The Cornish Guest House (41 page)

She crossed her arms and made to leave, but then her eyes lit up when she spotted a neighbour on the other side of the street, opening his car door. ‘I say,’ she called out happily, hastening down the garden path towards him; Robert was forgotten already. ‘Have you heard?’

Robert left them to it and marched in the direction that she’d indicated, hoping to catch up with Jesse. It wasn’t long before he spotted a hunched figure in a grey hoodie and navy jacket on the corner of Market Square. He was walking quickly, head bowed and hugging the buildings, as if anxious not to draw attention to himself. The shop doors were open and Esme was visible through the window of the fishmonger, talking to Ryan behind the counter, but they didn’t look up, and the other stores seemed quiet. Perhaps everyone was glued to the TV.

Once he was within a few paces Robert called out Jesse’s name. The young man swivelled round, startled, and when he saw Robert, a look of surprise crossed his features. Instead of acknowledging his former boss, however, he simply turned away, stuck his hands in his pockets and continued his journey.

‘Jesse!’ Robert called again, breaking into a jog, ‘I need to speak to you!’

No reply.

‘Please!’ Robert was alongside him now but Jesse showed no signs of slowing down.

‘Loveday’s safe. Have you heard? And they’ve arrested Luke.’

Jesse’s hood was pulled up high, half obscuring his face, but Robert thought he saw a flicker of pleasure at the mention of her name. Then the look vanished and the features hardened again.

‘Yeah, I know, the police rang. I’m glad she’s all right,’ he muttered. ‘At least they’ll get off my fucking back now.’

His pace quickened and Robert was finding it hard to keep up. They left Market Square and turned right down South Street in the direction of the seafront, passing Jenny and her dog outside her cottage, in a huddle with Felipe, Tom and Jean. Robert had last seen them near The Stables, watching Luke’s arrest. They were no doubt still discussing the turn of events and would be for days to come. They looked up when Robert and Jesse passed and Jenny opened her mouth to speak, but Robert shook his head so she closed it again. He didn’t check in the window of A Winkle In Time, hoping not to be noticed.

‘Where are you going? Can I come too?’ he asked Jesse as they reached the beach. Some way out to sea, three brave souls were messing around in a dinghy, but otherwise the place was deserted.

‘Do what you like,’ Jesse growled.

It soon became clear that he intended to take the path to Hermitage Point. Robert was wearing the wrong shoes, his brown leather lace-ups that had no tread, and he’d left his coat behind, but he wouldn’t be deterred. Fortunately it wasn’t cold and the winding trail that led out of the village was dry, save for a few muddy patches that he was careful to avoid.

As the way became steeper, Jesse remained several paces ahead and Robert followed behind, panting. His sweater got caught on the prickly brambles that lined the route and he pulled hard to release it, causing a hole, but he didn’t stop. Further up, they overtook several wild ponies munching grass beside the track, but they weren’t bothered about the two men and merely swished their tales and continued grazing.

After about fifteen minutes they reached the summit and the path widened out, the hedges disappeared and they could see miles of grey sea ahead and around them, as smooth as glass until it reached the dark rocks below and burst into seething white foam.

‘I’ve been a bastard,’ Robert shouted. His voice, though loud, was whipped away on the wind so that he wasn’t sure if Jesse heard him. ‘I’m sorry. You have every reason to hate me.’

They were all alone, save for a few seagulls circling above, and it crossed Robert’s mind that if the younger man wished to do him harm, there was no one to stop him. Jesse still had his back turned and Robert started to explain what he knew about Loveday and why she’d left. His throat was becoming dry and hoarse but still Jesse strode ahead, giving no indication as to whether he was listening or not.

‘She was scared,’ Robert yelled. ‘She didn’t realise what she was getting herself into.’

They were scrambling up the steep slope that led to the abandoned chapel now, and he found himself slipping and sliding on the rocks, leaning forward and holding his arms out wide to try to balance, cursing his stupid footwear.

‘Liz never trusted Luke,’ he went on. ‘I should have listened to her.’

Jesse strode into the tiny derelict stone chapel, which was nothing more than a single rectangular cell with a roof, a door and four small windows that were open to the elements. Robert followed, wondering if this was it and the young man planned to turn around again without a word and head back home. Instead, however, he stopped and stood with his back to Robert, staring out of the window at the wild, rocky coastline that snaked into the distance. Robert fancied that he could hear the young man’s heart banging against his ribs, or was it his own? The damp, musty smell chased up his nostrils and the cold crept into his bones, making him shiver. It was a bleak and desolate place at the best of times, and now was no exception.

They stayed like that for what seemed like an age, Robert scarcely daring to breathe, until all of a sudden Jesse swung round, his blue eyes moist with anger and tears.

‘Liz is the only one who believed in me,’ he muttered. ‘Her and my mum. Everyone else gave up on me – including you.’

It was true. ‘I’m ashamed of myself,’ Robert replied.

‘What do you expect me to do? Forget everything?’ Jesse went on. ‘Loveday’s OK and Luke’s been rumbled, so that’s all right, then? Water under the bridge?’ He laughed nastily and the noise echoed round the thick, dank walls. ‘It was just a silly little misunderstanding? All’s forgiven?’

His lips curled in a snarl and he clenched his fists, so that Robert wondered if he’d lash out; he wouldn’t blame him.

‘No,’ Jesse continued. Was that a catch in his voice? ‘It’s not that fucking simple. I thought we were friends and you threw me to the wolves. I never want to see you or speak to you again.’

He tried to push past Robert and make for the door, but the older man blocked the way.

‘I want to make it up to you,’ he said desperately, stepping from side to side to prevent the young man slipping by. ‘Please let me. At least come back to the restaurant for a while – until you finish your catering exams? Then, if you still wish to go, I’ll help you find another job. Don’t ruin your career.’

Jesse shook his head violently. ‘That side of my life’s finished, over. I’m gonna get the hell out of here. There’s nothing for me in Tremarnock now.’ He kicked a stone at his feet and it bounced off the wall, narrowly missing Robert’s shin.

‘There’s your mum, and your brother, and Liz – and Loveday,’ he said gently.

Jesse wiped his face with a sleeve. ‘I loved that girl, I’d have done anything for her.’

‘She’s coming home tonight.’

‘Tonight?’ For a moment Jesse’s face lit up before clouding over again.

‘She left me, didn’t she, just like that?’ He snapped his fingers. ‘Never told me what was going on, nothing. Dumped me in it. We’re over.’ He tried to push past Robert again, but his tall frame filled the doorway and he wouldn’t budge.

‘At least talk to her before you go,’ Robert begged. ‘Listen to what she has to say.’

‘There’s nothing to explain,’ Jesse growled. ‘She fell for that slimy bastard and got her fingers burned, didn’t she? Maybe she’ll be more careful who she mixes with in future.’

Robert felt his strength slip away, his shoulders droop. He hadn’t expected for one moment that Jesse would let him off lightly, he didn’t deserve it, but he’d hoped at least to open a dialogue and to be able to offer something that would help get the young man back on his feet. As it was, Jesse seemed determined to leave the village and Robert felt as if he alone was responsible for ruining the young man’s life.

Sensing that he’d lost, he stepped aside to allow Jesse to pass and trailed after him down the hill. He was wondering how he’d break the news to Liz, who’d be heartbroken. He didn’t know, of course, how Loveday would react, and there was still that matter of the row that she’d had with Jesse the night before she’d left to clear up, but Robert now one hundred per cent believed Jesse’s version of events. What’s more, Loveday’s decision to flee had had nothing whatsoever to do with her boyfriend; that had been a red herring, partly engineered by Luke himself.

They didn’t speak once on the return journey, but as they reached the bottom of the path Robert decided to have one more try.

‘You’ll need to get some money together before you go. A deposit for a flat. I’ll up your salary to make it easier for you.’

Jesse paused, as if he hadn’t considered the matter of a deposit before, then resumed walking.

‘I’ll pay you double if you come back next week, on Tuesday when we reopen.’

Jesse stopped and swung round, his eyes blazing. ‘You can’t buy me off just to make yourself feel better. It doesn’t work like that.’

‘I’m not trying to buy you, I need you. The temporary guy’s useless. He can’t make crème brûlée and we had loads of complaints about the hollandaise. Alex said it looked like sick.’

Did the corners of Jesse’s mouth turn up just a little?

‘Think about it at least. Talk to your mum. The business is struggling and I meant what I said about the rise.’

He held his breath and watched the young man’s face, hoping desperately for some indication, the slightest sign.

‘Don’t call me, I’ll call you,’ he replied.

*

It was around 11 p.m. when Sarah, Andy and Loveday finally arrived back at Bag End, having been driven home in a police car. Robert, Liz and Rosie were waiting up for them, though they weren’t sure whether their guests would be in the mood to talk or simply ready for bed. As it was, no one, least of all Loveday, could hide their delight at being reunited and sleep was the last thing on their minds. The hugs and tears right there in the hallway went on for a long time.

It was chilly outside and Liz had lit a fire in the front room. When they finally settled on sofas and chairs, mugs of tea in hand, Andy started to explain that he’d received a call on Tuesday evening to say Loveday had been found safe and well in London. She and Tabitha had walked into a local police station and were being driven to Exeter, where Sarah and Andy were to meet them. Police had realised immediately that they had a big case on their hands, and it was important not to alert anyone else until they’d questioned the two women thoroughly, hence the need for complete secrecy. They’d all been put up in a hotel and the debriefing had started again early this morning.

‘We were desperate to tell you,’ Sarah said, ‘only we couldn’t as it might alert Luke. No one could know anything – except us, that is. I knew if I talked to you I’d let the cat out of the bag, so I turned my phone off.’

Next, it was Loveday’s turn to tell her story. Sarah was beside her, an arm round her shoulders, and Liz noticed that she never let go once, as if only physical contact could convince her that her daughter really had returned and wouldn’t vanish again in a puff of smoke.

When Loveday got to the moment when she’d realised that it was the phone scam that had caused Pat’s accident, she started shaking uncontrollably.

‘I feel so bad,’ she was saying. ‘Pat’s going to loathe me.’

Everyone tried to persuade her that it wasn’t her fault; she hadn’t realised what she’d been doing and had been a victim of the scam herself. Pat would understand, they insisted, and no one would think the worse of her.

‘What about Jesse?’ Loveday went on, scarcely listening. ‘Because of me, everyone thought he was a murderer. I didn’t ever mean that to happen but it did, didn’t it?’ She choked. ‘I love him with all my heart and now I’ve lost him, and it’s all my stupid fault.’

Robert frowned, unsure how to relay his conversation with Jesse earlier, if you could even call it that. He explained that Jesse was understandably very upset and hurt, that he felt betrayed and had talked about moving away, but that he, Robert, still hoped to persuade him to stay.

‘I’m the one who should leave, not him,’ Loveday said, blowing her nose into a tissue. ‘I’ve caused so much grief.’

‘Don’t you dare,’ Sarah chipped in, pulling her daughter tighter. ‘Don’t even think about it.’

Andy, who was beside Sarah, listening carefully, patted her knee, and Loveday noticed.

‘What’s that about, then?’ she asked, momentarily forgetting about Jesse. ‘I thought you two hated each other?’

Sarah examined the fingernails on her right hand. ‘Your dad’s been giving me a lot of support.’

‘It’s not been easy,’ Andy continued. ‘The past week, well…’ He cleared his throat. ‘I think it’s made us realise, hasn’t it, Sar?’

He turned to Sarah, who nodded. ‘It’s made us realise how much you mean to us, and how much we mean to each other.’

‘We’re a family,’ Andy added, ‘and families stick together through thick and thin, don’t they?’

Loveday’s brown eyes opened very wide. ‘So does that mean you’re not getting divorced, then?’

Sarah nodded.

‘Well I s’pose that’s one good thing to come out of all of this. At least the house won’t be a war zone any more.’

‘Are you coming home, then?’ Sarah asked hopefully. ‘While you get yourself sorted out, I mean? I’ll look after you – and your dad, of course. We’d love you to stay.’

Loveday remained silent and Andy squeezed his wife’s knee again. ‘Leave it for now, eh? We’ll talk about it another time. She’s only just come back.’

Liz got up to put another log on the fire before settling down again, tucking her feet beneath her. They’d hardly discussed Tabitha, who’d been released on police bail pending further questioning, but now Liz wanted to know exactly what role, if any, Loveday thought she’d played in the scam. When she explained that Tabitha had known very little, but that she’d admitted to being scared of her husband, Liz sighed.

‘It all begins to make sense. She always seemed so frightened, poor woman. She must have been in hell.’

Andy was less sympathetic. ‘She lied. She was covering up for him, wasn’t she? If it wasn’t for that, Loveday wouldn’t have got involved.’