‘Brrrrr! I think we can safely say that summer’s gone. My bloody heater isn’t working in the car. I’ll have to dig my old coat from my winter clothes suitcase. I’m freezing in my denim jacket.’
‘Come in. There’s a roaring fire for your toes and G and T for your stress.’
‘I feel better already,’ said Holly, hanging her jacket on the banister post and hugging Tess.
‘My turn.’ Blake came out of the lounge and hugged Holly.
‘Hi, Blake.’
‘Can you get Holly a drink while I fetch the takeaway menus from the bedroom?’ Tess ran upstairs to hunt for the leaflets. It was an odd place to keep paperwork, but her underwear drawer made perfect sense to her. Every week she’d scoop up her letters and bills from the kitchen, take them upstairs, and shove them in with her knickers and bras. Safe, out of the way and private.
She found the menus and was about to leave her room when she heard voices on the pavement below. She caught her breath and dived behind a curtain when she saw Daniel talking to another dog walker beneath the streetlight. So, he was back from London. He was wrapped in a thick coat with the collar turned up against the cold. His head was covered with a woollen hat that had been pulled down over his ears. His hands were thrust deep inside his coat pockets and the golden glow from the street lamp highlighted his face with an apricot hue. Tess’s breath steamed up the window, obscuring her view. Would he catch her watching if she wiped it? She gingerly rubbed the glass. It squeaked beneath her finger and Blake shouted upstairs making her jump.
‘Have you found them yet? I’m starving.’
She hurried away from the window and called from the landing. ‘Won’t be a second.’ She heard him walk into the kitchen and open the fridge door. The chink of the tonic bottle suggested that he was pouring another gin. Tess waited until she heard him close the lounge door again and tiptoed back to the window.
The pavement was empty and the glow from the lamp shone desolately onto the ground. Daniel had gone. Had he looked at the house before he’d left? Had he wondered what she was doing? Tess picked up the menus and went downstairs, pushing such thoughts to the back of her mind. She threw a selection of different coloured pamphlets onto the coffee table.
‘Top up, Holly?’
‘I’d better not. I don’t want to get tipsy. It’s my Saturday at work tomorrow and I’ve got to drive home—’ Holly blushed and looked at Blake. ‘Sorry, I wasn’t having a dig.’
‘S’okay. Tess has written me a letter. Hopefully I’ll just get a slap on the wrist.’
‘Don’t think it’s all going to be plain sailing,’ said Tess. ‘Not everything has a fairy tale ending. We don’t all get what we want. You need to be prepared to face some consequences.’
‘I have faith in you.’
Tess felt irritable. ‘Don’t be flippant. You can’t heap pressure on me to save your skin.’
‘I’m paying you a compliment. I’m saying I have faith in you and trust you. I just can’t win with you, can I?’
‘I’m just trying to explain that it’s not up to me. Okay, I’ve written a letter, but it could be totally inconsequential. It’s not a get out of jail free card.’
Blake sat forwards. ‘You said I wouldn’t go to jail.’
‘It’s just an expression.’ Tess sighed. ‘But you’ll get some punishment.’
‘I expect to. I know I’ll get three points.’
‘I can’t believe we’re going over this yet again. Can we drop it and enjoy the evening?’
Holly jumped up. ‘I’m getting a Diet Coke. Does anyone want anything from the kitchen?’
‘I’ll have the same, please,’ said Tess.
Blake mumbled from behind a large menu. ‘Sorry. I know I must be a pain to live with. It’s just work’s so busy, the court case is hanging over me and I’m overdrawn at the bank… and you know.’
‘Look, we’re stressed and hungry. We all say things we don’t mean when we’re anxious. Let’s order some food and try to relax and have a nice evening.’
Blake stood up, walked to the settee and kissed her on the mouth. ‘All I meant was that I’m grateful you wrote the letter. I won’t mention it again.’
Tess snatched at his hand as he started to walk back to his chair. ‘Sorry I was snappy.’ She shook his hand playfully. ‘You choose what takeaway we’ll have.’
Holly walked back into the living room, placing Tess’s drink on the coffee table in front of her. Tess caught Holly’s eye as her friend mouthed, ‘Are you okay?’
Tess shrugged and pulled a face, before nodding.
‘I think we’ll have pizza tonight,’ said Blake.
‘You know what, Tess?’ said Holly. ‘You should practice your recipes for the exhibition and have a little party.’
‘You’ve actually read my mind. I’ve been having restless nights thinking about the timings and storage. I can’t stop planning and cooking in my mind. If you’ll be willing participants, I wouldn’t mind a practice run on a few dishes.’
‘It’s my birthday on Saturday,’ said Blake. ‘Let’s do it then. It’ll save some money if we’re not going out for a meal to celebrate.’
Tess knew it wouldn’t save money because she had expensive ingredients to buy, but she would feel better having practiced the recipes.
‘That’s a date then, you’re both invited to Halston’s Gallery Preview Buffet next Satur— I can’t next Saturday! Mum rang and asked if I was free to travel down there.’
‘What for?’ asked Blake.
‘No idea. She said she wanted to show me something.’
‘Cornwall isn’t just around the corner, and besides, I’m going to the match on Saturday afternoon. We’d have to go on the Sunday and we can’t go to Cornwall and back in a day.’
Tess grimaced, guiltily. ‘I’m going on my own. I’m leaving Friday afternoon and coming back Monday afternoon. I sorted the rota with Margaret this morning. I was going to tell you, but you only arrived a couple of minutes before Holly.’
‘It’ll be lovely for you to see your mum and dad again,’ said Holly. ‘Wasn’t it your birthday in June when you last saw them?’
Tess was grateful that Holly was trying to diplomatically calm the situation. ‘Yes, and I do miss them. And Padders. And the sea.’
Padders was her parents’ scruffy little mongrel dog. He was named Padstow, but his name had been shortened to Padders over the years.
‘We’ll do the buffet one evening the week after next and we’ll celebrate your birthday when I’m back, I promise. Now, what pizza do you want?’
Chapter Nineteen
The windscreen wipers squeaked backwards and forwards, slicing through the drizzle. Tess had left Nottingham behind and the motorway was clear. Despite looking forward to seeing her parents and Padders again, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed that Daniel hadn’t been in touch since returning from London. True, she hadn’t phoned him either, but that was because when she’d called him a week ago, he’d sounded distant and business-like. If only her feelings for him would fade and disappear painlessly, like a grazed knee.
However, Tess was relieved to be spending a few days away from Blake. Recently he’d been pestering her to move in with him, but she’d no intention of leaving Halston. She couldn’t imagine sharing a house with his numerous diecast models and action figures of Captain Kirk and an army of Klingons. Models of the Starship Enterprise decorated any flat surface and it didn’t help that a poster of Mr Spock looked down on her whenever she sat on Blake’s toilet.
Tess sighed at the complexity of her situation. Determined not to feel down, she switched on the radio to stop her mind from wandering. Paolo Nutini blasted from the speakers and she sang loudly, wishing away the miles and impatient to get there. It had been nearly four months since she’d seen them and she longed to feel the salty spray of the sea, the cry of the gulls and the smell of the lobster pots. She looked forward to falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore
while snuggled under her duvet.
Five hours, a service station break and a bag of fruit pastels later, Tess negotiated the winding hedge lined roads of Cornwall. Stone houses edged the narrow lanes and the traffic became lighter as she got closer to St Merryn. Dusk was falling and Halston seemed a long way away. She followed the signs to Padstow, looking out for all the well-loved landmarks she knew so well. Within half an hour, the night was as black as tar. Tess followed a narrow lane with only her headlights to pierce the darkness. It was all so familiar and wonderful. She turned right into a private road that was lined on either side with half a dozen houses, all spaced generously apart. Continuing to the end of the cul-de-sac, Tess stopped outside her childhood home. A warm yellow glimmer seeped through the gaps in the drawn curtains, making her feel safe and welcome.
She turned off the engine and climbed out of her car, standing and listening for a moment. The sky was inky black, punctured by millions of stars. She could smell the sea and hear the hush of the waves in the distance. Closing the driver’s door, she retrieved her bag from the boot and locked the car.
Her parents, Celia and Graham, opened the front door and Padders ran outside. He barked with excitement and jumped up at Tess, almost knocking her off balance.
‘I’ve missed you too.’ She dropped her bag and made a fuss of him while trying to dodge his wet tongue. Still grinning, Tess hurried into her parents’ arms and hugged them tightly.
‘Hello, darling.’
‘Hello. It’s so good to be here.’
‘Did you have a good journey? How was the traffic?’
Tess laughed. Dads were always interested in the journey. ‘It was fine, Dad. No hold ups or diversions.’
Roast pork was cooking in the oven, sending mouth-watering aromas wafting around the house. Tess dumped her bags on her bed and kicked off her boots. Before long they were all sitting in the lounge in front of an open fire, relaxing on soft deep-cushioned sofas and catching up on news. Padders had wrapped himself around Tess’s feet and was snoring gently.
‘How’s your job, darling?’ her mother asked.
‘It’s okay, I suppose. A bit boring. I feel like I’m ready for a change.’
Tess noticed her parents exchange glances.
‘And Blake, how’s he doing? Is he on the mend?’
‘I think so. To be honest he doesn’t like talking about his illness. He’s coughing less and I like to think he’s doing well.’
‘That’s good to hear.’
‘How have you two been?’ asked Tess. ‘Did you book the cruise for next Easter?’
‘Yes. We’re so excited, aren’t we, Graham? We’ve booked a three-week cruise and have a berth with a balcony.’
‘How are you after the drama at work?’ her father asked.
Celia leaned forwards. ‘It’s such a worry knowing you’re in the city with all that violence and robbery. You should live somewhere safe and quiet. Somewhere away from the rough elements in society.’
Tess saw her parents exchange another furtive glance. ‘Am I missing something here?’
Her mother’s face broke into a huge smile and she clapped her hands together.
‘You’ll never guess what’s come on the market in Padstow. I was walking along the far side of the harbour, you know, the road that leads up the hill. I’d just passed Crimpton’s Tea Room when I noticed a ‘For Sale’ sign that had been hammered onto the fence. I went inside and asked a few questions. I mean, if they were closing down because business was bad, it wouldn’t be any good, would it? But Jimmy Crimpton says they are retiring to Barnstaple to live closer to their daughter. They’ve found a lovely bungalow where Jimmy says he wants to start growing his own vegetables and buy a dog now he’ll have time to train it. The teashop does very well in the summer and business keeps steady enough in winter to pay the bills. Well, it would, wouldn’t it? Padstow is so popular with tourists. There’s a two bedroom flat above the shop and a small yard out the back. The views are amazing and—’
‘Steady now, Celia. The poor girl can only take in so much.’
Tess sat open-mouthed listening to her mother’s news. She had mentioned to her mother in a recent telephone conversation that she was thinking of a change from her humdrum job and her dream would be to own a teashop, but she hadn’t imagined it would become a reality for many years.
‘Gosh, Mum. I don’t know what to say.’
‘I’ll take you tomorrow. You can see it for yourself. I just know you’ll love it.’
Tess’s thoughts fell over themselves in the jumbled rush to the surface. What would this mean for her and Blake? She’d moved to Nottingham with Holly, so would Holly come back home to Cornwall too? She’d be hundreds of miles away from Halston. And Daniel. She looked up at her mother’s expectant face. ‘It won’t hurt to look, I suppose.’
The following morning, Tess woke to the sound of gulls crying outside her bedroom window. She stretched and wiggled her toes, smiling at the aroma of coffee and bacon drifting upstairs. It felt good to be home. The stresses of work, Blake’s illness and the court date were all a long way behind her.
Shafts of autumn sunlight shone through the V-shaped gap at the top of the curtains, hinting at a beautiful day. She slipped out of bed, grabbed her dressing gown and stood in front of the curtains. She knew what view would greet her when she pulled them open. The image was as clear in her mind as a photograph. She pictured every tree, every rock pool and every undulation of the cliff top in her mind’s eye. With a flourish, she swept aside the curtains. At first the sunshine and blue skies blinded her and she shielded her eyes, but as her eyes adjusted to the light, she drank in the beauty of the scene she knew so well.
Her bedroom overlooked a long lawn, enclosed with a white picket fence. Ten steps led from a gate at the far end of the garden, down onto the soft yellow sand beyond. The damp stretch of sand sparkled as the sun reflected in the rock pools left behind by the receding waves. The sea shushed up the shore and a few surfers were braving the chill of the early morning. Sharp vertical cliffs framed her view of the beach. She could see a few people walking along the cliff top path, heads bowed like Lowry figures against the wind that whipped up the cliff’s steep sides.
It was wonderful. It was home. She wished she could share the view with someone. Blake had seen this vista several times, but had never understood her passion for it. What would Daniel think of the view? No. She mustn’t think about him. It would only make her sad and wistful and she didn’t want to feel down while she was back at home. She pushed the image of his dark hair and green eyes from her mind. She wasn’t going to spoil this wonderful weekend by giving way to indulgent crushes.
Sliding her feet into her slippers, she skipped downstairs to the kitchen where her father turned towards her with a beaming smile.
‘Good morning, love. You’re up early. Did you sleep well?’
‘Like a log. It’s so good to be back.’
‘Bit chilly though. I popped out half an hour ago for a paper. Would you like some bacon?’
Tess was looking out of the kitchen window towards the sea. ‘No thanks, Dad. I think I’ll have a walk along the beach first and beat the weekenders before breakfast.’
‘Good idea, it soon gets busy on a Saturday. You could take Padders and I’ll put some bacon on a low heat. It’ll keep warm until you’re back.’
‘Perfect, thanks.’
Tess planted a kiss on his cheek and ran back upstairs to get dressed. Within minutes, she was running back downstairs and whistling for Padders. ‘Come on, boy. Let’s go.’ She buttoned up her coat and yelled goodbye to her father.
The chill wind bit her hands and cheeks, making her shiver and push her hands deep into her pockets. She walked around the side of the house and down the length of the garden. Padders waited for her at the gate, panting with impatience. Once the gate was opened, he bolted down the steps, across the sand and towards the sea. Tess followed him, stepping over the rocks that threaded their wa
y through the sand like an ancient bony arch of dinosaur vertebrae.
At the water’s edge, waves flowed over her boots and washed the damp sand from them. She watched bubbles of water playing around her feet and felt the wet sand sucking her boots deeper. She waded backwards a few steps, struggling to keep her balance. While walking along the shoreline, Tess threw driftwood for Padders and teased him with straggly pieces of seaweed. She climbed some rocks, searched for crabs in the hidden pools and collected pink shells that would look nice on her bathroom shelf back at Rose Cottage. After half an hour and with her coat pockets bulging, she turned back home for hot tea and bacon.
The smell of fish and chips wafted around Padstow’s harbour. Brightly-coloured boats bobbed up and down on the water and as usual, the seagulls were out in force pestering the weekend visitors.
The sun shone weakly through a thin veil of clouds as Tess and her parents stopped outside the teashop and looked up at the whitewashed building. It was a small two-storey café directly facing the beautiful harbour. There was no doubt that its position was perfect. It had black paintwork and a sign hanging over the door that read, Crimpton’s Tea Room. Below the name was a painting of a teapot with a cup and saucer.
Celia linked arms with Tess. ‘Isn’t it perfect, darling?’
‘It’s very pretty, Mum.’
‘A manageable size. Not too big to start off with.’
‘Let’s take a look inside.’
They followed each other up two steps and pushed open a glazed door. The room buzzed with conversation and smelt of marzipan and coffee. They wound their way past several tables and stood in the queue. Tess looked into the cabinet that displayed insipid and unappetising cakes. A colourless coffee cake looked dry, the shortbread was broken and the blueberry muffins looked stodgy. She could definitely improve on that meagre display. Eventually they got to the front of the queue.
You've Got My Number: Warm your heart this winter with this uplifting and deliciously romantic story! Page 12