A perfect cornish summer, p.32
A Perfect Cornish Summer, page 32
Ryan was right. Their mother would have told her to grab that kind of love with both hands. Now, it looked as if she’d let it slip away again.
‘Gabe!’ she called from the entrance hall. There was no answer, then she heard footsteps up above her. She ran upstairs towards his room, her heart pounding.
She could not un-love Gabe, just as she couldn’t un-love Ryan.
They both deserved second chances. Would Gabe give her another chance too?
Chapter Forty-Two
Gabe stared at the wild woman in his bedroom. Her face was scarlet, and she was out of breath, but she looked gorgeous to him.
She seemed transfixed by the shirts he was holding. ‘W-what are you d-doing? Don’t say you were leaving without telling me.’
He held onto the pile. ‘Well … I don’t know if it’s worth me staying here.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’ve given you time and space. I want to stay, but not without you,’ he said, finding his heart pounding too, and all he’d done was fold a few clothes.
She stepped into the room. ‘I want you to stay. I want it more than anything else in the world. I love you, for God’s sake, but I don’t know how you can be happy here.’
Love. He didn’t dare dwell on that word in case he lost it completely. ‘Simple. Because you’re here,’ he said, laying the clothes on the bed as if they were thistledown, ready to fly away into the air if he moved too quickly or suddenly. ‘Do you need another reason?’
‘But … the removal van—’
‘Has brought more of my stuff from London. Sam, I’m unpacking, not leaving. I’m here to stay.’
She looked around her then at him, her eyes full of the fire he’d always loved. ‘Oh my God, you devil, Gabe Mathias. I saw the van and I thought … and you let me think you were going.’
‘I didn’t actually lie.’ He smiled, hoping he hadn’t made a huge mistake with his tiny deception. She met him by the bed and he almost lost it again. He reached up to touch her cheek, feeling the softness – the fragility under the strength – and noticing the dark circles under her eyes. She’d had a rough few days, a rough eleven years, a rough life that she’d faced and weathered like a Porthmellow storm. ‘You asked me not to keep anything from you again. Then here’s the truth. I love you and I always have loved you.’
‘Me too.’
‘Sam.’ He gathered her to him and rested his hands lightly on her waist, half afraid she might change her mind and take flight. ‘You’re here.’ He was every bit as astonished as he sounded.
‘Looks like it.’ Her tawny eyes searched his. ‘I’m sorry. I was bitter and angry after Ryan went away. I’ve wronged you too. I didn’t try to see your point of view and even when I did finally see it, a few years after you left Porthmellow, I’d never have admitted it to you.’
‘What good will it do now? It’s time we buried the past, or at least put it into cold storage.’
Sam nodded. ‘After we’d all finished screaming and crying, we came to a sort of truce, for Mum’s sake as much as ours. She’d have wanted us to put the past behind us so we’ve arranged to meet Ryan’s new partner, Tilly, and her kids. They’re coming to Porthmellow to see me and Zennor next weekend.’
‘That’s great. I’m glad for you all.’
He touched his forehead to hers. ‘Sam. Stay here. This place is way too big for me on my own.’
She raised her eyebrows. ‘You’re not scared that the ghosts will get you?’
‘Not now you’re here.’
‘My home’s with Zennor for now, I couldn’t leave her, but if you were only a minute away, I’m sure I could spend some time – a lot of time – here.’ She kissed him and he closed his eyes, relishing he firm, hot press of her mouth on his. Nothing more was said. Nothing more needed to be said. They lay down on the bed and gradually, inch by inch, as the deep evening blue stole into the sky, Gabe finally believed that he was home and it was where he belonged.
Epilogue
A Few Weeks Later
Sam opened another window in the Institute. Although it was evening, the sun was still bright and the air was stuffy. Late July had brought a heatwave to Porthmellow and the harbour and beach had been rammed with families enjoying the first week of school holidays.
Everyone, apart from Troy, had swapped the usual tea for Evie’s homemade lemonade, which Sam thought was a vast improvement. Drinks in hand, they took their places around the table.
‘So, here we all are again. I’d like to welcome the newest member of our committee. I think you know him so I won’t waste time introducing him. Welcome, Gabe.’
There was laughter and a groan from Troy. Gabe gave a little bow. Evie smiled and wafted herself with a Japanese fan.
‘I also have good news,’ she began, slightly unsure of the reaction. ‘I’m delighted to announce that if we all agree, next year our main festival sponsor will be the Net Loft.’
‘Wow!’ said Chloe, positively radiating happiness.
‘Nice one, mate,’ said Drew, getting up to shake hands with Gabe.
‘He can afford it,’ said Troy. ‘Or did you have to twist his arm?’ he asked Sam.
‘Troy!’ Evie rapped him with her fan.
‘It’s a pleasure,’ said Gabe. ‘And there was no arm twisting or coercion of any kind necessary.’ He mouthed ‘sadly’ to Sam and she had to glance away from him to avoid blushing. She’d spent most of her nights over the past few weeks at Clifftop House.
After everyone had voted unanimously to accept Gabe’s offer, she finally called the meeting to order.
‘I also have some news that’s not strictly related to the festival but you might be relieved to hear. The police have found out who trashed my Stargazey van.’
‘Oh my God. Who?’ said Chloe.
‘It was some guy with a mobile pasty van. We had a row once at a festival when he accused me of taking his custom, which I hadn’t. I hadn’t realised that he’d also been threatening the festival organisers and stewards so they booted him off his pitch and wouldn’t have him back this year. He saw an interview I did for a magazine about our festival and was so pissed off, he decided to take it out on me by wrecking my van.’
‘What a scumbag,’ said Drew. ‘I’m glad he was caught.’
‘Nasty little bugger,’ said Evie. ‘I wish I could get hold of him.’
Troy cackled. ‘His life wouldn’t be worth living if she did!’
‘How did they find the idiot?’ asked Drew.
‘Well, it turns out he’s also been behind some of the posts on our social media pages. I have to thank Ben and Zennor for tracing his IP address and doing a bit of cyber detective work that led us to him. We mentioned his name to the police and can you believe the idiot hadn’t been able to resist boasting about it on his own Facebook page? They even found a photo of my trashed van on his phone!’
‘Ben’s a genius,’ said Zennor proudly.
Ben looked at his hands. ‘It wasn’t that hard once I had the time to hunt for him properly after the festival.’
‘There will always be people who don’t love the festival, but it’s good to know that, thanks to Ben, there’s now one less person to cause us trouble.’
Zennor smiled. ‘And we also have some news,’ she said, sharing a glance with him. ‘Don’t we, Ben?’
She took his hand and held it on the table top. Sam noticed looks were exchanged between her fellow committee members and that everyone’s eyes were drawn to the silver ring with its sea glass stone sparkling in the evening light on Zennor’s finger.
‘We’re engaged,’ said Ben, barely audibly.
‘Eh?’ said Troy.
‘We’re getting married!’ said Ben loudly.
Troy snorted his tea. ‘I heard that.’
Evie patted him on the back as he spluttered. ‘Oh, you dark horses. You kept that quiet. Congratulations, my loves – to both of you.’
‘You took your time about it, but I’m that happy for you,’ said Troy, recovering at last. ‘Will it be one of those vegan weddings?’
Ben smiled but the attention was clearly too much for a young man with social anxiety/chronic shyness. ‘Probably,’ he mumbled, his knuckles whitening as he gripped Zennor’s hand tighter.
Zennor’s eyes were dancing with delight. ‘You’re all invited, of course, when we eventually get around to it. We need to find somewhere to live first. Ben’s chalet isn’t big enough for two.’
Sam felt she might burst too. She’d been the first to know about Zennor and Ben, and had had to keep it a secret. It hadn’t come as such a huge surprise as it once might, seeing as Ben had spent most of his nights at Wavecrest while Sam had been with Gabe. It seemed that Ben had been keen for a while but Zennor hadn’t wanted to leave Sam on her own.
‘Let’s raise a toast,’ said Chloe. Sam couldn’t help but notice she and Drew had arrived at the meeting together and seemed very close.
Drew laughed but raised his glass. ‘With lemonade, but the sentiment’s there. To Zennor and Ben. Congratulations!’
Troy lifted his mug. ‘Well, I bloody hope we’re going to celebrate with a real drink when we’re finished here.’
‘Definitely,’ said Gabe. ‘I might even get the first round.’
Sam felt his hand on the small of her back, a soft firm touch through her T-shirt. She had the strangest feeling that from now on, he would always be there by her side. She cleared her throat and began.
‘OK. Before we can all go and party, we need to discuss the main item on the agenda. The inaugural Porthmellow Winter Solstice Festival in December. We don’t have long, so does anyone have any bright ideas?’
THE END
Acknowledgements
When part of your job requires eating, drinking and visiting food events, I think you can safely say you’re living the dream. This book was originally inspired by a visit to a food festival in a Cornish harbour town, although I stress that everyone in it is completely fictional and I have made up all the incidents!
Huge thanks go to some great people in Porthleven including Julia Schofield, the co-founder of fabulous Porthleven Food Festival, and Chris, chef and owner of Sea Drift restaurant, for their insight and help with the logistical aspects of organising a festival. Also thanks to the renowned Cornish photographer Carla Regler, whose famous photographs of the town in a storm provided inspiration for this story, and to the Albatross Gallery for their help.
The pie-making information was provided by the chef and staff of Buzzards Valley Vineyard restaurant near Tamworth and I can vouch for the fact that their handmade pies are delicious. Nikki, who I met at Lichfield Food Festival and who runs Marvellous Mixes, www.marvellousmixes.co.uk, gave me some great insight into attending a food festival as an exhibitor. My Cornish friend and reader Elisa Leah also helped with some vital local touches.
The ideas for Evie’s creole party dish came from US friends Leah Larson and Shyra Latiolais, while my daughter’s friend Wis suggested the Chinese food that Chloe makes for the party. Thanks also go to my writing friends Liz Hanbury, Nell Dixon and bookseller Janice Hume.
Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks has again worked her special brand of editorial magic, helping me to turn my first draft into the finished book you see and have hopefully enjoyed. I’m so grateful to the entire Avon team including Jo Gledhill, Sabah, Elke, Katie, Molly and Dom, who are always friendly, approachable and brimming with ideas. I’m also lucky enough to have the best agent in the business, Broo Doherty, who has helped guide my career and supported my work for fourteen years now.
Finally, thank you to my amazing family, who have cheered and commiserated with me since I started writing. Lately, it’s been wonderful to share far more highs and lows. I will love you forever, John, Charlotte, James, Mum, Dad and Charles.
Nothing is simple, even in paradise. Will love bloom for the residents of the little Cornish Isles?
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Christmas has arrived on the Cornish Isles of Scilly, bringing mistletoe, surprises and more than a sprinkle of romance …
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Love the Cornish Isles series? Then why not take a trip to the Cornish cafe …
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As the seasons change, Dem and Cali’s love story continues …
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About the Author
After studying English at Oxford, Phillipa Ashley worked as a copywriter and journalist. Her first novel, Decent Exposure, won the RNA New Writers Award and was made into a TV movie called 12 Men of Christmas starring Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Hopkins. As Pippa Croft, she also wrote the Oxford Blue series – The First Time We Met, The Second Time I Saw You and Third Time Lucky.
Phillipa lives in a Staffordshire village and has an engineer husband and scientist daughter who indulge her arty whims. She runs a holiday-let business in the Lake District, but a big part of her heart belongs to Cornwall. She visits the county several times a year for ‘research purposes’, an arduous task that involves sampling cream teas, swimming in wild Cornish coves and following actors around film shoots in a camper van. Her hobbies include watching Poldark, Earl Grey tea, Prosecco-tasting and falling off surf boards in front of RNLI lifeguards.
: @PhillipaAshley
Also by Phillipa Ashley
The Cornish Cafe Series
Summer at the Cornish Cafe
Christmas at the Cornish Cafe
Confetti at the Cornish Cafe
The Little Cornish Isles series
Christmas on the Little Cornish Isles: The Driftwood Inn
Spring on the Little Cornish Isles: The Flower Farm
Summer on the Little Cornish Isles: The Starfish Studio
About the Publisher
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Phillipa Ashley, A Perfect Cornish Summer
