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

by Nicola May

  Rosa detected tears forming in Mary’s eyes.

  ‘She loved you, Mary. I could tell, even with her brusque ways.’

  ‘She resented me too, Rosa. She never ever got over Maria dying, you see.’

  ‘Maria?’

  ‘My mum. Gran named me after her. My mum was so beautiful, Rosa. She was only twenty when she died. And she died whilst she was having me, you see. She lost so much blood, there was nothing they could do to save her.’

  ‘Oh my God, that’s so sad! So, Maria was Ned and Queenie’s baby then?’

  Mary began folding the throw agitatedly.

  ‘I can’t speak about it, Rosa. I know she’s not here, but Gran would go mad if I did.’ At that moment, the bedside light flashed on and off.

  ‘Did you see that?’ Rosa took a step back.

  ‘Yes.’ Mary did a little laugh. ‘Didn’t think it would take her long. That’s her for sure.’

  ‘Do you believe in ghosts then, Mary?’

  ‘I believe in the power of the spirit, Rosa. Never be afraid. It is a magical thing.’

  ‘It’s great to think we could all come back and annoy those who had hurt us and comfort those whom we loved. I would like to come back as a dog, but only if I could have an owner like me,’ Rosa said light-heartedly.

  Mary’s chuckle turned into another cough. She put her hand on Rosa as if to steady herself. ‘And me, a cat. Although not quite as mentally disturbed as Merlin, I’d hope.’

  ‘I’d like to ask just one more question. It will be the last now, I promise.’

  Mary put her hands on her hips and stretched up to take in some more air. ‘Go on.’

  ‘After reading those letters, I have to know what happened to Dotty.’

  Mary’s attitude suddenly changed. ‘No more questions, Rosa.’ She reached for her inhaler and took another massive puff. ‘In Queenie’s memory, no more questions, I beg of you.’ Her face was etched with pain now. ‘I must get back to the dinner. I’ll call you when it’s ready.’

  Pausing for a moment, then huffing and puffing, she seemed to change her mind. Pulling a letter from her apron pocket, she said huskily, ‘I found this earlier. I was told that she had had an accident.’ She stifled a sob and headed down the steep old stairs as quickly as her big frame would allow her.

  To My Ned

  By the time you read this letter I will be at our place - you know, the one where the sky touches the sea. I often wonder if you took HER there too. At least the view will be amazing when I jump.

  Did you really think I was that blind that I could not see what was going on between you and T? And did she really think that we would both believe her story that it wasn’t your baby inside of her?

  Rosa put her hand over her mouth.

  I love you, Ned. You are a good man and have been a perfect husband, but my inner torment of not being able to give you what you so badly crave is like white noise in my head that just won’t go away.

  Goodbye, Ned, and be happy with your new little family.

  Yours forever, Dorothea X

  Rosa was motionless. The exact place where she had looked over the edge when she was at West Cliffs with Joe could have been the spot where Dotty jumped. The poor woman. And poor Mary. She even felt sorry for Ned and Queenie. What an awful ending for everybody who had held so much love for Dotty, despite the tragic love triangle.

  So, Ned had been Mary’s grandfather all along. Mary had lived virtually opposite him and she didn’t even know it. No wonder she was in such a state. But Queenie knew - so why not tell her poor granddaughter? With no mum in her life - or dad that Rosa knew of either - Mary had had no male influence in her life.

  As Rosa went slowly down the stairs to eat the roast dinner with Mary, she thought to herself how Queenie Cobb had died with many secrets and even more unanswered questions. The biggest one now being: Who had left Rosa the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay? And why? Why?

  CHAPTER 54

  ‘Rosa, come quick, it’s the motorbike that knocked into Hot, I’m sure. Look, there’s a black and silver helmet hanging from it.’

  Rosa came out of the front of the shop to see the bike parked just up the road a little. A sudden realisation hit her. She opened her mouth to call Titch inside, but it was too late.

  ‘Hey – you!’ Rosa stood at the door and cringed as her errant friend continued her onslaught. ‘Make a habit of hurting poor innocent animals then riding off, do you?’

  In her horror, Rosa dropped the bag of one-pound coins she was holding and started chasing them as they started their descent down the hill.

  The teenager noticed her. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ he said spitefully.

  ‘Pardon?’ His likeness to Joe made Rosa feel suddenly angry. She was about to say something further about Hot, when the lad spoke up.

  ‘Keep away from my dad, bitch, or that mutt of yours will get more than a kick next time.’ He then pulled the helmet over his long scraggy locks, started the bike and zoomed off up the hill.

  Titch sat Rosa down in the back kitchen and got her a cup of strong tea.

  ‘I know it’s been a shock. He’s obviously seen you with Joe somewhere, but he doesn’t know anything for definite, I’m sure.’

  ‘I’m not even bothered about that. I just can’t believe that a human being would want to harm my Hot.’

  ‘Chip off the old block - isn’t that what they say?’ Titch put the milk away. ‘In fact, I’m glad Joe Fox is staying married. You can do so much better than a scumbag like him.’

  ‘I agree. But after what’s just happened, it’s made me realise that I need to see him squirm. Guess what, Titch - I’ve just had an idea of exactly how I can do that.’

  Joe smiled broadly as Rosa approached him in the car park. He turned off the radio in his Jeep and jumped down to greet her with a hard kiss on the lips.

  ‘Long time no see, and you are looking hot, hot, hot. Talking of Hot, where is he?’

  ‘I’m doing a radio interview, Joe. He’s best left at home, I think, don’t you?’ It took all of Rosa’s strength not to weaken and say exactly what she was thinking.

  ‘Thanks for including me in the Gazette piece too,’ he said smugly. ‘I was quite impressed you got in there all by yourself.’

  ‘Girl Power and all that, Joe. I’m quite capable of picking up a phone. And I knew that old Barry Savage would be gushing at the thought of me revealing who the mystery benefactor was, of the Corner Shop.’

  ‘Wow! Rosa, why didn’t you tell me? I could have had the scoop for the Gazette before it went live on radio.’

  Rosa shrugged her shoulders at Joe as the smart, bespectacled woman appeared with her clipboard as before. They followed her through to the studio with Rosa ignoring Joe’s questions about who it was who had left the shop to her.

  The radio jingle boomed out of the speakers around the studio: South Cliffs Radio – two four eight to two four nine FM – Barry Savage.

  Rosa quaked inwardly as she sat opposite the pompous DJ who was wearing the same ill-fitting three-piece suit as last time. Barry motioned for the two of them to put their headphones on, and giving a wide, false grin, which made him look like Mr Toad going ‘Parp Parp’ in his motor car, made ready to go live.

  ‘Welcome to my Saturday guest slot, where we have not one, but two wonderful peeps to talk to us this morning. A big hello again to Rosa Larkin, the owner of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.’

  ‘Er . . . hi.’ Rosa took a slurp of water to aid her drying mouth.

  ‘Welcome to you, Rosa, and also to our housewives’ favourite, Joe Fox, Editor of the one and only South Cliffs Gazette.’ Barry winked at Joe. Rosa felt sick; maybe he was dipping his wick elsewhere too.

  ‘So, Rosa, how’s it all going?’

  ‘It’s going great, thanks, Barry. The locals appear to have a penchant for dressing their dogs in designer coats and tutus.’

  Barry guffawed. ‘How very London.
’

  ‘We are starting to get a lot of visitors down now the weather is improving, so yes, it is a mixture of tourists and locals popping in.’

  ‘Now for those of you who were listening before, the story goes that Rosa was left the shop by a mystery benefactor. Are you any the wiser as to who that might have been?’

  ‘Actually, Barry, yes I am.’ Barry put this thumb up. ‘But I’m here today to tell your lovely listeners about my ordering service. The Dogalot wet and dry food has proved such a hit, that if people want to email me in advance I can get their orders in the next day. Which is a win, both for myself and my customers alike, as they get a fast service and I don’t have to store as much bulk product.’

  ‘Great, great. Thanks for that, Rosa. Now about . . .’

  Rosa butted in. ‘The email address links directly through to my website, which your producer said she would put up on your website at the end of this show.’

  ‘Thanks, yeah, fab, yeah, and so to Joe. Listeners, we’ve come up with the idea of learning about a day in the life of a newspaper editor. The ins and outs, what makes him tick. How does he fit a family in with so many time pressures? But before that, let’s go to a song. Let’s sing it loud and proud for “Paper Roses” by the one and only Marie Osmond.’

  Barry took off his headphones and said to Rosa: ‘Brilliant, what you did there creating the suspense about the benefactor. Let’s do a big reveal at the end, as agreed.’

  ‘Oh yes, there is going to be a big reveal, Barry, I can assure you.’

  ‘So, who is it?’ Joe couldn’t help himself. ‘You can tell us now, surely.’

  ‘You’ll have to wait.’ Rosa took a slurp of her water.

  ‘Loving the idea of this slot - good work, Rosa. You all ready to go straight after this, Joe?’

  ‘Yes, he’s ready.’ Rosa grinned and squeezed Joe’s hand.

  Joe made a questioning expression, but not wanting to lose face or credence in front of Barry Savage, he kept his mouth shut.

  ‘Fabulous. Great questions you suggested, by the way, young lady. You should think about this reporting lark yourself, maybe?’

  Joe dug his finger into Rosa’s left thigh, causing her to squirm and let out a little squeak. The producer glared at them both.

  ‘So that was “Paper Roses”, now to a real-life newspaper editor. So, Joe Fox, welcome to South Cliffs Today radio.’

  ‘Hi. Thanks for having me.’ Rosa loved the fact that Joe was visibly ill at ease and fidgeting.

  ‘So, tell us, how long have you worked for the Gazette and what, in your opinion, makes a good reporter stroke editor, Joe?’

  ‘I’ve been there five years now, for my sins.’ He laughed. ‘Well, I would say to those of you who are starting out: just write, write and write some more. The more you hone your craft, the better you will become.’

  ‘But to get a good story out of somebody, how do you do that?’ Barry was browsing the questions list and nodding.

  ‘I think . . . erm . . . a mixture of empathy, plus knowledge of the facts you have already.’

  ‘Nice, nice.’ Barry Savage nodded his head sagely. ‘And obviously you need to be able to cover both sides of a contentious issue, that’s right, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes, yes, of course.’

  ‘Not many of those down here though, I guess?’

  ‘A few. The Christmas hit-and-run is still causing interest.’

  ‘Oh yes, nasty business. So, what is the word on the street on that, so to speak?’ Barry laughed at his own useless quip.

  ‘To be honest, unless some new information turns up soon, I think it will become a cold case.’

  ‘A cold case. Do our listeners know what that is?’

  ‘Oh, sorry - a cold case is an unsolved criminal investigation which remains open pending discovery of new evidence. Actually, there is something new I need to report.’

  ‘Go on, Joe, we all want to know.’

  ‘There is a reward being offered by the Gazette for any further information of what happened on that night.’

  ‘Now you’re talking, Joe. How much?’

  ‘That I can’t disclose yet, but I will get a number and put it up on your website.’ Joe was making it up as he went along. But with the Gazette figures falling of late, he knew this would create a buzz, especially if he set the reward high enough.

  ‘Brilliant!’ Barry was now animated. ‘So, all of you out there, if you know anything, however small, get on the phone to the Gazette. Good stuff, Joe. So now a bit about you. Let’s recap. What sort of person do you think it takes to be a reporter?’

  The words ‘a complete cheating arsehole’ went through Rosa’s mind.

  ‘Dedicated, hard-working, good at research, the ability to think outside the box.’

  ‘Yes, all of those Joe, and you must work long hours?’

  ‘Yes, I do work silly hours.’

  ‘My researcher tells me that not only do you have a Great Dane and three sons, you have a baby girl on the way. How do you go about fitting all that in too?’

  Rosa could see the colour draining from Joe’s face, so she chipped in, with a voice calm as the spring tide. ‘Wow, Joe, yes - how do you fit all that in? I have trouble finding time for just my dog Hot, now that the shop is so busy.’

  Joe shut his eyes momentarily, opened them, then inhaled deeply.

  Barry mouthed, ‘Are you OK?’ as Joe made the ‘cut’ sign across his throat.

  ‘And it’s time for traffic and travel with Yvonne Greggs. Make sure you stay listening to see just how Joe manages to fit everything in, with such a large family commitment.’

  Joe took off his headphones. ‘So sorry, Barry. I suddenly feel unwell. I must have got that bug doing the rounds - I’m going to have to go.’ And he hotfooted it out of the studio.

  Rosa took her headphones off too, saying solicitously, ‘Best check he’s OK.’

  ‘OK, OK, no worries. Although do come back very soon, both of you,’ Barry shouted as Rosa ran out in pursuit, before remembering that he still hadn’t had the answer to the mystery of the Cockleberry Bay Corner Shop bequest.

  Joe rushed to his Jeep, got in and turned the engine on. Rosa quickly followed and jumped into the passenger seat.

  Joe took a long drink from a bottle of water. His hands were shaking. ‘I can’t believe you just did that to me,’ he hissed.

  Rosa’s mouth was wide open in amazement. ‘You can’t believe that I just did that to you? Oh, I am sorry if I embarrassed you, Joe.’

  ‘Hear me out, Rosa, I can explain.’

  ‘Yes, you can.’ The anger in Rosa’s voice was now evident. ‘You can explain right now.’

  ‘OK, OK, I have got a wife, as you know.’

  ‘Yes, a wife, a nasty teenage boy, five-year-old twins, a dog and another baby girl on the way.’ Rosa put on a funny voice. ‘”Oh Rosa, poor me, my wife is a cheat and I’m leaving her. Oh Rosa, I have no children.” You’re a fucking liar, Joseph Fox.’

  ‘How do you know all this about me?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter how I found out, Joe, but now I want to know the truth. I’ve already done my grieving for you, but I need to hear it from your lips, then I can move on.’

  ‘OK, OK. She has cheated on me, I don’t want to be with her. We don’t even like each other. Rarely talk to each other. We are just staying together for the baby. I don’t even know if it’s mine.’

  At that moment, his phone rang through the hands-free in the Jeep, and Rosa saw the words WIFEY flash up on screen.

  ‘Answer it,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘Answer it now!’

  ‘No.’ Joe was angry now too. He went to cut the call, but Rosa grabbed his phone and pressed the answer button.

  She recognised Becca’s voice from the other night. ‘Darling, it’s me, I was listening in. Are you OK? I told you not to have one of last night’s leftover cream cakes for breakfast but you wouldn’t listen.
Are you on your way home?’

  ‘Yes, yes. I can’t talk, I feel too shit, see you soon.’

  ‘Love you. And, don’t forget . . .’ Joe cut the call.

  Rosa tried to stop herself from crying. One lone tear started to run down over her little scar. ‘Really sounds as if you don’t like each other, doesn’t it?’

  ‘I’m so sorry, Rosa.’ Joe went to wipe her tear with a finger.

  ‘Get off me! I can’t believe you. You used me.’ Her voice began to crack. ‘And – and . . . I liked you.’ She jumped down from the Jeep and started walking briskly towards the bus stop.

  Joe drove along slowly next to her, saying, ‘I can give you a lift.’

  ‘I don’t want anything from you ever again.’

  ‘Are you going to tell my wife?’

  Rosa stopped walking. ‘Give me some credit, you creep. I don’t want to embarrass myself and she’s welcome to you. But what I will tell you is that your eldest son knows something about us, as he was the one who hurt Hot – deliberately, or so he said. It was him on the motorbike that night. Nasty piece of work he is too. Like father, like son. A chip off the old block.’

  ‘God, no!’ Joe put his hand to his forehead.

  ‘God, yes. But I’m sure you can think of some lie to tell him too, eh? Goodbye, Joe.’

  ‘What about getting coverage for the shop in the paper? I will need to see you about that,’ he floundered.

  ‘I’m not sure which part of “Goodbye, Joe” you didn’t understand.’ Rosa held her head high and carried on walking away.

  CHAPTER 55

  Holding Hot on his lead outside, Rosa popped her head round the door of the Co-op. She was surprised to see that Mary wasn’t behind the till, since she generally worked there on a Friday evening. The lights were on in Seaspray Cottage, however, so Rosa made a mental note to call her later to check she was OK.

  Finding out that Dotty had taken her own life had clearly deeply affected poor Mary – that, and the dramatic death of Queenie. Rosa had deliberately left her alone after their last meeting, giving her time to think everything through and start to come to terms with the shock of her bereavement and the recent revelations. Rosa didn’t trust herself not to keep pestering her with more questions, so she was keeping away. Once things had calmed down a bit, she would talk to Mary again. But since Mary had not been privy to all the facts regarding Ned and Dotty, maybe she wouldn’t be able to enlighten her anyway.