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‘It certainly is, but why is she leaving us a riddle in her will? It’s a bit ghoulish, don’t you think?’ Caitlin shivered. ‘One last riddle from beyond the grave.’
‘I don’t know. It’s just very Gran. She was obsessed with her puzzles and quizzes.’
‘I know that,’ said Caitlin sharply, which was a bit rich seeing as she’d hardly known Jessie at all since leaving Heaven’s Cove. Jessie had gone to stay with Caitlin in London several times over the years. But, though Jessie never said as much outright, Isla got the impression that Caitlin was often prickly and distant, so the visits weren’t terribly relaxing.
Caitlin picked up the letter and went through it again, her lips silently moving as she read the words. She looked up from the paper. ‘So what do you think it means?’
‘I have absolutely no idea. All I know is that Gran is telling us that solving the riddle would bring us good fortune.’
‘Good fortune as in luck or money?’
‘Who knows? But we have to find out. It’s a final message from Gran.’
It would also give them something to focus on, thought Isla. Something that wasn’t directly tied up with death and grief and change.
But Caitlin wrinkled her nose. ‘We’re going to be too busy sorting out this house and getting it on the market to faff about solving riddles, I’m afraid.’
Here it was. Isla took a deep breath and said what she’d been wanting to say ever since the will was read. ‘I don’t want to put the house on the market.’
Caitlin stared at her. Isla remembered that stare from years gone by. ‘I know it’s hard, Isla, and we don’t have to put it on the market right this minute. We can spend a week or so sorting out Gran’s stuff first and tidying the place up. But the sooner Rose Cottage goes on the market, the sooner it’ll be sold. And it should sell quickly. Houses like this don’t come up that often in the village. It’s mostly wall-to-wall tiny cottages.’
‘I expect this place would sell almost immediately. The house next to the lifeboat station went within hours of being put up for sale. A couple from London bought it.’
‘A holiday home, no doubt,’ murmured Caitlin. Her eyes lit up. ‘Actually, that’s not a bad idea. We could list the house with a few London estate agents too – the ones that focus on seaside boltholes for rich city types.’
‘No, that’s not what I mean.’ Isla took another deep breath. ‘What I’m saying is, I don’t want to sell this house at all. I didn’t think I had a choice in the matter, but then Gran made it clear in her will that I did.’ Isla’s stomach was churning because Caitlin was staring at her again, with her mouth open. But this had to be said so she ploughed on. ‘I’m sorry if it’s inconvenient, Caitlin, but this is my home, and I want it to remain my home.’
Caitlin frowned. ‘What? For ever?’
‘No, not necessarily for ever, but for the time being at least.’
‘But…it’s too big for you,’ said Caitlin, her forehead creased. ‘It was always too big for you and Gran and it’ll still be too big, even if Paul moves in.’
Isla was taken aback by that comment. She hadn’t thought about Paul moving in, now that she could stay in the house. Would he expect it? It made sense and she supposed it would be the next step forward in their commitment to each other.
‘Earth to Isla!’ said Caitlin. ‘I said the house is too big for you.’
‘OK.’ Isla gave her head a shake to get her thoughts in order. ‘If that’s the case, I can take in a lodger or two and split the rental income with you. So you don’t miss out.’
She was thinking out loud and, as the words came out of her mouth, realised that Paul probably wouldn’t be keen on her idea. But Caitlin seemed even less enamoured at the prospect.
‘No, you don’t understand.’ Caitlin had started pacing the room. ‘I don’t want bits and bobs of rental income every month. I need half the proceeds of this house.’
Isla shook her head, at a loss to understand why Caitlin was so obsessed with money. She had a lovely house in London and seemed very well off.
‘Look,’ she said, determined to be conciliatory because she couldn’t face a row today. ‘I’m sure Gran said I could stay in the house for a while because she knew you don’t need the money immediately. You’ll get it some time, just not right now. That’s OK, isn’t it? Surely you can wait for your half of this house?’
Caitlin opened her mouth, as if she was about to speak, but then snapped it shut and walked to the window. She looked out across the village and down to the sea.
After a few moments, she said quietly, her back still to Isla: ‘I realise that you’ve lived here for years, Isla, and you’ve become very attached to the village. But you can buy somewhere else local with your half of the proceeds from Rose Cottage.’
Isla rolled her eyes because Caitlin really didn’t have a clue about Heaven’s Cove these days. ‘I doubt I’d be able to afford anything decent. Have you seen what cottages in the village go for, especially with Londoners pushing up the prices? And there’s a dearth of accommodation for sale anyway because so many local homes have been turned into rental properties, to accommodate tourists.’
‘There must be some way round it,’ said Caitlin, swinging round from the window to face her.
‘There is. I stay here for the time being and we see what pans out.’
‘What pans out?’ Caitlin shook her head, a pink flush rising across her cheeks. ‘Honestly, Isla, it’s selfish of you not to sell Rose Cottage.’
