by Clare Lydon
Kirsty put an arm through hers as they strolled. Saffron was the model stroller, now. “Get used to it. This town is a living, breathing part of my history.”
“I’m getting that.”
Two teenage girls ran in front of them and shyly asked for a selfie with Saffron. She untangled herself from Kirsty, deposited her cone in Kirsty’s spare hand, then posed like the pro she was, making the girls giggle uncontrollably as they walked away.
Kirsty was going to have to get used to being stopped, too.
Saffron took back her ice cream and re-threaded her arm through Kirsty’s. “No matter how famous I am in the world, I’ll never top your fame in this town.”
As if to back up her point, Kirsty’s primary school teacher walked past.
“Hi, Mrs Warton!” Kirsty trilled, like she was still eight years old.
Mrs Warton shook her head. “How many times, dear? It’s Marion!”
Kirsty grinned, as she always did. It was never going to be Marion.
“But you know what?” Saffron added. “I’m perfectly okay with that. More than okay. This is your town, and I can just blend into the background. It’s kind of what I’ve always wanted.”
Kirsty reached up on tip-toes and pecked Saffron on the lips. “I know.” And she did.
Kirsty put a hand in her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. She frowned. She recalled Helena putting it in her pocket last night and saying something about opening it in the morning. She dodged more people on the path as she tried to unfurl it with one hand.
“What’s that?” Saffron licked her ice cream, looking down.
There, scrawled in Helena’s spidery handwriting, was a note that read: Life can be like a Hollywood rom-com. You just have to let it happen. Helena had added a love heart and a kiss.
Kirsty’s heart boomed. She grinned, pocketing the note and glancing up at Saffron.
Helena was right.
You just had to let it.
Chapter 34
There was a knock on the front door, and Saffron glanced up from her to-do list, frazzled. That’d better be the caterer, who’d been expected thirty minutes ago.
She swung the door open to reveal Kirsty. “Why are you knocking on the door?”
“It’s common etiquette when visiting.”
“Yes, but… given you’ve sampled the goods, it seems like you should be able to walk right in. It’s why I texted you that the door was unlocked.” Saffron gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Such a sweet talker. But, I’ll have you know, I don’t even let myself into my parents’ house.”
Saffron slowly blew out a frustrated breath.
“What’s wrong? The crease in your forehead has creases, which doesn’t bode well for your recent retirement.” Kirsty ran a finger over Saffron’s brow.
“The caterer isn’t here yet.”
“Caterer?” Kirsty chuckled. “You hired someone to cook dinner for family and friends?”
“It was either that or risk poisoning everyone. Ask Ginger about the time I cooked fish pie.” Saffron stuck her hands into her pockets, rocking back on her heels.
“Pretty sure I’m okay not hearing the details.” She presented Saffron with a wrapped gift, that she had tucked under one arm. “Open this now because you need it.”
“Is it Valium?” Saffron shook the shoe-sized box with both hands. “A lot of it.”
“Easy. It’s fragile,” Kirsty warned.
Saffron eased a finger under a seam, not wanting to tear the paper covered in vintage wine adverts. “Where’d you get the paper?”
“An Italian supplier. You like?”
“It’s pretty enough to hang on the wall.” Saffron exposed one side of the box. “Aw, a decanter. It’s perfect.” She kissed Kirsty on the cheek again. “I can get used to you giving me gifts.”
“Making a mental note of that. We need to decant the red I sent over earlier.”
“That reminds me…” Saffron consulted her phone. “The guests are arriving in mere minutes and I don’t have any food to offer them.”
“You don’t have anything in the house?”
Saffron shook her head, wiping a sweaty palm onto her jeans. “I’m still getting the hang of being domestic. This is going to be an epic failure, isn’t it? Why’d I think I could handle a dinner party? My assistant used to arrange everything. You know, she’s still on the payroll. Maybe she can save my bacon.”
“This isn’t a Hollywood gala.” Kirsty motioned for Saffron to bring it down a notch. “No one will care if things are late. You have wine. Keep serving wine. Simple.”
“Wine, right.”
There was another knock on the door and Saffron practically leapt for joy before running to the door, the box still pressed against her side. “You’re here!”
Dolly apologised and asked directions to the kitchen, getting to work with a younger woman who worked at the restaurant.
Kirsty opened the bottle of red and after Saffron rinsed the decanter, she filled it. The two of them moved into the lounge to get out of the way.
“I feel better.” She shook her body, letting the stress go. “Can I get you a glass of wine?”
“What? No Jeeves?” Kirsty waggled her brows.
“He has the night off. Let’s go out into the garden.” Saffron grabbed a bottle and two glasses. “Sorry, my girlfriend, who owns a wine shop only just gave me a decanter so you have to put up with wine straight from the bottle.”
“How do you put up with such incompetence?”
“Luckily she has other qualities that make up for the wine faults.” Saffron shot Kirsty a suggestive look, making Kirsty roll her eyes.
The sound of waves greeted them, and the waning sun left a chill in the air.
“I’m going to miss the long summer nights.” Kirsty pulled her cardigan over her chest.
“I would like to point out, more darkness means more time in bed.” Saffron handed Kirsty a glass of red.
“Fair point, well made.” Kirsty took a sip. “Why’d you invite guests over when we’re still in the early stages of shagging?”
“It seemed like the grown-up thing to do.” Saffron shrugged. “Next time, I’ll run my ideas by you.”
“Oh, no.” Kirsty shook a finger. “I won’t become your assistant. It’s time, Ms Oliver, for you to spread your wings.”
“It’s kind of exciting and terrifying all at once.”
“Hello?” Ginger shouted from inside the house.
“Garden!” Saffron shouted back.
Kirsty shook her head, tsking.
“What? She has a key and as I said earlier, Jeeves has the night off.” Saffron flourished her glass.
“I brought the troops.” Ginger made a ta da motion, as Helena, Hugh, Ian, and Ruth stood behind her.
“We all stopped at the pub on the corner for half pints.” Helena kissed Kirsty’s cheek and then Saffron’s.
After all the hugs and air kisses, Saffron pressed her palms together. “Let me get more wine glasses.” Saffron winked at Kirsty.
In the kitchen she surveyed the progress. “Do you need anything?”
Dolly, chopping mint, glanced up. “We prepped almost everything earlier, so don’t you worry about a thing.” She turned around. “Annie, can you set out the hors d’oeuvres?”
Saffron left them to it, taking one of the olives from the platter before Annie whisked it away.
Back outside, Saffron poured more wine, unable to keep her eyes off Kirsty, who was engrossed in a conversation with her parents.
“Whoa!” Ginger tipped the bottle up. “Don’t waste any.”
“Sorry!” Saffron wiped the side of the bottle.
“I’ve never seen you this way.”
“What way?”
“Giddy.” Ginger’s broad smile matched Saffron’s.
“I am, aren’t I?”
“I hear you’re buying the house.” Hugh munched into a new potato cup, filled with chilli spiced crab and papaya.
Helena’s eyes followed Saffron’s gaze. “You two make a lovely couple.”
“Thank you.”
“Again, I’m so—”
Saffron stopped Helena with a raised hand. “No. It’s done.”
“What are you going to do now?” Ian had descended on the platter, swooping up gin prawns with lime, cucumber, and wasabi mayo.
“Slow down, mostly.” Saffron sipped her wine.
“What does that mean?” Ruth appeared by her husband’s side, Kirsty right behind her parents.
“Is this a dinner party or interrogation?” Kirsty joked, angling herself between Saffron and her parents.
“It’s okay. I have a feeling this is going to be a popular question for months. I’ve decided to rent the shop across from Wine Time. Open an art gallery.”
“Will you run it?” Helena wiped a crumb off the front of Hugh’s shirt.
“Not at first. I’m planning on hiring someone who actually knows what they’re doing.” A nervous giggle escaped her. “I want to ease into being a business owner and learn everything from the ground up.”
“She’s buying a beach hut so she can focus on her own creations.” Kirsty cheerfully added, “She’s good. Very good.”
“TMI.” Ginger bumped her elbow into Kirsty.
Kirsty blushed.
Everyone laughed.
“When are you bringing home your bitch?” Hugh shoved smoked mackerel pate on a potato rosti into his mouth.
“Fine way to refer to my business partner and best friend.” Helena yet again wiped away crumbs from Hugh’s five o’clock shadow. “You’re worse than when Anton was a baby.”
“Goldie’s coming home tomorrow.” Saffron threaded an arm around Kirsty’s shoulder, and let out a squeal. “My first baby.”
“She’s already set up playdates with Rufus.” Kirsty leaned into Saffron.
“I’m guessing from the name, she’s a Golden Retriever.” Ian refilled his wife’s glass with the open bottle on the table.
“That she is. At first I wanted to rename her, but after spending time with her, she really does shine.”
“Will she sleep in bed with you two?” Ginger asked.
Saffron tossed serious shade at her sister causing Ginger to laugh.
Dolly caught Saffron’s eye.
“Hugh, I hope you still have room for dinner?” Saffron motioned to the table on the patio.
“I’m a bottomless pit.” He patted his stomach.
“In every way imaginable,” Helena chided.
He gnashed his teeth.
Saffron and Kirsty shared a smile, and Saffron couldn’t help but wonder if they’d reach that stage. The one where they mercifully teased each other in front of their friends, without ruffling the other’s feathers.
Ginger took the seat on Kirsty’s right. “When do I get the keys to the castle?”
“Are you done with the town’s website?” Kirsty shifted in her chair to face Ginger.
“Finished the contract this morning. I’m ready to help set up online sales for you.” Ginger placed a cloth napkin in her lap.
“Excellent.” Kirsty tapped her fingertips together. “And I may need a site for my side gig. I’ve had a slew of divorce party requests. It seems you’ve started a Sandy Cove trend.”
“I wonder if there’ll be more popular than hen parties?”
“Not sure if that’s a good thing.” Kirsty squeezed Saffron’s hand.
“For me, I found it wonderfully freeing. For the first time since boxing up my things and moving to a new town, I feel at peace. Ready for the next stage in my life.” Ginger radiated.
Saffron leaned back to allow Dolly to set down the lemon sole, spinach, courgettes, and Jersey Royal new potatoes. “This night has taught me one thing. I need to take cooking lessons.”
“Whatever you do, don’t ever attempt fish pie again. I’ve never been so sick in my life.” Ginger forked a bite of potato. “What’s in the salsa?”
Dolly, luckily, was still present and said, “Mint, chili, spring onions, olives, lemon juice, and olive oil.”
“It’s to die for.” Ginger ate another bite.
“If you’re serious about cooking lessons, I’d love to add you to my Wednesday night class.” Dolly wiped her hands on her apron.
“That’s another part of Sandy Cove life you’ll have to grow accustomed to. Many of us wear different hats, given the tourist season has a short window,” Kirsty said.
“Good to know. Dolly, consider me signed up.” Saffron pretended to write her name in the air. “I’ve got to fill my time somehow.”
“Hopefully without killing anyone.” Ginger pointed her fork at Saffron, pretending it was a gun. “Death by fork.”
“You have zero faith in my domesticity.” Saffron feigned being hurt.
“You did hire a caterer for the night,” Kirsty not so helpfully pointed out.
“Look at your plate. It’s divine.” Saffron circled her fork over her own serving.
“Oh boy, now she thinks she’s a goddess.” Kirsty spoke to Ginger, not attempting to lower her voice so Saffron wouldn’t overhear.
“Be careful with this one. Soon, she’ll be demanding you feed her grapes, while also fanning her.” Ginger fanned her own face with a napkin, displaying a devilish grin.
“Don’t forget belly dancers and musicians.” Kirsty laughed over the image.
Saffron beamed, not about the image, but the banter had already started. That had to be a good sign about their future. She placed her hand on Kirsty’s thigh.
“I’m thinking of hiring a trainer to see if I can star in movies.” Hugh licked juice off his finger.
“Yep. That’s the thing holding you back. Not having a trainer.” Helena patted his cheek.
“Don’t be jealous. Some of us have star quality, right Saffron?”
“Keep it up, and you’ll be seeing stars.” Helena gave his shoulder a light punch.
“Don’t damage the goods.” Hugh rubbed the spot.
Saffron wrapped one of her legs around Kirsty’s under the table, needing to be as close as possible without putting on the wrong type of show for all to see.
Ian leaned forward in his seat, making eye contact with Saffron. “Thanks to you, I was able to answer a crossword clue in The Times I wouldn’t have known three months ago.”
“What was it?”
“Girl Racer.” He puffed his chest out.
Kirsty bristled, but Saffron comforted her with a grin. “That’s the best thing that came out of the franchise.”
“A crossword clue?” Ian’s brow furrowed.
“Meeting all of you.” Saffron boosted Kirsty’s hand to her lips. “You most of all.”
There was much oohing and aahhing, and Saffron wanted to snap her fingers to have Dolly clear the plates to get the meal over with, and send the guests home.
“I’d like to say something.” Ruth raised a glass, looking at Saffron and then to her daughter. “Not too long ago, Kirsty teased Ian and me about being adorable and I said she’d find her adorable. And now she has.”
“To adorable!” Ginger clinked her glass to Ruth’s and then Kirsty’s, everyone else taking part.
Kirsty leaned close to Saffron and whispered, “I love you.”
The three words Saffron had always wanted to hear, but never believed she would. Or believe the person who spoke them. With Kirsty, though, Saffron was only beginning to understand how deep their love was for each other. Every moment they shared brought them closer and Saffron still couldn’t believe her stroke of good luck. Fleeing the life she’d hated had led Saffron to her forever place and person and she had no intention of letting go.
Epilogue
One Year Later
“Wait. Did you box up the wine orders for The Sailor Bistro already?” Kirsty frowned at the screen behind the shop counter. They’d only had it for a few weeks and she was still getting used to it. Kirsty swore
at the system daily, but it was helping hugely with their online orders, which had gone bonkers since launch. She’d thought it would be mainly businesses who wanted their wine, but it was households, too, and plenty of them.
Helena reached an arm around her from behind. “This tick here?” She pointed at the green tick on the screen. “That means it’s done. It’s sitting by the door. Anton is coming to bike the orders round this afternoon.”
Helena was on at her to get a van now their orders had stepped up, but Kirsty still loved her bike with its vintage stylings and personal touch. Saffron agreed with Helena, telling Kirsty she wasn’t getting any younger. That comment had gone down like a lead balloon. Unlike the surprise weekend Saffron had whisked her away on to celebrate her 50th birthday.
There was a time when Kirsty had been dreading turning 50. However, it transpired that 50 really was just a number. Plus, when she had a hot woman on her arm, clocking up half a century didn’t seem like such a big deal. You’re only as old as the woman you feel, as the saying went. In that case, Kirsty was a cool 33. Saffron was keeping her young. She loved everything about that.
In the interim year since Saffron turned down Girl Racer 3 and bedded down in Sandy Cove, so much had changed. Saffron was now renting Donald’s old menswear shop opposite, turning it into an art studio where she exhibited local artists as well as her own work. More than that, Saffron had also set up a children’s arts charity, putting her money to good use where the arts were concerned.
Kirsty was beyond proud at how Saffron had adapted to normal life. True to her word, she didn’t seem to miss anything about her old life. The past 12 months had been a time for Saffron to stop, reassess, and pivot. That didn’t mean she’d given up on the acting world totally. Acting, yes. But Saffron was still drawn to the industry.
Kirsty had noticed scripts lying around the house far more over the past few weeks, showing Saff was almost ready to dip a toe back in the water. She’d set up a production company with the help of her assistant, Michelle, and was keen to head down the directing route when the right queer project came along. Kirsty was all for it. Seeing Saffron doing things her way finally was something she could totally get behind. Saffron lit up every time she spoke about it.