Chapter 6
Nate and Lili had reached their destination, and Nate felt like being sarcastic and asking Lili to repeat what she’d said earlier about Bella not ruining his plans. But he knew that at the time, she’d had no idea what they were going to be doing.
It did not surprise him that Ray had opted not to have the dog, even just to take her back to The Summerhouse. Despite Maisie and William’s obvious affection for her, and Bella’s for them, Nate knew his father was still a little afraid of her – as was he. That was the reason he couldn’t object when Bella insisted on sitting or standing between them at every opportunity. Nate could see that his plan to slip an affectionate arm around Lili’s shoulders was hopeless. He was sure that Bella had just growled at him, but Lili didn’t appear to have heard anything. Perhaps it was just his imagination.
‘This is an amazing view, Nate. I feel on top of the world,’ Lili said. They were standing several storeys up, on a metal wraparound balcony. Nate didn’t know how many flights up they were, because it wasn’t a standard building. He had imagined it would be different, and quite romantic – and it would have been, if it hadn’t been for the dog muscling in between him and Lili, paws up at the railings to share the view.
‘Seriously?’ Nate said when he saw Lili put her arm around the dog. When she asked what he meant, Nate thought up something on the hoof. ‘Um, what I meant to say was, seriously nice view.’
‘I’ll say,’ Lili replied. As she walked around the narrow circular platform, she looked out over Southwold Harbour, then the beach and pier in the distance. She could also see a bird’s-eye view of Southwold and the village of Walberswick. The countryside beyond looked like a patchwork quilt of browns, yellows, and greens. She’d seen nothing quite like it.
She tore her eyes away from the views and glanced at Nate. ‘How did you get access to this place? Is it a holiday let?’
‘Ah, no. A friend of mine, Joss – his uncle lives here.’
‘He lives here?’ Before they’d stepped foot inside, Lili had seen the living quarters through one of the little windows as they made their way up the outside staircase of the building. It stood on the headland but was within walking distance or a short drive to town. Lili had never seen a lighthouse up close, let alone been inside one.
No longer a working lighthouse, this one had been decommissioned and converted into living accommodation. Lili was impressed by the first oval room they entered from the outside staircase, which was a cleverly organised kitchen diner and lounge. Because the walls were curved, the kitchen units were in the centre of the room, dividing the dining area from the lounge. In an ordinary house it might not work. But this was no ordinary dwelling.
The upstairs mezzanine room she could see from the lounge was a double bedroom.
‘I love it,’ Lili exclaimed, holding on to her woollen hat so it didn’t blow away. She had her gloves on too, and her coat; she was thankful that Nate had suggested she bring them.
‘Do you want to climb up and see the old light?’
‘Can we?’
‘Yes – there’s a wooden flight of stairs over here.’ Nate glanced at the dog. ‘I think we should leave Bella down here.’
‘Oh? She’s managed the stairs so far.’
‘No, it’s better if she sits this one out.’Better for me, thought Nate.
Lili stroked the dog. ‘Yes, I think you’re right.’
Bella sat at the foot of the interior wooden stairs and watched them walk up the stairs. Lili could hear her whining. She paused halfway up and glanced over her shoulder. ‘No, you can’t come too.’
Bella put one paw on the bottom step.
‘No!’ said Nate, firmly.
He got a growl in response.
‘Bella, lie down!’ Lili said. That worked. She found Bella responded better to commands and positive reinforcement than being told off. She’d learned that from Maisie. ‘Good girl.’
Nate cast a glance over his shoulder and frowned at the dog.
Lili climbed the wooden open-tread stairs with Nate following. They stepped into the small room enclosed by floor-to-ceiling windows on all sides, the massive light that had once shone out to sea in the centre. Lili stood by the window, looking out to the ocean. Nate walked up beside her. She felt a tentative arm around her shoulders.
‘It’s very peaceful up here, Nate. I bet the sunrises from here are incredible.’ Lili knew this stretch of coastline was renowned for its spectacular sunrises.
‘I wanted to bring you up here at dawn, but as someone lives here, that wasn’t possible.’
Lili cast her gaze down to the left. A whitewashed cottage stood next to the lighthouse. Lili pointed. ‘Was that the lighthouse keeper’s cottage before it was decommissioned?’
Nate followed her gaze. ‘I should imagine so.’
‘Who lives there now?’