Summer House by Marcia Willett Page A

have to tell her, won’t you?’ she said rather briskly to Nick, refilling his cup.
    â€˜She’s with her mother for the next two weeks,’ he said, as if that were some kind of answer. ‘Oh, well, yes, of course I shall tell her. But it won’t make much difference. I was wondering, Im, whether to come down again next week for a day or two. I’d planned a few days off, you see, to go down to see the kids but I don’t think this will change anything as far as Alice is concerned and, anyway, I can’t say I’m that keen on facing her parents just at the moment.’

    She didn’t look at him but reached to pull Rosie’s rug more firmly over her legs. ‘I expect Milo would be pleased to see you.’
    â€˜I’d hate him to think I only come when I want something. Do you think it would work or is it too close to all this and he’ll just be embarrassed?’
    â€˜Of course he won’t be,’ she said firmly. ‘Milo’s not like that. And Lottie certainly isn’t. Bring him a little present and take him out for a pint.’
    He nodded. ‘I’d like to do that. And what about you? Shall I bring you a present and take you out for a pint, too?’
    She laughed, keeping it light. ‘Why not?’
    They smiled at each other, warmed by their mutual affection. Nick was looking at her, as if he was wondering whether to tell her something, a strange excited look. She stared back at him, frowning.
    â€˜What?’ she asked. ‘What is it?’
    â€˜You know what I was saying about Dad having to sell the Summer House?’ he asked. She nodded, eyes wide. ‘Well, he is going to sell it.’
    â€˜Oh, Nick.’ She looked sad. ‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Listen, though. Dad isn’t sorry, and neither am I. He wants to sell it to you and Jules. At a price you can afford. He wants to, Im.’
    â€˜But he can’t do that,’ she gasped. ‘He mustn’t. I mean, he can sell it, obviously – it’s his house – but he must sell it at the proper price. Not to us.’
    â€˜But he wants to,’ Nick repeated. ‘He looks upon you and Matt as part of the family, and it’s a way of, well, you know, giving you something, just as if you were his daughter.’
    â€˜Even so. He shouldn’t.’ Im was in a state of shock. ‘I can’t believe it.’

    â€˜I shouldn’t have told you. I just wanted you to know that I’m absolutely delighted, just in case you thought I might feel … well, you know.’
    â€˜But your mum will be incandescent. She’ll go nuts. After all, it’s still your inheritance, isn’t it?’
    â€˜That’s why I want you to know that I’m completely with Dad. I hope you’re a good actress, Im. You’ll have to pretend you don’t know when Dad or Lottie tells you.’
    â€˜You’re right. You shouldn’t have said anything.’
    He looked disappointed and she knew that he’d wanted to have this share in Milo’s generosity, to ameliorate his own foolishness by being able to attribute some good to it. As usual she responded to his hurt at once, stretching a hand to him and smiling.
    â€˜I shan’t dare to believe it until Milo says something,’ she said. ‘It’s too good to be true. I utterly love the Summer House.’
    â€˜I know.’ He was holding her hand tightly, smiling back at her – and then Rosie woke suddenly, scrabbling for her dropped toy; she let out a howl, and the moment passed.
    Â 
    As she drove out of Dunster through Alcombe, Imogen was filled with misgiving. Even if Milo did intend to offer her and Jules the Summer House she wished that Nick hadn’t told her about it. She knew that she wasn’t a good actress and she wondered how on earth she could pretend amazement at such kindness. She comforted herself by thinking that Milo would