Page 36 of Summer in Sunset Harbour
‘Then go for it.’
Lindsay lifted an eyebrow. ‘I’ll wait and see if he asks again. Check if he’s keen or not.’
‘Nothing like being a teenager again, is there?’ Josie said with a smile.
‘We’re all going to die eventually,’ Lindsay said. ‘I suppose we’d better make the best of things while we can. Mistakes, and everything else.’
Josie said goodbye to Lindsay and headed back up to the reception and shop, where she found Tiffany sitting behind a nearly installed desk which smelled of pine and resin. A fashionable ladies’ cap perched on top of her head as she hunkered down over a laptop computer.
‘Aha, got it. And we have … a connection!’
‘Everything going okay?’
Tiffany looked up. ‘Perfect. Now we have a net connection, I can start working on the website and getting us on all the listings sites. Are you ready for the flood?’
‘Of people, I hope.’
‘Once I work a bit of SEO magic, we’ll be everywhere. I’m about to put Porth Melynos Caravan and Camping Park on the virtual map.’
‘That’s great. You know, it was a godsend you coming here. I could never have done all this stuff without you. Scrubbing and sweeping is about all I’m capable of.’
Tiffany frowned. ‘Don’t sell yourself short, Mum.’
‘I’m not—’
‘Just because Dad and you weren’t compatible, doesn’t mean you’re not capable of anything you want to do.’
‘Shouldn’t it be me telling you things like that? And what do you mean, we weren’t compatible?’
‘Honestly, I don’t know how you stayed together so long. You’re so different. I know when I was a kid, I saw it all through rose-tinted glasses, but you know, I’m older now. I can see the cracks. You should have broken up years ago. I appreciate that you made the effort for me, though.’
Josie flapped her hands, trying to think of the right thing to say. ‘It wasn’t that … it was just … I don’t know, a case of just keep your head down and carry on, hope things work out.’
‘Yeah, that’s the old way of doing things, and its commendable, I suppose. Don’t tell me you’re not happier now, though.’
‘Happier, maybe. Definitely not better off. I mean, I have to shower in a shared toilet block a five-minute walk from where I sleep. And come autumn, I might be homeless again.’
‘Bridges, Mum. It’s all just bridges to cross.’
Josie smiled and patted Tiffany on the shoulder. ‘I sent you off to university all bright-eyed and innocent, worried you’d get drunk on your first night and forget where you lived—ha, kind of like I did—and five years later you came back, but thirty years older.’
Tiffany lifted an eyebrow and tugged at a curl of hair. ‘Can you see any grey ones yet?’
‘You’re good.’
‘Must be the dye. So long as you can’t tell I’m an old biddy. By the way, I’m going down to the pub tonight if you want to join. Me and Barney are meeting Rachel and her fiancé. You know, the doctor? I mean, there might be a bit of shop talk, but that won’t take long. Apparently they’ve got a comedian coming in, some localish girl from up Willow River way. Come on, it’ll be a laugh.’
‘I appreciate the thought, but let me take you a step back there. You and Barney?’
‘Mum … we’re just mates. I mean, look at my options. You—my mother—Lindsay or Geoff. Much as I like them….’ She flapped her hands. ‘…. I don’t want to hang out. Barney wins by default, but it just so happens that he’s cool.’ Tiffany clicked her fingers. ‘Bonus.’
‘Mates?’
‘Mum, I’m on a bit of a life rebound, don’t you know? Just fun for the time being. You don’t need to worry.’
Josie sighed. ‘You’re a wonderful daughter.’
‘Of course I am. I got half of your genes and the good half of Dad’s. So what’s your excuse for pub-avoidance anyway?’
