Page 37 of A Secret Cornish Wish
How could we possibly have much in common any more? Claire is getting married, whereas I couldn’t think of anything worse to be doing right now.
As I walk down the hill into town, I think about what Mum said about me using cheating as an excuse to break up with my boyfriends. I haven’t exactly had a lot of relationships in my twenty years on this earth, and Idefinitelyhaven’t had the experience I had six weeks ago with Paul before, but have I been cheated on that often?
I definitely ended relationships when I suspected a couple of my boyfriends of messing me around, but Paul was the first I actually caught doing it. But I certainly wasn’t imagining the others, and, even if I was, why would I do that?
I wonder if the others are all going to be here on Saturday. It would be good to see everyone again. Even though we tried to keep in touch, it became more and more difficult after we all went our separate ways and left St Felix.
I walk along the familiar cobbles of Harbour Street, pausing outside the florist. I glance at my watch. I still have plenty of time before I’m due to meet up with Claire, so I open the door and the familiar sound of the bell rings above my head.
There seems to be no one in the shop as I enter, but then a little head pops up from behind the counter.
‘Hello,’ I say to a little girl with long dark hair, who looks familiar.
‘Hi,’ she replies shyly.
‘Is Rose about today?’ I ask as another head pops up next to the girl; this time it’s a slightly older boy and I know immediately who the children are: Poppy and William, Rose’s grandchildren.
‘She’s on the phone out back,’ the boy says. ‘Can we help you?’
I smile. ‘That’s kind of you, but if it’s all right with you I’ll wait for Rose. I don’t know if you remember me, but I used to work here. I remember the two of you coming to visit your grandmother for your holidays.’
‘Yes, I remember you,’ Poppy says. ‘Your name is Frankie.’
‘That’s right, and you are Poppy and William.’
‘I’m Will now,’ the boy says with a serious expression.
‘Sorry, Will it is. You’ve both grown a lot since I last saw you. You could barely see over the counter the last time I was here.’
‘I’m nine now,’ Poppy says.
‘And I’m eleven,’ Will says proudly. ‘I’m going to secondary school in September.’
‘Oh, how exciting,’ I tell him. ‘I hope you enjoy it.’
‘Frankie!’ Rose calls as she comes into the shop. ‘How lovely to see you again!’
Rose hurries around to the front of the desk to give me a hug. ‘I didn’t know you were coming back; how long are you here for?’
‘Just a few days. I’m back for my friend Claire’s wedding.’
‘Ah, yes. I’m doing the flowers. Of course you’d know Claire; she’s about your age. Do you know Jonathan, her fiancé, too?’
‘Not really, only Claire. We were best friends at school.’
Rose nods. ‘That makes sense. Have you met Jonathan?’
‘Only briefly.’
‘And what did you think of him?’
I haven’t really formed any opinion of Jonathan. He seemed OK – a bit uptight maybe, not really my type at all – but Claire seemed to like him, and that was all that mattered.
‘He seems like a good chap.’
‘Good, then I’m sure he is.’
I’m slightly puzzled by Rose’s comment, but I’m not sure why.
