Making waves at penvenna.., p.5
Making Waves at Penvennan Cove, page 5
All I can say is, roll on Friday!
Will is back as the foreman in charge, but he explains that he’s splitting his time between two jobs, as mine was a last-minute change to the schedule.
‘Don’t worry about your new lawn, Kerra,’ he reassures me before I leave to meet up with Polly. ‘We’ve going to lay down some temporary boards. It’ll flatten the grass a bit, but it won’t churn it up. Ross has left specific instructions that we leave everything in the same condition we found it.’
‘Thank you, Will. I’m glad you’re in charge. Is it really possible to assemble all of this timber in just three days?’
He gives me a knowing smile. ‘These kits fly up and our guys know what they’re doing. The electrician will be here on Wednesday afternoon and he’ll need access to the cottage.’
‘Oh, that’s not a problem. I’ll be around all day. Right, I’m just heading out, but you have my number if anything crops up. I’ll leave you to it, then.’
The sound of a nail gun assaults my ears before I’ve even reached the side of the cottage and I hurry off in the direction of the cove. I can’t believe how organised Ross’s guys are and I can hear Will’s voice as he gives them their orders. No wonder Ross is so busy, and he seems happier these days. It makes a huge difference when his father isn’t trying to interfere with the day-to-day running of the business.
I’m a little early, so I pop in to see Mrs Moyle first, but she’s serving someone. I give her a quick wave but as I turn to go, she calls me back.
‘Hang on there a moment, Kerra. I’m almost finished here.’
I loiter aimlessly, wondering what this is going to be about, but the open conversation suddenly turns into a whispering session and after she waves her customer off, Mrs Moyle disappears. I wait patiently by the counter until she returns, full of apologies.
‘Sorry about that, Kerra. A little problem has come up for Arthur to sort out.’
‘Nothing serious, I hope?’
‘Your dad might be getting a call, shortly, that’s all. Just a neighbour who has just been whisked into hospital, I hear, after breaking her ankle. Her dog is being looked after by another neighbour who will pop in, but the poor little chap will need a temporary home for a while.’
Everything is word of mouth because that’s the way it’s always been amongst the older folk around here. I don’t know how they’d cope if it wasn’t for Mrs Moyle’s husband, Arthur. This is the central hub of the village and it’s more than just a shop, it’s an essential service. If anything is wrong and Mrs Moyle hears about it, she’s straight upstairs to see Arthur. He knows who to contact and does so in a very discreet way.
‘Anyway, that’ll all get sorted. On another matter entirely, I know it’s none of my business, but there’s something I thought I’d mention in passing. Your cousin, Alice, is seeing a chap and she’s keeping it on the quiet.’
Good for Alice, realising it’s best to keep a low profile. ‘It’s probably early days, then,’ I reply, thinking the least I say on this subject the better.
‘No. That’s not the reason I’m bringing it up. He’s getting the rough end of the stick just now, to take the heat away from someone else and it’s all wrong. There’s trouble brewing in my opinion but that’s all I’m prepared to say, and you can do with that as you wish.’ Goodness, when Mrs Moyle is this pointed in her remarks then it’s time to take note.
‘Well, um, thank you for the heads-up. I’ll… uh… keep an eye out for her.’
‘Make sure you do, Kerra. I hope you don’t mind me saying something, but although Alice might unwittingly make trouble for herself at times, on another level she’s not a worldly girl – if you know what I mean.’
‘No problem at all. Thank you. And, before I forget, can you save me one of your apple pies for Friday afternoon, please? I thought I’d spoil myself over the weekend.’
‘Of course, I will. Now don’t forget what I said, will you? Are you off somewhere nice?’
Mrs Moyle doesn’t gossip for the sake of it, and she won’t put up with baseless rumours. But she says what she thinks. I’m guessing she has her suspicions about my situation and I’m wondering if she approves.
‘I’m having brunch with Polly. My new garden office is being erected as we speak.’
‘Arthur shouted out earlier on that there was a lorry outside the front of the cottage. And I spotted Ross just now when I was redoing the window display. He keeps himself out of trouble these days, doesn’t he?’ I don’t know quite what to make of that remark.
‘I believe so,’ I reply, cautiously.
‘Well, I’m glad of it. He’s a nice man and he hasn’t always been treated fairly around here. I’d best not keep you, Kerra, Polly will be waiting.’
Mrs Moyle isn’t one to stand around talking once she’s said her piece. But she has oodles of patience when it comes to her elderly customers who call in daily for a pint of milk or a loaf of bread, and a chat.
As I step outside and stride out along the street, I don’t know what Mrs Moyle thinks I can do about Alice’s situation. Our paths don’t cross that often as she lives with Uncle Alistair and Auntie Marge. It’s a good ten-minute drive from here and if she visits the village it’s only to pop in and see Dad. Alice and I have had our issues over the years. She has an unfortunate knack for saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time. As a peace offering, I reached out to her and she was kind enough to use her skills to do a hair and make-up session for Sissy, Sienna and me for the launch party. We made our peace, but laying the past to rest is one thing, being friends when our paths rarely cross is another. Alice hasn’t maintained any form of contact and who she’s seeing is hardly any of my business, so there isn’t really anything I can do.
‘You’re in a hurry,’ Dad’s voice booms out behind me and I turn to see him striding to catch up with me.
‘Oh, hi, Dad. I’m off to catch up with Polly before she starts her lunchtime shift.’
‘I thought you’d be watching them builders. I saw Ross was here earlier on. Watch yourself there, m’dear. A woman on her own needs to be wary.’
Inwardly I groan.
‘Will’s there for a bit and I’ll only be gone an hour. I’ll be glad to get my new office up and running so I can reclaim my guest bedroom,’ I reply breezily, ignoring his warning.
‘I’ll walk with you. I’m on me way to see if Gryff still has a copy of last week’s local paper.’
As he steps forward to plant a kiss on my cheek, I put an arm around his shoulder, giving him an affectionate pat on the back. ‘Ah, you’re a man on a mission this morning.’
‘I am, that, my lovely. There’s lots to do and I thought I’d look in the ads section to see if anyone local is advertising for a bit of work.’
He’s walking quite briskly and it’s good to see. When I first returned home, he was a shadow of his former self and now he has a spring in his step again. I like to think that Nettie is the reason for that.
‘Ah, yes, to replace James.’
‘I do miss that lad, but I’m happy for him and it worked out well for Sissy. Are the rumours true that you’re looking for another investment already?’
I turn to look at Dad, quizzically. ‘What rumours?’
‘So, it is just gossip, then. I did wonder as you hadn’t mentioned anything. No worries, I know me daughter has got her head screwed on right and doesn’t rush into things.’
Do I quiz Dad about what exactly he’s heard, or do I ignore it? It’s pure speculation anyway, as although I have a couple of ideas I’m mulling over, I haven’t approached anyone yet. Besides, my next project is likely to be a non-profit-making one, but first I need to do a little more research.
As we turn the corner and begin the downhill walk to Penvennan Cove, there is a light breeze coming off the water, carrying with it that distinctive salty tang.
‘Do you remember when I was small, and you’d take me over to Draketown to watch the fishing boats return?’
‘I do. And you’d wrinkle up that nose of yours and the fishermen would laugh at you. And your granddad, Harry, would be there offloading the catch from his trawler The Wild Rose. Fond memories, my lovely.’
Named after my Grandma Rosenwyn, it was an impressive vessel, and they were often out at sea for several days at a time. She could never rest easy until he was back on dry land and it was like that until the day he died. I think that she always felt the sea would be the death of him, and she was right.
‘Grandma told me once that none of her family went to her wedding. I always thought that was rather sad.’ As I stare straight ahead, I consider that on a day like this the water looks beautiful, a true blessing from nature. But staring off into the distance at the rocky outcrops almost covered by waves makes me shudder. After selling The Wild Rose, Granddad often took his small two-man boat out to do some handline fishing. On the day he died, he got caught in a squall that drove him onto the rocks. It smashed the hull to bits before anyone could reach him and just like that he was gone.
‘It was a different time, Kerra. Let the past go, my lovely. I can tell by the look on your face what you’re thinking about right now. Your grandparents were happy, and money never meant much to Rose. Her family didn’t understand that she had to follow her heart.’
‘And Granddad’s untimely death ended up breaking it,’ I reflect, sadly.
We walk past the row of fishermen’s cottages, their rustic, whitewashed stonework façades an iconic tourist photo opportunity. Originally, they were all two rooms up and two down, with a coal house on the back and a toilet at the end of the garden. Most have been extended now, of course, and only two of them are still owned by ex-fishermen.
‘Did you know one of these is coming up for sale?’
‘No. Which one?’
‘The second one in from the left. It’s been a holiday let for more than ten years, now. It’s a pity, as the owners always holidayed here. Do you remember the Bartletts? Nice little family, with two daughters, but they’re in their late teens now and seldom get down here.’
‘I never knew them. They must have bought it after I’d left.’
‘Right, I’m heading inside for a chat with Gryff. If he hasn’t got a paper, he might have an ad pinned up on his noticeboard. You never know. Tell Polly I’ll see her later.’ Dad grins at me. I’m guessing that means he’ll be sloping off for a pint and a chat in the bar, at lunchtime.
‘Okay. I hope you find someone very soon, Dad. If you ever need a hand, you can always call on me.’
Dad gives me one of his looks. ‘I know you have better things to do with your time, Kerra, but remember that there’s more to life than just work. Maybe you should think about getting out a bit more and socialising. You’re stuck in every evening and I thought you’d miss getting out and about after your time in London.’
Oh, Dad! If only you knew. ‘I’ve been really busy online, and you know what I’m like. I’m happiest when I have a challenge to focus on and when I’m good and ready, I’ll take some time off. Besides, when the nights draw in who wants to venture out?’
He makes a grumbling sound. ‘Well, don’t turn into a hermit, that’s all I’m saying.’
I lean in to give him a kiss on the cheek and his eyes sparkle. ‘I’m hoping that Sy and Tegan will set a date for their wedding before too long. Just giving you a heads-up, as you’ll no doubt want to take someone along with you.’
‘Dad! Stop it! I’m off, I’ll see you later.’
I dig my hands into my pockets, knowing that Dad’s vision for my future is different to mine. He means well, but just because I’m back doesn’t mean I don’t have ambitions still to chase, or that I’m looking for a quieter life.
As I approach the pub, I up the pace. The front door is locked still, so I go around to the back. The rear door is ajar, and Sam is standing outside, hands on hips as he surveys the patio area, deep in thought.
‘Oh, hi, Kerra.’
‘Hi, Sam. Did Polly mention I was popping in?’
‘Yes, she did. She’s upstairs, I’m sure you can remember your way.’
‘Problems?’ I enquire, noting his frown.
‘Always. Never-ending. Just thinking about Polly’s idea for brightening this up a bit in the spring. That girl of mine is full of ideas and I wish I had pockets full of money to turn them into reality.’
Goodness, Sam does sound down.
‘Well, the recent upgrades inside have made an enormous difference. It’s so fresh and welcoming now. I’m here to pick Polly’s brains myself.’
‘I’m right lucky, I know that. It’s just that time of the year when trade falls off a bit weekdays, and it’s always a worry. We’re still here, though, aren’t we?’ he jokes, but he isn’t fooling me.
‘And I hope you’ll be here for a long time to come, Sam.’
‘Me too, Kerra. Me too.’
Five
Favours
‘Bang on time,’ Polly informs me with a beaming smile. ‘I hope you like doorstop bacon sandwiches. The bread is fresh out of the oven courtesy of Pascoe’s bakery.’
‘As I walked up the stairs, I hoped that delicious smell was coming from here and not the restaurant kitchen below us.’ I laugh, slipping off my coat.
‘I’ve just made a coffee for myself. I’ll grab you one if you’d like to carry your plate over and get settled. Ross’s crew turned up then?’
‘They did. Bright and early. The kit arrived in two separate loads, but everything is now on site and I’m so excited. Not that I intend inviting anyone to stay in the foreseeable future, but I can’t wait to make the spare bedroom look nice again.’
‘And you’ll be staring out across the garden when you’re working in future. What a bonus!’
Polly walks over to join me, plonking herself down into her seat and then getting straight back up to grab a bottle of tomato sauce. ‘You’d think with all my waitressing experience I’d remember the ketchup,’ she muses, handing it to me.
She glances at the clock. ‘We have fifty minutes until I need to head downstairs. Shall we look at a few things online while we’re eating?’
‘Suits me,’ I reply, before taking the first delicious bite of my sandwich. ‘Mmm, this is seriously good bacon.’
‘We get our meat from Treeve Perran Farm.’
‘Oh, isn’t Leath’s Farm closer?’
‘Yes, but they’ve dramatically downsized their farming operations over the years. The farm shop only sells organic ice cream now and it’s a big attraction in the summer for the tourists as they have a kiddies’ playground. They serve milkshakes, too, but it’s seasonal and they shut the shop in the off-peak periods. Their main business is supplying ice cream to restaurants and pubs like us, all around the south-west.’
‘They were huge at one time,’ I reply, putting my hand up in front of my mouth as I chew. A bacon sandwich doesn’t last long when you’ve been up since 6 a.m. and have only had two cups of coffee.
‘There are a lot of hoops to jump through to gain that organic label these days, and the cost of certification isn’t cheap. They get their milk from Treeve Perran and the only animals they rear are to support themselves.’
‘What a shame.’
‘It is, and it isn’t,’ Polly replies. ‘It’s less hassle and they make a reasonable living.’
‘Mum never got on with the wife – I can’t remember her name. That’s why she wouldn’t shop there. They did veggies, too, if I remember correctly.’
‘Old Mrs Warren was a bit sharp, at times. You do know that she was Sissy’s grandmother, of course? Her son and daughter-in-law ran it for a while and the old lady kept the herb and the vegetable garden going. Now I think the Jenners keep it for their private use only.’
‘I didn’t make the connection with Sissy,’ I confess, as I push my plate away and make room for Polly’s laptop. She turns it on, and I wait impatiently for the screen to light up.
‘The family sold it seven, maybe eight, years ago. The new people, the Jenners, are lovely. They moved here from Kent and they’ve turned the business around. They were the ones who started running a car boot sale in one of the fields.’
‘So much has changed, hasn’t it? And that hit the spot, thank you so much, Polly.’
‘Hmm,’ she says, popping the last of her sandwich into her mouth. ‘I can think better on a full stomach. Now, do you prefer open shelves, or cupboards?’
‘I want everything hidden away,’ I reply, resolutely. ‘No clutter. No distractions. I’m thinking of a zen-like environment – just me, my PC and nature.’
‘Ooh, I like the sound of that, and I have just the modular units to solve your problem,’ she informs me. ‘You will need a man who can to install them for you, though.’
‘That’s not a problem.’
As she opens the web page I can see it’s like storage heaven. If I can smuggle Ross into my house without anyone being any the wiser, he’d get this sorted in less than a day. It’s hard not to heave a sigh, though, as I accept that I might have to go with the safer option and employ a stranger to do it for me.
‘I’m so grateful to you, Polly, and if there’s ever anything I can do in return, just let me know. I really mean that.’
‘Wow. I have a floor,’ I comment, shocked at how quickly it went down. It looks much bigger than I’d anticipated. Ross got his team to lay the concrete base and run the electrical wiring when they were building the extension, back in the summer. Having grown used to seeing the ugly, dull grey slab at the far end of the garden, it gives me a real buzz to see it obliterated.
‘These kits are pretty quick to assemble.’ One of the men stops what he’s doing to come over and chat. It’s just the three of them and Will is probably long gone. ‘The sections are modular, so the shell will be finished by lunchtime tomorrow with a bit of luck.’
