The Little Shop in Cornwall: A heartwarming and feel good beach read

by Helen Pollard

  ‘You could cancel,’ Evelyn suggested.

  ‘That’ll look worse.’

  Sarah thought about it. ‘Okay, here’s what we’ll do. Evie and I will set up. You’ll walk in dead on eight, run the session, leave at nine. We’ll do the tea and chat, then lock up.’

  ‘That’ll look like I’m avoiding people.’

  ‘It would… if you didn’t happen to have Tanya coming over to join in with meditation and want a glass of wine with you afterwards.’

  ‘But she isn’t.’

  Sarah picked up Claudia’s mobile and held it out. ‘She is now.’

  Jason was not having a good week.

  He was still tired from staying up so late with Claudia on Sunday. Work had been a pain, from dealing with an incompetent sub-contractor to heated words with a colleague. And it would be an understatement to say that he and Millie were not enjoying each other’s company.

  He’d insisted it was time he met Phoebe and Jessica. Their parents had met Millie, so it wasn’t unreasonable, was it? Millie had been damned awkward about it. Why did he want to inspect her friends? she’d asked him. Was he going to interrogate them?

  Even though Jason insisted that he only wanted to say hi and provide pizza, it had taken negotiation worthy of an international peacekeeping organisation to arrange their presence at the house this evening.

  Over pizza, he managed a cursory chat and ascertained that they were polite enough, if a little uncommunicative – but then again, so was half the teenage population. And they favoured a similar wardrobe to his daughter, all black and purple and heavy boots. Quite the trio.

  After pizza, Millie shot him a glare, suggesting he was no longer required. When he didn’t respond – he could be awkward, too, when he felt like it – she dragged her friends up to her room.

  The girls’ presence meant that both he and Millie were missing meditation – not a good idea soul-wise but certainly good for him embarrassment-wise, after Monday morning’s shambles.

  Jason could barely bring himself to think about that. He’d only meant to reiterate to Claudia that what he’d told her was confidential, in case he hadn’t made it clear on the night. As usual, he’d bungled it – or she’d taken it the wrong way – and his wonderful experience of getting to know and understand her better, the relief of being with someone who seemed to want to know and understand him better, had gone up in smoke. He should apologise, but with his track record, he’d probably only make things worse.

  Well, Millie wanted him out of the house, and he needed fresh air. His walk could take him towards Healing Waves. If Claudia was home from meditation early enough, he could get the damned thing done. At least it would be quick, since he had to give Jessica and Phoebe a lift home.

  But when he got there, he spotted Tanya’s car next to Claudia’s. No way would he eat humble pie with her there. They were probably talking about him right now, dreaming up suitable hexes.

  To make his evening complete, when Jason got home and knocked on Millie’s bedroom door before poking his head in, he saw Phoebe shoving a book into her bag. A black book with purple lettering. A spell book, no doubt purchased from Hester’s sodding Cauldron.

  Barely able to contain his rage and disappointment, Jason forced a smile and declared it was time for them to go home. He drove without incident – no mean feat with blood pressure that high – and when he and Millie got back, he managed not to mention what he’d seen. It wasn’t intended for his eyes, and he respected that.

  That didn’t mean he had to like it, though.

  ‘Sarah and Evelyn are right,’ Tanya said, a grim expression on her face as she and Claudia sipped their post-meditation Pinot Grigio in Claudia’s flat, Pudding curled on the sofa between them, lapping up Tanya’s attentions. ‘You have no choice.’

  ‘I had a nasty feeling you’d say that.’

  ‘I know you’re all about live and let live, Claudia, but they’re not doing that, are they? Nor is Ollie Barton. He’s been sneaky, publicising it as a challenge so you’ll look bad if you decline. Even his phone call to you was strategic.’

  Claudia frowned. ‘In what way?’

  ‘You can’t tell me that that slot only just came free. I reckon he’s had it since last week but waited till the last minute to approach you – catching you on the back foot. Giving you less time to plan.’

  ‘Hardly impartial, is it?’

  ‘No, but it makes for drama and higher listener ratings. I doubt the local business news is usually the most-listened to show of the week.’

  Claudia dropped her head in her hands. ‘I don’t want to do it.’

  ‘I know.’ Tanya stroked her hair. ‘What does Jason think?’

  ‘He doesn’t know. I haven’t seen him since Monday morning.’ And what a joy that was.

  ‘I thought you might have asked his advice. He seemed to be the man for a crisis last week, when you had that panic attack.’

  ‘That was just accidental timing.’

  ‘So how did dinner go on Sunday? Wait. You last saw him on Monday morning?’ Tanya wiggled her eyebrows.

  ‘It’s not like that. Don’t get excited.’

  ‘But you are attracted to him, aren’t you?’

  ‘I suppose I am,’ Claudia admitted with a resigned sigh.

  ‘I can see why.’ Tanya stroked Pudding’s ears, sending him into a state of bliss. ‘Interesting eyes. Doesn’t smile much, but when he does? Gorgeous.’

  ‘Yeah. That’s what gets to me most – the smile. It’s rare, and sometimes only a glimmer of one, but there’s that upturn at one side of his mouth and his eyes crinkle so you know it’s genuine.’

  ‘That’s quite descriptive from someone who only supposes they find him attractive.’ Tanya frowned. ‘Why doesn’t he smile much? Apart from the fact that his wife died and he’s a single parent to an awkward teenager?’

  ‘Turns out there’s more to it than that, but I’m not at liberty to say.’

  Tanya raised a brow. ‘He opened up to you?’

  ‘Yes. On Sunday night. We opened up to each other.’

  The second brow joined the first. ‘How much did you tell him about Lee?’

  ‘Everything.’

  ‘Everything!’

  ‘It seemed right to tell him. Do you… Do you think I shouldn’t have?’

  ‘Not at all. If your gut instinct told you to go ahead, then it did. But it is significant. You must feel, deep down, that he’s important enough in your life for you to want him to know where you once were and where you’re at now.’

  ‘Maybe I just had a glass of wine too many, Tanya.’

  ‘And maybe you’re still in denial. Should I dust off my scrying ball?’

  ‘Don’t you dare!’

  ‘Then stop looking so miserable. He bared his soul to you, too, and he’s not full of regrets, is he?’

  ‘He most certainly is. He came by the next morning and read me the riot act.’

  Claudia relayed the conversation almost verbatim, finishing with a mournful, ‘He doesn’t trust me. And he missed meditation tonight. So did Millie.’

  ‘I don’t believe he doesn’t trust you. I expect he was just angry at himself and took it out on you. C’mon, Claudia, you can read people better than this. What’s the matter with you?’

  ‘I’m out of sorts.’

  ‘You’re entitled to be out of sorts over the radio thing. But as for Jason… Do you think you could you be really falling for him?’

  Claudia spluttered on her wine. ‘Just because I admit he’s attractive and has a nice smile – when he deigns to bestow it on anyone – and just because I confided in him after too much wine does not mean I’m falling for him!’

  ‘If you say so, my lovely. If you say so.’

  Seated in the radio station’s tiny waiting room, Claudia was so nervous, she felt sick. The lemon balm tea she’d had before she came out had done no good at all.

  Unable to sleep, she’d been up since five thirty, playing out differ
ent scenarios in her head, planning possible answers to questions and unexpected curveballs.

  Sarah and Evelyn had insisted on giving up their day off to drive her there and back.

  ‘I don’t want you driving in a state,’ Sarah had said. ‘Do what you’re told.’

  Claudia was grateful to have them on either side of her now. Clutching the rose quartz around her neck, she closed her eyes.

  Remember what Sarah said: You did this kind of thing all the time once.

  That was in another lifetime. In her new life, she hadn’t pictured doing this kind of thing at all. She’d envisaged owning her own business selling things she loved. She hadn’t anticipated becoming embroiled in a feud that would threaten both her business and her peace of mind.

  ‘Time to come through, Ms Bennett.’ A young assistant beckoned to her. Sarah and Evelyn squeezed a hand each, and Claudia meekly followed.

  Claudia had expected a quick chat with Ollie Barton before they launched into the interview – an opportunity to work out what he might ask. Instead, she was led straight into the tiny box-like studio, unceremoniously seated in the chair opposite him and handed headphones. As Tanya had suggested, he seemed determined to keep her on the back foot.

  Ollie was in his late twenties at most, wearing a scruffy T-shirt and with a scruffy beard. He cast her a cursory smile. ‘Just a couple of minutes till this track ends,’ he told her. ‘Everything okay?’

  No, everything is not okay. I’m here against my will, and I may throw up over your consoles. ‘Fine.’

  ‘Thanks for coming in at such short notice.’ The track he’d been playing ended, and he was back on air. ‘So, after our fascinating interview last week with the owners of the newest enterprise in Porthsteren, Hester’s Cauldron, today we welcome the owner of Healing Waves, established two years ago.’

  Claudia didn’t feel welcomed. She felt like she was in a hostile goldfish bowl.

  Ollie gave a summary of the Hester’s Cauldron interview, which did not put Claudia in a good light, and then… ‘And now to Claudia Bennett. Thank you for joining us. Let’s begin by finding out something about you and Healing Waves. What made you set up your business?’

  Claudia took a deep breath. Carefully skating over her life before Porthsteren, she gave him a basic rundown.

  ‘You’d class Healing Waves as a New Age shop?’

  Claudia had the feeling he was digging her a trap, but she couldn’t put her finger on how.

  ‘In broad terms,’ she answered cautiously. ‘But I don’t like to be pigeonholed. Healing Waves will be what I want it to be, and that might shift over time.’

  ‘You don’t like to be pigeonholed. And yet isn’t that exactly what you’ve done with Hester’s Cauldron?’

  Claudia balked. ‘I’ve done no such thing!’

  ‘Amber and Raven would beg to differ. According to them, you’ve pigeonholed them as a tourist and teen trap.’

  ‘That isn’t accurate. I said they would appeal to tourists and to teens.’

  ‘Why is that so terrible?’

  Claudia gave him her best glare. ‘I didn’t say it was.’

  ‘But you implied it, along with your many accusations.’

  Many accusations? All Claudia wanted to do right now was vacate this hateful chair in this hateful little room and never look back.

  She lifted her chin. ‘Let’s get one thing straight, Ollie, shall we? I have made no accusations whatsoever. I had a private conversation that was overheard.’

  ‘Doesn’t that amount to the same thing?’

  ‘Hardly! A public accusation carries intent. A private conversation is just that.’

  ‘Semantics.’ He shrugged, and Claudia bet the listeners could picture it, even if they couldn’t hear it. ‘In these private conversations, you were heard calling the owners of Hester’s Cauldron frauds. Is that true?’

  ‘Not word for word, no. I was asked by someone else if I thought they were frauds.’

  ‘What did you say, word for word?’ His tone was sarcastic.

  And that was where it all fell down, because Claudia hadn’t mentally filed away her conversation with Jason verbatim. Even if she had, she doubted she’d dare repeat it on air.

  Ollie stared at her, challenge in his eyes. Amber and Raven had done quite a job on him last week. She wouldn’t get a fair hearing here. All she could work on was damage limitation.

  Claudia looked him in the eye. ‘I can’t say, Ollie. Do you remember every word of every single chat you have with friends?’

  ‘Point taken, Ms Bennett. But would it be fair to say we have the gist of these private conversations of yours?’

  ‘No. It would be fair to say that I had concerns after I visited Hester’s Cauldron, and I conveyed those concerns to a couple of friends.’

  ‘And those friends conveyed them to their friends who conveyed them to their friends?’

  ‘That’s possible, but all I know as fact is that we were overheard by someone nearby.’

  Ollie pushed on. ‘And your concerns are…?’

  ‘Merely that the ladies in the shop were handing out incorrect advice. I heard several instances of it, as did someone else I trust.’

  ‘And you know better, presumably?’

  ‘I know about the things that I sell – their history, their origins, their properties.’

  ‘Does that matter?’

  ‘Of course it matters!’

  ‘Oh, come on, Ms Bennett. We’re talking about trinkets. Gifts. Soap.’

  ‘It matters to me,’ Claudia said through gritted teeth.

  ‘You don’t like that I’m dissing what you sell, do you? And yet you were heard dissing what they sell at Hester’s Cauldron. I gather that Wicca and witchcraft are becoming very popular lately. Aren’t you offending an awful lot of people?’

  ‘Let me get this very, very clear, Ollie. I have absolutely nothing against witchcraft or Wicca.’

  ‘That’s interesting, because in the course of my research, I heard that some of the locals thought you were a witch when you first moved to Porthsteren, and you were forced to deny it.’

  Research? He talked to Libby, more like. ‘I wasn’t forced to do anything. There were light-hearted rumours, so I thought it best that people were put straight. I was honest – I’m not a witch or Wiccan and never have been, but that’s not because I have anything against it. My closest friend practises Wicca.’

  ‘So you don’t dislike what they’re selling at Hester’s Cauldron?’

  How far should she go? ‘I have no quibble with most of their stock, although I’m not personally keen on the ugly hag portrayal of witches. All I said was that people should give accurate advice if they’re selling items that need to be understood by the buyer.’

  ‘You’ve gone further than that. A teenager told Amber and Raven that you’d warned one of their friends.’

  ‘All I said was that they should check their facts before buying anything they didn’t understand. I doubt any sensible parent listening would quibble with that advice. Besides, Hester’s Cauldron themselves have signs warning and daring their customers, all the way up the stairs and throughout their witchcraft section. You could argue that I was reiterating that… if you chose to.’

  Ollie didn’t seem to have an answer to that. ‘You were also heard to say, and I quote, that you’re “a paragon of virtue in comparison to the Hester’s Cauldron gang”.’

  What the…? Panicked, Claudia dredged her memory. Did she say that? When? It took her a moment. Ah. To Sarah and Evelyn, when she was talking about offering Millie a Saturday job, and Sarah asked if Jason would object, and… Yes, she’d said it. In jest.

  The microphone had stayed silent too long.

  ‘That’s been taken completely out of context,’ she said firmly. ‘The conversation – also private – was about something else entirely, someone else entirely, and it was merely a quip.’

  ‘Merely a quip.’ Ollie allowed a dramatic pause. ‘As someone who mov
ed to Porthsteren relatively recently to set up a business, you don’t seem very supportive of two young people trying to do the same.’

  Claudia could have pointed out she’d earned every penny she’d put into Healing Waves, not just borrowed it off a rich parent. She could have pointed out that she had to make Healing Waves work all year round, not just for six months a year. But that would only make her seem petty. She had to cut her losses.

  ‘I will always welcome new businesses to Porthsteren, Ollie, and I wish the ladies at Hester’s Cauldron every success in their venture. Indeed, I’ve expressed that view to numerous people although, oddly enough, that hasn’t been reported, has it? It’s a fascinating field they’ve chosen to specialise in, and I hope they enjoy learning more about their stock so they can help their customers make informed choices, just as I do at Healing Waves.’

  Claudia took off her headphones and stood. For a moment, she thought he might inform his listeners that she was walking out – she could see him toying with it – but perhaps he decided that would make him look bad, too.

  ‘Well, that’s all we have time for. Thank you to Claudia Bennett, owner of Healing Waves. And now for some music…’

  Claudia walked out without looking back. Sarah and Evelyn led her to the nearest café where they bought her mint tea and encouraged her to sip every few minutes.

  ‘You did what you could, Claudia.’ Evelyn patted her hand.

  Claudia was still trembling. ‘I made it worse.’

  Sarah shook her head. ‘No, honey. Not doing it at all would have done that. This way, you put what they said about you in context. You sounded firm and calm. If that’s the best that could be done, you did it.’

  Claudia sighed. ‘It was a blur. I had it all rehearsed in my head, but I don’t know if I said any of it. Perhaps I should listen to it.’

  ‘Listen to it once only,’ Sarah said firmly. ‘Just for peace of mind. Then never again. Treat it as water under the bridge after that.’

  ‘That’s wise advice,’ Claudia admitted.