The Cornish Guest House (45 page)

‘He’s hurting like he’s got an open wound and it’s going to take time to heal.’

Loveday shook her head. ‘He won’t change his mind, I know it. He’s absolutely determined to go away and he never wants to see me again.’

Pat harrumphed, rising up in her chair so that she looked twice the height.

‘Now, don’t give me that. It’s your duty to put it right, after all you’ve done and the mess you’ve made. You’ve got to bide your time, girl. It’s like my husband used to say when he went fishing, God rest his soul: patience is key. He told me amateurs fight a fish way too hard, they never stop reeling and they break it off. You mustn’t allow the line to go slack, but don’t pull too hard neither, then little by little you’ll land your prize.’

Loveday frowned. She wasn’t into fishing herself, but the analogy was clear enough.

‘But how can I reel him in if he won’t even look at me, let alone talk?’

Pat tapped her nose mysteriously.

‘Womanly wiles,’ she said, winking at her with a watery blue eye. ‘How do you think I got my Geoffrey? Not by sitting around, waiting for him to come to me, that’s for sure.’

Loveday looked uncertain.

‘That Jesse worships the ground you walk on,’ Pat went on, ‘but he’s had a fright and he’s too proud to forgive and forget yet. But you mustn’t give up, oh, no, you need to show him what he’s missing. God gave women intuition and femininity and if you use ’em properly, you’ll jumble the brain of any fella on earth.’

*

Liz decided to call in at the restaurant before going home, leaving Loveday and Pat still chatting. She wasn’t at all sure that the old woman’s advice made much sense, but was glad that she and Loveday had spoken at last, because the latter had been desperately worried about that first meeting.

As she passed Jenny’s cottage, she was surprised to see Jesse emerge from A Winkle In Time with, she fancied, a spring in his step that had been missing for quite some time. He gave a wave when he spotted her, but didn’t stop.

Her curiosity roused, she hurried inside, through the busy restaurant, to find Robert, who was in the backyard, unpacking boxes of wine and loading the bottles into his store shed.

‘Why was Jesse here?’ she asked and he rose quickly, with a big grin on his face. He hadn’t heard her arrive.

‘He’s agreed to come back,’ Robert explained, ‘just until he’s finished his catering exams.’

Liz’s heart swelled with pleasure. ‘That’s fabulous! What made him change his mind?’

Robert shrugged. ‘I kept popping round to his mum’s and dropping it into the conversation, and maybe he just needed time to think. I guess in the end he realised it was a good offer and, well, he’s decided to swallow his pride – thank goodness.’

She was so delighted with the news that she almost forgot to mention her second baby scan, scheduled for next week. She’d received a letter only this morning and it was to be the day after Rosie’s next MRI scan.

‘Everything all right?’ Robert asked, looking at her anxiously, and she nodded. ‘Just routine.’

He trailed after her into the steamy kitchen, where Alex was barking orders at the temporary sous-chef, a youngish lad with angry red spots on his face and a sour expression.

‘Have some melon.’ Robert offered Liz a small chunk from a cut-up pile in a bowl in the corner, which she took and popped in her mouth. ‘Delicious.’

As she strolled home in the early afternoon sunshine, the sweet taste of melon lingering in her mouth, she couldn’t help thinking that perhaps Pat’s word of advice to Loveday hadn’t been so off beam after all. Maybe, just maybe, Loveday would succeed in reeling Jesse in, little by little, and that would be the most wonderful outcome of them all.

The schools had broken up for the summer, the holiday season was in full swing and the streets of Tremarnock were buzzing. After a drab June, July and August had turned out warm and sunny and the sea was alive with folk on paddleboards, in dinghies or just swimming, while the beach was covered in sunbathers, small children and scuba divers climbing in and out of smelly rubber wetsuits.

The village seemed to have changed colour, too, now that folk were no longer wrapped up in drab coats, hats pulled down low over their foreheads to keep out the wind. The jolly bunting was up and the pinks, whites, yellows and blues of the cottages mingled with the bright tops, dresses and bathing suits of locals and visitors alike. Window boxes were bulging with pansies, geraniums and lobelia and Jean’s garden, always a picture at this time of year, attracted admiring gazes from passers-by. Tom was often out there with his trowel and hedge cutters, enjoying the comments.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood, especially Audrey, who was doing a roaring trade at Seaspray Boutique while juggling her catering business in the evenings. One particularly large family group, renting three cottages side by side, had taken full advantage of her home cooking and she’d rewarded herself with one of her own turquoise smock tops. It was clearly a favourite as she’d been spotted in it several times.

A Winkle in Time was packed every night and, much to Robert’s delight, Jesse was settling in slowly. The first few weeks hadn’t been easy. The others had done their best to make him welcome but he’d scarcely spoken to them, making it apparent that all was not forgiven and preferring to focus solely on work. However, it was difficult to keep himself to himself in such a busy kitchen, and gradually the icy atmosphere had thawed a little so that there were now times when he forgot to be frosty and would join in with the jokes and banter. The subject of Loveday, though, was strictly off limits. If anyone so much as mentioned her, he’d turn his back.

Of course, he and Loveday had bumped into each other; the village was too small to avoid it. But when it happened, Jesse would cross the street and look the other way, or immediately leave whichever pub he found her in. She respected his stance and didn’t try to follow him, though it hurt dreadfully.

She was still living at Bag End and hadn’t yet found a new job, waitressing for Robert being out of the question, of course, while Jesse was there. Tabitha, meanwhile, was now renting the ground floor of Dove Cottage, where Liz and Rosie used to live, which had now been fitted with its own panic alarm. Esme had pointed out that while Tabitha was still staying with Liz and Robert the flat was soon to be unoccupied, and they’d agreed that it seemed a good bet. It was close to them, after all, and Esme would keep a watchful eye on her neighbours down below; she knew the score.

Tabitha hadn’t intended to return to the village at all, but Liz’s entreaties had been so warm and persuasive that in the end she’d melted. She had nowhere else to go and knew that it was the best option for Oscar. It was only a temporary measure, however, until she could figure out something else.

As Loveday was unemployed, she was able to spend a lot of time with her former boss and Tabitha was immensely grateful for the company and the help with Oscar, although she couldn’t pay anything. The Stables was empty and would eventually be sold, and the proceeds used to compensate Luke’s victims, including Pat. Tabitha had nothing but the benefits she now received each week and was getting used to scrimping and saving in a way that she hadn’t known for years. She’d spoken many times to Molly, who’d been shocked and relieved about the turn of events in equal measure, but so far they hadn’t met.

‘I want to come and see you,’ Molly had begged repeatedly, but Tabitha had always refused, saying there was nowhere to stay now that The Stables had closed, and Dove Cottage was too cramped, that she and Oscar were busy this weekend or that he had a nasty cold. Molly knew they were just excuses but the truth was, Tabitha didn’t feel up to an emotional reunion with her dearest friend. She thought the sight of her might just tip her over the edge when it was more important than ever that she remain strong for Oscar’s sake, so she persisted in putting her off.

The really good news was the Crown Prosecution Service had decided that it wasn’t in the public interest to pursue the case against her and all charges had been dropped. It was a tremendous relief but at the same time she couldn’t relax because Carl was still on the loose, and she wasn’t convinced that Luke’s associates, the ones still knocking around, wouldn’t try to harm her, too.

She stayed almost all the time in Tremarnock, only leaving the flat during daylight and visiting places where there’d be plenty of people. She felt as if she was living a half-life, but she was sure that Carl would have heard about Luke’s arrest and that he’d be biding his time, waiting for the right opportunity. It was no surprise that, despite enquiries, the police had failed to find him; he was far too clever.

The biggest revelation to her had been the villagers because she’d never known that such kindness existed. As soon as they’d heard her story from Liz they’d rallied round, eager to do whatever they could. That she was still married to the man who’d done so much wrong was less important to them than the fact that she was alone, vulnerable and needed their help. She wondered, now, how she could have lived in Tremarnock for all these months and never even noticed the warmth and community spirit that surrounded her. She must have been blind.

Even Pat, who’d had such a terrible experience, seemed to have grudgingly accepted her, largely because she was the one who’d rescued Loveday, and it was in Pat’s house, The Nook, that Tabitha now found herself with Oscar and his former nanny. Pat was much stronger, almost back to normal, and had been pruning the roses in her little back garden when the others called.

‘It’s too hot for my liking,’ she complained, fanning herself with the floral apron that was tied around her waist. Her cheeks were flushed and her white hair was sticking to her forehead. ‘Come in and have some lemon barley. I made up a jug this morning.’

Oscar, who was looking very cute in a pair of navy blue shorts and a bright green T-shirt, raced past the old woman into the kitchen.

‘Bless him,’ she said, smiling indulgently. ‘Bright as a button, he is. He understands every word we say.’

He seemed to have grown up a lot in the past three months and had settled well into Dove Cottage. He liked Esme upstairs, Loveday and her family, of course, and perhaps Pat most of all. There was no doubt that she adored children and in some ways Oscar had become a substitute for Rosie, who’d grown too old for cuddles and choccy bickies in front of Pat’s favourite, slow-moving TV detective series. Oscar rarely asked for his daddy these days, which both pleased Tabitha and saddened her, but mostly she was grateful that he’d adapted so well to his new life. It could have been far worse.

It was pleasantly cool in Pat’s front room and they sat sipping their cold drinks while Oscar rummaged in the old woman’s sewing box, sorting through the different-coloured buttons and using the wooden darning mushroom as a sword. Loveday was full of the fact that Saturday was opening night at The Hole in the Wall pub. A new landlord had recently moved in and was promising regular live music nights, as well as quizzes, dressing-up dos and other events.

‘I hope it’s not going to get noisy down there,’ Pat grumbled. ‘Locals won’t like it, and he’d better not go stealing any of Barbara’s business.’

‘This place could do with livening up,’ Loveday sniffed.

Pat didn’t hear so she had to repeat herself more loudly.

‘There’s nothing for young people here,’ Loveday shouted. ‘The Lobster Pot’s full of fuddy-duddies and The Victory Inn’s not as fun as it used to be.’

Pat looked doubtful. ‘What’s he like, this landlord, then? Does he have a wife and children?’

Loveday shook her head. ‘He’s quite old, in his thirties, I think. A bit of a hippy with a beard and long hair.’

Pat looked grave. ‘Doesn’t sound like my type. I don’t like a man with a beard. I prefer clean-shaven.’

‘Beards give you a rash,’ Loveday agreed, ‘but stubble’s worse.’

They ruminated on this for a few minutes, then Loveday asked Tabitha if she planned to attend the opening. ‘We could go together.’ She lowered her eyes. ‘Jesse might turn up after work, but as long as I leave early it’ll be OK.’

‘I can’t,’ Tabitha said quickly.

Pat eyed her curiously. ‘Why not? There’ll be plenty of folk and you might enjoy yourself. Besides, I want to hear your verdict on the beardy fellow.’

‘What about Oscar?’ said Tabitha, and Pat leaped in immediately. ‘Bring him here! I’d love to have him. One late night won’t hurt him and he can always fall asleep on my sofa. It won’t be the first time!’

‘No, honestly,’ Tabitha replied. ‘I’m not in the mood for that sort of thing, I couldn’t handle it.’

‘Oh, go on,’ Loveday pleaded. ‘I don’t feel sociable either but we can just have one drink. It’ll be interesting to see what it’s like in there now – and there might be good music.’

Tabitha hesitated. She hadn’t had an evening out in months and it would be wonderful to see a live band. She’d be in no danger with so many people around and, what’s more, Oscar would enjoy being with Pat and no doubt the old woman would appreciate his company, too.

‘Please,’ said Loveday, spying a chink in the armour. ‘Liz said she’d go for a bit.’

It was a wrong call. ‘Well, you’ll have her for company, then, you won’t need me, and there’ll be lots of your other friends, too. I just can’t deal with it at the moment.’

Loveday stuck out her bottom lip. ‘Liz is so enormous I don’t think she’ll even fit through the door.’

Tabitha smiled. Her new-found friend was, indeed, as round as a barrel and the baby was due in just a few weeks.

‘She told me she won’t go if you don’t,’ Loveday wheedled. ‘She’ll sit at home on her own.’

‘Well, we can’t have that,’ said Pat.

‘She’ll have Rosie with her,’ Tabitha reasoned.

‘No,’ replied Loveday, ‘Rosie’s been invited to something at Tim’s.’

Tabitha sighed, feeling herself beaten. ‘All right, you win, but I’ll only go for an hour. I’ll pick you both up at seven.’

*

It was all she could do not to bolt when, on returning to Dove Cottage, Esme came clattering down the metal staircase that led from her front door, her salt-and-pepper hair flying, to announce that there was a ‘special visitor’.