Page 100 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
It was a huge shock, this new knowledge, and it made her realise how Esme must have felt when Ben hadmentioned the bookshop to her. It also gave her a better understanding of how Esme’s retaliation – telling him that there was no way Thea was moving to Cornwall, that she saw Ben as a bit of holiday fun – would have upended everything he thought he knew.
She had caused so much confusion in such a small space of time: she should be grateful that Esme was still talking to her, rather than indignant that Ben wasn’t.
‘Are you and Alex staying on in Cornwall?’ she asked. ‘Is that part of the reason he came with you?’
Esme shifted uncomfortably. ‘We’ve got a little place near Falmouth, just for a few days next week. Work let me shift my leave forward, because of the festival.’
Thea nodded. ‘You’ve been sharing the bed with me.’
‘I know,’ Esme said. ‘But I couldn’t exactly suggest that I bunk up with Alex: not without telling you what was going on.’
‘You should have told me as soon as you arrived. I wouldn’t have minded, honestly. I’m really happy for you.’ She tried to sound enthusiastic, but wasn’t sure she managed it.
‘And I’m happy foryou, Thea. Your bookshop – it’s such an achievement. Are you going to speak to Ben again, before you go? At his event this afternoon?’
‘I’m not sure. Meredith and Finn want me to go, but I’m worried I’ll distract him. And even if I do get to talk to him afterwards, it’s my last day: I’m going to be back in Bristol until I can arrange to come down again, to start sorting out the Old Post House.’
‘I think you should go this afternoon,’ Esme said. ‘If his other friends are there, it won’t be like it’s just you, giving him a laser stare and putting him off his game.’
‘I suppose not.’
‘If part of the reason he’s upset is that he thinks you don’t really care about him, then staying away will just compound that. If you show him youwantto be there for him, that you know how important this event is to him, then won’t that work in your favour? He can’t stay mad with you for long.’
‘He could stay mad with me for ever.’
Esme shook her head. ‘No. Not with Thea Rushwood: it’s not actually possible. And think how hard you’ve worked to make your bookshop a reality. You knew Port Karadow was the right place, and even when Jamie whatsit tried his best to dissuade you, you didn’t give up, did you? If you like Ben as much as I think you do, then isn’t it worth the effort to sort things out with him, too?’
Thea gazed at the water. She could see an inflatable yellow speedboat cutting through the waves, and what looked like a fishing boat further towards the horizon, nothing more than a pale smudge amongst the glittering blue.
‘He’s worth the effort,’ she said. ‘But I need to clear my head first, so I can think about what I want to say to him.’
‘I get that.’ Esme squeezed her arm. ‘What do you want to do?’
‘I’m going to go for a walk, I think. It’ll give you a chance to tell Alex there’s no need for subterfuge any more.’
Esme nodded. ‘OK. Thanks, Thea.’
‘And later, I’ll take you to the Old Post House. Maybe after I’ve spoken to Ben?’
‘I’d love that.’
They walked back across the road, towards the cottages. Ben’s van was outside, and Thea wondered whether he wasnervous about the afternoon with Marcus, or felt calm and in control. She wished she’d been able to support him in the run-up, offering to taste his dishes, distracting him from any anxious thoughts. It had only been a few days since they’d spoken, but she felt as if they’d missed out on so much.
She pushed open the door of Sunfish Cottage and Esme went in search of Alex. Thea glanced at her phone, hoping that Ben might have seen her sitting on the bench and sent her a message, but her screen remained free of notifications, and she put it on the side table and went to get her walking boots.
‘See you in a bit,’ she called towards Alex’s bedroom door when she was ready, not wanting to think too hard about what was happening behind it. She was happy for them – of course she was – but she couldn’t help feeling envious: she could have been like that with Ben if she hadn’t been so thoughtless. She hurried out of the cottage and closed the door behind her.
She walked towards town, unsure of her destination but with a vague idea that she might head to the crevice Ben had shown her, where the seabirds whirled around the cliffs. She thought that might put things in perspective. Could she tread that precarious path all on her own?
A car horn blared as she was striding along the clifftop, and for a moment she thought it was Ben, her heart leaping at the possibility. But when the car pulled up alongside her, its hazards flashing as it drew to a stop, she saw it was Anisha.
Thea bent down at the open window. ‘Hey!’
‘Glad I caught you,’ Anisha said. ‘For you!’ She held out a set of keys. ‘I shouldn’t really be doing this, but I thought you might like to have a look around your new property,so you can take it all in, now you know it’s yours, and before you head back to Bristol.’
‘Really? That’s so kind, thank you!’
‘As long as it doesn’t make you change your mind.’
