Page 32 of The Bookshop at the Cornish Cove

‘Yeah, go on then.’

Because there was hardly any light pollution, Driftwood Bay on a clear night was amazing. The myriad of silver sparkling stars above us looked like someone had cast a net of fairy lights across the sky. Even the sand looked like it was scattered with glitter and the moonlight made the sea look like it was shimmering away. We approached a flat rock at the back of the beach.

‘Shall we sit?’ he suggested.

I nodded and he shouted out loud before my backside hit the rock.

‘Wait, sit on this.’ He took his jacket off and let me sit on it. ‘Nan always says you’ll get piles if you sit on something cold.’

‘How thoughtful of you to bring piles into the conversation, Dennie, but thank you.’

We smiled at each other before staring out at the sea; its spellbinding beauty still at times took my breath away, never ceasing to amaze me even after all the years of living here. Being in Driftwood Bay made my heart happy and filled me with joy.

‘What’s it like living in London?’ I asked, fascinated at why anyone would want to.

A loud sigh escaped him.

‘I used to love it. The city that never sleeps. There’s always something going on. No one in your business. People leave you alone. It’s fast paced. Everyone rushing around.’

‘I feel like there’s a but.’

He turned and looked at me intently before whispering, ‘But being back here this time feels like I’ve come home.’

I smiled. It appeared that Driftwood Bay had weaved its magical spell on him, like it had on many others.

‘How so?’

He held my gaze before looking back out to sea.

‘I used to like the fact that London was quite anonymous. Now I love that here people really care about each other. Look at what you all did for Nan. It’s a real sense of community spirit. All the things I loved about London in the past seem to be the things I can’t bear about it now.’

The silence between us wasn’t in the least bit awkward. It was needed for us both to process what he’d said.

‘I like being part of a community,’ he continued. ‘I feel like it gives me a sense of purpose, which is something that I didn’t realise I was missing. Now when I head back, it feels dirty and the air doesn’t feel clean. I get off the train at Paddington and everyone is so focused on where they’re going, they cut across you or bump into you. No one has manners, it’s almost every man or woman for themself. Nobody makes eye contact with you. You’re constantly checking that you’ve still got your wallet in your back pocket in case someone’s swiped it, and hold on to your laptop bag like it holds the crown jewels for the same reason. I suppose I’d lived in that for so long that I never really noticed.’

I shuddered at the thought.

‘I’ve hardly left this part of the world apart from uni in Exeter which isn’t that far away, although I suppose it is a different county,’ I said. ‘I feel like I’ve hardly seen the world, but I’ve never felt like I needed to. Everything I want is here.’ I scanned the beach, looked across to the harbour and leaned back to take in the hills. ‘I love it.’

Dennie’s eyes locked onto mine. ‘Yeah, I’m beginning to love it too.’

We both sat quietly, together, but alone in our thoughts.

‘We should get off,’ Dennis said eventually. ‘We’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow. I’ve got some brilliant ideas that I want to run by you.’

‘OK.’ I heaved myself off the bench, reluctantly tearing myself away. ‘I’ve got some of my own to share with you too.’

Dennis nudged my shoulder gently. ‘We’ll make a businesswoman of you yet!’

‘You are quite annoying you know, Dennie!’

‘Rubbish. You’re growing quite fond of me, I reckon.’

I shook my head and laughed his words off. ‘Whatever.’

If only he knew.

19

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