Page 86 of A Secret Cornish Wish
Twenty-Two
‘Did that woman ever catch up with you?’ I ask Eddie as we all sit on the rocks overlooking Morvoren Cove.
Most of the other mourners have departed, the café is beginning to close up and it’s just us six mermaids and Mack who have stayed behind to enjoy the cool night air and the clear skies above us, affording us a beautiful view of both the moon and the stars as they light up the sand and the waves below.
Mandy has brought along some bottled beers from the café and some of the others are drinking them as we sit listening to the splashing of the waves.
‘What woman?’ Eddie asks, looking puzzled.
‘There was a woman looking for you earlier. Tall, with long grey hair – she was wearing a long black dress and a seashell necklace. We think she was in the church earlier today.’
‘But she was wearing a hat with a little veil then,’ Claire adds. ‘And her hair was pinned up.’
‘Do you mean Marilyn?’ Mandy asks. ‘It sounds like her from the description. She’s my aunt.’
‘It might be. She spoke to Claire and me and said she was looking for Eddie.’
Mandy turns to Eddie. ‘Was she now? How do you know her?’
Eddie still looks puzzled. ‘I don’t. Well, I didn’t until today. A woman matching the description you’re giving did come and talk to me, though.’
‘What did she want?’ I ask, intrigued.
‘It’s all a bit odd,’ Eddie says. ‘She asked me whether I liked living in London to begin with. I said it’s all right, I guess.’
‘I thought you loved living there?’ I say, surprised to hear him say this.
‘I do – well, I did. I don’t know, I’ve been thinking for a bit whether it’s actually for me.’
‘Not another change of career, Eddie,’ Rob says. ‘How many is that now?’
‘I didn’t say I wasn’t happy being a chef, I said I wasn’t sure if London life is for me any more.’
Again, I’m surprised. Eddie always seemed so happy in the capital before.
‘Funny thing is, it wasn’t until I came back here this time that I realised how much I miss St Felix. Cornwall in general, really. So when this woman – Marilyn, did you say?’ he asks Mandy.
She nods.
‘When Marilyn asked me that question, I was surprised – shocked, even. I hadn’t voiced those thoughts to anyone before.’
‘What did she say next?’ Suzy asks.
‘She said that I should go to the estate agent on the high street tomorrow morning, and I should look in the window. She was very specific about the time. She said I should arrive at ten a.m., and wait.’
‘How odd.’ I’m trying to work out why this Marilyn would say this. ‘Does it mean anything to you, Mand?’
‘I think she does work in property in some way,’ Mandy says. ‘I’d have to ask my mum, though. That might explain the estate-agent part.’
‘Are you thinking of moving, Eddie?’ Claire asks.
‘I wasn’t before this trip,’ Eddie says. ‘But after the funeral today . . . ’ He glances at Mandy.
‘Don’t worry, it’s fine,’ Mandy says. ‘You can talk about it.’
‘After the funeral and realising how short life can be, I have to say it has crossed my mind. But again, I’ve told no one this. Not until now.’
‘Will you go?’ I ask Eddie. ‘To the estate agent?’
