Page 94 of A Secret Cornish Wish
I nod. I did know that Rob had quite the reputation in the media as a ladies’ man. None of his reported relationships ever last more than a few months, it seemed.
‘We’ll all find out tomorrow night at Eddie’s party, won’t we?’ Claire continues.
‘Is Rob coming to that?’ I ask, shocked to hear this. ‘I didn’t think he would.’
‘So Eddie says. Rob texted him the other day and said would it still be all right for him to come. Eddie’s delighted and Dexter is really excited to meet him. Apparently, he’s a big fan of Rob’s films.’
‘He would be.’ I smile. Dexter and Eddie have been together for the last ten years. They met the day Eddie went to the estate agent, after Marilyn suggested he go there. Dexter was looking in the window when Eddie arrived. The estate agent was late opening up, so they got chatting, realised they were both looking for a business in the area, and not only that but something in the catering line too.
And if all that wasn’t strange enough, when the estate agent finally arrived, she told them that she had a brand-new listing – the café on Morvoren Cove was up for sale. Would either of them be interested in taking over the business?
So Eddie and Dexter, partners in both love and in business, run it together as a café in the day and a restaurant at night, and they seem to be making a wonderful job of it, if the reviews on Trip Advisor are anything to go by.
‘Dexter’s great, isn’t he?’ I ask Claire. ‘So good for our Eddie.’
Claire nods. ‘Sure is. I’ve never seen him happier than he’s been in the last few years. I think getting the business off the ground took a lot out of them to begin with, but now it seems to be flying.’
‘Good for them,’ I say, meaning it, but at the same time feeling a pang of jealousy.
‘What’s up?’ Claire asks perceptively.
‘Nothing.’ I lie.
‘Frankie?’
It’s no good, Claire has known me too long. Even though we don’t see much of each other these days, she still knows me better than anyone.
‘All right.’ I sigh. ‘It’s just everyone seems to be doing so well these days. Eddie has Dexter and the café. Mandy is flying high with her own tech business –andshe has a new partner. Suzy is an MP now, for goodness’ sake, and her husband runs his own events firm. And I’m not even going to mention Rob! And before you ask – yes, I am jealous. Of all of them. They’re successful, they’ve got their lives together, and I’m living in a tiny flat, working in a corner shop, and just about managing to get by.’
‘What about Rosie?’ Claire asks with concern. ‘She must count for something good in your life?’
‘Of course she does! I didn’t mean that. Rosie is everything. Sheismy life. She’s what I get out of bed every day for. She’s theonlyreason most days.’
‘But that’s success right there,’ Claire says. ‘You’ve not only given birth to a beautiful human being, but you’ve nurtured her and helped her become the lovely little girl that she is today. You’ve done that, and you’ve done it all on your own, Frankie. That’s a huge achievement in itself.’
Claire is right – of course she is.
‘So have you,’ I reply. ‘And you’ve done it three times.’
‘But I wasn’t on my own. I had Jonathan to begin with, and then I had Mum helping me out. I don’t think I could have coped if it was just me. I’m in awe of you, Frankie. You don’t give yourself enough credit. And I don’t exactly have a career, do I? I work in my friend’s beach café.’
‘But you have all this.’ I wave my hand around the room. ‘This is a beautiful house, Claire. You should be proud.’
‘Yes, it is. But it was my parents’ house,’ Claire protests. ‘I inherited it mortgage-free. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t live here. I’m one of the lucky ones – when my marriage fell apart I had somewhere to go. So many women don’t.’
We stare at each other for a moment, and then we smile.
‘So what if all the others have great careers,’ Claire says, refilling both our glasses with the last of the wine. ‘We’re the only ones who have children. Perhaps the others are jealous of us?’
‘I doubt it,’ I reply, grimacing. ‘But for now, let’s drink to everyone’s successes in life, both monetary and . . . procreatory too!’ I grin. ‘That’s not a word, I know. But I can’t think of a better one right now.’
‘To all of us!’ Claire lifts her glass. ‘Whatever we’ve been good at so far in life! May there be much more success and, more importantly, happiness to come!’
Twenty-Five
Claire is working the next day in the takeaway part of the café, while Eddie and Dexter set up the restaurant for the party tonight. So I spend the morning showing Rosie around St Felix once more.
We visit the harbour and the beaches. I show her where I used to live with her grandparents and then we walk back down into the town through Harbour Street. I’m hoping to stop in on Rose at the flower shop. I haven’t seen her in ages, and the last time I was here she wasn’t looking too well, although she insisted she was absolutely fine.
