Page 84 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
‘What about you?’ he asked. ‘You’ve got less than a week left.’
Thea shifted on the hard seat, then felt Ben’s arm go around her waist. She leaned into him, and was instantly more comfortable. ‘I was going to ask you about the Old Post House. Do you really think the council will let me rent it?’
‘I honestly have no idea, but there’s no harm in making enquiries. I can talk to Anisha for you, if you like – or give you her number? I’m sure they’d want it to have a purpose, instead of sitting there, getting more and more run-down.’
‘The thing is,’ she said, ‘it needs so much money spending on it. And my business loan will cover standard set-up costs: getting stock in, any furniture and tech I need – shelves and the payment system – and some initial marketing. There’s so much to do even if the premises are perfect, so to factor in a whole-scale renovation on top …’
‘And the bats. Don’t forget about them.’
‘How could I forget the bats?’ She laughed. ‘But I don’t have to go through with it, if it doesn’t look like it’ll work out.’
‘Exactly,’ Ben said, his tone as light as hers. ‘It’s just an idea to explore. If it doesn’t come to anything, no harm done. More properties will come up in Port Karadow: it’s a busy town, things are always changing.’
‘Right.’ She nodded, resolute.
Beside her, she saw Ben do the same. It seemed that he had decided, as much as she had, that her future lay in this particular town. He wanted her here. The realisation made her giddy.
She took in the endless stretch of glistening ocean, the scents of saltwater and fish, the wind caressing every bit of exposed, sun-warmed skin. It was blissful and magnificent, and she knew she felt that way because of the trip – even if she didn’t have the stomach for fishing, and Alex didn’t have the stomach for being on the sea – but also, perhaps predominantly, because of Ben. His hand was still on her waist, and she could feel the heat of him through her T-shirt. She loved the expressionall at sea, and right now it felt entirely appropriate, in the most thrilling, anticipatory way.
When they got back to the harbour, Stan linedEndeavourup with the stone wall, and Ben leapt off to tie the boat to its mooring, before helping Thea’s friends onto dry land. Esme led Alex to the nearest bench, and he slumped heavily onto it. Ben held his hand out for Thea, steadying her as she stepped off the boat.
‘I’ll finish things up with Stan, then I’ll come and join you.’
‘I’m going to get Alex some more water,’ Thea said. ‘Meet you at the bench in five minutes?’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
‘Thank you for today,’ Thea called to the boat owner. ‘Sorry we cut it short.’
‘No worries,’ Stan said. ‘Bit of a damp squib, but that’s your problem, not mine.’
Thea surveyed the harbour side, wondering where the closest place to get water was, when she felt Ben’s fingers on her arm. She turned around.
‘Do you think …’ His words trailed away.
‘Do I think what?’
‘That you could get away for a bit this evening? Lock your friends in a cupboard, or something?’ He gave her a sheepish smile, and Thea laughed.
‘I’m sure I can do something a bit less drastic than that. And I’d love to come and see you.’
‘Good. Me too.’ He nodded, then turned back to Stan while Thea hurried up the hill towards Main Street.
She bought bottles of water and three baguettes, because she was starving and she thought Ben and Esme might be too, though she didn’t think Alex would be up to eating anything for a while yet.
She could see the bench from the top of the hill, could see that Ben had joined the others, and that he and Esme were talking. She felt a flicker of unease, as if they were a small herd of unruly ponies and it was her job to corral them. As she got closer, her unease deepened. Esme was gesticulating wildly, and Ben had his arms folded tightly across his chest.
‘Hey,’ she said, as she got closer.
Alex turned tired eyes on her, and Esme’s expression was a strange mix of alarm and defiance. Ben looked closed off, cold: nothing like he’d been on the boat.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked as Ben stood up. She held out a bottle of water to him, but he shook his head.
‘I have to get back.’
‘What? Why?’
Ben shot a quick glance at Esme, pressed his lips together, and then, without saying anything else, turned and strode away, radiating hostility as he went.
‘Ben?’ Thea called, but he didn’t turn around. She wanted to go after him, but then she looked at Esme and knew there was a fire to put out here, too.
She slumped onto the bench and handed Alex a bottle of water.
‘Uh, Thea?’ Esme said. She sounded confused, rather than contrite, and Thea’s stomach clenched in anticipation.
‘What is it?’ she asked quietly, and though she couldn’t quite work out how it had come about, she had an inkling of what might have been said.
‘Are youmovinghere?’ her friend asked. ‘To open abookshop?’
Thea closed her eyes for a beat, then steeled herself. Here it was, then. The time to explain herself had come, and it looked like Esme would be first.
