The Mermaid Garden by Santa Montefiore Read Free Book Online Page B

came back, Sylvia smoothing down her dress
    and patting her updo, Clementine and Joe were enjoying cottage pie
    and laughing inanely at everything they said.
    “So, looks like you two have hit it off,” said Sylvia, shuffling onto the bench and filling the air with the overpowering smell of tuberose.
    “Where have you been?” Clementine demanded.
    “For a ciggie, lovely.”
    “Long ciggie.”
    “Yes, we made it last.” She laughed huskily.
    “Let’s order,” Freddie suggested. “Smells good.”
    “It is good,” enthused Joe, his mouth full.
    “Sylvia, are you setting us up?”
    “I’d never do such a thing without telling you, Clemmie,” she re-
    plied, looking appalled.
    “Just that Joe said—”
    “Don’t listen to a word Joe says. He’s a terrible old rogue. Why, have
    you really hit it off?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “If you have, I’ll happily take the credit.”
    “You won’t find a better man than Joe.”
    “Freddie’s right. Thirty-two, unmarried, no kids, good job—and
    that’s saying something these days.”
    “What do you do, Joe?” Clementine asked.
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    “Anything you want.” He laughed at his own joke.
    “No, real y.”
    “Yes, really. I’m a handyman.”
    “Like Harvey,” she muttered, giggling at the thought of him in a
    blue boiler suit and cap.
    “I can do anything.” He raised his eyebrows and grinned. “Anything
    at all.”
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    3.
    The following morning Marina sat at the breakfast table with Grey
    in the private house they had converted from the old stables across
    from the hotel.
    “I’m glad to see that Jake is back this morning,” she said tightly.
    “Long dentist appointment. What was the man doing? Taking out all
    his teeth and putting them back in again?”
    “He went to Thurlestone.”
    “Why? He’s the manager here, not in Thurlestone.”
    “He’s interested in that robber.”
    “So he went to do a little detective work?”
    “Exactly.”
    “Good. Now we can all sleep better at night.” She sipped her coffee.
    “I don’t think Jake’s presence there is going to be of much help in
    finding the burglar.”
    “He obviously thinks he can make a difference.”
    “Amateur detective.”
    “He should put his energy into his job here or I’ll give it to someone
    else.”
    Grey glanced at the clock on the wall. “I think you should wake
    Clementine or she might find herself begging you for a job as well.”
    “That girl needs to learn to be responsible.”
    “Necessity is the mother of invention.”
    “A bit late to teach her to stand on her own two feet. She knows
    you’ll always bail her out.”
    “If she wants to go back to India, she has to earn the money herself.”
    “Grey darling, she shouldn’t be going back to India. She should be
    getting a proper job. India is simply a way of avoiding the rest of her life.”
    “She loves travel.”
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    “I had to fend for myself when I was her age. I didn’t have rich par-
    ents to support me.”
    “So, isn’t it lucky that Clementine does?”
    “ Did . We don’t have any more beans to share.”
    “I don’t see anything wrong in traveling and seeing the world while
    she’s young and free.”
    “Of course, there’s nothing wrong in that. But she’s doing it for the
    wrong reasons. She won’t grow up until she takes responsibility for her life. You’re too soft. You always have been.”
    “I’m a guilty father.”
    “You have no reason to feel guilty. You’ve given those children every-
    thing they’ve ever wanted. Jake lives and works here, Clementine has
    spent every holiday traveling the world. She didn’t even have to work
    to pay for her university fees. They’ve both had it good and as a result are highly spoiled. But they are not my children so”—she shrugged—
    “I