The Beach Hut Next Door by Veronica Henry Read Free Book Online

than anything. I keep letting him down. And if we lost the business, Dad would never forgive me …’ He looked subdued, and she saw, despite the pink newness of his shaven skin, that there were dark rings under his blue eyes; darker than the rings around his irises. ‘So that’s it. I’m on the wagon. From now on, not another drink will touch my lips.’
    Jenna could see that under the bravado he was trembling; whether from the emotion or the need for a drink, she couldn’t tell. Probably both. She touched his arm.
    ‘Chris, that’s amazing. That’s so brave.’
    He shook his head. ‘I know I’ve got a long way to go. I don’t trust myself yet. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to last. But if I can do one day without drinking, then maybe I can do two. And if I fall off the wagon, I can get back on it again. He gulped, slightly overwhelmed by his outburst.
    ‘If you ever want to talk about it,’ said Jenna. ‘If you need a mate, you know where I am.’
    He gave her a grateful smile. Yet again, she thought how gorgeous he was; how the girls would be queuing up.
    ‘You’ve already done enough,’ he told her. ‘I’m going to have to find myself stuff to do. Maybe start surfing again. Get a dog, maybe …’
    She held up the bank’s paperwork. ‘I got my loan,’ she told him. ‘For the ice-cream van.’
    ‘Awesome.’
    ‘And now I need to find someone to help me do it up.’ She grinned up at him. She knew he was handy: the Maskell brothers did all their own repairs and building work and kept their boats in working order.
    Chris took the bait quite willingly.
    ‘Hey, listen. Look no further. I need a project to keep me out of the pub. That’ll do nicely.’
    ‘Well, I know how good you are with your hands.’
    Jenna wasn’t flirting. She’d known Chris since forever.
    ‘We can take it down to the boatyard. You can keep it there for the time being.’
    ‘Great. Cos if I take it back to mine, some bright spark will take it for a joy ride.’
    ‘Do you want me to come with you and try and knock Weasel down?’
    ‘Do you know what? I can handle Weasel. And now I’ve got the money I can negotiate.’
    ‘Spoilsport.’
    Jenna felt a burst of excitement. Her recent victory still tasted sweet, and she felt so proud of Chris. Not to mention relief that her outburst hadn’t tipped him over the edge.
    She put her arms round his neck. ‘You’re going to be OK. You know that?’
    Chris patted her back. ‘I hope so. I feel like shit, if I’m honest. I’ve been held together by Beck’s for the past six months at least. I’m not sure my body can take it.’
    ‘Just call me,’ said Jenna, ‘if you ever think you’re going to cave in.’
    ‘I’m not caving in,’ said Chris. ‘Come on. Let me come with you to Weasel’s. Please. I could do with someone to take my frustrations out on.’
    ‘Go on, then,’ said Jenna. ‘If you can knock him down to twelve, I’ll split the difference with you.’

    Just over a month later, Jenna was dozing in bed early one morning. In her sleep, she could hear the chimes of ‘Greensleeves’; at first from a distance, then coming nearer and nearer, slightly out of tune – a nostalgic sound that conjured up images of children running from afar, clutching a few coins in their hands, eager to queue up at the window and survey the price list before choosing.
    The next thing she knew, her brother was banging on her bedroom door.
    ‘Here – there’s a bloke outside for you.’
    She scrambled out of bed and downstairs to open the door.
    Outside, on the pavement, was her ice-cream van. Fully renovated, the paintwork gleaming, painted in cream and pink stripes with ‘The Ice Cream Girl’ emblazoned along the top of the window. At the wheel was Chris, grinning from ear to ear.
    He got out and handed her the keys.
    ‘MOT sorted, tax sorted, new tyres, resprayed …’
    He gave a little bow.
    ‘Oh my God, she’s beautiful,’ breathed Jenna. ‘More beautiful