Page 21 of The Cornish Christmas Book Clu
‘You were wrong. I’ll go and leave you to talk.’
‘No, stay.’ Becky looked embarrassed. ‘I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m a bit on edge, that’s all.’
‘How about I put the kettle on?’ Gage hoped that was a safe-enough offer.
‘I’ll do it,’ Tamara said decisively. ‘You two sit.’ She dragged a couple of chairs out from behind the counter. ‘Go on.’
If she’d somehow wriggled the story of their connection out of Becky, why hadn’t she said something to him already?
Once he’d manoeuvred around and lowered himself gingerly into the chair, he dropped the crutches beside him on the floor. ‘What’s going on, Becky?’ he asked. ‘Do people know about us?’ When she glanced at him, there were tears in her eyes and her brief nod sent his stomach plummeting. ‘That’s not down to me.’
‘I know, my love.’ A heartfelt sigh slipped out. ‘I put my foot in it at the shop yesterday after I saw you looking so poorly. Couldn’t help it.’
Gage covered her cold hand with his own. ‘Don’t apologise for caring.’ His voice cracked. ‘This is all my fault and I’m sorry. Really sorry.’
‘You’ve nothing to be sorry for. I shouldn’t be such a stubborn old fool. Lies always get found out.’ Becky’s brave smile touched him. ‘Tamara’s been a good friend since we were little girls in white knee-high socks together, so I dumped it all on her at the pub last night. She’s a plain speaker and she told me what I needed to hear. Said if I didn’t tell the truth now, people would speculate and that’d be worse.’
‘Makes sense. How did your family take it?’ he asked warily.
‘Worried myself in a tizzy about nothing, didn’t I? I’m a proper numpty sometimes. Paul wasn’t that bothered. Said it were my dad’s mistake, not mine.’ Blobs of heat lit up her cheeks. ‘Not that I’m calling you a mistake.’
It wasn’t the first time he’d been called that, but she didn’t need to feel any worse by him saying so. The number of conversations he’d overheard between his parents, blaming each other for his existence, was nobody’s business.
‘What about your children?’
‘They think it’s cool. That’s youngsters for you. In their eyes, it makes me not so boring and they can’t wait to meet their new uncle.’
Gage was speechless. He’d wanted this for so long that the effect of it being within reach was overwhelming.
‘We all want you to come to Sunday lunch soon.’
‘I’d love to.’ He picked up Tamara’s perfume before her soft footsteps.
‘Is everything—’
‘Everything’s great,’ Gage said to reassure Tamara.
‘I’m glad.’ She set the tray on the counter and passed each of them a mug before taking the last one for herself.
‘Vernon Bull will think it’s Christmas and Easter rolled into one when this spreads around,’ Becky said with a wry smile.
‘I’ve got to get off to work now, or Pixie will skin me, but I’ll be done by three.’ Tamara jumped up.
‘She’s the best baker around,’ Becky said with a warm smile. ‘Always gives everyone in our book club a Christmas cake, she does. And her mince pies put any of the so-called fancy ones you can buy to shame. Got a proper light hand with pastry, she has. Melt in the mouth, they do.’
Tamara’s flushed face told Gage that she didn’t accept compliments well. ‘I should warn you that your sister is a great one for exaggerating. I’m off. We’ll talk later about how you can get this place open in time.’ She gave him an arch look. ‘Unless you’ve had enough of my place after one night and think sleeping in a chair here is a better option?’
His cheeks heated. ‘I’ll be grateful if you can put up with me until I’m mobile again.’
‘I’ll probably survive.’ A hint of amusement played around the edges of her mouth.
Once the door closed behind her, Becky threw him a puzzled look. There was no alternative but to explain the situation. He got the sinking feeling he knew which side his sister would come down on, and it wouldn’t be his.
‘It’s obvious, isn’t it, my love?’
‘Is it?’
‘You need an extra pair of hands. Offer Tamara a part-time job here. I’m sure she could fit it in around the pub because that Christos is working shifts now, supposedly trying to learn the business alongside Pixie.’ Becky snorted.
