Page 133 of A Secret Cornish Wish
I hope you know how much you were loved, Rob?I think, looking up as we all stand to begin filing out of the church.Not only by all these people here today. But by me especially.
A song begins to play as we begin walking down the aisle towards the doors of the church.
‘Why is this song playing?’ I whisper to Claire. ‘This isn’t what we arranged?’
‘Isn’t it?’ Claire whispers back. ‘I thought we were having Bon Jovi?’
‘Yes, we were. But it was supposed to be “It’s My Life”, not this song.’
Claire listens for a moment. ‘I agree it’s not as upbeat as we wanted to keep this. But it’s fine, Frankie. Don’t worry. Everything else has gone to plan. Rob would have loved it.’
I don’t blame Claire for not understanding. No one else knew what the song playing meant. No one except Rob and me. Because playing all around us as we begin to walk out of the church is Bon Jovi’s ‘Always’.
Afterwards the vicar – also a fan, apparently – apologises to me for playing the wrong song. ‘I don’t know how it happened,’ she says. ‘I didn’t think it was even on the playlist you’d given me.’
But I know.
Rob let me know that day on the cliff, what was going to happen, and he’d let me know today there would be a special place in both our hearts for the other . . . Always.
*
‘He was pretty organised, wasn’t he?’ Mandy says as we sit on the rocks overlooking Morvoren Cove. The last of our guests finally departed after a wonderful evening spent in Eddie and Dexter’s restaurant, celebrating Rob’s life. Eddie and Dexter were the perfect hosts, and I think everyone left with feelings of warmth and contentment, rather than sadness, which is what we set out to achieve all along.
Currently, Suzy’s husband, Harry, and their twin boys, Lucas and Edward, are sitting up in the restaurant with Mandy’s partner, Jules. Claire’s children are also there, along with Rosie and her new boyfriend. They are all having a last drink with Dexter while the six of us have our own private vigil for Rob. We’ve tucked ourselves away in the rocks, just like we used to, and we’ve opened a bottle of champagne to toast our friend.
‘I mean, to leave everything so organised,’ Mandy continues. ‘With handwritten letters for all of us; he must have known he hadn’t got long?’ She looks questioningly at me.
I take a sip of my champagne. ‘Rob knew it was terminal this time. I think he just wanted to get everything in order, before the end.’
‘He certainly did that,’ Claire says, giving me a brief glance as she skilfully moves the conversation along. ‘It’s been such a weight off my mind that you all know the truth now.’
I nod gratefully at Claire.
Even though there were several of us there that day in the restaurant after Rob’s death, I only told Mack about my last conversation with Rob.
Mack and I discussed between ourselves what we thought might have taken place on the beach, but then we agreed that we’d never truly know, and we should simply let Rob rest in peace.
‘How did he keep it all so secret?’ Suzy says. ‘He was like the Rick Stein of St Felix, owning all those buildings.’
‘Who’s Rick Stein?’ Mack asks.
‘He’s quite a famous restaurateur,’ Eddie explains. ‘He owns a lot of buildings in and around Padstow, where he has a famous fish restaurant.’
Mack nods. ‘It does ring a bell.’
‘I had no idea Rob owned the building our restaurant is in,’ Eddie says. ‘I just paid the rent every month. To you as it turns out, Claire.’
‘I only looked after it all for Rob,’ Claire says. ‘It was all his idea. He knew if he offered to help any of you, you’d be too proud to accept. Especially you, Frankie.’
‘And he was right.’ I smile. There was no way I’d have allowed Rob to buy me my gallery. It was bad enough when he wanted to buy me and Rosie a house.’
‘He was going to buy you a house!’ Mandy exclaims. ‘And you said no?’
‘I did. You also offered to help me that same night, if you remember? It was the night of Eddie and Dexter’s wedding. I said no to that as well. I was very proud back then. Maybe a little too proud. I should have accepted help from my friends.’
Mack squeezes my hand. ‘But if you had, things might have turned out differently.’
‘That is true.’
