Page 60 of Summer in Sunset Harbour
‘We’ll do that zipline,’ she said. ‘I promise.’
A tear ran down Hilda’s cheek. ‘Go and be happy, Josie. Don’t let the past define you. It’s time to start building your future.’
Josie tried to reply, but all she could do was put her hand over her mouth in a pathetic attempt not to cry.
‘I wonderedwhen you were coming back,’ Tiffany said as Josie came through the door into the reception cabin. ‘Look at all these.’
Lines of cards, soft toys, flowers and other random gifts filled every available space. ‘Congratulations!’ ‘Good luck!’ ‘Happy Opening Day!’ and more slogans shouted at Josie in gaudy, flamboyant lettering.
‘Someone sent us a bread maker,’ Tiffany said with a grin. ‘I’ve always wanted one of those.’
‘I didn’t think people did things like this,’ Josie said, shaking her head.
‘Welcome to the modern age,’ Tiffany said. ‘You didn’t forget that we open tomorrow, did you? Bookings have doubled since the excavation went public. Our first night, and we’re already full. Biggest campsite in southern Cornwall.’ She grinned. ‘By the way, how does it feel to be immortalised?’
‘Um, what?’
Tiffany’s smile dropped. ‘Didn’t you hear?’
‘Hear what?’
‘Ah, that’s right, you were off-site for a couple of days. There’s been a pretty mental development.’
‘What?’
Tiffany adjusted the straw hat she wore and made a drumming motion in the air. ‘Drumroll, please—’
‘Just tell me!’
Tiffany beamed. ‘Ha, well, that guy in the tomb … it’s not a guy.’
‘Not a … what is it then?’
‘It’s a skeleton of a woman. The scientists think it could be the earliest known example of a warrior queen. And of course, for merchandising and general exploitation purposes, they needed a decent name.’ She grinned. ‘Nat and Robinson both agreed on it. Queen Josephine, Lady of the Cave Lions.’
Josie coughed. ‘Are you having a laugh?’
‘I think it has a lovely ring to it. Named after the first woman to set eyes on her.’
Josie shook her head. ‘Oh my goodness. That’s not something I expected. Is it too late to change it?’
‘Yep. It’s already being reported in the press. By the way, I put in an offer on a vacant commercial property down in the village, you know, getting in ahead of the expected price boom. It’s right on the main street, and has a little flat upstairs, two bedrooms. I thought we—but mostly you, since I’ll be doing my residency—would need something to do in the off-season. Plus, great job that you’ve done notwithstanding, this is still Nat’s campsite.’
Josie smiled. ‘My miracle daughter. How would I survive without you?’
‘You’d manage. You did before. Coffee, trinkets, confectionary. What do you think?’
Josie took a deep breath. ‘Queen Josephine’s Café and Bookshop,’ she said, trying the words out for size. ‘How do you think that would sound?’
‘I think it would sound perfect. Good choice, Mum.’
‘I guess that puts paid to that Nathaniel lookalike doll,’ Josie said.
‘Nat’s bought the entire stock already,’ Josie said. ‘He said they’re collectors’ items. Do you want to see the prototype for Queen Josephine?’
‘Do I want to see it?’
Tiffany smiled and pulled a soft toy doll out from under the counter. It looked vaguely Amazonian in a spongy, gaudy way, with one paw-like hand gripping a plastic spear.
