The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay_A heartwarming laugh out loud romantic comedy

by Nicola May

  Gingerly lifting a faded green blanket, she revealed an archaic cash register - an exact replica of one she used to love playing with as a child in the Home; when you pressed the keys, the amount pinged up in a glass section.

  The whole place smelt damp and musty, but she was relieved that the ceilings and walls appeared to be intact, and short of giving the place a massive scrub and repaint it wasn’t in that bad shape at all. Behind the counter was an archway which led to a small kitchen area and toilet, and a flight of stairs up to the flat above. Further on from that, a small storeroom opened onto a cute little courtyard containing an ornate round metal table and two chairs. A tattered parasol leant against a set of metal spiral stairs, presumably going up to the flat above.

  Hot seemed very content in his sniffing mission and hadn’t barked once, so that was a good sign. Shivering, Rosa lifted him into her arms. ‘Come on, boy, let’s check our new home out.’ They went back inside, and she closed and locked the back door with the key on the starfish keyring.

  As she climbed the stairs, she realised why, as an old man, Mr Myers had had to

  admit defeat. They were the steepest and narrowest steps Rosa had ever been faced with.

  ‘I might have to install a doggy lift for you on these,’ she puffed into the dachshund’s ears and for a second inhaled his comforting doggie smell.

  At the top of the stairs was a small landing, to the left of which was a tiny, but functioning kitchen. An old whistling kettle sat on the hob of a small white oven and amongst the grubby white tiles were several with images of starfishes. The units had seen better days, but nothing that a good clean wouldn’t sort out.

  Rosa opened the fridge and baulked slightly at the mould that greeted her. She left the door open, vowing to give the interior a going-over with some bleach. There was space for a washing machine, but that was no big deal anyway, as she had spotted a launderette in one of the narrow streets when she was in the taxi the other night. Further along to her right was the bathroom.

  ‘Avocado – nice,’ she said aloud and giggled, picturing house-proud Josh’s face when he saw the dated suite. A worn-looking plastic shower hose was still in situ on the double taps. The same starfish tiles were dotted around, and Rosa loved the old showbiz dressing-room-style mirror that had bulbs all around the outside.

  There was one decent-sized bedroom that housed an old iron-framed bedstead without a mattress and a large mahogany wardrobe that needed a good polish. Net curtains and musty-smelling thick navy curtains hung against original sash windows. She checked the view: the window looked over the street, which was now starting to fill with early-morning shoppers.

  Further along, another small room contained a beautiful green leather-topped desk. The walls were a horrible mustard yellow, the curtains dark brown.

  Hot started to whine as he sniffed around the desk.

  ‘Let me just check the lounge, little one, and I’ll take you down for a wee.’

  But she didn’t need to take him downstairs for that. Open-mouthed and clutching both sides of her face with joy, Rosa couldn’t believe what was now before her eyes. Yes, the long sitting room’s cream paint was tired and there were cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, but the double doors at the end of it, now letting in streams of winter sunshine, opened onto a small roof-terrace area that offered beautiful views towards the bay and surrounding countryside. What’s more, the spiral staircase she had noticed in the rear patio led up to this balcony.

  ‘Wow, just wow.’ Rosa rarely cried, but right now she could feel tears pricking the back of her eyes. She had wondered what the odd-shaped key on the keyring was for – and here was the answer.

  Hot barked loudly as he scampered out to cock a tiny ankle against an old terracotta pot. Rosa stepped out to take in all that was around her. Lifting her head to the sky, she breathed: ‘Thank you. Whoever you are, thank you so much.’

  A white feather drifted down in front of her . . .

  The magical moment was broken when Hot spotted a seagull on the edge of the metal railing that surrounded the terrace and started to bark again.

  ‘Get in, Hot. Stop it now.’

  The last thing Rosa wanted to do was to attract attention. Shooing him back inside and closing the French doors behind her, she phoned Josh and left him a message.

  ‘Oh my God, Josh, you have to see it. The lounge has a roof terrace that looks over the sea. And the shop’s got one of those old press cash-tills. There’s lots of work to do, but I think it’s probably just cosmetic, painting and so on - so it’s all manageable. There is no electricity though and I haven’t tried the water yet. Maybe you can call me later as I’m not sure what I have to do about all that.’

  Coming back to reality, Rosa shivered again. Shame it was bloody winter. She’d have to get the heating organised before she started cleaning everything as it would be too cold to spend long in here without getting hypothermia. She went to get the keys out of the balcony door. Funny, she was sure she had left them in the lock. Suddenly Hot appeared with the starfish key ring in his mouth.

  ‘Ah, there they are, I must have dropped them in all the excitement. Right, come on, Mamma needs a coffee and then we can try to sort out getting some light and heat on the matter.’

  Coffee, Tea or Sea was a quaint little coffee shop. It had free internet too, which was always a bonus. There were shelves all around adorned with seaside-themed knick-knacks, plus all kinds of books headed with a sign that said Read me, Replace me, Replenish Me.

  Rosa loved the fact that dogs seemed welcome everywhere down here. Restrictions had always annoyed her- and what were a few pet hairs between friends anyway?

  She secured Hot’s lead under the table leg in the corner and went up to the counter where there was a lit-up reindeer sporting a Christmas hat and a ceramic burlesque dancer money box, holding a sign that said Nice Tips.

  ‘Oh hi, Rosa.’

  ‘Blimey, you get about.’

  Titch smiled. Her blonde cropped haircut suited her pixie features, and noticing her oversized boobs squeezed into a tight jumper, Rosa could understand Seb’s un-PC comment about her now.

  ‘That’s what they all say,’ she winked. ‘You have to take what work you can get around here, and I’m not shy of it. Now, what can I get you?’

  ‘Just a normal coffee, please.’

  ‘A normal coffee? That’s lucky because we don’t do all that fancy London shite in here. I mean, a flat white - why don’t people just ask for a white coffee? And as for a skinny lah-di-dah, what’s all that about? Full-fat milk all the way, I say. It’s much better for you anyway. Want some water for Hot?’

  ‘I hear you - and yes, please, that would be lovely.’

  ‘You’re staying down over Christmas now, aren’t you?’

  ‘Er . . . yes, probably. Sheila says there’s room.’

  ‘Do it, live a little - and Christmas Day with the Hannafores will be a hoot. Her youngest son’s a bit of all right too. He’s got a girlfriend now though, which is a shame. Here you go.’ She handed Rosa her coffee. ‘That’ll be two pounds, please, and I’ll bring the dog bowl over.’

  Two pounds for a coffee wasn’t bad, compared to London prices. Living here was becoming more appealing by the minute.

  As Rosa was taking her jacket off, Josh called.

  ‘Sorry I missed you,’ he said. ‘I was in a meeting.’

  Rosa was comforted by Josh’s familiar tone. ‘How dull.’

  ‘I know, but we can’t all be beneficiaries of estates by the sea, now can we? So go on - tell me. You were gabbling away so excitedly in your message that I didn’t get the chance to take it all in.’

  Making sure she spoke quietly enough so that Titch couldn’t hear, Rosa had great delight in relaying what she had discovered.

  ‘It has made me realise though, that I haven’t got a bloody clue when it comes to normal domesticity. The only bill I’ve ever had to pay in my life is my phone bill. I
’ve always lived in rented accommodation before, so I’ve handed over the rent and never had to think further than that.’

  ‘OK, let me help you. So, there’s no electric, gas or water?’

  ‘Hmm. I didn’t actually check the water.’

  ‘In the circumstances, I doubt if it’s on. Did the toilet flush?’

  ‘I haven’t used it yet.’

  ‘OK. Now - remember the first envelope you opened?’

  ‘The boring one with all the paperwork in?’

  Josh smiled to himself in his office in the City. ‘Yes, that’s the one,’ he said. ‘Well, there were bills in there. For example, the ones for gas may say British Gas. The ones for electricity will also be obvious. What you need to do is contact all the suppliers - there will be telephone numbers on the letters - and let them know you've moved in, so they can set an account up in your name. You may need to prove that it is a new ownership, but let’s worry about that when we come to it. The electricity may just be turned off at the meter so it’s worth checking that first. The water is probably just turned off at the stopcock, so check there. The system may also have been drained down, so it will need refilling.’

  ‘Stopcock? Ha ha. I’ve used that expression before but nothing to do with water. How will I know where that is?’

  ‘OK, you will need a plumber for that. I’d do it today if I were you though, as it’s so near to Christmas when everything closes down for two weeks. The plumber can probably advise you on the electricity meter too.’

  ‘OK, thanks for that. It doesn’t sound so hard, after all, and once I’ve got all that up and running, I can start cleaning and then move in.’ She sighed with pleasure.

  ‘Maybe stay at the pub in some comfort and you can get cracking between Christmas and New Year then. I was going to say I can pop down from my parents’ house for a couple of days too - if you want me to, that is?’

  ‘That would be amazing, Josh, if you’re sure?’

  ‘Course I’m sure. It will be good to see Hot - and you, of course.’

  ‘Ha ha, you’re so funny.’

  Josh laughed. ‘I just need to be back for the New Year’s Eve bash at the rugby club. Right, I’d better get on.’

  ‘OK, see you – and thanks again, Josh, you’re a star.’

  CHAPTER 5

  All the utilities companies had been amazingly helpful. Despite how close it was to Christmas, they had promised to deal with everything straight away. Finding a plumber had been more difficult. Rosa had looked for a local firm online, but had come up with a blank. So, taking the risk that any inquiry would get the gossip valve opened, she had gone to Sheila and lied, saying that a tourist in the chip shop had been after one, and that she’d promised to get back to him and pass on the number. The landlady obliged straight away.

  Deciding to skip breakfast to avoid any further conversation with Sheila, Rosa had got up early today and, accompanied by an eager Hot, headed straight to the Corner Shop. Delighted that she now had light, Rosa rooted around and was gratified to find an old cylindrical Hoover in one of the kitchen cupboards. She was just standing on tiptoe, reaching up with the hose and happily clearing cobwebs from the ceiling, when there was a loud knock on the shop door.

  For some reason she had expected the plumber to be a lot older. Luke, on the contrary, must have been only in his late twenties. His short brown hair suited his cheeky face, and his hazel eyes were accentuated by long lashes. Lashes to die for, in fact. Although Rosa never wore much make-up, when she did, it would take a good five minutes for the mascara wand to coax hers to even half the length of his. At five feet nine or so he wasn’t that tall, but then again, most men were tall against her five foot three.

  ‘Morning. Ruth, isn’t it? I’m Luke - plumber Luke.’

  ‘Hi. It’s Rosa, actually.’

  ‘Sorry, I never write anything down. And can I just say how nice it is to see a new pretty face down here.’

  Rosa felt herself reddening. ‘Likewise,’ she managed.

  ‘Pretty? I usually answer to chiselled, handsome or mysterious.’

  Rosa laughed. ‘Right, come in.’

  When Luke placed a large tool-bag down on the floor of the shop, Hot immediately trotted over and stuck his nose into it.

  ‘Hello, little fella.’ The plumber leant down to stroke him gently. ‘Aw. I love animals.’

  ‘That’s Hot – he’s my boy. He may look cute, but he’s a noisy stubborn little bugger sometimes.’

  ‘Take after his owner, does he?’

  ‘How rude – when you’ve only just met me.’ Rosa laughed. ‘Anyway, sorry I was not much use on the phone explaining everything, but I’ve not had to deal with anything like this on my own before.’

  ‘Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, were you, Rosa?’

  ‘With an accent like this? I don’t think so.’ If only he knew, she thought, but she liked Luke’s upfront attitude. She couldn’t be dealing with people who weren’t honest and straightforward.

  She braced herself for a barrage of questions about the shop, but the questions didn’t come. Luke was helpful and charming and explained everything that would need to be done in order to get the heating and water safely back on track.

  ‘I can pay you cash if that would help?’ Rosa offered, hoping that it would lower the bill.

  ‘It certainly would help - thank you.’ Luke scratched his head, then said: ‘Look, I’m guessing you are just starting out with this, so I’m going to charge you a hundred pounds all in. How about that?’

  ‘Well, thanks, Luke. That’s amazing.’ Josh had explained that plumbers didn’t come cheap, so this seemed very reasonable.

  ‘There’s just one thing,’ Rosa went on slowly. ‘I know this may sound a bit strange, but would you mind keeping this between you and me for now?’

  ‘It’s not strange at all. You’ve obviously already realised that you can’t do a silent fart around here without it being in the South Cliffs Gazette.’

  ‘Yes. It’s taking some getting used to, after being in London. There you could walk around naked and nobody would bat an eye.’

  ‘I would like to have seen that.’

  ‘Hey! So, when can you start?’ Rosa shivered. It was freezing cold in the shop, and to have heating and hot water would make everything so much easier.

  ‘Like, right now? If you want me to, that is.’

  ‘I think that’s a yes, Plumber Luke.’

  As Luke beavered away at getting the heating system restarted, Rosa continued to hoover and place all rubbish out on the downstairs courtyard area. The hard work made her forget about the cold. After a while, Luke called her into the kitchen.

  ‘Get ready for this,’ he told her. He lit a long taper, and with a massive whoosh from the old gas boiler in the downstairs kitchen, a pilot flame ignited.

  ‘I can’t believe how quickly you’ve got it started,’ Rosa said, thrilled.

  ‘Amazing, aren’t I?’ Luke joked. ‘Being honest, the radiators didn’t need that much bleeding. It’ll take a while to warm the place, but you and little Hot will soon be hot, hot, hot.’ He grinned at his own wit, then added: ‘I can stay and set the timing, if you like, plus I want to make sure that all the radiators are working properly.’

  ‘That would be great, thank you.’

  ‘Make sure you get the boiler serviced soon though, it’s quite old. OK.’ Luke checked his watch. ‘Can’t believe the time, already. I’m starving. Going to pop up to the Co-op to grab a sandwich - want one?’

  ‘Yes, please. It will save me having to answer any questions from random strangers. Anything with chicken and a packet of ready salted crisps, please. Get us some drinks too – oh, and a tin of dog food for Hot – would you mind? Also, he likes a bit of cucumber for a treat, so if they’ve got one at this time of year . . . That’ll be great. Here.’ Rosa went to her bag, counted out the £100 and gave him an extra £20 on top. ‘Lunch is on me.’
>
  When he’d gone, she ran the kitchen tap. The water was warm and she sighed with relief. She reckoned Josh would be proud of her for sorting all this on her own. In fact, she felt a little bit proud of herself. She also began to feel a little overwhelmed. This was a lot to take on - and what if the money ran out? There were so many things still to purchase. She needed a mattress and a sofa too. She also had to stock the place before she could open it. Plus, she had to be a grown-up now and pay bills for herself. But she guessed this was the challenge, and whoever it was who had given her the money had been confident that under two grand would do it.

  Tonight, Rosa decided, turning off the hot tap and filling the kettle from the cold, she was going to go back to her room at the Ship Inn and start thinking about what she should stock. Seb had said that old Mr Myers had sold knick-knacks, but she’d have to sell plenty of those to make a profit and pay her way.

  Luke knocked lightly, and she let him back in. She liked him - in fact, she fancied him. It had been a year since she had had any kind of a relationship - if you could call it that.

  Three years ago, she’d met Greg at one of her many jobs - selling insurance by phone in the evenings for a bank. She had bloody hated that too. Greg was her supervisor, five years older. He’d asked her to stay behind one night and they’d ended up shagging in the gents toilets. Not one of her proudest moments, but Rosa had never been one for holding back. Sex was easier for her than getting involved. Emotions hurt. Casual encounters didn’t.

  They’d had three months of foreplay really. A few nights out in the pub in Holborn near to where they were working and a few more random shags back at his shared house. The relationship had ended when he had said that her sales figures were so low, he couldn’t hide it any longer and would have to let her go.