«Brandy Butter on Christmas Canal (First 3 Chapters Only)» by Shae O’Brien

When Liliane Montgomery inherits her grandparents narrowboat it comes just at a turning point in her own life, so she thankfully moves aboard. Unfortunately, someone else has the same idea - and he's not willing to share! Ben Derby has been left the boat too - or, as the solicitor explains to the bristling pair, they have been left half each. But in order to stake their claim, they must live aboard for 3 months without being off the boat for more than 48 hours at a time in any 2 week period. At the end of that time they can choose for one to buy out the others share. Neither will give an inch, determined to sit it out, each hoping the other will cave in first and leave the boat, breaking the rule and losing their share. In fact, at some point Lily realises that if she can be maddening enough, she could get Ben to stay away for more than the permitted 2 consecutive nights, and lose. Lily is broke, thanks to being cheated out of her home by an unscrupulous ex boyfriend, and this boat is her only hope for getting back on her feet again. Ben, likewise, is without abode or finance; he's been travelling rough around the world, hitching and riding buses etc along the way, working for his keep, and now he's back - and is not letting go of the only thing he owns. Let the battle commence! The two have very different natures, and a narrowboat, they discover, is an intimate habitat - at times far too close for comfort. Bens ever-present intrusion into her life, his calm dry humour and constant taunts, drive the volatile Lily to distraction at times - what were her grandparents thinking?!? … And which of the two will finally succeed in pushing the other so far as to leave, and concede the prize?