One Summer in Cornwall

by Karen King

  ‘We have another two viewers on Friday, and one of them, a Mr Paterson, wants to buy a holiday let so I’ve got high hopes that he will make an offer. I’m sure this is exactly what he’s looking for,’ Jonathan told her. ‘And there are several other people on my list too. The cottage will be sold in no time, I’m sure of it.’

  She nodded. ‘See you on Friday, then. And could you please do those viewings? I have to go out.’

  She had an appointment to take some ‘new baby’ photographs, and then a multi-generation one, for a couple who lived in Truro. She was really looking forward to doing that and was glad that it clashed with the time of the viewing. She didn’t think she could take anyone else walking around the cottage sneering at everything.

  She texted Marcus: The viewers don’t like the cottage

  A text came pinging right back: So we’ve got longer together then. Want to come around for a coffee? I’m back from the beach now. Xx

  She grinned as she read it. Be there in 5! she texted back.

  ‘Morning, dear, how did the viewing go?’ Winnie asked as Hattie locked the front door behind her. Surprised, she turned to face her next-door neighbour, who was tending to her flowering baskets, then realised that of course she would know Jonathan and guess that the two people with him were potential buyers. ‘They didn’t like it, they wanted somewhere more modern,’ she said.

  ‘Well, I’m sorry to hear that, dear. I know you must be anxious to sell and get back to your normal life.’ She sounded genuine.

  ‘I am, but how do you feel about me selling the cottage?’ Hattie asked her. At the moment, the three of them got along fine; new neighbours could spoil the happy balance of the block of three cottages and she felt a bit bad about that.

  Winnie put her watering can down and walked over to the wall. ‘Change happens, that’s life. We were quite pally, Albert, Marcus and me, we kept ourselves to ourselves but we were there for each other and I like that.’ Hattie nodded and Winnie continued, ‘But Albert has gone and you must do what’s best for you, dear. My daughter lives in Australia. When I go, this will be hers and I’m quite sure she will either sell the cottage or let it out to holidaymakers. This is my life, not hers. Just like Fisherman’s Rest was Albert’s home, not yours. Unless you want it to be.’

  Winnie looked at her with such warmth that Hattie wanted to hug her; the guilt she’d felt at what effect selling the cottage would have on her neighbours faded away a little. ‘Thank you. I was a bit worried that you might be upset.’

  ‘Don’t you worry yourself about me, and let me know if you need any help with anything. I know Albert was a hoarder.’

  Hattie grinned. ‘He certainly was. I will, thank you.’

  Winnie nodded and returned back to tending to her plants. She was glad she’d spoken to her, Hattie thought, as she opened her gate and went next door. She felt a lot better about selling the cottage now. Although, if today’s couple were anything to go by, it wasn’t going to sell as quickly as Jonathan had thought.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  ‘Now, if you could all stand around Lily, in a half-circle and smile down at her,’ Hattie said. She’d already taken several photos of the three-month-old baby on her own – she was adorable and had cooed away happily – so it was time for some more group photos. She’d taken one of Lily in her parents’ arms, surrounded by both grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandmother but now she wanted just the women in the family. She placed a shawl on the table and Lily in her Moses basket upon it and asked the women to gather around. The baby was lying peacefully, she really was an angel.

  The women got into place, all turning their gaze upon the baby in front of them. Hattie focused her camera, glad that she had brought the travel tripod with her to hold it in the perfect position. The flash unit was already in place. ‘I don’t want you to smile for this shot, just look at Lily,’ she said. ‘Ready?’ She took a few shots, then stood up.

  ‘Now, can you all please look at me and smile for this one?’

  The women looked at the camera, their faces wreathed in smiles. ‘Ready? Smile!’ Again, she took several shots. This was the first time she’d been commissioned to take some multi-generational photos and she wanted them to be perfect. There were five generations of women. The oldest, the great-great grandmother, was eighty-nine, she had told Hattie proudly. It would be an iconic photo.

  ‘Thanks so much, Hattie. This means a lot to us,’ Julia, Lily’s mother, said as Hattie folded up the tripod, then put it and her camera in the camera bag. ‘If you leave me a couple of your cards, I’ll pass them around. I’m sure some of the other mothers at the mother and baby club will be interested in having photographs taken too.’

  ‘I need to have some cards printed out, but I’ve got a couple of flyers here. Will they do?’ She took out a few flyers and handed them to her. She knew that she needed to have some business cards done eventually but these would be fine for now. She’d have to think about getting a website up and running too.

  ‘Perfect.’ Julia took the flyers and put them on the side. ‘I can’t wait to see the photos. When will they be ready?’

  ‘I’ll email you over a selection to choose from on Monday,’ Hattie told her. ‘Then they’ll be ready by the end of the week.’

  I love doing this, she thought, as she said her goodbyes and went out to where her bike was parked by the garage. She’d always enjoyed taking photographs but now she seemed to get real pleasure out of it. It’s as if I’m finally being me, she thought. Was that because she was doing the work she wanted to do, or because she was here, in Port Medden? The little town certainly had a charm to it.

  She checked her watch. Jonathan would be showing another potential buyer around the cottage now. There were two viewings today, fifteen minutes apart, so she’d told him to make a cup of coffee if he wanted while he was waiting for the second one. She wondered if any of them would like the cottage enough to make an offer. And if they did, what would she do then?

  Marcus dipped his brush into the black paint on the palette and applied a few more strokes to the painting. Then he stood back to study it. It wasn’t often a subject consumed him like this one, he was filled with a desire to finish it but also a dread, as if once the painting was finished, Hattie would be gone – going out of his life as quickly as she had come into it.

  And it was almost finished. A bit more work on the face, he hadn’t quite got that ‘loving life’ expression right. Would he be able to capture that on canvas? Hattie would, with her camera. She was so talented; she really had the knack of taking ‘people photographs’. He thought of the photographs she’d taken of the hotel staff, where she seemed to have captured everyone’s personality. She would make a go of her photography business, he was sure.

  He heard voices outside and went to the window. Hattie had said that Jonathan was showing two lots of viewers around this afternoon, this couple must be one set. They were out in the back yard, talking to Jonathan. They looked interested. Would they make an offer?

  His stomach twisted a little at the thought of Hattie leaving. He turned back to the painting, his eyes resting on the white-blond hair, the wide blue eyes, that gorgeous curvy figure clad in black leather, legs apart astride her bike. The zip of the jacket was half down to expose her sun-kissed neck and a hint of cleavage – he shut his eyes as he remembered caressing her soft skin, scooping those beautiful firm breasts in his hands, kissing those red lips, his hand running through that silky white-blond hair, pressing her closer to his chest. Hattie. She looked sexy, exciting, full of life.

  He was falling for her, he realised. He’d been falling for her since they first met, and soon she would be gone. All he would have left of her would be this painting.

  Jonathan and the couple had walked back inside now. Marcus moved away from the window and back over to his painting. He’d finish it later or tomorrow. He needed to get out, go for a walk, get his head straight. He hadn’t meant to get involved with Hattie, bu
t he had. Now, he didn’t know what to do about it. Where did they go from here? He was at work tonight, should he suggest calling in again afterwards? If he did, would she think that he was after sex again? If he didn’t, would she feel ignored? Relationships were complicated, that’s why he tried to avoid them. His days were busy, he didn’t want or need a woman in his life to complicate things.

  She’ll be gone soon, he reminded himself, she’s only a temporary distraction. But that didn’t make him feel any better.

  He made his way to the quiet beach at the end of town, as he always did when he felt restless. Hands in pocket, he stood gazing out at the sea: grey-blue today, and a bit choppy. He looked up at the sky. They were due for some rain later.

  He walked back along the seafront by the harbour. It was mid-June now and already there were a few holidaymakers down, but in another month, when the schools closed, and they were all arriving would Hattie be leaving, he wondered, ready to move on?

  He turned the corner to the cottages and saw Hattie heading towards him on her motorbike. She waved and he waved back, then she turned to go round to the back of the cottages and he headed that way too. He arrived in time to see her pull up by his van, turn off the engine, and remove her helmet. Her eyes were sparkling, that ‘full-of-life’ expression on her face that he was trying so hard to capture. He focused on her face, trying to imprint it on his mind, wanting to take his phone out and capture it but not sure he would ever be able to.

  ‘Hi, how did it go?’ he asked, walking over to her.

  ‘Good. The baby is gorgeous and I got some fantastic shots. You been for a walk?’ She was dismounting now.

  ‘Yeah, it looks like we’re going to be having some rain.’ They were walking over to the gates now. Should he ask her in? ‘How did the viewing go?’

  ‘No feedback yet. Jonathan said that he thinks one of the couples might be interested, but he’s not sure. He’s got another couple of viewings for next week.’ She paused at her gate. ‘Time for a cuppa and a catch up with Buddy?’

  ‘Sure. Did he behave himself today, do you know?’

  ‘Apart from a couple of “Bloody Hells” but apparently both viewers were amused and thought he was cute.’

  Buddy whistled as Hattie walked in. ‘Back again,’ he squawked, hopping about happily on the branch.

  Hattie grinned. ‘Hello, cheeky chappie.’ She looked at Marcus in delight. ‘He’s really getting used to me, isn’t he?’ she asked.

  We both are.

  ‘He is. Shall we let him out for a fly around while we’re having a cuppa?’

  ‘Good idea. You open the cage while I put the kettle on.’

  As soon as the cage was open, Buddy flew straight to the top of the kitchen cupboards and peered down at them. ‘Hello, hello!’ he squawked.

  ‘Hello!’ Hattie set the mugs of coffee down on the table, then picked up a banana. ‘I’m going to see if he will take some off me.’

  She sat down and slowly unpeeled the banana, then took a big bite out of the top. ‘Want some?’ she asked, holding it out to Buddy.

  The parrot cocked his head to one side as if considering this, then flew over to the table and pattered over to Hattie, squawking excitedly. He stopped in front of her, jerked his head forward and took a bite out of the banana. Her face lit up. ‘Look! I think he actually likes me now.’

  ‘I’m sure he does,’ Marcus agreed as their eyes met and locked. The air became charged with tension, excitement, and anticipation as their gaze deepened. Her eyes were bigger now, the blue deeper, flecked with tiny sparks of silver.

  ‘Hattie,’ he murmured as they both leaned forwards, as if unconsciously drawn to each other like metal to a magnet.

  They both jumped as Hattie’s phone rang. She drew back and reached for the phone on the table beside her, checking the screen first to see who was calling. ‘It’s Jonathan.’

  Marcus held his breath as she answered the call. Her expression changed to one of shock, and she glanced at Marcus then away again.

  ‘Okay, Jonathan, thank you. I’ll talk to Dad and get back to you.’

  Marcus waited, his heart thudding.

  ‘We’ve had an offer on the cottage,’ Hattie said.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Hattie was stunned. Although Jonathan had told her that he didn’t think it would take long to sell the cottage, she hadn’t expected to get an offer that quickly! It had only been on the market a few days. It was three thousand pounds less than the asking price but she was sure her dad would accept it. It was still a lot of money and seven thousand higher than Jonathan had first quoted, thanks to her – and Nick’s – hard work Although, of course the money she’d spent on the cottage had to be deducted from that.

  ‘Are you going to accept it?’ Marcus asked.

  ‘I don’t know. I need to discuss it with Dad. I’m pretty sure that he will want to, though.’

  ‘Right. Well, I’ll finish this and leave you to it. I’ve got to go to work in a bit.’ Marcus finished his coffee and took the mug over to the sink. ‘Want me to help you get Buddy back in the cage or are you okay with it?’

  ‘He’ll go in himself in a little while, I’m sure, but thanks for the offer,’ she told him, her mind in a whirl. They had a buyer. She could hardly believe it.

  ‘I’ll get off, then. I can see that you’re in a hurry to phone your dad and tell him the news.’

  Hattie threw him a distracted smile. ‘Thanks. I’ll message you later. Let you know what we decide.’

  As Marcus headed out of the door, she was already dialling her dad on WhatsApp for a video call. After a couple of rings, he answered, the phone buffering as his image appeared on the screen. ‘Hi, Hattie. Everything okay?’

  ‘We’ve had an offer on the cottage, Dad. Three thousand below asking price but Jonathan said that it’s a cash sale, which means it will go through in about six weeks. What do you think?’

  ‘Oh, Hattie, love, that’s brilliant. That’s saved my bacon. I was beginning to think that I’d have to take out another loan. We’re hand to mouth over here.’

  As Hattie listened to the relief in her dad’s voice, she felt her heart sink. She knew that he’d be pleased with the offer, that he desperately needed the money, yet somehow she’d been hoping he would refuse the sale.

  ‘Are you okay with accepting the offer? It’s only three grand less and worth it for a quick sale, surely?’ her dad said.

  ‘Yes, you’re right. It’s fine by me,’ she assured him.

  ‘What are you going to do when the cottage is sold? Have you thought any more about coming to stay with us, give you chance to think about your next step?’ he asked.

  She had no idea what she was going to do. And tempting as it was to take up her dad’s offer, she knew it wouldn’t work out. It was one thing going to visit him once she had sorted out a home for herself but another to go and stop with him indefinitely. Yes, they were back on a friendlier footing now and she would like to spend some time in France with her dad and his family, and to see Nick again, but this wasn’t the right time.

  ‘Thanks so much, Dad, but maybe I can come over later in the year? Christmas, perhaps? Right now, I really need to get myself a home and start building up my photography business. Maybe even get a part-time job.’

  ‘Of course, whenever suits you.’ There was a pause. ‘Look I know we agreed to pay you back out of the sale for what you spend doing up the cottage. But I want you to have more than that. I’m instructing my solicitor to give you an extra ten thousand pounds of the money. And please don’t argue over this. It’s thanks to your hard work and time that’s the cottage has sold so quickly.’

  It was a nice thought, and she appreciated it, but she didn’t want to take his money, he needed it. ‘It’s fine, Dad. I’ve lived here rent free and I’ve enjoyed sorting things out.’

  She pushed away the thought that she didn’t want to leave the cottage. Or leave Marcus. She had always known it wasn’t forever. It had only eve
r been for the summer. They would still have a couple of months together, while the sale was going through.

  They chatted a bit about the formalities, with her dad promising to come over to sign the papers when the buyers were ready to exchange.

  ‘What about all the furniture? All Uncle Albert’s things?’ she asked.

  Her dad sighed. ‘I’m afraid that it’s all going to have to be dumped. I know it’s sad but I’ve got no room for anything here. If there’s anything you want, take it, but apart from that get some house-clearance people in. We’ll take whatever it costs you out of the sale of the cottage.’

  ‘There’s papers and photos too,’ she told him.

  ‘Put them to one side. I’ll come over the weekend before the sale goes through and look through them. Anything important, I’ll take back with me . . .’

  His image started to flicker.

  ‘Sorry, love, I’m losing the connection. It’s because I’m outside. Message me if you need me and I’ll phone you back later.’

  ‘Okay. Bye, Dad.’

  Well, that was it, Fisherman’s Rest was sold. She had about six weeks to find herself a new home.

  She phoned Jonathan to let him know they were accepting the offer; it went to answerphone so she left a message. Then she texted Mali to let her know the news and tell her that she and Lou needed to come down for their holiday as soon as school had finished for the summer as she wasn’t sure how quickly the sale would go through.

  Mali phoned straight back. ‘I’ve got a free period,’ she explained. ‘It’s wonderful news, isn’t it? I can’t believe you’ve got a sale so quickly.’