The Gift of Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

  The kindly man put a hand on Mary’s trembling one. ‘As I said, we are here now and there is time to rectify everything. For all of us.’

  ‘I need to speak to Rosa.’ Mary sighed.

  ‘And I’ve made the decision that I’m going to leave Rosa to come to me. It sounds like she has a lot on her young shoulders to deal with at the moment.’

  ‘Yes, Grandad, she has. And knowing my daughter as I do now, I’d really appreciate that.’

  ‘Of course – and oi, less of the “Grandad”.’ This time, they both laughed. ‘And Mary?’ Christopher looked directly at her. ‘Seeing as we are going to be sharing that joy, maybe we should do this again, sometime?’

  CHAPTER 53

  ‘Pigs in chuffing Blankets? What does that mean anyway?’ Thankful that it was Sunday and they could spend a whole day in peace together, Josh and Rosa were sitting at the table in the lounge going through the few entries they had had for the shop. As expected, Josh had been slightly shocked at first on hearing the new family revelation, but, in true matter-of-fact style, he said that whatever happened they would cope, and if Rosa wanted him to be there when she met with Mary – or her dad, for that matter – to talk about it, then of course he would come along to fully support her. Josh also stressed to her that although Nate had initially thought he had a claim on the shop, he truly didn’t. Legally, it had been left to Rosa – and if she wanted to gift anything to him it would totally be down to her.

  During their talk on the clifftop, Nate had, however, made it clear that he was so happy to have Rosa as a half-sister that he was going to talk to his dad about living with him in North Devon and paying his way properly. He also said that he had never expected to have such a rapport with her, to feel so close to Rosa in such a short time, and that she had inspired him to be a better man already.

  ‘You must have had Pigs in Blankets at Christmas dinner at home before, or somewhere surely?’ Rosa asked now.

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘It’s mini-sausages – a bit like Hot’s puppies, really – wrapped in bacon.’

  ‘Oh, them,’ Josh tutted. ‘Mum just used to call them just that: sausages wrapped in bacon.’

  Rosa laughed. ‘I learn something new about you every day, husband.’

  Hot was sleeping soundly in his bed until the shop doorbell went, and then he struggled up, all agog to see who was troubling them on a non-workday. Josh nipped downstairs and returned with another envelope, which he gave to Rosa, saying, ‘Talk about last-minute.’

  Josh then opened his laptop, going to the spreadsheet entitled ‘Shop’. He laid out all the envelopes in front of him. ‘I’m going to type out all the main points and then we can go through them in order. Are you happy with that, dearest?’

  ‘Do as you will, my darling. You know me, I just want the bare facts and then I can make my final decision.’

  ‘OK.’ Josh spoke aloud as he gazed at his spreadsheet. ‘I will put in the biggest charity money order first.’

  ‘But that’s not how I’m choosing,’ Rosa objected. ‘That’s just an extra bonus.’

  ‘I know, my little chinchilla.’ Josh blew her a kiss. ‘Rosa Smith will no doubt be following her heart, as she does with most things.’

  ‘Yes, she will.’ Hot was now snuggled next to her as Rosa went to lie on the sofa, having a rest at her husband’s insistence.

  ‘So, we have Frosty the Snowman, who wants to donate the massive sum of one thousand pounds to Polhampton Paws, a rescue centre for dogs and cats. He or she wants to sell crystals and designer dog blankets. And, the reason for them wanting it is…’

  ‘I don’t want to hear all the reasons now.’

  ‘All right, Miss Stroppy.’

  ‘Well, I’ve read them already.’

  Josh continued to talk aloud as he worked on the spreadsheet. ‘So, next is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Now he – or I guess it could be she – is donating seven hundred and fifty pounds to – wait for it – the Carrot Footprint, who are a charity campaigning for a safer planet. They want to set up a plant-based healthfood shop.’

  ‘Hmm. Would the locals of Cockleberry really be ready for that, just yet?’ Rosa wondered.

  ‘Maybe Vegan Vera is putting her stamp on it.’ Rosa grimaced at even the mention of that woman’s name, but said nothing as her lovely husband went on, ‘Next is – ooh yes, here they are – Pigs in Blankets, donating two hundred and fifty pounds to the Cockleberry Bay Residents Association. Nice.’ Josh carried on typing. ‘And a beauty salon. Can’t really see how that will work, unless they intend to use the flat as treatment rooms.’ He took a slurp of his now cold coffee. ‘And, last but by no means least, we have Quality Street. My favourite chocolates. Did you get any, by the way? We must have a tin for Christmas.’

  With a massive sense of relief, Rosa was now intently reading the envelope that had just been put through the door.

  Josh carried on talking to himself. ‘So, Mr or Mrs Quality Street, they are donating one hundred pounds to the local Lifeboats and they want to turn the shop into a DIY store.’ At the mention of a DIY store, Rosa smiled. That had to be Danny. When he had called her the other day, he did say that he knew it was closed bids, but he wanted her to know, anyway.

  Josh noticed how quiet Rosa had become. He looked over at the sofa where she was still reading the letter from the envelope he had given her. The tracks of her silent tears were evident.

  ‘Oh, my darling, what is it?’

  ‘I now know the two we are taking to the grand finale on Christmas Eve. And you, my gorgeous husband, will just have to trust me on this one.’

  CHAPTER 54

  ‘I can’t believe you got us through to the final. You’re a canny one, you are.’ The Managing Director of Costsmart Supermarkets lay back in his comfy office chair, feeling well pleased.

  ‘She thinks she’s clever, the one who runs it,’ his caller said snidely, ‘but she was easier to fool than my mother when I was a teenager. And I knew the charity I chose would pull at her silly little heart-strings. I wrote a pledge that would be Oscar-worthy too. We’ve got this!’

  ‘I bloody hope so. My job nigh-on depends on it.’

  ‘Have you got my cash?’ the caller then demanded.

  ‘Just let me know when the shops is ours and I will transfer it.’

  ‘I would rather have it in cash.’

  ‘OK, OK. Well, thanks again and good luck at the grand finale, although by the sound of it, it’s in the bag.’

  ‘Paper ones not plastic, of course, to keep all the do-gooding environmentalists happy.’ The caller sniggered.

  The managing director was amused. ‘Somehow,’ he commented, ‘I don’t think you’ll be going to heaven.’

  ‘Somehow, I don’t care. Merry Christmas, Mr Badger.’

  ‘Merry Christmas…Frosty the Snowman.’

  CHAPTER 55

  Ritchie was zipping up Theo’s little blue anorak when the baby let out a noisy fart, causing all three of the little family to laugh.

  ‘He gets that from you.’ Titch shook her head then looked in the mirror and picked at her teeth. ‘Bloody raspberry pips in that Co-op jam.’

  ‘You are coming to see Rosa do her pitch, aren’t you?’ Ritchie asked.

  ‘What time is it starting again? Mum said to drop him at Auntie Betty’s, as she’s up there with her finishing off the wedding cake and will then come down to the event. When are you at work?’

  ‘I told you last night, I’m going in a bit later. Dad’s doing the prep for me. We have to support our mate.’ When Titch sighed, Ritchie kissed her gently on the cheek. ‘Are you all right, my little love? You seem a bit out of it.’

  ‘I’m just tired, that’s all – and we are getting married in three days in case you had forgotten.’

  Ritchie put his long arms around her. ‘I thought we were all set.’

  ‘We kind of are,’ she replied. But it wasn’t the wedding that was causing her to feel such melancholy, it was the re
collection that, even after Ritchie’s gentle persuasion that she bid for the shop, she had made the decision not to do so. Had made the decision to miss out on the chance of following her dreams and finding a secure home, somewhere that she, Ritchie and Theo and their pets could call their own.

  At that moment, Saveloy and Mr Chips came scampering in from the kitchen and started to yap at their feet.

  ‘Come on, let’s hurry up and see if your mum and Bet will take these two furry monsters as well,’ Ritchie said, ‘and then we can get ringside seats for Rosa. You know how your mum and Bet dote on the lot of them.’ Secretly, he thought the two ladies wouldn’t get much done once their tiny charges arrived. ‘You’ll probably get the chance to fit in a kip yourself later, I reckon.’

  ‘Ooh yes, that sounds like the perfect plan.’

  ‘You should wear that new sparkly Christmas jumper of yours, seeing as it’s Christmas Eve and everything. Make yourself feel better.’

  ‘All right, but Ritchie?’

  ‘Yes, my Tinkerbell?’

  ‘Be an angel and change Theo’s nappy first, can you? I think he followed through with that fart of his.’ She threw one at her husband-to-be, causing the little wieners to try and catch it and start barking like crazy again. ‘And Ritchie?’

  Her obedient fiancé, already starting to take off the anorak he’d just put on Theo, his soon-to-be adopted son, looked up at his pretty, blonde, cropped-haired lover. ‘Yes, She Who Must Be Obeyed?’

  ‘I bloody cannot wait to be able to call you my Husband.’

  CHAPTER 56

  Christmas Eve and the Cockleberry Bay Village Hall had not seen so much activity since the adult version of the nativity play twenty-five years ago, when Joseph had outed his wife for having an affair with the Angel Gabriel; in his hurry to escape the humiliation, the latter got his wings caught in a wise man’s stick and fell off the stage, breaking his ankle.

  The atmosphere was alive with anticipation. The hum of the early crowd reverberated around the old wooden structure. The village hall was now home to play groups, the local am-dram group, dance lessons, Sunday school, yoga and martial arts classes. There was also an underlying excitement from some of the youngsters and, if they were honest, some of the oldies too, since it was cold enough for snow. And snow was a rare occurrence in the south-west, let alone on Christmas Eve.

  Sara and a happy-looking Nate were already doing a roaring trade in hot drinks and mince pies, which they were serving from the hatch at the back of the room. It was Rosa’s idea to do this and split the profits between all the afore-mentioned charities.

  A subdued Danny was outside having a cigarette. After Rosa had explained that Nate was family, she had asked him to apologise, if he didn’t mind. She said she knew that he was only trying to protect her and the shop. Rosa had also briefed Nate and warned him that if it was all going to kick off again, to make sure they were well away from the village hall and the prying eyes of the press. Luckily, just a few words were expressed, and the currency of fists had been exchanged for what looked like Nate pushing something – which could well have been cash – into his back pocket. Honour among suspected thieves and all that. Rosa was hoping that the two of them would make good friends, now the score had been settled.

  Barry Savage was sitting up on the stage being briefed by his assistant, Charlotte, his large stomach protruding in his bright red Christmas jumper. It made a refreshing change, Rosa thought, from his whiffy, loud-checked suit.

  The only information that Rosa had given in advance was that they had already messaged the two contenders concerned to be there at 9 a.m., ready to go up on the stage and learn their fate. It seemed almost incredible that, in less than an hour, somebody else would be the proud owner of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.

  Charlotte had also thought it quite strange that Rosa had specifically requested a projector and screen so that she could show a few photos of the shop from back when Ned and Dottie had it, right up to the present day. It was radio, after all. The listeners wouldn’t benefit from it. However, being young and enthusiastic, the girl bought into it, agreeing that she would eventually link it up to the website as there would be a lot of people listening online too and they could be instructed to take a look in their own time; it would encourage those listening to the podcast to follow suit, too.

  Alec had now joined Sara and Nate, so Josh went over to chat with his friends as Rosa made her way up onto the stage. Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ was playing over the airwaves and some of the gathering crowd were singing along. The radio station had even lined up chairs in anticipation of a big crowd. Mary was sitting as far away as she could at the back, with Hot, who was being surprisingly good. Jacob and Raff were also near the back, looking on like proud parents. They knew how much this meant to Rosa and weren’t going to miss a minute. Rosa waved to them as Charlotte and Barry talked her through how the next half hour was going to work.

  Scott Wilde and Kelly from the Gazette, phones on, were both recording live, ready to get another scoop in a national newspaper if they could, and Scott had already started snapping to make sure they got as many good photos as they could. Rosa glanced out at the crowd and suddenly noticed Bergamot swanning in and taking the seat that had her name on it, right at the front. With her lips as full and red as jelly ones and her red faux-fur coat, plus matching red locks cascading down her back, she looked like the Evil Fairy in Sleeping Beauty.

  As the song started coming to an end, a breathless Ritchie appeared through the door, shepherding Titch to sit near the front. He winked at Rosa and stuck his long legs under the seat in front of him. Just as one of the producers started to shush the crowd, the back door opened noisily. An embarrassed Lucas came in and sat down at the back next to Mary, then, on catching Rosa’s eye, he smiled, then made a funny face and mouthed, ‘What the fuck?’ as he pointed to the back of DC Clarke’s head. The policeman was sitting in front of him with a woman whom he assumed was his wife.

  ‘So that was “Last Christmas” from Wham,’ Barry Savage piped up. ‘God bless the talent that was George Michael’s – so very sad, folks. But we are here to be happy today, not sad. To celebrate somebody receiving the most amazing gift from this little lady here. Welcome, Rosa Smith, from the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, who, not last Christmas, but two Christmases ago, arrived here in Cockleberry Bay after inheriting the shop from her estranged great-grandfather.’

  ‘Hello,’ Rosa replied, feeling a sudden rush of nerves at what she was about to announce.

  Barry was more animated than Rosa had ever seen him. ‘And part of her inheritance was that she couldn’t sell the shop but had to give it away to somebody who deserved it. Now, this is what we are doing live on air on this cold Christmas Eve morning in Cockleberry Bay, and I am so happy to be the bringer of such great news.’ There was a ripple of applause from the live audience. ‘So, Rosa tells me that she had fewer entries than expected, and that this was probably down to the fact that she put a certain proviso on gaining the shop; this proviso states that the shop cannot be sold for at least ten years after today’s date. We wouldn’t want anyone getting it in an underhand manner, now would we, Rosa?’

  ‘Thanks, Barry, and no, we certainly wouldn’t. My great-grandfather not only worked hard to make a good life for himself and his wife, and the locals of the Bay, but also he wanted to make my life complete. I have promised in turn that I will do right by him, and hopefully continue to make him proud, moving forward, now and forever.’

  Mary welled up. Her friends hugged her. Josh said, far too loudly, ‘Go, Rosa.’

  Barry took over. ‘So, Rosa informs me that the charities which are going to benefit today, with a total of an amazing two thousand, one hundred and fifty pounds, are as follows: ‘The Local Lifeboats.’ A round of applause. ‘The Cockleberry Bay Residents Association.’ A small cheer. ‘The newly set-up Carrot Footprint, who are another local charity campaigning for a safer planet.’ A small ripple. ‘Polhampton Paws, a
dog and cat shelter, and not forgetting Sea and Save, who were the saviours of Cockleberry Bay’s very own beach and wildlife earlier this year.’

  A resounding cheer and thunder of applause went around the wooden building, which was at last starting to warm up with its old-fashioned overhead heaters.

  ‘So all of you – and you know who you are – either here or listening in, please get your donations to your listed charities as soon as possible, to make all those carrots, animals, beaches and boat people happy.’

  Rosa cringed; Barry might be in a buoyant mood, but he was still as ridiculous as ever in his choice of words.

  Tugging his bright red jumper down over his massive belly, he announced, ‘So on that note, let’s play another song, shall we, and when we come back in a few minutes’ time, we will hear why the two finalists think they should run the shop – and more importantly to the locals here and listening in – what they will be selling.’

  Rosa got down from the stage and went straight over to Josh. He cuddled her gently and then cupped her now little visible bump with his big hand. ‘Mr Bump will be so proud of you.’

  ‘Or Miss,’ Rosa corrected him.

  ‘So, are you going to tell me who the finalists are now?’

  Kissing him on the nose, she ignored her husband, then went to see Mary and make sure Hot was behaving himself.

  ‘I’m so proud of you, duck. Queenie would be delighted, and if my mum, your poor Grandma Maria had been around, she would be too. In fact, all of us are proud of you, darling. Right, I’m just going to take the hound outside, so he doesn’t start creating.’ She stood up and put Hot on his lead. Lucas was just coming back from the toilet.

  ‘Do I get a snog when you award it to me then?’ he grinned.