rest of his boats were out, and he was stuck on dry land. Because of Nikki.
What was she about, removing his alarm? Telling Hattie to go without him?
He’d needed to sleep, he conceded. His head still ached.
Because she’d hit him.
It was an accident. She meant no harm.
She meant to keep the dog. Horse.
It was a stupid name for a dog. A dog needed a bit of dignity.
Dignity.
She’d have to get that fur unmatted, he thought, and getting the tangles out of that neglected coat was a huge job. Did she know what she was letting herself in for?
It was nothing to do with him. Nothing! He wasn’t going near.
She was living right next door to him. With her dog who needed detangling.
He’d yelled at her. Because she’d picked up a few rocks.
He’d behaved appallingly.
Why?
He knew why. And it wasn’t the memory of his mother. It wasn’t the dog. It was more.
It couldn’t be more. He didn’t want more, and more wasn’t going to happen.
It was dark. Time to head home.
Maybe he could take Jem’s old brushes across to her. A peace offering.
That wasn’t more. It was sensible. It felt … okay.
But when he got home there wasn’t a light on, apart from the security light he kept on in the shared porch.
Were she and the dog asleep?
She’d slept this afternoon. He’d seen her, curled on the hearth with the dog.
With Horse.
They were nothing to do with him.
He glanced at the gap in the stone wall. Sensed the faint echo of Nikki. And Horse.
By his side … Shades of Jem.
He was going nuts. The hit on his head had obviously been harder than he thought. Ghosts were everywhere, even to the feel of Jem beside him. Jem had always been with him, on the boat, under his bed, by the fire, a heartbeat by his side.
Whoa, he was maudlin. Get over it.
Disoriented, he found himself heading for the beach. A man could stare at the sea in the moonlight. Find some answers?
But the only answers he found on the beach were Nikki and Horse.
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