Page 38 of A Secret Cornish Wish
‘I’m so pleased you’re doing their flowers,’ I tell her. ‘I know you’ll make a great job of them. I see you’ve got two new assistants helping you out in the shop.’
Rose looks proudly at her grandchildren. ‘Yes, they’re doing wonderfully. Almost as good as you were.’ She winks at me.
‘I bet they’ll be even better in time.’ I smile at Poppy and Will still looking up at me from behind the shop counter.
‘Have you time for a cuppa?’ Rose asks. ‘I was just about to put the kettle on. I’d love to hear all your news.’
I glance at my watch again. ‘Oh, I wish I had, but I’m supposed to be meeting Claire in a few minutes.’
Rose looks disappointed.
‘How about I try to pop in another time while I’m here?’ I suggest. ‘Then we can have a good catch-up and a gossip?’
‘I’d like that, Frankie. I’d like it a lot.’ Rose pauses and looks me up and down. ‘You’re looking well. University really suits you.’
‘It’s art college, but thank you.’
‘Yes, you’re definitely finding your own style; I can see that. I’m pleased for you.’
‘Thanks,’ I reply, knowing that Rose means this as a compliment. My mother has long given up commenting on what I wear when I return home. Discussions about appropriate clothing for a young lady fall on deaf ears these days, and she knows it. ‘Right, well, I’d better go. It was good to see you again, Rose, and you too, Poppy and Will.’ I smile at them. ‘Look after your Granny Rose, won’t you?’
‘I prefer Grandma,’ Rose says, smiling. ‘I’m not sure about looking after me, but they keep me young, that’s for sure!’
I leave the shop and head down to the harbour. I’m due to meet Claire at the tea rooms on the harbour front and, as I approach, I see her already sitting at one of the outside tables.
‘Frankie!’ She waves at me. ‘Over here!’
We greet each other with a hug.
‘Oh, it’s so good to see you again,’ Claire says, sitting back down at the table. ‘It feels like ages since I saw any of you guys.’
Claire is the only one of us mermaids who hasn’t left St Felix for work or university or college. Instead, after her A levels, Claire took a job at the primary school in St Felix as a teaching support assistant. There, she met her first and only boyfriend, Jonathan, who is a teacher and now her fiancé too, and that’s where she stayed.
‘I was here at Easter,’ I tell her. ‘It’s not been that long.’
‘I know, but I didn’t see you that much then. Besides, so much has happened since.’ She places her hand carefully on her stomach.
‘Oh my God, are you telling me you’re pregnant?’ I ask, staring at her.
‘Shush, it’s early days,’ Claire says proudly. ‘I barely knew at Easter, I only suspected. We’ve not even told our parents yet. We’re telling them after the wedding.’
I stare at Claire. How can she be this happy? She’s the same age as me, and yet she’s getting married and expecting her first child – in my eyes that’s the worst thing I could imagine happening to me right now. I have so much I want to do before settling down.
‘I . . . I’m pleased for you,’ I say, trying to sound happy. ‘That’s amazing news.’
Claire smiles. ‘I know you don’t understand why I’m so happy about this. I’m sure my situation would be a complete disaster for you and all the other mermaids. But I love Jonathan, I can’t wait to marry him on Saturday, and then in approximately six months have his baby.’
Claire looks so genuinely happy that I can’t feel anything other than delighted for her.
‘If you’re happy, then so am I,’ I tell her, smiling. ‘Would I want to be doing what you are right now? Absolutely not. But if this is what you want, and I can see it is by the look on your face, then I wish you and Jonathan the very best of luck.’
‘Thank you, Frankie. That means a lot. Really it does. Now, I want to hear all your news?’
A young boy waiting tables comes out and takes our order.
‘I don’t really have any news,’ I say, trying to think of something to tell her.
‘How’s Paul?’
