by Karen King
‘Want me to help you tidy up a bit? Or go out for the day so you can get on with it?’ Mali asked.
‘Definitely not. You’re going home tomorrow, and I want to spend as much time as I can with you both.’ Hattie filled the kettle and switched it on. ‘I thought we could go out for the day after breakfast. How do you fancy a trip to Marazion? We could walk over the causeway to St Michael’s Mount – or take the boat, if the tide is in?’
‘Oh yes, can we, Mum?’ Lou was almost jumping up and down with excitement.
‘That sounds a brilliant idea,’ Mali agreed.
So, a little later, they had all piled into Mali’s car and set off. When they arrived, they were delighted to discover that the tide was out, so walked along the causeway to the iconic Mount.
‘I remember coming here as a child. Dad told me all about the legend of how the castle was built by a giant called Cormoran. He used to paddle to the shore and snatch animals like sheep and cows to take back to the island with him for food,’ Hattie said. ‘The villagers were terrified of him.’
‘That’s horrible!’ Lou’s eyes were as wide as saucers. ‘What a nasty giant!’
‘He really was. The farmers were scared of the giant and wanted to stop him from stealing their animals, so they offered a big reward to anyone who killed him. Then a young boy named Jack managed to trick the giant and kill him. Everyone was really happy.’
‘That’s a bit like Jack and the Beanstalk,’ Lou replied. ‘Jack was very brave. How did he kill the giant?’
‘According to the legend, Jack dug a deep hole in one side of the Mount, then early the next morning when the sun was rising, he blew on a horn to wake the giant. The giant heard the horn and ran down the mountain to see what was happening, but he was blinded by the sun and fell into the hole. Jack quickly filled up the hole and buried the giant.’
‘Clever Jack. Can we see the hole?’ asked Lou.
‘No, but there is a heart-shaped stone which is supposed to be the giant’s heart,’ Hattie told her. ‘I’ll show it to you when we go up the Mount. The legend says that if you stand on the stone, you can sometimes hear the giant’s heart beating.’
Lou’s eyes widened. ‘You mean that the giant is still alive and buried in the mountain?’
‘Who knows?’ Mali grinned.
‘Wow! I can’t wait to see that!’ Lou was almost jumping up and down with excitement.
They stepped off the causeway onto the island. ‘It looks so magical,’ Mali said, gazing around.
‘Shall we have a bit of a look around the village first? Then we can go up to the castle,’ Hattie suggested.
‘People live here?’ asked Lou, astonished. ‘Do the children go to school?’
‘Oh, yes. There used to be a primary school, I’m not sure if it’s still there. I know the older children go over the causeway to school on the mainland. If the weather’s bad and the boats can’t go out to sea, then the children have to stay at home.’
‘That’s cool! I bet they have lots of days off in the winter,’ Lou said.
‘I’m sure the school provides them with homework to do if the weather’s bad,’ Mali told her.
Hattie grinned at Lou’s excitement; it reminded her of her first visit here when she was about the same age as the little girl. They’d spent a week with Uncle Albert in Cornwall every summer until her parents had split up, it was such a shame they’d lost touch with him.
Circumstances change, she reminded herself; we are all just adjusting to our new lives. Including her father. Their conversation last night had opened her eyes to how much her father had had to adapt, too, to his new life in France. Yes, he had made the decision to walk out, and she had hated him for that for years, but now she was an adult, she could understand how relationships broke down, and looking back she knew her parents hadn’t been happy. Maybe if she had been younger, like Lou, instead of an awkward preteen she might have handled it better. Lou seemed to have accepted her parents’ break-up and had adapted to living with her mum but sharing weekends and holidays with both parents.
They had a walk along the harbour front, stopping at the Island Café for a drink and snack, then going on a guided tour of the village before climbing the cobbled causeway up to the island’s summit.
‘I think the heart-shaped stone is here somewhere,’ said the guide. ‘Can you see it?’
Lou looked around then clapped her hands and squealed, almost jumping up and down in excitement. ‘There it is!’ She ran over to the stone and knelt down, then put her ear to it. ‘I can hear it! I can hear the giant’s heart beating!’
Hattie, Mali and the guide all exchanged a smile at the excitement on the little girl’s face. Hattie couldn’t resist taking a photo of her, her face was so alive. She showed it to Mali, who smiled. ‘You’re such a brilliant photographer.’
The guide looked at it too, nodding in agreement. ‘You should do that professionally,’ she said. ‘You’ve got the knack.’
‘Thank you, it is a hobby of mine, but I hope to make it a full-time business,’ Hattie told her, pleased with the guide’s praise.
When they got to the castle, Hattie took a deep breath and looked down at the sea below. The view was breathtaking. Cornwall was working its magic on her, and she wasn’t sure that she wanted to leave.
Well, you have no choice, you can’t afford to stay here, she told herself. Besides, you’d be bored in the winter. You’re just in holiday mode, that’s all. No one ever wants to go back home when they’re on holiday.
‘I hear your new neighbour has come to the rescue with the wedding photographs,’ Shanise said as Marcus walked into the kitchen of Gwel Teg, ready to start his evening shift.
Marcus looked at her, puzzled. ‘Who? Hattie?’
‘I don’t know her name. I just heard Sue and Mandy talking. The photographer they booked has had to let them down so your neighbour has stepped in.’
‘Really, when did this happen?’ No one had mentioned it to him and the wedding was only two days away. Ellie and Reece must have been in a right panic. How had Hattie found out about the original photographer cancelling. She hadn’t even been here a week!
‘The photographer pulled out last week – a family tragedy – then Mandy met your neighbour in the corner shop last weekend and found out that she was a photographer.’
Hattie really was a photographer!
‘She came to see Sue first, then Ellie and Reece,’ Shanise continued. ‘They’re all very taken with her and her work apparently.’ She shot Marcus a curious look. ‘You seem a bit surprised. Haven’t you met Hattie yet?’
‘Yes.’ And had a few clashes – but he wasn’t about to tell Shanise that. ‘I had no idea she was taking Ellie and Reece’s wedding photographs though.’
‘Well, she’s saved the day – they were in a right panic about it.’
How had he missed this? Probably because you’ve been preoccupied with the Thomwell painting and how to deal with Estelle. Estelle had been all over him this afternoon, teasing, pouting, innuendos. At first, it had amused him, and yes he’d found her appealing and her attention flattering, but now it annoyed him. Thank goodness the painting was almost finished and then hopefully he wouldn’t have to deal with her again. He could see that she was getting really annoyed that he wasn’t responding to her advances, she obviously wasn’t used to being turned down.
‘So, what do you think of this Hattie, then?’ Shanise asked.
He shrugged. ‘She seems okay, and if she’s managed to rescue Ellie and Reece’s wedding day, that’s great.’ He put on his apron and cap. ‘See you on Saturday, then. It’s the first time we’ve worked a shift together for a while.’
‘Just remember that I’m the boss.’ Shanise threw back her head and laughed.
Marcus grinned. Shanise would no doubt be bossing everyone about, but she was such a bubbly, friendly character no one minded. He was looking forward to doing the wedding food. And to the wedding itself. He’d been invited to join t
he wedding reception once the food for the buffet had all been prepared, and he had thought he’d go straight home, but now he thought he might stay a while. Especially if Hattie was there. As they were neighbours, he should make the effort to get on with her.
Chapter Fifteen
After his early morning surf, a shower and breakfast the next morning, Marcus decided to go down to the beach for a stroll. He was feeling a bit uneasy about going to the Manor today, especially as he’d received an early morning text from Estelle, with a rather saucy picture of her in risqué underwear. The situation was escalating, and he wasn’t sure how to handle it without upsetting everyone.
The painting had to be finished today as it was Lord Thomwell’s birthday on Sunday and Lady Thomwell wanted to present him with the painting then. Marcus had hoped that Estelle would be going back to Paris after her father’s birthday but the photo and message she had sent him that morning made him doubt that. He had an uneasy feeling that once the commission was finished, Estelle would think that there was nothing to keep them apart and would up her game.
He should never have gone to that do as her plus one. That had definitely given her the wrong impression. And he should have pretended that he had a girlfriend that night when she’d made a pass at him, instead of telling her he didn’t mix business with pleasure. He was such an idiot. Why hadn’t he handled this better?
It always made him feel calmer to gaze out at the sea, so he planned on sitting outside the café with a cup of coffee and watching the world go by for a bit before he had to head into work. He grabbed a coffee and sat down at a table at the front, gazing out at the harbour.
‘There’s Marcus!’ He looked up to see Lou waving at him. Hattie and Mali were with her, obviously heading for the café. ‘Hello, Marcus!’ Lou shouted.
He waved back and she dashed over to his table. ‘We’re having a drink too. I’m having a milkshake. Can we share your table?’
From the look on Hattie’s face, she didn’t want that any more than he did, but how could he say no? Especially as Lou had already scrambled onto the chair next to him and Mali was about to follow suit. ‘Er, of course,’ he said.
‘I’ll go and get the drinks, you two sit down,’ Hattie said, obviously eager to make an excuse to get away.
‘Frappé for me please, and chocolate milkshake for Lou,’ Mali told her, seating herself beside Lou, leaving the seat by Marcus free for Hattie.
Awkward.
‘We’re going home tonight,’ Lou told him. ‘I wish we could stay longer.’
‘I’ve got things to do before school on Monday, Lou, and Hattie is working tomorrow,’ Mali reminded her.
‘Yes, I heard that she was taking the photos for Ellie and Reece’s wedding. I’m doing the food,’ Marcus remarked, feeling that he should talk to them. Besides, he liked Mali, she was warm and friendly. Unlike Hattie.
Whose fault is that? It’s thanks to you that you both got off on the wrong foot.
‘So, you’ll probably bump into each other, then?’ Mali asked.
‘I expect so. Have you both enjoyed your stay here?’ he replied, changing the subject.
‘It’s been brill. I’ll miss it so much, especially Buddy, but he’s naughty. He swears a lot.’ Lou told him from across the table.
Marcus grinned. ‘I know. That’s because his owner was a fisherman and he swore a lot too.’
Lou nodded. ‘Hattie told me all about it. She used to come down here when she was little. She showed me the bucket and spade she used to build sandcastles on the beach with. And the wetsuit she used to wear. They were in Uncle Albert’s shed.’
‘I can’t believe he kept them all this time,’ Hattie said, coming over with a tray of drinks. She put the tray down on the table and, after a slight hesitation, she sat in the empty seat which was next to Marcus. ‘There’s loads of things in that shed. I’m going to have to look through it all.’
‘Albert was a bit of a hoarder.’ Marcus took a sip of his coffee. ‘How’s Buddy doing? Has he settled down now?’
‘He’s perked up a lot. He’s eating okay, although he still pulls out his feathers now and again,’ Hattie replied.
Marcus was concerned to hear that. ‘Keep an eye on that – pulling out his feathers is a sign that he’s stressed. He’s probably pining a bit too, for Albert and possibly me. I used to pop around a couple of times a day when Albert had . . . gone. Buddy’s a very social bird, he’s used to being with Albert all day, so he might start stressing again when your visitors have gone back and he’s on his own a lot.’
‘I’ll keep him company as much as I can, but I do have to work.’ Hattie sounded defensive.
‘I know, I’m just saying—’
‘Perhaps you could still pop around, just until he gets used to Hattie. It’s a shame if he’s pining,’ Mali butted in quickly.
Marcus saw the warning look that Hattie shot at her. ‘I’d be happy to do that but I don’t want to impose.’
‘Oh, it’s no imposition, is it, Hattie?’
‘Well, I guess Buddy would like to see you, and then you can check that he’s okay. I’m doing my best.’
‘I’ve no doubt that you are. Look, I’m off to work in a while, but I’ll be home about ten thirty this evening. I could pop in then, but if that’s too late, then tomorrow morning? Whatever suits you.’
She thought about this for a moment, then said, ‘Tonight will be fine. I’ll still be up and about.’
‘See you later, then.’ Marcus finished his drink and stood up, glancing at Mali and Lou. ‘Bye, you two. Nice to meet you.’
‘See you next time we’re down,’ Mali said cheerily.
‘Honestly, did you have to do that?’ Hattie demanded as soon as Marcus was out of earshot. ‘It was so obvious that you were trying to matchmake, it was embarrassing. He probably thought I’d put you up to it and I fancy him.’
‘What, with the look you gave me? It’s a wonder he agreed to come after that. But be fair, Hattie, that parrot probably does miss Marcus and would love to see him. What harm will it do? You can leave him to talk to Buddy and busy yourself with something. You don’t have to entertain him.’
She was right, Hattie acknowledged. Buddy had already lost one person he loved, it wasn’t fair to cut Marcus out of his life too. Besides, she was sure that Marcus didn’t want to spend any more time with her than she did him – he had left more or less as soon as she’d sat down. She had to stop thinking how awkward it would be and put Buddy first. Uncle Albert had adored that parrot and she was determined to look after him the best she could.
‘I guess not.’ She looked at Lou. ‘I’m going to miss you. And your mum. Fisherman’s Rest is going to seem very quiet without you two.’
‘I wish you didn’t have to sell it, then we could come down every holiday,’ Lou said, sipping her milkshake noisily through the paper straw.
‘Me too.’ It was daft, but she was actually getting fond of the cottage, and she had already fallen in love with Port Medden. ‘I’d love to live here,’ she said with a sigh.
‘Really? I mean it is beautiful, and quaint, but wouldn’t you miss the city?’ asked Mali.
Hattie gazed out at the harbour. ‘I don’t think I would. I feel so at home here. I’m sort of sad that I have to sell the cottage.’ She turned her gaze back to the table. ‘Maybe I could rent a place and stay here for a bit longer once it’s sold.’
‘It might be worth a try; you’ve already had a few enquiries for photographs this week while we’ve been here,’ Mali reminded her. ‘Perhaps you could rent for six months and see how it goes. You do seem happy here.’
She was. Even though her whole life felt so up in the air at the moment there was something about Port Medden that drew her in. Living by the sea was so calming. She guessed that’s why Uncle Albert had lived here all his life.
‘I’ll think about it,’ she said.
After they had finished their drinks, they walked along past the shops on the harbour front
so that Mali and Lou could buy some souvenirs. Lou bought a cap with a seagull on the front for her dad, and some seashells for herself. Hattie bought Lou a dolphin necklace, and some fudge for Mali. Then they had some fish and chips before returning to Fisherman’s Rest.
This time, when Hattie opened the door, Buddy shouted, ‘Hello! Hello!’
‘He’s pleased to see us!’ Lou said in delight. She ran over to the cage, where the parrot was hopping along his branch. ‘Hello, Buddy,’ she said.
‘Hello!’ Buddy cocked his head to one side. Then he squawked ‘Bugger off!’
Lou giggled. ‘I’m going to miss Buddy,’ she said.
‘I’ll FaceTime you over the weekend, and you can see him then,’ Hattie promised her.
She wished that Mali and Lou weren’t going; the cottage would seem so empty without them. She did have a lot to do, though. She was taking the wedding photos tomorrow, and she had to tidy up the cottage and give the rooms a coat of paint. It was going to be a hectic couple of weeks.
‘Can we come down in the summer holidays?’ Lou asked as she and Mali gathered their things together.
‘If Hattie is still here, and she doesn’t mind,’ Mali told her.
‘I’m sure I will be still here, and I’d love you to come. I’m really going to miss you both.’ She held out her hands. ‘Group hug?’ Mali and Lou both wrapped their arms around her, and she them. She wished she had a daughter. If only . . . She pushed the memory from her mind. Her baby was gone, its short life ended almost as soon as it had started to form in her womb. Yet, although it had been a shock to discover that a bout of sickness had caused her mini pill not to work, in that brief time while it was growing inside her she had loved her baby and been devastated at the loss. Adam though, had been barely able to hide his relief.
‘You’re welcome down here anytime you want,’ she assured them. ‘Now, let me help you out with your things, and be sure that you text me as soon as you’re home.’
‘I will!’ Mali gave her another hug, then they picked up their suitcases and bags and set off for the wasteland at the back where their car was parked. Hattie stood waving until they had disappeared around the corner, then she went back into Fisherman’s Rest.