Читать книгу The Guestbook at Willow Cottage - Holly Martin - Страница 15

19th - 21st April

Oliver Butterworth. Black

I’m glad I get to stay here tonight. The spare bed in Annie’s house is very uncomfortable.

The grand re-opening of The Painted Plate was a huge success. The press turned up and there were even a good number of customers. Not bad for Annie’s first day. So many of the locals turned up as well to support her which was lovely. They all love her here, that much is clear. I wasn’t comfortable with the questions the press were asking about the reason The Painted Plate had stayed closed for so long. I just palmed them off with tales of decorating and renovating. Thankfully they were only local press and not the damned paparazzi that hounded us after Nick had died.

Oliver Black

After flying in from New York yesterday, I’m feeling so jet lagged it’s like I’m drunk. My mind is racing and I’m clearly not thinking straight. I just offered to accompany Annie on a walk on the beach. She always goes for a stroll on the beach after dark, she’s done it as far back as I can remember. Why I felt the sudden compulsion to go with her I don’t know. It’s a recipe for disaster; moonlit stroll along the beach, the waves lapping gently on the sand, the deserted solitude, my beautiful best friend, what on earth am I thinking? What’s worse is that I’m now putting my innermost feelings in this damned book.

I have already betrayed my brother in the worst possible way just six months after he died, I can’t let it happen again. I just have to remember that she’s my brother’s wife, she is not the girl who rode on the back of my bike as a kid, she’s not the girl I shared my first kiss with. She is my brother’s wife, nothing more than that. Arghhh why am I writing this stuff?

Sunday:

Early hours Sunday morning. I’m so tired now, think I’ve been awake for thirty nine hours. Of course we sat on the beach and talked, of course she got cold and I put my arm round her, of course she sat next to me with her head on my shoulder. I didn’t do anything. She’s my brother’s wife.

Oh Olly!

Woken up around lunch with breakfast in bed. Annie is a wonderful cook and I’m feeling a lot better now that I’ve slept. Yesterday was just the inane ramblings of a madman.

Flying back out to New York tomorrow, for which I am thankful for.

I did not go for a walk with Annie tonight.

Monday:

Take care my Annie xx

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