Page 108 of A Secret Cornish Wish
For a moment I think he’s talking about my painting, then I realise he means me.
‘Don’t I? What makes you say that?’
‘You’re still so unpretentious, so modest, so unassuming, even.’
‘Did you swallow a thesaurus?’ I ask, smiling.
‘I mean it. I spend all my time in Hollywood with people who are full of themselves. It makes a nice change to listen to someone who is actually talented but doesn’t realise it.’
‘Er . . . thanks,’ I reply, stunned by his words. I turn back to my painting. ‘It’s just a hobby, really. I enjoy it, I just don’t get all that much time to do it these days.’
‘I’d like to see some of your other paintings sometime. Maybe buy one or two. I could do with something to remind me of home.’
Rob stares at the painting again.
‘I’m surprised to hear you say that. Call St Felix home, I mean. It’s a long time since you lived here.’
‘I know. I still think of it as that, though – don’t you?’
‘Yes, very much so. Funnily enough, Rosie and I were talking about how much we’d like to come and live here again.’
‘Why don’t you, then?’ Robs asks, as if it’s the easiest thing in the world.
‘Because it’s expensive for one. Have you seen the house prices here recently?’
‘No, not really.’
Of course he hasn’t.
‘And I have Rosie to think about too,’ I add hurriedly, in case Rob thinks my lack of funds is the only reason.
‘But you just said she would like to live here?’
‘Yes . . . but there’s her school. And . . . her friends. I can’t just make her leave all that. And what about my job – I have to earn money somehow. I can’t just live on fresh air.’
Rob just looks at me, and I know he’s seeing right through all my feeble excuses.
‘If you had the money, would you move back here?’ he asks, looking me straight in the eye, so I have no choice but to tell the truth.
‘Yes, in a heartbeat,’ I answer totally honestly for the first time.
‘Then let me give you the money,’ Rob says, making me physically jump.
‘What?’
‘Let me buy a house for you here – for you and Rosie. Hollywood pays pretty well when you’re at the top of your game. We’d have to be talking millionaires’ mansions for it to put more than a small dent in my bank accounts, so I’m sure I could run to a little cottage by the sea. What do you say?’
Twenty-Nine
I stare at Rob.
‘What?’ he asks. ‘I mean it, you know. I’m not joking.’
‘No, I know you’re not. But I simply can’t accept.’
‘Why ever not?’
‘Because I want to be – no, Ineedto be – independent, that’s why. I’ve brought my daughter up myself for nearly ten years now. I can’t say I haven’t struggled at times, but I’ve done it alone and I’m proud of that.’
