Page 49 of Summer in Sunset Harbour
Hilda wantedto keep her diagnosis a secret from the whole population of Porth Melynos, so Josie told Tiffany and Cathy that Hilda’s diagnosis was inconclusive. While Tiffany gave her a sly look to suggest she knew a lie when she heard one, Cathy was thankfully more interested in the bargains she had found during their shopping trip. As she dropped them off, a little queasy but with stomach contents intact, at the top of the campsite road, Josie promised to fill her in on any updates. As soon as Cathy sped off, Tiffany turned to her.
‘Cancer, isn’t it?’
‘Um, what?’
‘Mum, I’ve just completed five years of medical school. Don’t try to lie to me.’
Josie broke down all over again. Tiffany took her back to her cabin and made a cup of tea.
‘She’s my best friend,’ she sobbed. ‘I had no idea.’
‘She said it’s stage two, right?’ Tiffany said. ‘That means they’ve caught it in time. She might be fine. There’s a good chance.’
‘What if she’s not?’
‘Mum, we could both get hit by a bus—or a speeding launderette van, more likely—tomorrow. Even with cancer, she could yet outlive both of us. You have to be strong for her.’
Josie reached out and touched Tiffany’s cheek. ‘I’m so proud of you.’
‘You keep saying that.’
‘I know, but I am. Look at me, I’m barely keeping myself together. It should be the other way around.’
‘Just think of Hilda. You need to be strong for her.’
‘I’m doing my best. It seems like everyone around me is managing to cope with what life throws at them except for me. Why is that, Tiff?’
‘I think you’re doing okay. Just take a deep breath.’
Josie puffed out her cheeks. ‘Right. So, one thing at a time, right? We have a campsite to open, but before we can do that, we have a hole in the ground to deal with. We can’t afford a survey, can we?’
‘Not without calling in a favour, getting another loan, or selling your underwear. None of which are great options, are they? Obviously the first one is the best, but we’re not talking a tenner for fish ‘n’ chips. A survey on a plot this size could cost a hundred grand. Nat doesn’t have it, neither of us have it, and the only person who might is Hilda, but do you really want to ask her?’
‘I would rather sell my underwear.’
Tiffany rolled her eyes. ‘Well, that’s the first fiver sorted. What about the rest?’
Josie couldn’t help but smile. ‘We’re screwed, aren’t we? We’re going to have to close down before we’ve even opened.’
‘Not necessarily. Thanks to a bit of genius—if I do say so myself—with SEO and online advertising, bookings are going great. We’re full a couple of weeks in August already, and I’ve applied for an on-site catering licence so we can flog some ice creams. You know that the profit margin is about sixty percent? Forget alcohol. Ice creams, cakes and scones are where the real money is. Then there’s the tour excursions. I’ve got moorland trekking, sea-fishing, foraging, and even farming experiences pencilled in. Not to mention trips to local landmarks.’
‘How on earth can you arrange all that?’
Tiffany tipped the pink baseball cap she wore, emblazoned with the slogan,Cathy’s Cleaning: You’ll scrub up niceacross the front. ‘I know a woman who knows a dog, and that dog knows everyone,’ she said.
‘You never cease to amaze me.’
‘Well, to say thank you, I want you to do something for me. I heard from Lindsay and Geoffrey that Robinson’s coming back down tomorrow morning. I want you to go over there and ask if there’s anything he can tell us about that hole. He’s a geologist after all.’
‘Robinson … do I really have to involve him?’
Tiffany let out a frustrated groan. ‘Mum, this is business. You don’t need to go over there and flutter your eyelashes at him. Although it might help avoid a consultation fee. Take a clipboard or something and wear a t-shirt with paint on it or whatever. At least if he can give us an idea of what’s down there, we’ll be in a better position to succeed.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘We’re only screwed if it’s a mine. If it’s a natural cave caused by the rock strata, we’re in the clear. We’d only need to fence it off.’
‘And if it’s the entrance to a mine tunnel?’
