Chapter 41

After our 'wild' breakfast (we decided that porridge was more hassle than it was worth and went for granola bars and a banana each) we pulled on shoes and made our way on deck to survey for the first time in full daylight where we'd ended up (it had been light enough to sail but fading dast by the time we'd arrived the previous evening).

I had been here before, of course, on many occasions, sometimes even making it into the small harbor to visit the town. It was a beautiful vista - green, lush hills surrounding the semi-circle bay and a beach so pale it was almost white. I knew that the trees and cliffs beyond were part of a nature reserve, another reason this spot was near and dear to my heart.

"Wow..." Alex had just arrived on deck behind me and had stopped, stock still on seeing the view I knew so well for the first time. "Kathryn, this place is just stunning," she murmured, and I felt her hand come to rest on my shoulder as she moved to stand beside me.

"It's too bad we can't stay a bit longer - I'd love to take you ashore," I told her, distracted from the view by the warmth of her body by my side. "I think you'd really like it."

"I think I would too," she replied quietly.

I couldn't think of anything to say to this that didn't sound highly inappropriate - offering to take her back here without Jonas probably couldn't be taken any other way but as the proposition it would be - so we lapsed into silence, staring out over the tranquil scene while the granola bar in my stomach was joined by a half-dozen butterflies.

Eventually, Alex cleared her throat. "I wanted to... apologise for last night. I let myself get into a bit of a mental rut."

"Oh, no, it's okay," I said, surprised she had brought it up but eager to reassure her. "You don't have anything to apologize for, trust me."

"I suppose out here it's all too easy to see your life for what it is," she went on, clearly still feeling as though she owed me an explanation of some kind.

I nodded slowly, still unsure about what she meant and half- hoping she might tell me. The other wasn't sure that I wanted to hear what she had to say. I felt her shoulders rise and slump a little as she sighed deeply. "Anyway," she said eventually, "nothing that can't be fixed I suppose. At least I got some things right," she added, turning her head to smile a little. Her hand on my shoulder moved, smoothing lightly down my arm as she dropped it back to her side.

"Alex, if there's anything I can do... If this is about work, or if I'm making you uncomfortable trying to be too familiar..."

"What? No, not at all." Alex shook her head, frowning and turning to face me a little. "Work is wonderful, and so are... is our friendship," she said, "it's just... personal stuff. I'll work it out. It's not that I don't want to talk about it, I just... can't right now. But I promise that I wouldn't change... what we have. For anything."

Though I knew I should feel relieved by this - couldn't help but feel a little... disappointed instead. Of course she wouldn't want to change what we had. I was stupid to even entertain the idea otherwise. I forced a smile, looking back out over the sea towards the village. "Good. Neither would I."

 

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