Page 77 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
Chapter Twenty
Thea’s walk into Port Karadow on Sunday morning was more of a stomp. How had things gone so wrong in such a short space of time? Less than twenty-four hours ago she’d had Ben in her cottage – naked, in her shower – they were going to eat her home-cooked lasagne and then, hopefully, kiss each other like they’d done at the lighthouse and see what happened after that: frankly, she’d been expecting a lot. Instead, they’d lost power, spent the evening at the Old Post House – albeit rescuing Sylvia, so that couldn’t be considered a waste of time – then she’d found Esme and Alex on her doorstep and her night with Ben had disintegrated.
She sidestepped a large puddle, not wanting to add soggy feet to her woes, and replayed in her head Ben’s reaction when he’d realised who the man accompanying Esme was. His face had been inscrutable, as it so often was, but Thea had seen his shoulders drop, then his chin tilt up, as if he was resolved to an outcome he didn’t want.
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ he’d said.
‘No, it’s fine,’ she’d rushed. ‘Come inside. Scooter’s there anyway. I can’t make tea, but there’s wine.’
‘I could murder a glass of wine,’ Esme had said, skipping towards Thea and putting her arms around her, despite the rain still falling. ‘But tea would work, too.’
‘All the power’s off,’ Thea had explained. ‘Throughout the town. Come on, we’re drowning out here.’
She’d ushered everyone inside. Esme had gone easily, Alex following quietly behind, and Ben had been reluctant. She was sure he’d only agreed because she still had his dog. Scooter had greeted them eagerly, though he’d been hesitant around the new arrivals, and Ben had whistled, bringing the Australian Shepherd to his side.
‘Ben,’ Thea had said, the introductions with an extra layer of awkwardness in the dark, ‘this is Esme and Alex, my friends from Bristol. Alex and Esme, this is Ben. He lives in the cottage next door, and he’s been showing me around Port Karadow.’ She didn’t know how else to introduce him, and in the gloom it had been hard to gauge his reaction. She’d bitten her lip, praying silently that Esme wouldn’t reference any of their conversations aboutMr Irascible Hash Browns.
‘It’s lovely to meet you,’ she’d said, pushing down her hood to reveal her short blonde hair. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’
‘You too,’ Ben had replied, as they’d shaken hands.
‘Good to meet you,’ Alex had said when it was his turn. ‘Glad you’ve been looking out for Thea.’
‘She doesn’t need looking out for,’ Ben had replied, stealing her thoughts, ‘but we’ve been having fun. It’s beengood to get out and about when I’ve been so focused on renovating my house.’
‘That’s what you do, is it? Great stuff.’
‘They’re beautiful cottages,’ Esme had said, squinting as she’d tried to make out details of the living room in the dark. ‘I’m gutted I missed the first two weeks of this.’
‘I’d better get back,’ Ben had said. Thea hadn’t wanted him to leave, but what could she offer him? A conversation in the dark with her and two people he didn’t know? It was a strange situation, and she wasn’t sure how to fix it. She’d followed him to the door.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she’d said. ‘I had no idea they were coming.’
‘It’s fine. You’ll be OK without power?’
‘Of course,’ she’d said. ‘Willyou?’ She’d thought of the piles of building materials in his house, ready to trip him in the dark; the lack of comfort. Did he really have a bed, or was he sleeping on a mattress on the floor?
‘I’ll be good,’ he’d said, and turned to go. Thea had grabbed his wrist, pulling him back.
‘We’ll catch up soon, though?’
‘If you’d like to.’
‘You know I would. Esme and Alex being here doesn’t change anything.’ She’d tugged on his wrist and he’d lowered his head, giving her a quick, chaste kiss. Then he was gone, hurrying down the path with Scooter.
When Thea had gone back inside, she’d tried to make her questions sound interested and happy, rather than accusatory.
‘You didn’t call me back yesterday,’ Esme had explained. ‘I was saying to Alex how glad I was that the festival was over, and that I was still gutted I’d missed this holiday,and he said why not come down. There’s nearly a week left, and it made so much sense. It issogood to see you – and to meet Ben. The only rubbish thing is that the power’s out.’
‘You could have told me,’ Thea had said. ‘Even though I didn’t get back to you, you could have tried calling me, or sent a message.It’s such a surprise! Not a bad one, but …’ She had glanced at Alex, his presence making her even more uncertain. Did Ben think there had been anything between them? It was only recently that Thea’s feelings had crystallised, separating out her gratitude for Alex and her desire, her growing closeness to Ben – all the myriad other things she felt for him. She hadn’t taken the opportunity at the lighthouse to explain it to him: she didn’t think she’d need to after tonight, showing him with actions rather than words. Of course, now that wasn’t going to happen.
‘It’s great though, isn’t it?’ Esme had said. ‘We can do some of the items you’ve got left on the list.’
‘But what if I’ve got plans? I didn’t expect you to come, so …’
‘We can do them together, can’t we? Shall I get some wine?’ She had turned on her phone torch and made a sweep of the room. She found the kitchen and went in search of drinks.
‘There are only two beds,’ Thea had said to Alex, because he’d been standing in the living room in his dripping coat, looking lost.
