Page 96 of The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday
Chapter Twenty-Five
Thea got back to the cottage full of fresh seafood and wine, her cheeks aching from laughing so much. As she lay in bed that night, her mind buzzing too much to fall asleep, Esme breathing gently alongside her, she thought how glad she was that Finn had found her sitting outside on her first day here, and struck up a conversation with her.
The next day she woke to grey dawn light, its usual, golden hue nowhere to be found. Her stomach felt heavy, and not because of the chocolate puddings they’d indulged in after their fish platter, but because it was her penultimate day in Cornwall. Even if things went well at the meeting Anisha and Andy were due to attend, she would still be leaving on Saturday morning. She had her job to go back to, then a potentially complicated process of arranging renovations and setting up a brand new business while she was miles away.
‘Penny for them?’ Alex said, turning on the coffee machine when she wafted into the kitchen, the sky still dull, the seaa greenish-grey. She could hear the gentle patter of the shower overhead, but the low thrum of the waves was still there, a backdrop to everything.
‘Bookshop stuff,’ she said, sliding onto a stool.
Alex got out plates and a packet of pains au chocolat.
‘You thought your pitch went well, though?’
‘It did – I’m sure of it.’
‘And this has led to you worrying about …’ He rolled his hand, and Thea grinned.
‘My plan was simple,’ she said. ‘I’ve budgeted enough to go without any salary for four months, then with a reduced one for another three. I’d estimated that was how long it would take me to set everything up with a straightforwardlocation, then start to make some money from the business. Everything is variable, of course, and depends on rent, outgoings. They’re only ever going to be estimates, but still.’ She shrugged.
‘Ah.’ Alex pushed a plate towards her. ‘I get it. Now you’ve set your sights on the charming character property, and it’s blown your plan out of the window.’
‘Exactly. I don’t know how long it will take to renovate the Old Post House, but it’s going to take a while. I want to be close by, to be fully involved, but I also don’t want to fritter away more of my savings than I have to. I can’t be jobless for six months.’
‘Some people might say that managing the refurbishment of a historic property and turning it into the bookshop of your dreamswasa job.’
‘Yes, but only I can pay me, because there isn’t anyone else.’ She remembered her first, terse exchange with Ben, when he’d told her he wasn’t being paid for the job nextdoor, but didn’t explain that was because it was his house. She smiled, pushing pastry flakes onto her finger.
‘You seem particularly happy about your predicament.’ Alex gave her a tentative smile. ‘Esme mentioned that you and Ben haven’t managed to reconcile your differences yet.’
Thea shrugged. ‘I understand why he’s upset. I just want him to give me one more chance to talk to him. Justone.’
‘I could have a go,’ Alex said quietly, ‘but I’ve discovered, over the years, that interfering in other people’s affairs of the heart doesn’t always go well. It’s best to focus on yourself when it comes to these things.’
‘And whatisyour status when it comes to affairs of the heart? Anyone special in your life?’ She felt comfortable asking this, now that the affection she felt for him had revealed itself to be entirely platonic. But Alex squirmed in his seat, as if she’d asked him to show her his underwear.
‘It’s a bit—’ he started, just as Esme bounded into the kitchen.
‘I can smell the chocolate from upstairs. I hope you’ve saved one for me.’
‘Of course.’ Alex went to open the oven. ‘Take a seat and I’ll bring it over.’
‘Thanks, Alex.’ She gave him a goofy grin, and he returned it.
Thea narrowed her eyes at them, her cogs beginning to turn when Esme broke into her thoughts. ‘Shall we all go into town today? Take your mind off imminent, life-changing phone calls?’
‘That would be great,’ Thea said.
‘When will you hear?’ Alex asked.
‘Anisha and Andy have a meeting with the wider planning team this morning,’ Thea said, and suddenly she couldn’t eat another mouthful of pastry. ‘Once they’ve given me their verdict, then, whatever it is, it’ll give me a reason to talk to Ben. I’ll be going there with an apologyandsome concrete news. Hopefully it’ll be positive.’
‘Of course it will be,’ Esme said. ‘But until we hear, I think you should show us around this town that you’ve fallen in love with.’
Thea finished her coffee and stood up. She couldn’t bear the thought of showing her friends the delights of Port Karadow, only to find out that she was back to square one in her quest to move here. But that wasn’t going to happen, she told herself. She just had to put it out of her mind until she heard from Anisha. That couldn’t be so hard to do, could it?
In the flat, sun-free day, Port Karadow still managed to shine. The shops along the cobbled streets were colourful, their summery bunting, sweets and postcards creating a holiday atmosphere that sucked Thea in. Esme seemed equally charmed, insisting on buying chocolate orange fudge for them to munch as they walked along, then stopping in front of every shop window and deciding which item in the display she’d buy, and making Thea and Alex do the same.
Then, although spending time in an ironmonger’s wasn’t top of Thea’s wish-list – and she thought it probably wasn’t Esme’s either – when Alex coaxed them inside,they discovered an old-fashioned treasure trove. It was full of tools Thea couldn’t name and light bulbs she wasn’t sure wouldever find a light to pair with; of garden ornaments and endless trays of screws and nails, picture hooks and key rings in every size and shape imaginable.
