Free Little Kiosk By The Sea by Jennifer Bohnet Page A

know you and Annie loved this place, but you’ll always have the memories,’ Sabine said gently. ‘Wherever you live.’
    ‘Might sell the boat too and use all the money to buy a bigger one and live on board.’
    ‘Good idea,’ Sabine said. At last Johnnie was beginning to think about his future.
    ‘Owen told you about his plans for a six-month sabbatical?’
    Johnnie shook his head. ‘No. When’s he planning to go? And where?’
    ‘End of the season. Not sure which countries exactly – Europe obviously.’ Sabine paused before adding, ‘He’s asked me to go with him.’
    ‘You going?’
    ‘Told him I’d think about it. But if I go, I’d like to see more than just Europe. Mexico, India and Iceland. Places like that appeal. Just a bit worried about what people might think. Him and me going off together, because it wouldn’t be like that.’
    ‘Might be before you come back,’ Johnnie teased. ‘India. The Taj Mahal. We all know how romantic that place is.’ Sabine poked her tongue out at him.
    Johnnie hesitated before adding, ‘He’s a good bloke. Been in love with you for years.’
    ‘I know,’ Sabine said. ‘I kind of love him too but …’ She shrugged and decided to change the subject. ‘See you’ve got a letter from Martha,’ she said pointing at the letter lying on the coffee table. ‘Any interesting news?’
    ‘Bit strange really. Here, read it.’ Johnnie picked it up and handed it to her. ‘Tell me what you think.’
    Sabine quickly scanned the letter before looking up at him. ‘Not like Martha, is it? Maybe ring her?’
    ‘Done that. All she would say is that she needs to talk to me in person and the sooner the better.’
    ‘It’s probably just French bureaucracy getting its knickers in a twist over something and she needs some advice,’ Sabine said.
    Johnny nodded. ‘I’ll go over soon for a quick visit between deliveries. Help her sort whatever it is.’
    ‘Make sure you’re back for my exhibition. I need you here for support,’ Sabine said.

CHAPTER TWELVE
    BB
    BB walked out of the letting agency’s office depressed. He’d been so confident he’d be able to find somewhere other than the hotel to live for summer, but as the weeks went by it seemed a fruitless search. All the agency could offer him was a week here and there in various holiday lets. The idea of having to move house several times during the summer didn’t appeal.
    ‘The problem,’ the girl in the office explained, ‘is that owners already have bookings for most of the summer. Nobody in town on our books has anything available for a long let. Maybe if you’d consider Stoke Fleming or Strete, I’d be able to find you something.’
    He’d shaken his head at her suggestion. ‘I really want to stay in town – besides, I don’t have any transport.’
    Walking through town ten minutes later on his way back to the hotel, he decided to let things ride for a bit. No choice really. Besides, it wasn’t that he couldn’t afford to stay at the hotel, it was just he wanted somewhere he could relax and not have to worry about sticking to a schedule for breakfast and vacating the room for the maid. Admittedly it was nice having the bed-making and cleaning etc. done every day. Perhaps staying put and having all the domestic bits of life taken care of was the sensible thing to do. Allow him to concentrate on investigating the family tree and finding a boat.
    He knew from the papers at home that had started him on this quest to find ‘The English Connection’ as Jessica had dubbed it, their Grandma Mary had been Mary Seale, the only daughter of William and Amelia Seal, before she ran away with the love of her life, Grandpa Millman, and been disowned by her English family.
    A quick glance in the phone book at the hotel had told him there were no families of either name left in the town, so no convenient door to knock on hoping for quick leads. Ordering a beer he took it over to a table in the corner and began to