FOR THE LOVE OF THE SEA Read Online Free PDF

has been decided yet.” Cassie cast an anxious glance at her daughter.
    “We need to have a family conference. Tom will have the final say.”
     
    It was around six o’clock that evening when the telephone rang yet again. Cassie and Anna were in the kitchen, looking through the house details Anna had found.
    “I can’t face another sympathetic enquiry about Tom,” Cassie said. “Would you answer it please?” She carried on studying the estate agent’s handouts.
    “Seven o’clock? Fine. See you then.”  Anna put the phone down.
    “That was James, phoning to remind you about the theatre. He’s collecting you in an hour.”
    Cassie sighed.
    “I’d forgotten all about it. I’ll ring back and cancel. I can’t possibly go out tonight. I’m too tired.”
    “Of course you can go. It’ll take your mind off things.”
    “What about supper? And there’s Dexter. I can’t just go out and leave him to his own devices.”
    “I’ll cook supper for everyone. And I’m sure between Polly, Mai and myself, we’ll manage to entertain Dexter for a couple of hours.”
    “But…”
    “Not another word. Go and get ready,” Anna ordered.
    Up in her bedroom Cassie stood staring out of the window for a few moments. All she wanted to do was curl up in bed and sleep.
    But Anna was right. It was ages since she’d been to the theatre. A good play would take her mind off things and help her feel better.
    By the time she headed downstairs, James was already waiting, so they set off straight away.
    “I thought a pre-theatre drink and then supper afterwards?” James said on the way to town. “I’ve booked a table at The Stage Door. Is that OK with you?”
    “The pre-theatre drink sounds nice. Not too sure I’ll be awake for supper afterwards. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”
    “How is Tom?”
    By the time Cassie had filled him in all the details, they were parking in town.
    Whether it was the effect of the glass of wine James bought her or simply his pleasant company, Cassie began to relax. When, as they crossed the street to the theatre, James took her arm, she didn’t protest but rather found comfort in his action.
    The play, a well known farce, certainly cheered Cassie up and she had to wipe tears of laughter from her face as the curtain came down on the last act. As well as banishing her exhaustion, the laughter seemed to have triggered her appetite and to James’s delight she agreed to supper after all.
    Much later, they drove back into the boatyard.
    “Thank you for a lovely evening James. I really enjoyed it. Would you like to come in for a coffee?” Cassie invited.
    James shook his head. “I’d love to but I’d better get back. I enjoyed this evening too. Perhaps we can have dinner one day next week? I’ll give you a ring. And don’t forget, if I can help in any way with regards to Tom, you just have to ask. Take care.”
     
    On Sunday morning Cassie was up early enough to see Polly and Dexter sailing It’s Mine! down river to the open sea. Polly was at the helm and Dexter was out on deck tightening the main sail. Cassie smiled. Polly would be enjoying herself with Dexter on board to do some of the hard work.
    She turned as Anna came into the kitchen.
    “Morning. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed as a thank you for everything you did yesterday,” Cassie said.
    “Let’s have it together instead,” Anna smiled. “And you can finish looking at the house details and help me decide which ones to check out today.”
    Out of the dozen or so house detail leaflets Anna had collected, they narrowed it down to four.
    “I really like the sound of this one,” Anna said. “But it’s right in the middle of town and I don’t know whether I can cope with life as a townie. I’ve lived in the sticks for so long.”
    “It would be a complete change. You’d certainly have everything on your doorstep.”
    “I don’t suppose there’s any chance of you doing a recce with me today? Just looking