Page 66 of One Cornish Summer With You

‘No, you’re not,’ she said, meeting his faux-sympathetic gaze with icy contempt. ‘You’re not sorry at all. You must be loving this.Ifit’s true.’

He threw up his hands. ‘Jesus, you really have been taken in by him, haven’t you? Look, if you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself. Go back to Rosewarne and you’ll see that I’m telling the truth. I do care about you. I always did. You just don’t want to see what’s in front of your eyes.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Tammy wasn’t sure how she made it through the rest of the afternoon without running upstairs and curling up in her bed with the covers over her head. She had no choice because the clouds had come over and the drizzle had driven holidaymakers off the beaches and coast paths and into Porthmellow for some retail therapy.

She’d had to smile and be nice to customers until her jaw ached. Even so, the moment the gallery was empty again – as it was now – she hadn’t been able to put Sean’s revelation out of her mind. If it was a revelation and not a tissue of lies.

Why would Sean lie, though? While he was obviously jealous of Ruan and hoping to get back with her – or get backather – he would hardly concoct such a story that was easy to disprove.

Or confirm.

On reflection, Ruan had been pretty vague about the location of the site of the caravan. In fact, he’d actively allowed her to assume it was a site rather than the grounds of a house. He’d also been very reluctant to allow her to visit.

She had yoga that evening and Ruan was going kitesurfing at Godrevy with his friends. There was only one thingfor it: ask him for an explanation straight out the following evening after the birthday party. Even as she thought about the words, a sense of dread spread through her. If he confirmed everything that Sean said was true, she didn’t know if they could get past it.

Why would Walter Cavendish leave a huge house and land to Ruan unless they were very close? Did Ruan know who Tammy was from the moment they’d met?

Was it more than ‘fate’ and a happy accident that he’d been watching her from the harbour that day?

And if so, if he had sought her out deliberately, then why?

After a fitful night’s sleep, Tammy worked in the shop the following morning before heading to a nearby beach for an anniversary commission.

She was still trying to keep up with the emails and messages, several of which had now turned to confirmed – or virtually guaranteed – projects taking place over the rest of the year and into the following summer. By running workshops alongside her art and being able to command a bigger fee with corporates and festivals, the dream of making a living from her sand art alone was within her grasp.

Her problem was: how would Davey manage without her in the busy season? Now the school holidays were imminent, she had already accepted some jobs that would take her away from the shop when Davey needed her most.

She’d have to have a serious chat with him, although she guessed what his answer would be: look after yourself first, and he would manage.

The moment that Davey was off her mind, Ruan was on it again.

She seesawed between telling herself that Sean would make up any old story to derail their relationship, and the fact that it was too random for him to have made it up entirely.

Tonight, she’d ask Ruan, which set off a whole cloud of butterflies in her stomach – and not the pleasant kind. It was more like a cloud of big hairy moths trapped in there. First, however, she had to get down to the town beach to prepare Hattie’s birthday message.

The clouds had gone and it was now a fine evening, warmer than of late, bringing plenty of people out on to the harbour and beach. The local teenagers were showing off their daredevil skills by tombstoning off the quay and into the harbour. Tammy recognised one as Lola’s son and shuddered as he and his mates shrieked and backflipped into the water. She’d loved doing it when she was a teen, but she wouldn’t dare now. God knows what was lying on the harbour bed – old tyres, fishing gear, marine diesel. Yuck. Did that make her old or just wise?

Not that wise, perhaps, given her recent choices of men.

Ruan had seemed like one of the best. He still could be. Tonight, she’d give him a chance to come clean.

Carrying her rake in its bag, she made her way to the end of the beach where the tide was still retreating. Lola was already there setting up a barbecue.

‘Hi there!’ She greeted Tammy with a hug. ‘Good night for it.’

‘Yeah. Didn’t fancy huddling under a gazebo in the drizzle.’

‘Heard any more from Hattie? That fall sounded nasty.’

‘She’s a bit sore but it could have been worse. Her sister’s giving her a lift and bringing her down to the beach. Who’s coming along?’

‘Ellie, Shefali, Petra … and their partners later, I think.’ Lola indicated the large cool box next to the barbecue. ‘I hope I brought enough food. That’s just the meat, fish and veggies. The others are bringing salads, bread, and dips.’

‘There’ll be more than enough. I brought some Prosecco and I should be able to do some cooking when the design is done.’

‘You’ve got enough to do. I know barbecuing isn’t your favourite pastime.’

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