“Just the place to recoup and regroup,” said Alex.

“So, who’s for tea and bacon sarnies?” Annie asked.

“Sorry, Mum,” said Peter. “We’ve really got to get going.”

“I promised Greg a roast dinner after his rugby tournament,” said Alex. “And Peter’s got a date.”

“The ballerina didn’t make the cut, then?” said Annie.

Peter grinned sheepishly and shrugged.

“You know me, Mum,” he said.

Annie rolled her eyes.

—

Annie was always sad to see her boys leave, but today had been an unexpected bonus and so she couldn’t complain. Still, the flat felt empty now they weren’t filling the space with their long limbs and witty commentary.

Annie breathed in her new surroundings. The little flat was homey and welcoming, inviting her to rest her careworn bones within its cozy walls. Despite being alone in a new place, Annie felt safe in this little haven by the sea. It exuded a feeling of having been lived in and loved, and Annie had the notion that if she let it, this building would love her right back.

“Hello, Saltwater Nook,” she said, running her hand lightly over the bumpy walls. “I’m your new guardian.”

Chapter 15

The sun was high in the sky, glinting off the water like a million silver knife tips and pouring in through the sitting room window. Mari had left the flat spotless. Upon inspection of the cupboards, Annie found tins, chutneys, pearl barley, red lentils, and rice. Another Post-it note stuck to one of the cupboard fronts read:

There’s plenty of fish in the freezer downstairs. If you are a fish eater please use it. Ely calls once a week with his catch. You don’t have to buy, but I can never say no.

Intrigued, Annie made her way down to the cellar. Annie tugged the light pull and the low-arched-ceilinged cellar became dimly illuminated. A white salt line ran around the bottom two layers of stones in the wall. She had the sense that were she to lick the cold stone walls they would taste salty. She resisted the urge to test this theory, though she cooled her hot, red cheeks by turns against the cold stone and wondered about installing a chair and a lamp down here for when her perimenopausal hot flashes became too much to bear. The plug sockets were all placed above head height and the freezers and free-standing cupboards stood on brick-built perches, two feet off the ground. To the left of the staircase, a pile of sandbags gave away the location of the old tunnel entrance. The arched stone frame remained, but the middle had been filled with much newer red brick. Annie’s curiosity twitched to see the old smugglers’ tunnel beyond the wall.