The Cosy Canal Boat Dream: A funny, feel-good romantic comedy you won’t be able to put down!

Nell immersed the spoon of the blades into the water and began to row gently.

‘No holidaying on a cruise ship for you, then,’ she joked, trying to lighten the mood and put Guy at ease.

He shuddered, ‘I can’t think of anything worse. I think it’s safe to say I’m petrified of water.’

‘I hadn’t noticed,’ she said, cocking an eyebrow and offering him a warm smile.

‘I know it’s pathetic, a man of my age …’

‘About thirty?’

‘Twenty-nine actually.’

‘Good guess.’

‘But …’

He squeezed his eyes shut as they glided smoothly towards the barge.

‘But?’

‘It happened a long time ago, I was only seven years old.’

‘A very long time ago then,’ she said, playfully.

He peered through one eye, ‘Cheeky. Near to where I live in Ireland there was a lake. Every school holiday, I used to hang out there with my mate Dan and build dens in the forest near by, but this one day we came across a small rowing boat that had been abandoned near the water’s edge. It was Dan’s idea to see if we could row it to the other side of the lake. Unfortunately, halfway across, the boat began to leak and it capsized and I couldn’t swim. In no time at all we were both clinging to a sinking boat and the water was getting higher and higher around us. I clamped my mouth shut while Dan screamed for dear life. Dan could swim but didn’t want to leave me. Luckily for us, a dog-walker heard him, jumped into the water and rescued us both. That was the last time I ever went near open water, until now.’

‘Sounds very traumatic,’ exclaimed Nell.

‘If I close my eyes I can still remember the stench of the water,’ Guy shuddered.

She manoeuvred the rowing boat as calmly as possible through the icy cold water. As they approached Sam, he rocked excitedly from one paw to another. His tail was wagging and he began to woof.

‘Look at him, he’s soaking wet,’ Guy exclaimed. ‘Without a doubt he’s been in the water.’

‘Okay, here’s what I’m going to do. I need to steer closer to the boat and tie it onto that wrought-iron ring over there. I need to make sure you don’t float away when I climb out.’

Guy looked awful, his face was ghastly white, he clenched his cheeks and the fear in his eyes said it all.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.’

He nodded, soothed by Nell’s words, then looked wistfully towards Sam and gave an exasperated sigh.

‘Don’t move!’ Nell joked, smiling.

‘I’ve no intention of going anywhere,’ Guy said, folding his arms.

Nell took the oars out of the rowlocks, dug the blades in the water and stopped the boat. She reached and grabbed the rope then slowly tilted herself towards the wrought-iron ring and tied the little rowing boat securely to the side of the canal boat.

‘It doesn’t look like anyone’s home,’ she murmured, hurling herself on to the deck.

‘Who owns this boat?’ Guy questioned.

‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ she read the bright lettering on the side of the boat, ‘I’ve no idea. It’s only been moored here a couple of days, it’s probably someone just passing through.’

As soon as Nell was standing on the boat, Sam sprang at her, leaving her covered in wet, stinky paw prints. She grabbed his collar and patted the top of his head. ‘Good boy.’

‘He’s definitely been in the water,’ she claimed, wrinkling her nose at the stench. ‘Throw me his lead.’

Guy reached inside his coat pocket then gently threw the lead towards Nell, who caught it and clipped it on to Sam’s collar. Nell peered through the glass window, ‘No sign of anyone,’ she said, carefully lowering herself back into the boat, then encouraging Sam to jump, however he was sitting firmly on the deck of the canal boat and refusing to move. Nell glanced earnestly at Guy.

‘Any ideas how I can get him to move?’

Once more Guy rummaged inside his pocket and produced a treat and passed it to Nell. ‘Try this.’

She swallowed hard then exhaled, ‘Okay boy, come on, let’s get you on board so we can all get home.’ She held the treat towards Sam, who immediately leapt into action and propelled himself on to the boat, Nell’s smile drooped slightly as the boat began to rock.

Guy squirmed, closed his eyes and clasped tightly onto the wooden slacks he was sitting on.

Nell coaxed Sam to lie between her legs and patted Guy’s knee, ‘Here take this.’ He opened his eyes and she passed him the lead. ‘Keep him still. We will be back on dry land in no time at all.’

Nell placed the oars back into the rowlocks, grasped one in each hand then placed the blades in the water and began to row gently back towards the quayside. They both sat in silence until finally the little rowing boat bumped lightly against the jetty.

‘We are here, safe and sound.’

Guy’s eyes met with Nell’s.

‘Phew,’ he said as she tied up the boat, then held out her hand towards Guy.

‘Let’s get you off this boat and on to dry land.’

‘Yes captain,’ he answered, relieved.

As he placed his hand in hers, Nell felt him tense up, then he slid one foot in front of the other and slowly manoeuvred his way off the boat. Once his feet were firmly on the ground he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Sam trotted happily off the boat behind him.

‘Are you okay?’ asked Nell gently.

‘I feel an idiot, but I am now I’m back on dry land,’ he laughed nervously, ‘Even though I still feel like I’m swaying!’ He gripped on to the railings, steadied himself and began to take deep breaths before exhaling sharply.

‘You’re not going to have a panic attack on me, are you?’

He shook his head warily. ‘I think I’m ready to move.’

‘Good,’ Nell answered, seeing a slight smile spread across Guy’s face. She couldn’t help but beam at Sam, who sat patiently at the side of Guy, his tail thumping on the ground.

‘You go first.’

Guy bent down and began to squeeze back through the railings, pulling Sam behind him.