The town bustled with life from early morning to late at night. The river, chock-full with boats of all sizes including two tall ships and a naval frigate, was a sight to see, particularly at night when many of the yachts were dressed overall. Harriet couldn’t remember it ever being so crowded.
‘Regatta’s grown so much. We always had the funfair, the slippery pole, crabbing competitions and fireworks, but now there is so much more. As for the street entertainment, it’s amazing.’
‘Think I might take up sailing,’ Frank said, the binoculars now fixed on one particular yacht making its way up river. ‘Looks more exhilarating than golf.’
‘That reminds me. I need to organise getting the old dinghy in the garage checked out so I can teach Ellie to sail,’ Harriet said. ‘Want me to teach you, too?’
‘Not dinghy sailing,’ Frank said. ‘I fancy something bigger. Like that one.’ And he pointed to the sleek thirty footer he’d been concentrating on.
‘Mmm,’ Harriet said. ‘Moorings are hard to come by these days. They’ll have to be quick to pick up their moorings,’ she continued. ‘I think all movement on the river is forbidden while the Red Arrows are doing their display.’
‘How long before they start?’ Ellie asked.
‘About quarter of an hour,’ Harriet said, glancing at her watch. ‘Feels strange being out here with just the three of us waiting. Amy issued an open house invite every year to watch the Red Arrows. This terrace and the garden were always crowded with her friends. Next year I’ll organise a BBQ.’
Hearing her mobile phone inside on the kitchen table give a short ring indicating she had a message, she said, ‘I’ll fetch the jug of Pimms from the fridge and see who that was.’
Harriet read the message from BB and quickly texted a reply before going back out to the terrace. She paused in the doorway, taking in the scene before her. Her heart had always belonged to Dartmouth, to this house even, and right now life was just about perfect.
Ellie was pointing out something to Frank in the magazine she’d been reading and they were both laughing. The two of them had always shared the same sense of humour and could cry with laughter over something that Harriet found only mildly amusing. Both great practical jokers, Harriet had learned early on to be very alert on 1st April, or suffer the consequences. Inevitably, one or the other of them always managed to fool her.
She was so lucky to have met and married Frank. He’d adored Ellie from the beginning. As far as he was concerned, she was his daughter. End off. Nothing had changed for him when she’d announced she needed to find the woman who was effectively her stepmother and learn about Oscar.
‘I wish she didn’t feel the need to do it, but I do understand,’ he’d said. ‘I’m just glad I don’t have to compete with him in person. If he were still alive, I might feel different.’
Struggling with tears Harriet had hugged him. ‘Love you.’
Standing there watching her favourite two people in the world, Harriet sent a silent ‘Thank you’ skywards. Amy had been right to force her to return and live here.
Ellie’s determination to track Vanessa Harford down was difficult to accept, but subconsciously Harriet knew fighting her on the issue was pointless. It was something Ellie had to do, leaving her with no choice but to accept and support.
‘BB has invited us for drinks at seven o’clock on Sunday evening. Wants to celebrate and say thank-you to all his new friends for a great summer,’ Harriet said, moving out onto the patio with the drinks.
‘Me too?’ Ellie said. ‘I don’t really know him.’
‘Of course you’re invited as well,’ Harriet said. ‘Next week we must start organising your birthday do. The 5th of September will be here before we know it.’
‘Listen,’ Frank said. ‘I can hear planes out at sea.’
Seconds later, the nine low-flying small red aircraft of the Red Arrows screamed past them in formation, going up river, and the display started.
Both Ellie and Harriet had their hands over their ears in a futile effort to lessen the incredible sound. The sky was soon riddled with red, white and blue vapour trails as everyone held their breath watching the planes performing a tightly choreographed dance in the sky together before moving apart and doing separate tantalising manoeuvres. One last dip of the wings and they were gone, disappearing seawards as quickly as they arrived.
‘Wow,’ Ellie said. ‘That’s left me on a high – goodness knows how the pilots feel. Should think their adrenaline is off the scale for weeks after a performance like that. At one time I thought two of them were going to clip the tall ships masts, they were flying so low.’ She shook her head. ‘Wow. And wow again.’
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
BB
With an hour to go before his party, BB mentally checked his list, hoping he’d not forgotten anything. Champagne and wine in the fridge – tick. Beer and red wine on the terrace table with glasses – tick. Nibbles consisting of large packets of crisps and tortillas – tick. Cheese and biscuits – tick. Mini pasties – tick. Florentine biscuits to go with the coffee he planned to offer before everyone left – tick.
He hoped everyone he’d invited would come. So many new friends he’d made over the summer months but, having promised Rachel it wouldn’t be a large crowd, he’d tried to keep the guest list small. He guessed there’d never be more than eight or nine of them on the terrace at any given moment during the evening.
Johnnie had phoned to say he’d pop in early while Sabine babysat Carla before going home to let Sabine come. Harriet had said she, Frank and Ellie were looking forward to it. To his delight, Elisabett and Patricia had promised to drive over from Kingsbridge for the evening. BB smiled to himself. Introducing his English relatives to his friends promised to be the crowning event to an exciting few days.
Regatta Week had been amazing. The atmosphere in town, the thrill of crewing on board Chevalier in a race where she was placed second overall but first in her class had confirmed she was the boat for him.
Everything was now going ahead for him to buy her. Just a week or two whilst Johnnie helped him sort out the formalities – and he transferred the dollars – and she’d be his.
A knock on the open front door and Johnnie called out, ‘Hello?’
‘Come on through,’ BB shouted.
‘First to arrive, am I?’ Johnnie said. ‘Haven’t yet got used to planning my social life around the demands of Carla.’
‘No worries. We can have a glass of champagne together before everyone arrives. It gives me time to thank you personally for everything this summer.’
As BB poured the drinks, Johnnie noticed a picture postcard of the Scilly Isles propped up on the mantelpiece of the sitting room.
‘Rachel?’ he asked, indicating the card.
‘Yeah. She’s having a great time down on St Mary’s.’
‘Any idea when she’s due back?’
BB shook his head. ‘Not a clue. Ah, Harriet, Frank and Ellie are here. Let’s party.’
Elisabett and Patricia were the next to arrive, followed within minutes by Owen. BB made the introductions with a happy smile on his face.
‘Meet my newly discovered English relatives,’ he said. ‘I can’t tell you how happy I am to say that. My Dartmouth summer has been just perfect,’ he continued. ‘I’ve found the English Connection and, thanks to Johnnie,’ he raised his glass in Johnnie’s direction. ‘I’ve bought a boat. Mission accomplished.’
Johnnie raised his glass. ‘Cheers to that. Time for me to go home now and for Sabine to party. Bye, everyone. Thanks, BB.’
‘Bye,’ Harriet said absently, looking across the terrace to where Ellie and Patricia were talking together and helping themselves to nibbles. She turned to Frank.
‘Am I imagining it? Do you think there is a certain likeness between those two? I mean I know Patricia is a bit older but … ’ Her voice trailed away as she continued looking. ‘They look so similar to me.’
‘Mmm, they’ve both got t
he same shaped faces and neither of them are tall,’ Frank said. ‘They’ve both got brown hair too. Maybe that’s what makes them appear alike.’
‘No, it’s more than that,’ Harriet said. ‘I wonder how their connection to BB came about.’
‘Why don’t you ask BB or Elisabett if you’re interested,’ Frank said.
‘I’m probably imagining things that aren’t there but I will later. Oh good. Sabine’s here.’
Once Sabine had a glass of champagne in hand, BB took the three of them across to introduce them to Elisabett and Patricia, who was still talking to Ellie.
‘So pleased you found some relatives,’ Sabine said. ‘Is it a connection to the Holdsworth family like you were hoping?’
BB laughed. ‘You remember our first conversation. No not the Holdsworths. A much more recent connection than that through my Great-uncle Lance.’
‘How come?’ Sabine asked.
‘Operation OverLord down on Slapton beach. He and my granddad were GIs and Uncle Lance met the love of his love before he was killed. One Florrie Widdicombe, the mother of Elisabett.’
‘My father is a Widdicombe,’ Ellie said, unable to contain herself. ‘I wonder if we’re related.’
Elisabett looked at Frank. ‘I thought your name was Lewis. You certainly don’t look like a Widdicombe.’
‘That’s because I’m not,’ Frank said.
‘No, I meant my biological father,’ Ellie said quickly. ‘He was somebody called Oscar Widdicombe. He’s dead now. Maybe we’re related too?’
‘Told you,’ Harriet muttered to Frank. ‘Not just round faces.’
‘I can see more research coming up for everyone,’ Sabine said.
‘Not necessarily,’ Harriet said. She took a deep breath as everyone looked at her.
‘When Oscar and I were planning our wedding, I discovered his grandfather had a sister who had been cut off from the family because of an affair during the war. Her name was Florence Widdicombe. Apparently she was always called Florrie. Oscar and Amy never met her.’
Everybody looked at Harriet in stunned silence for several seconds, before the noise of the front door slamming closed made them all jump.
‘Hi, BB. I’ve come back early especially for your party. Hope there’s still some champagne left,’ and Rachel walked out onto the terrace to join them.
Harriet stared in disbelief at the woman and clutched at Frank’s arm as the words, ‘Vanessa Harford,’ escaped unbidden from her lips and she fainted.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
HARRIET/SABINE
The next morning, as Harriet stacked her breakfast things in the dishwasher and Frank drank his second cup of coffee, Ellie wandered into the kitchen and said, ‘I’m going to visit Vanessa this morning.’
‘Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you?’ Harriet said, slamming the lid of the dishwasher closed. ‘Now the woman’s living on our doorstep. Makes it easier for you.’
‘Mum! It’s something I need to do.’
Harriet sighed. ‘I know it is, but that doesn’t make it any easier.’
Ellie walked over to her and gave her a hug. ‘I want to talk to BB too. I could be another long-lost cousin of his.’
‘I’d almost forgotten BB’s news. Vanessa’s appearance overshadowed everything else for me,’ Harriet said. ‘Don’t think there is any doubt there is a family connection with BB. American cousins could be fun.’
‘I’ll see you later then,’ Ellie said. ‘Probably treat myself to lunch in town. Ciao.’
Harriet methodically dusted crumbs off the table before asking Frank.
‘You got any plans for this morning?
‘Gardening. Unless you want to do something?’
‘Thought I’d go and talk to Sabine.’
When Harriet approached the kiosk later that morning she found Sabine and Johnnie shouting at each other in French. Neither of them noticed her and she stood back, remembering their fiery arguments in the old days. Best not to get involved. It was only when she saw Sabine throw up her hands in a typically Gallic manner and Johnnie storm off, that she ventured to get closer.
‘Dare I ask what that was all about? Looked a bit heated,’ she said.
‘Just told him about Vanessa turning up and he went all pious on me,’ Sabine said. ‘Said it didn’t matter to him.’
‘Well, why should it?’
Sabine sighed and began to tick points off her fingers. ‘Because, one, Rachel Mansell stroke Vanessa Harford is the women who sailed with him to France when he came back with Carla. Two, she’s the woman who went baby shopping with him. Three, she’s the woman he turns to for emergency help if I’m not around. Four, I know he really likes her and Five, he’s just told me he wants her to be—’ Sabine stopped. ‘Oh my God. Sorry.’
‘What?’ Harriet said.
‘He’s asked her to be Carla’s Godmother – with you.’
Harriet closed her eyes for a couple of seconds and sighed. Vanessa Harford was back, once again threatening to disrupt her life.
‘Are you all right?’ Sabine said. ‘No after effects from falling?’
Harriet opened her eyes and shrugged. ‘Got a bit of a bruise on my thigh. Otherwise I’m fine. What happened last night after Frank and Ellie took me home?’
‘Not much. Vanessa vanished upstairs when you fainted and everybody left soon after you.’
‘I still can’t believe she’s been here in town all summer,’ Harriet said. ‘How come Johnnie didn’t recognise her?’
‘He’d never met her before. You remember in those days he was often away crewing for months. Think he was on a research ship somewhere in Antarctica when Oscar fell for her charms.’
‘She must have realised you were his sister.’
‘Think she’s spent the summer avoiding me, to be honest,’ Sabine said. ‘She knows, like you, I’d have recognised her instantly.’
‘I remember you both meeting at Aunt Amy’s party,’ Harriet said. ‘You clicked with each other immediately.’
‘We did but we fell out pretty spectacularly over you and Oscar. We almost came to fisticuffs in the street. I never spoke to her again. They left soon after, and now she’s back,’ Sabine said. ‘Any ideas on how we handle things?’
‘Absolutely none,’ Harriet said, shaking her head. ‘I also have the added complication of Ellie. Personally, I could kill Vanessa for the past and yet, part of me can’t help thinking if she hadn’t run off with Oscar, I wouldn’t be so happy and married to Frank. And Ellie wouldn’t have had such a wonderful childhood.’
‘Johnnie really likes her too, so the pressure is going to be on me to be friends with her,’ Sabine said.
‘Meantime, Ellie is at this very moment making her acquaintance,’ Harriet said. ‘She’s desperate to learn about Oscar.’
A family group approached the kiosk and Sabine turned to give them her attention. Harriet waited patiently while Sabine issued tickets and made genial conversation with them.
As they moved away Harriet said, ‘I know Frank is finding it easier to accept this ‘need to know my real father’ attitude that Ellie has adopted because Oscar is dead and there is no chance of them coming face to face. Or having to share Ellie’s affection.’
‘Whereas Vanessa is very much alive, in town and back in your life,’ Sabine said.
‘Exactly. Am I going to be forced to stand by and watch the woman who irrevocably changed the course of my life become friends with her stepdaughter – my daughter? I dread the thought of bumping into her around town,’ Harriet shuddered. ‘Four months into the year of living here to comply with Aunt Amy’s bequest and this happens. Eight long months before I can return to my own home.’
‘Don’t let her drive you away a second time,’ Sabine said. ‘Johnnie told me to leave the past where it belongs, in the past. He wants me to meet her soon.’ She paused. ‘I’m thinking of going to see her before he arranges anything. See what she has to say all these years later. Want to come with me?’
Sabine pulled a face. ‘I have to try for Johnnie’s sake – and I think you know you have to do the same for you and Ellie.’
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ELLIE
Ellie slowed her pace as she walked up Clarence Hill. Arriving hot and flustered on Vanessa’s doorstep was not part of the plan. Not that she’d formulated much of a plan beyond arriving on Vanessa’s doorstep – or should she start thinking of her as Rachel?
BB was coming out of the house when Ellie reached it.
‘Hi. Not sure how newly discovered cousins umpteen times removed should greet each other,’ BB said, ‘But I’m sure it’s in order for a peck on the cheek,’ he said, as he leant forward and kissed her.
‘Morning, Cousin,’ Ellie said. ‘You got time to talk?’
‘Not right this minute. I’m late to sign the papers for my boat. Dinner this evening? Eight o’clock at The Royal?’
‘Look forward to it,’ Ellie said. ‘Is Rachel in?’
BB nodded and pushed the door open. ‘Rachel, you’ve got a visitor. Go easy on her,’ he whispered. ‘She’s a bit fragile this morning. You’ll find her out on the terrace.’
The sitting room was tidy as she walked through. In the kitchen the dishwasher was whirring away but the work surface was still littered with the debris of last night’s party as Ellie walked out to the terrace.
Rachel looked at her and indicated she should sit in the chair next to her. Then she offered her a coffee from the cafetière on the table.
‘Thanks,’ Ellie said.
‘I thought you or your mother would turn up,’ Rachel said. ‘How is Harriet? Not too many bruises from last night?’
‘She seems fine. Thanks for asking. I’m curious – why were you expecting her to come?’
The Little Kiosk By The Sea Page 18