The Little Shop in Cornwall: A heartwarming and feel good beach read
Page 33
‘Only because you’re not saying the right things.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘I’m surrounded by know-it-all women. You’re all driving me mad.’
Millie grinned. ‘But in a good way, right?’
He reached out to ruffle her already-scruffy hair. ‘Yeah. Right.’
The doorbell put an end to their discussion.
‘That’ll be Tanya.’
Millie jumped to her feet and raced off to answer it while Jason sat there, stunned.
I was only going to go and see her to apologise, and now I might be telling Claudia I love her? How did that happen?
When Tanya came through to admire the view, he jumped to his feet. ‘Hi. Bye. I have to go.’
‘But Jason…’
As he grabbed his car keys, he heard Millie say in a low voice, ‘Don’t stop him. He’s on a mission.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
Claudia had only just closed the shop, climbed the stairs with weary bones, plonked herself down on the sofa and picked up her cat when there was a pounding on the door.
With a sigh, she shifted Pudding and hoisted herself back to her feet.
It was Jason. With a determined look on his face.
Just what I need.
‘Claudia Rose, we need to talk. And this time, you’re going to let me say what I need to say, and you’re not going to jump down my throat or pick on my choice of words or twist the meaning into something else.’
Claudia arched an imperious eyebrow, although his forceful tone meant she wasn’t as confident as she appeared. ‘Must be important. Should I be worried?’ she asked.
‘Depends on how you take it, but it is important. Could we sit down? Less confrontational that way.’
Claudia almost smiled at the way he’d switched from his rehearsed forceful opening to that nervous request.
‘Fine by me. I’m sick of confrontation myself.’
She made for the sofa, curling her legs beneath her in a deliberately casual pose. Expecting Jason to choose the armchair, she was startled when he sat beside her and took her hand in his. The familiar warmth from his fingers flooded through her, setting her skin humming, as though her hand was telling the rest of her that they had come home.
This is too hard.
‘Claudia. This animosity between us? We’re better than that. It has to stop.’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
He nodded, seemingly satisfied with his opening gambit. ‘I can’t always subscribe to the things you believe in, but I appreciate that they matter to you.’
‘Thank you. That’ll help where Millie’s concerned.’
‘This conversation isn’t about Millie. Well, not in that sense, anyway.’ Jason squeezed her hand. ‘You’ve done so much for her, and I haven’t thanked you anywhere near enough. I’ve ranted and railed a fair bit, but I haven’t shown enough gratitude. She’s happier, more positive than she’s been in a long time. She’s dealing with her grief; accepting it as a part of herself. That’s down to you. I couldn’t get anywhere with her.’
‘That’s because she blamed you for what went wrong between you and Gemma.’
‘I think you’ve helped her with that too, in a roundabout way. She’s finally cutting me some slack. I put that down to your influence on her. And I mean influence in a good way. You’re an incredible woman.’
Startled by the compliment, Claudia shook her head. ‘I’m not. I’ve just had longer at this new start thing than you. Thank you for saying that about Millie, though. I appreciate it.’
‘That isn’t all I came to say, and you’re not kicking me out halfway through this time.’ Jason’s serious expression worried her. ‘I want to talk about the future.’
Her heart sank. Had he decided that Porthsteren wasn’t right for him and Millie?
‘Claudia, you and I are like chalk and cheese.’
She sighed. She knew that. He didn’t need to rub it in. ‘What are you saying?’
‘I’m saying I’m in love with you.’
‘What?’
‘I should have said it sooner, but I was in denial and out of touch with myself or whatever label you want to put on it. I’m not in denial any more.’ He waited for a long moment. ‘Please say something.’
But Claudia was speechless, her heart beginning to work its way back up from her feet, juddering like a faulty elevator. She’d expected another half-assed attempt at an apology. Another blazing row. She hadn’t expected him to take her hand in his and tell her he was in love with her. Closing her eyes, she tried to tune out the million thoughts and feelings vying for dominance; tried to tune into the quiet voice within.
Tell him you love him.
I can’t. There are too many obstacles, too many things we can’t reconcile, too many…
Tell him you love him.
But a bigger voice drowned it out. The hurtful things he’d said were still too strong.
Jason read her mind. ‘Claudia, what I said to you about you not knowing what it’s like to be a mother was unforgivable.’ He stood to pace the room. ‘I know you wanted a family with Lee. And I know that you couldn’t take up with any old someone just to fulfil that dream. You’re right to do that. You deserve to be with someone who’ll cherish you and respect your dreams.’ He smiled. ‘I’m sure I fall short of what you need in so many ways, but…’ He stopped pacing and frowned. ‘You haven’t said anything since I told you I love you.’ He swallowed. ‘I guess you’re telling me in the kindest way possible all I need to know.’ Nodding sadly, he said, ‘Well. Thanks for listening. I appreciate it.’
Tell him you love him.
Claudia stood. ‘That’s it? I don’t get my say?’
‘But you were just sitting there…’
‘You had a chance to think about what you wanted to say before you got here, didn’t you? Aren’t I allowed a little thinking time?’
‘I…’
She shook her head. ‘Doesn’t matter. I don’t need it.’
‘Ah.’ His face fell.
‘Don’t assume that because I don’t need long to think means I won’t say anything good.’
His expression was anguished. ‘Then could you just get on with it? This is killing me!’
She smiled. ‘Jason, you are the most infuriating man I’ve ever met, and that’s saying something. You don’t look before you leap, you’re opinionated, your tolerance levels are woeful, and your temper needs taming.’
‘Er. Thanks?’
‘You’re also the least selfish father I’ve ever come across. You put your own wellbeing way below your daughter’s – and don’t tell me that’s only natural, because I can’t imagine there are many who’d take the punch on the chin that you took over Gemma’s affair for the sake of their daughter’s memories. Under that gruff exterior, you have the kindest heart. And…’
The hope on his face was endearing.
Time to put him out of his misery.
‘Maybe we could find a way to muddle along together.’
Tell him you love him.
‘I love you.’
There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?
Jason stood for a moment, disbelief on his face. And then he was across the room, folding her in his arms and squeezing her so tight she couldn’t breathe, but she didn’t care. Being in his arms was so right. For a moment, she absorbed the joy. And then that tricky little thing called reality reinstated its hold, and she pulled away.
‘What about Millie?’ she asked.
‘It was Millie who sent me here. She knew I was in love with you before I knew it myself.’
Startled, Claudia laughed. ‘She doesn’t mind?’
‘She’s thrilled. She loves you. She hasn’t said that yet, but I know she does. Not in the way she loved Gemma, but in a new Millie-Claudia way. It won’t be easy. You should understand what you’re letting yourself in for…’
‘You haven’t told me yet what I’m letting myself in for. Are we officially dating now?’
Claudia’s jaw dropped. ‘You’re asking me to move in with you?’
‘Is… Is that a problem?’
Claudia grabbed a fistful of curls as she processed the idea. ‘We’ve known each other for, what, three months? One minute we can’t be in the same room without picking a fight, the next you’re saying you’re in love with me, and the next we’re living together. Isn’t that kind of fast?’
He gently unravelled her fingers from the hair she was tugging at and held her hands down at her sides. ‘Claudia Rose, if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past couple of years, it’s that tomorrow’s never certain. I don’t want to waste any of our tomorrows.’
Tell him yes.
Claudia passed a hand over her stomach to quiet her infamous gut instinct. This was too big to race into. If it was only about her and Jason, they could live with the consequences, but there was Millie to consider, whether Millie herself thought it was a good idea or not.
Letting go of Jason’s hands, she moved away to drop back down on the sofa. ‘Everything inside me wants to say yes, Jason, but if Millie got hurt…’
He crossed the room to kneel at her feet and took her hands again. ‘Millie wants us to try. I told you, she adores you. I know you want a family of your own, but—’
‘That doesn’t matter,’ Claudia cut in. ‘I love Millie, you know I do. Having a family of my own is something I parcelled away in the attic of my mind a while ago.’
‘Claudia, let me finish, will you?’ Jason held her gaze. ‘You can still have a family of your own.’
It took a moment for her to compute what he’d said. Another for it to sink in. ‘You want to have a child with me?’
Jason took a deep breath. ‘I know I’m looking ahead too far. I know we don’t know each other well enough yet, and we need to see if we can live together without killing each other first. But I don’t want that to be a deal-breaker for you.’
Ah. A sweetener.
When she said nothing, Jason said, ‘I thought that would make you happy.’
Claudia took a juddering breath. ‘Jason, you shouldn’t consider starting another family just to keep me on board. I love you. I’d like us to be together. But a baby, when you already have a teenager? That’s not a promise you should feel obligated to make.’
He shook his head and smiled. ‘I’m no martyr. If I didn’t want to start over, I wouldn’t offer – even if I thought it was what you wanted. But I’m so in love with you. You’d be a wonderful mother. For you to be the mother of our child, if that happens for us? I’d be a lucky man.’
Claudia looked into his face for the longest time.
He means it.
Jason gave her no more persuasive words or pleading looks, but waited patiently, his eyes never leaving hers.
He means it. Tell him yes.
‘Claudia, this suspense is no good for my heart.’
‘In that case… Yes.’
He buried his face in her hair. ‘I won’t mess this up. I promise.’
‘I know you won’t. I won’t let you.’
His kiss was long and sweet. When they pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers and murmured, ‘Claudia Rose’.
They both jumped when Pudding leapt up between them.
‘Aww, are you feeling left out, baby boy?’
Jason rolled his eyes. ‘I presume that if I take you, I have to take the cat?’
‘Yup.’
Claudia jumped again as a movement caught her eye. ‘We have visitors.’
Jason spun his head around, and they both stared at the two faces at the window beside the door. Tanya and Millie.
‘You’d better come in!’ Claudia yelled.
They didn’t need to be asked twice, bundling untidily through the door.
‘How long have you been there?’ Claudia asked.
Tanya shrugged apologetically. ‘Only a couple of minutes.’
‘How much did you see?’ Jason asked.
‘Just kissing.’ Millie made a face. ‘Gross.’
Jason stood and went over to his daughter, ruffling her hair. ‘Better get used to it, kiddo. It was your idea.’
As Millie high-fived Tanya, Jason looked from one victorious face to the other. ‘Aren’t you two supposed to be casting spells or stirring cauldrons or whatever it is you conned me into allowing? You’re not supposed to be interfering in my love life.’
Tanya grinned. ‘So, you are admitting you have a love life?’
Jason reached for Claudia’s hand, his pale blue eyes open and honest, melting any reserve Claudia might have still had and flooding her heart with hope.
‘I believe I have the love of my life,’ he said quietly, then reached for Millie with his other hand, clasping hers tightly in his. ‘The other love of my life, anyway.’
Claudia smiled as she looked from him to Millie. She could settle for that. A man who loved her for who she was. A girl who had flourished under her friendship. The possibility of her own child to complete their family. Yes, she could settle for that.
She reached for Millie’s other hand so they were joined in a circle of three.
If you were enchanted by this seaside romance, then let Helen Pollard whisk you away to another fabulous destination with The Little French Guesthouse, available now!
Get it here!
The Little French Guesthouse
La Cour des Roses Book 1
Sun, croissants and fine wine. Nothing can spoil the perfect holiday. Or can it?
When Emmy Jamieson arrives at La Cour des Roses, a beautiful guesthouse in the French countryside, she can’t wait to spend two weeks relaxing with boyfriend Nathan. Their relationship needs a little TLC and Emmy is certain this holiday will do the trick. But they’ve barely unpacked before he scarpers with Gloria, the guesthouse owner’s cougar wife.
Rupert, the ailing guesthouse owner, is shell-shocked. Feeling somewhat responsible, and rather generous after a bottle (or so) of wine, heartbroken Emmy offers to help. Changing sheets in the gîtes will help keep her mind off her misery.
Thrust into the heart of the local community, Emmy suddenly finds herself surrounded by new friends. And with sizzling hot gardener Ryan and the infuriating (if gorgeous) accountant Alain providing welcome distractions, Nathan is fast becoming a distant memory.
Fresh coffee and croissants for breakfast, feeding the hens in the warm evening light; Emmy starts to feel quite at home. But it would be madness to walk away from her friends, family, and everything she’s ever worked for, to take a chance on a place she fell for on holiday – wouldn’t it?
Fans of Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Nick Alexander will want to join Emmy for a glass of wine as the sun sets on the terrace at La Cour des Roses.
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A Letter from Helen
Dear reader,
Thank you for choosing The Little Shop in Cornwall. I hope you enjoyed reading about Claudia, Jason and Millie (and Pudding!) as much as I enjoyed creating their story.
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As you may have guessed, Porthsteren isn’t a real place, but if you’ve been to Cornwall, I’m s
ure you will have visited wonderful coastal villages just like it – the kind of places that make you want to pack up all your worldly possessions and do exactly what Claudia did and make one of them your home. I love creating imaginary places for my books – the only problem is, I have to keep reminding myself that they’re not real after all!
Developing my characters is like having imaginary friends in my head, the minor characters as well as the main players – it can get rather crowded in there! But there’s always room for a cheeky pet, and Pudding fit the bill for this story perfectly.
Knowing that my books give readers a brief escape to somewhere sunny and picturesque, allowing them to lose themselves in my characters’ lives for a while and stop worrying about their own, means a great deal to me.
If you enjoyed the read, I would love it if you could take the time to leave a review. It makes so much difference to know that readers have enjoyed my book and what they liked about it… and of course, it might encourage others to buy it and share that enjoyment! You can find me on Facebook and Twitter.
Thank you!
Helen x
Books by Helen Pollard
The Little Shop in Cornwall
La Cour des Roses Series
1. The Little French Guesthouse
2. Return to the Little French Guesthouse
3. Summer at the Little French Guesthouse
Available in audio
The Little French Guesthouse (available in the UK and the US)
Return to the Little French Guesthouse