Midsummer Magic

by Julia Williams

  ‘Put your claws away,’ said Ant. ‘I think she’s rather magnificent.’

  Harry couldn’t see it himself, she was a bit bold and brassy for his tastes, but she certainly had … something. The whole beer garden had stopped to listen to her, enthralled by the situation unfolding before them.

  ‘Tatiana, my darling, what a lovely surprise,’ Auberon Fanshawe drawled. He and Freddie had been sitting quietly in the far corner. Harry could see that Freddie was sniggering into his pint glass, clearly enjoying the drama.

  ‘Surprise, my arse,’ said Tatiana. ‘You planned this, didn’t you? You and Freddie. Just couldn’t wait to spike my guns, could you?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Auberon, wide-eyed and innocent. ‘Freddie and I are here quite by chance. Freddie’s researching a new TV programme. We’re staying at Tresgothen Manor.’

  ‘How very convenient,’ said Tatiana. ‘That you just happen to turn up in the same village, where I’ve been staying already, negotiating to play Titania in A Dream. I’ve been in talks with Mike Slowbotham about it for days. You’d better not screw this up for me.’

  ‘As if I would, Tati, as if I would. I’m sure the world is waiting with bated breath for your Titania.’

  ‘Don’t you dare,’ she glared at him angrily. ‘And don’t call me Tati.’ But she seemed mollified enough to calm down. Suddenly aware of her audience, she smiled graciously around her at the holidaymakers packing out the pub.

  Before long someone had plucked up courage to ask for her autograph, and she smilingly obliged, as if the previous scene had never occurred. Soon she was surrounded by an adoring crowd and the chatter had returned to normal.

  ‘Well, that was entertaining,’ said Ant. ‘What a woman. Never a dull moment.’

  Josie laughed and took Harry’s hand. ‘At least we’re not like that,’ she said.

  ‘I should hope not!,’ said Harry, squeezing her hand tight.

  She smiled and squeezed his hand back.

  ‘I do love you, Harry,’ she said, leaning in to kiss him.

  ‘Give me a break,’ groaned Ant, and Harry threw a beermat at him.

  ‘Sorry, mate, I am not going to pretend not to be in love, just to please you,’ said Harry, kissing Josie full on the lips.

  ‘Oh, Harry,’ sighed Josie, blushing in a manner which was both sexy and endearing, and Harry felt a burst of happiness.

  Josie was no diva, thank God. She was lovely and down to earth and straightforward. It was true at the moment she was going overboard on the wedding thing but it was a big deal for her, even if he’d rather have kept things simpler. But the bottom line was they loved each other very much. And that was the most important thing.

  Josie walked back from the pub alone. After their all too brief moment of solidarity following Tatiana Okeby’s outburst, when she and Harry had started to actually relax and enjoy some banter about the wedding instead of rub each other up the wrong way, Ant had come along and spoiled it all. Within minutes Harry had become absorbed in a deep conversation about rugby. As Josie had no interest whatsoever in the subject, this was tedious to say the least. She resented the way Ant seemed to expect to have Harry’s attention by virtue of being his best friend. But I’m his fiancée, I get preference, she wanted to scream, even knowing it was childish. In the end, feeling like a spare part as Ant was extolling the virtues of some rugby prop she’d never heard of, she kissed Harry on the cheek, got up and left, telling him not to be too long.

  ‘I promise I won’t,’ he said, squeezing her hand and mouthing sorry at her, which made her feel a little better. Ant could be overwhelming. It wasn’t easy for Harry, she could see that.

  The sun was low in the sky, and a warm breeze played through her long fair curls as she left the pub and walked through the rambling network of streets that made up Tresgothen. The shops were busy, tourists spilling out onto the streets, mingling among locals eating ice creams, and bearing gifts from the Piskie Shop, which prided itself on selling the widest variety of piskies this side of the Tamar. As Josie made her way up the steep winding hill home, past the little grey and white houses nestling in the hillside, she felt a wonderful sense of peace. Josie loved it down here; the colour of the sky, the sound of the sea, the call of the gulls, the briny tang in the air. While she enjoyed her life in London, Cornwall was in her blood, and she missed Tresgothen. The pace of life was slower, calmer, and it’s 200 miles away from Ant, she caught herself thinking. She felt uneasy that he was here. Josie remembered that long-ago summer, when she’d invited a crowd from uni to stay. She’d actually been interested in Ant, she recalled, blushing. She remembered the way he’d looked at her, remembered the way he’d been back then: exciting, alluring … dangerous. But as soon as they’d arrived he’d been all over some girl, Kerry, was it? Josie had forgotten now. And then, Harry had been there, quiet, sweet Harry, the only person who’d been prepared to come out to see Shakespeare at the theatre with her. Harry. Her lovely Harry. How glad she was she’d found him again. She couldn’t wait for them to be married.

  Although … Harry didn’t seem quite as enthusiastic as he had done. Josie blamed Ant, who kept making snide remarks about wearing a ball and chain. Di had told her not to be so stupid when she’d voiced her fears earlier in the day, but Josie was worried. Harry just didn’t seem the same since they’d got here. She wasn’t sure if it was just nerves. There was a strange feeling in the air. It was unsettling and Josie couldn’t put her finger on it …

  ‘How was the pub?’ Josie’s mum came to greet her. So warm, so reassuring. Some things never changed, and knowing Mum was always there was one of them.

  ‘Great fun, the boys are staying a bit longer,’ said Josie. ‘We saw Tatiana Okeby –’

  ‘– Who had a fight with Auberon Fanshawe,’ continued Nicola. ‘I know.’

  ‘Who told you?’ said Josie, laughing. She’d forgotten how swiftly news travelled in Tresgothen.

  ‘Well, Mrs Allison was just coming out of the butchers, when she met Jenny Osgood, who’d been walking past the beer garden and heard the whole thing.’

  ‘More like snooping past the beer garden,’ said Josie. Jenny Osgood was a well-known local gossip.

  ‘So what happened, then?’ Mum was all agog. ‘Those two have history, you know.’

  ‘We gathered,’ said Josie. ‘She accused him of following her down here. It wasn’t pretty.’

  ‘I bet,’ said Josie’s mum. ‘The most exciting thing to happen in Tresgothen for years, and I missed it.’

  ‘Oh, and she’s apparently talking to Mike Slowbotham about being in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,’ said Josie. ‘I didn’t think he was anything to do with the theatre.’

  ‘Oh, it’s his new thing,’ snorted Josie’s mum. ‘Somehow he’s got on the board of directors who are behind the renovation project. He’s got a bee in his bonnet about being an influential producer, and he’s planning a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He claims that he’s always wanted to see it put on at the theatre, but I’m not convinced. He’s just interested in women, that one. He’d do anything to add someone like Tatiana Okeby to his bedpost. He’s a total ass. Poor woman. Someone should tell her.’

  ‘I’m not sure I’d like to be on the receiving end of that conversation,’ said Josie. ‘Now, come on, let’s look at those wedding dresses again. I think I’m getting an idea of what I want …’

  Ant and Harry had moved into the bar, and Ant was beginning to feel slightly drunk. It was a while since he’d had a session this early in the day, and he wasn’t as used to it as he once was.

  The bar had cleared out somewhat, and most of the tourists seemed to have moved on. Tatiana Okeby hadn’t stayed long either. Auberon Fanshawe had also disappeared. Maybe he’d gone to try and appease her. But Freddie Puck was still propping up the bar when they came inside.

  ‘Have you persuaded your friend to take part in my experiment?’ Freddie gave an ingratiating smile.

  ‘What experiment?’ H
arry looked puzzled.

  ‘You know, the hypnotic thing,’ said Ant. ‘Freddie here thinks he can hypnotise us all. It’s for a TV show.’

  ‘Ha,’ said Harry. ‘Hypnotise us. I don’t think so.’

  ‘Oh, well, it was worth a punt,’ said Freddie. ‘There’s a bit of money in it.’

  Harry thought about that.

  ‘Enough to go travelling?’ he said.

  ‘Not quite,’ said Freddie, ‘but maybe enough to have a great weekend away somewhere’.

  ‘That would be nice,’ said Harry. ‘I’d at least like to pay for our honeymoon suite. Or maybe take Josie away for a long weekend – soften her up to go travelling with me.’

  ‘I thought Josie’s folks were paying for everything to do with the wedding,’ said Ant, surprised.

  ‘Yeah, well, it would be nice to pay for something,’ said Harry, ‘and I would like us to splash out on our wedding night.’

  ‘So you’ll think about it?’ said Freddie.

  Harry looked sheepish.

  ‘Better run it by Josie first,’ he said. ‘Talking of which …’ He looked at his watch. ‘I think it’s time we were heading back.’

  ‘God, she really has got you under the thumb, hasn’t she?’ said Ant. ‘One more can’t hurt.’

  Harry looked mortified. ‘I’m not under the thumb,’ he muttered. ‘Josie’s mum; it would be rude to her.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ said Ant, unconvinced. He had a feeling Harry and Josie might be having words when they got back. Prime reason if ever he needed one to remind him never to get married. ‘See you around, Freddie.’

  ‘So what about my show?’

  ‘We’ll think about it,’ said Harry.

  ‘I shall just have to bring all my powers of persuasion to bear on Josie, won’t I?’ laughed Ant.

  ‘Don’t,’ said Harry, ‘please don’t.’

  Diana found herself wandering the coastal path and getting a bit lost, before she eventually reached the Standing Stones.

  It was so peaceful up here. The wind tangled her hair, and she sat down and looked over the bay. The sun was dropping low on the horizon, casting out golden rays on a sparkling sea. Seagulls whirled high in the sky above her. It was just perfect. Diana felt free and happy for once. It wasn’t a feeling she was very familiar with. Much of the time, she felt grouchy and miserable. Life hadn’t quite panned out the way she’d thought From such promising beginnings, when she’d got promotion after promotion in the travel company she worked for, her career had stalled of late. The global recession had meant big cutbacks in her industry. And now she was beginning to think the unthinkable; maybe her job wasn’t safe. The text she’d received before losing the signal had been ominous. Perhaps her dad had been right all those years ago. She should have done that law degree. The world always needed lawyers.

  She heard her phone give a familiar beep. Brilliant, there must be a signal up here. Two seconds later she wished she hadn’t checked. Sorry to have to tell you but your services are no longer required, followed by dozens of texts from work colleagues similarly affected. Overnight the company had gone into liquidation and everyone had been given the sack. Shit, shit, shit. Now what was she to do? She could just imagine Dad’s reaction when she told him.

  Stop, stop, stop. Old familiar feelings of self-hatred surged through her. Dad couldn’t be right. Otherwise the life she’d carved for herself over the last few years was meaningless.

  That was why Ant had seemed so special, of course. He’d been the first person to see through her spiky defences and find the real Diana, the vulnerable Di she kept hidden from the world. And for a time they’d been happy. She’d been properly happy, for perhaps the only time in her life. And then … he’d let her down. As everyone did. Ant had reminded her why she didn’t let anyone get close to her, why she didn’t trust anyone. She’d vowed never to make that mistake again, and up till now, she’d been true to her word.

  But Ant, here; this weekend, when it was all about Josie and Harry and their marriage (despite having eschewed it for herself, she loved her friends and was genuinely happy for them). It was unsettling looking at him, and remembering a time when life had been very different.

  This was no good at all. She and Ant were history. Diana took one last look at the view, and got up. Time to get back before they sent out a search party. No point letting Ant get to her. After the weekend she wouldn’t have to see him till the wedding, and then he could disappear out of her life again. This time she hoped, for ever.

  Chapter Six

  ‘Do you really think that Freddie can hypnotise people?’ Josie was laughing at Ant, who was pontificating once more about the conversation he’d had with the wonderful Freddie. He’d talked about nothing else since they came back from the pub, when Harry had whispered a hurried apology for staying out so long. Josie had never seen Ant so in awe of anyone. It was quite funny, as was the idea that he thought it was so real. Josie was a complete sceptic about that kind of thing. ‘I thought all of that was just nonsense for the TV.’

  Laughing at Ant was at least making her not so cross with Harry, who’d been behaving like a naughty little schoolboy since he came back. Why could he not just stand up to Ant and have come back at a sensible time?

  ‘No, straight up. I went to see him when I was still at school. He could do it, definitely. He had people dancing with complete strangers on the stage, doing handstands. All sorts. You couldn’t have faked it!’

  ‘They might have been plants,’ suggested Di, who had found her way back from the Standing Stones a few minutes earlier. She seemed flushed and thoughtful, but was making an effort to talk to Ant.

  Ant bridled, ‘I don’t see how everyone could have been a plant,’ he said. ‘At one point he had the whole audience doing the Birdy Song. Well, I don’t quite remember doing it myself – I just remember him talking and standing up in the aisles with everyone else – it’s weird, I’ve watched that episode and everyone took part.’

  ‘Mass hallucination,’ said Josie swiftly. ‘Don’t believe a word of it.’

  They were sitting round the pool sipping cocktails, while Peter made his usual song and dance about the barbie, which was the sole interest he had in family cooking. In fact doing the barbie was about the only time Peter got involved with anything domestic. Josie loved her dad, but she was glad Harry, who was a keen cook, wasn’t like that; if truth be told, Harry was better at cooking than Josie.

  ‘What are we doing tomorrow?’ said Harry, yawning.

  ‘Di, Mum and I are dress shopping,’ said Josie, ‘and you, Dad and Ant have an appointment at Garratt’s.’ Garratt’s was the local gentleman’s outfitters.

  ‘No, no, no,’ said Ant looking horrified. ‘You didn’t tell me you’d dress me up like a penguin!’

  ‘Sorry,’ said Harry. ‘You don’t get a say in it, and neither do I.’

  ‘Yeah, I can see that, mate,’ drawled Ant. ‘You’ve really got him jumping to your beat, haven’t you, Jose? I can see I didn’t come home a minute too soon.’

  Josie felt like throttling him, but she smiled sweetly and said nothing. She hated conflict, and didn’t want to start a row. She waited for Harry to say something, put Ant straight about their relationship, but Harry was silent. What was it about being round Ant that turned him into a Neanderthal? Why couldn’t he stick up for her? Saying nothing was much worse than anything Ant had said.

  ‘Right, I’d better see if Mum needs some help,’ she said, more brightly then she felt. She got up to go inside, and looked back at Harry hunched over his chair looking miserable, while Ant goaded him about the loss of his freedom. At least Harry didn’t look happy about his lack of support, but she wanted to tell him to get some backbone. It had been a huge mistake having Ant here. He was going to ruin everything.

  ‘You could at least try to tone it down, for Josie’s sake,’ hissed Diana at Ant, as Harry got up abruptly and went to help Peter on the barbecue.

  ‘What? What did
I say?’ Ant thought he’d been rather jovial and friendly. He couldn’t think why Diana was being so aggressive.

  ‘All those jokes about Harry giving everything up for love. Do you think that’s fair?’

  ‘I’m only having a laugh,’ said Ant. ‘Though I don’t expect you’d know anything about that.’

  ‘Mainly because it’s not funny,’ said Diana.

  Had she always been such a sullen cow? he thought. They’d had fun once.

  ‘Oh, lighten up will you?’ he said crossly. ‘I’m just teasing them. Anyway, Harry has gone all dappy since he’s got loved up with Josie. It’s my duty as a friend to point it out.’

  ‘Just because you wouldn’t know what love is if it hit you between the eyes,’ said Diana with feeling.

  ‘And I know who I have to thank for that,’ Ant shot back.

  ‘That aside,’ said Diana, ‘other people do fall in love. And you should leave them be.’

  ‘Why shouldn’t I point out to my best mate that he’s making a big mistake?’ said Ant.

  ‘Because he’s not,’ said Diana. ‘You’re just jealous.’

  ‘I’m not jealous,’ said Ant.

  ‘Of course you are,’ said Diana. ‘You know that you’re incapable of loving a woman the way Harry loves Josie, and you can’t stand it.’

  ‘That’s because the only woman I ever loved turned her back on me.’

  There was a pregnant pause, and then Diana turned accusing eyes on him. He felt deeply uncomfortable under her gaze.

  ‘And why not, after what you did?’

  ‘Who said I was talking about you?’

  ‘Weren’t you?’ said Di.

  They sat glaring at each other.

  ‘This is ridiculous,’ said Ant, finally, breaking the silence. ‘I don’t have to put up with this crap.’

  He got up and wandered over to the men, where he felt safer. There was a reason he was single, and Diana had just reminded him of it. He felt hot under the collar just thinking about their time together. Being tied down to a woman screwed up your life. He didn’t envy Harry one little bit. Diana had got that completely wrong. He was young, free and single and quite content to stay that way. Harry could settle into boring domesticity if he wanted to. There was a whole world out there and Ant wasn’t done exploring it yet …