Chapter 9
The next week follows the same pattern as the first: parties and bonfires on the beach and dinners at home with his family. The food is amazing — plates and dishes of salads and seafood and always dessert. It never stops. Mary — the chef — is a genius, but she doesn’t like any help in the kitchen. I try to offer, but she looks at me with some magical aloofness that tells me I wouldn’t be fit to work in her kitchen.
On her nights off, we all went out, but the only place they seemed interested in was The Bay — the seafood place I went to last year. While the food is great, if we keep going, I’ll be able to work my way down the entire menu.
There were a couple of bad weather days, and we decided to binge-watch films in the cinema room, our legs intertwined, drinking peach iced tea — something I’d never had but was always in the pantry here.
We fought over the opinion of the film endings — my pet hate — but Jeremy didn’t seem to care. I was ready to throw pillows at the screen when the titles rolled before a satisfactory conclusion, but he just laughed at me.
Today is no exception, and I chuck the pillow propping me up in the reclining chair in exacerbation. My arms follow the trajectory, pointing at the screen as if expecting a better explanation.
“Come on.” He shakes his head at me, clearly not sharing the same level of frustration. “We’re going to The Bay tonight.”
“Fine. Okay. I’ll go grab a shower.”
I offered to pay the first time we visited, but Mr Archer and Jeremy wouldn’t hear of it. Going with my mum last year was a special treat for us, and now it’s the fill-in when there’s nobody else to cook. It doesn’t change how delicious it is, but it does re-emphasise the difference between our families.
“What time are we all leaving?”
“No. Just us tonight.” He pulls me back to kiss me, this time a deep, knock-me-off-guard kiss. My breath catches, and I go to wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him to me. “Hmmm.” He breaks the kiss. “Later. Come on.”
He grins at me, and suddenly, the magic of going out on a date with just Jeremy hits me. Sparks ignite and dance with anticipation.
“Meet me here in half an hour.”
“I need a shower, Jere.”
“No, you don’t. You’re beautiful just how you are.”
“While I appreciate the sentiment, my hair would disagree.” I skip out of the cinema room and up to my bedroom and race to get ready. It’s amazing how fast you can be showered and finished with a little motivation.
We’re seated at one of the tables with the view over the cove harbour, as is becoming usual whenever we dine. It’s beautiful, with the sea and sun in the background.
The menu isn’t expansive, and I know what I’d like, so put it down and watch Jeremy. When he’s thinking or resting, he has that sad look about him that was always so intriguing when I’d sneak a look at him at school. At least he smiles at me now.
“Why did you stop at my table last year?” I ask. “You’ve always had plenty of opportunity to talk to me at school.”
He stares at me for a second. “Honestly, a few reasons. One, you were here, and I’ve never met anyone from back home here before. And I liked you. You’re pretty. More than pretty — you’re beautiful. Why wouldn’t I stop to say hi?” He smiles, and it lights up his eyes, but I think he’s just telling me what he thinks I want to hear.
“That’s a pretty good line, but you know what I mean.”
“It’s easier not to talk to girls at school. That’s all.” He sounds annoyed and looks back at the menu even though he must know every dish. I want to push again but think better of it. We’re here together now, and that’s all that matters.
We order, and I have the lobster like the first time I visited. It’s just as good as I remember.
When it’s time to leave, Jeremy simply stands up and takes my hand.
“Don’t we have to pay?” I look around, a little alarmed we’re walking out of an expensive restaurant. “I’ve got?—”
“We have a tab. We’re covered.”
“Oh. Right.”
The Bay is so close to the house we always walk, and as we make the journey back along the cobbled street, Jeremy’s hand is wrapped protectively around mine, and I like it there.
“Can I take you out?” I muse, feeling more uncomfortable about the amount of money that’s being spent.
“Sure.”
“No, I mean my treat. It would be different to what we’ve just had. There’s no butter served on slate plates.”
“Hey, I don’t mind where we go.” He moves to put his arm around my shoulder as we continue up the gentle incline.
“Molly’s.”
“Oh, you told me about that place.”
“It would be a nice change of pace. How do burgers and shakes sound?”
“Perfect. Tomorrow? We don’t have much time before you’re meant to be back with your mum.”
He’s right. It’s flown by — in a good way — but I already feel like the time now isn’t ever going to be matched. We’ll never have it again. It had already delivered on so many moments that all combined into a perfect summer. Cornwall always did that to me. It had something special, like it was in the air you breathed or the view you glimpsed. Add in Jeremy… I didn’t want it to end.
As we round the corner back to the house, a huge thundercrack echoes around the cove and rain empties from the clouds above.
I squeal from the chill as Jeremy squeezes my hand, and we make a run for it. Despite it only being a few hundred yards to the house, we’re dripping wet by the time we reach the door.
We both giggle as we drip water through the house as we come in.
“I better…” I look up at him, feeling the buzz of anticipation between us.
“Sure.”
We both go upstairs, and I go to my room. He goes to his.
I towel off, strip out of the wet clothes, and find my pyjamas. I’m too awake, too alive to sleep, so I drag a couple of pillows to the window and sit in front of it, cracking it open to listen to the rain.
I close my eyes, and a smile plays on my face as I think about our night.
And then the door clicks, and Jeremy sneaks in.
“I wasn’t ready to sleep,” he says, as if that’s enough of an explanation.
“Neither am I.”
He lies on the bed and props himself up on a pillow at the end.
We stare at each other, just listening.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to stay here for more than a few weeks,” I start, remembering how I felt just a few days ago. “But it’s Cornwall. It’s good for my soul.” Listening to the rain is mesmerising here. Like it’s playing its own song, the wind and the sea joining in the orchestra, playing my own lullaby.
“I hope it’s not just Cornwall that makes you want to stay?”
“Well, now you mention it.”
“Oi.” He grabs me from my spot by the window, pulls me towards the bed, and we fall down amongst the pillows and covers.
We both listen as if calmed by the sound of the rain.
“It’s beautiful. I’ve always loved Cornwall,” I confess.
“I’d want to come back if it’s with you again. Have this again every year. Just us.”
“That’s a grand gesture, Jeremy Archer.”
“And one I’d like to keep.”
“Soooo, this isn’t just a summer fling?” I voice my deepest fear.
“Nothing with you is temporary, Anna. I don’t care what anyone says.”