Marriage. That was what he’d had in mind as he and Naomi had walked along the beach together when he’d last seen her, more than a week ago. He’d been on the verge of telling her he loved her and wanted to ask her to be his wife. He had even pictured them going ring-shopping together and planning for the future. He’d had it all falling into place in his head. Until that moment when she’d said she didn’t want to be forced into making a choice between him or her daughters.

Would he be better off walking away now, before he wasted any more time hoping for Naomi to reach the decision he wanted her to? She had pushed him away once before; what was to stop her doing it a second time?

No, that wasn’t fair. She had been pregnant with Colin’s child and had acted selflessly and for what she saw as the best. From everything Naomi had shared with him, she had not regretted the decision, or more importantly doubted her certainty that Colin was the father. Ellis hadn’t doubted her certainty either, because he knew she wouldn’t betray him so cruelly, she just wasn’t the sort. And now, having seen photographs at Anchor House of Colin and Martha the similarity between father and daughter was unmistakable.

As hard as it had been to walk away from Naomi all those years ago, he hadn’t spent the rest of his days nursing a broken heart. He’d thrown himself into many a relationship afterwards, but nothing of any substance until he’d met Diana.

At the sudden loud and ugly cry of a seagull overhead, he opened his eyes and sat up. The tide was coming in, creeping inexorably towards him. Back the way he’d come, along the sweep of shoreline, he could see the mudflats had all but disappeared, the wading birds now gone.

Would he be gone one day too? Why would he stay if Naomi chose her family over him? The trouble was he liked it here. He felt at home in this small harbour village and enjoyed being part of the community that had been so welcoming; he felt it was somewhere he could put down roots. He also enjoyed having the sea on his doorstep, something he’d never experienced before. There was a reassuring constancy about the watery beauty of the shoreline and horizon beyond, and he often marvelled how little, in essence, it must have changed since the days when the Romans set up camp at nearby Fishbourne Palace.

The rental agreement on Waterside Cottage was only for six months and would be due for renewal before too long. Whatever Naomi’s decision was, he would soon have one of his own to make. To stay or not to stay.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Martha hadn’t heard from either her mother or sister since going down to Anchor House well over a week ago. She had texted and left messages on their voicemails but had received nothing in return. She was sure they were both deliberately avoiding her. Or was that conviction fuelled by guilt, or even paranoia on her part?