your right-hand man.’

      ‘Would you? Are you absolutely sure?’ she spluttered happily.

      ‘One hundred per cent. I’m already quite excited about the project, but that auction needs to be won first. And you need to think seriously about your plans for the place.’

      Nell didn’t know exactly what that entailed but she like the thought of Guy being her right- hand man, guiding her through the project. She liked the thought of spending more time with him, full stop.

      ‘The more I think about it the more excited I am about the whole thing.’

      ‘Have you any other plans for tonight? We could talk figures, come up with some ideas.’ He gave her a cheeky smile.

      Nell felt her cheeks flush a little as she held his gaze.

      ‘My only plans tonight involved a bottle of wine and then I’d probably curl up with a book. I know … I sound so old!’

      ‘I can open a bottle. I owe you one of those,’ he stood up waiting for Nell to answer, ‘and maybe a take-away. I’ve not eaten yet.’

      Nell nodded, ‘That sounds perfect and an offer I can’t refuse, but as long as you don’t mind me gate-crashing your Friday night.’

      They both stared at Sam, who was lying flat out on the sheepskin rug.

      ‘Look at him, he’s not going to be much company, you win hands down,’ Guy softened his words, ‘Even if you are bending my ear about properties.’

      Nell felt her whole body prickle with goose bumps. She’d begun to feel alive again, something she hadn’t felt for a long time. And thanks to Guy Cornish she couldn’t think of a better place she’d rather be at this moment in time.

       Chapter 8

      Nell watched Guy disappear into the kitchen and glanced at her mobile phone screen, which lit up with Bea’s name.

      She swiped the screen to read a text, ‘Fancy a girls’ night at mine tomorrow. You know you want to!’

      Nell smiled at Bea’s playful goading. ‘Absolutely! See you tomorrow,’ she replied.

      Nell heard two glasses clonk on the kitchen table and the fridge door open, then a couple of seconds later Guy appeared in the doorway holding the wine, ‘Pinot?’

      ‘My favourite, thank you.’

      Guy gave Nell a soft smile as he poured them both a glass.

      ‘I hope you don’t mind but I’ve made myself comfortable near the fire.’ Nell was sitting on the rug next to the wood-burner with her legs stretched out before her.

      ‘I don’t mind at all, curry or Chinese?’ He asked handing the menus to Nell before poking the embers and adding more logs to the fire. He settled