16. Ellie
16
ELLIE
S aturday at the café had been busy. Her gran only opened the café on Sundays during the summer months, from June to August, and sometimes through the rest of the year on special occasions. On the Sunday just gone, Ellie and her gran went for a lovely beach walk before enjoying a roast dinner that they cooked together. They’d had a very chilled day, and it had set them up for the week. Ellie was still getting stuck in at the café and her gran had insisted that she would start paying her now, because she needed an income. Ellie had tried to resist, but her gran had recently lost an employee who’d moved away from the village, so she said it was useful to have Ellie there. Plus, she’d added, she wanted Ellie to work there so she could decide if it was what she’d want to do long-term, either when she inherited the café or took over from Pearl. As always, Pearl insisted there was no pressure and Ellie loved her for it.
Wednesday had dawned as perfectly as most days had since Ellie’s return, with a beautiful sunrise and a crisp, cloudless sky. As March progressed, it was getting warmer (if only slightly) and signs of spring were evident everywhere. Ellie enjoyed taking her breaks in the café gardens where she would find a quiet spot and sit on one of the rustic wooden benches under the mature trees. There, she’d listen to the birdsong, trying to decipher what birds she could hear in the way her grampa had taught her. The one bench was at the highest point of the garden and it was possible to sit there and gaze out to sea. It was a wonderful place to relax and more than once, Ellie had dozed off as she listened to the birds and, when the wind was blowing briskly, the sound of the sea. At those times, she could also smell the salt on the air and it was fresh and uplifting, so different to the air in London. She loved London for being so vibrant and busy, but for her, now she was home, she knew Cornwall would always have her heart. There was no beating the smell of the sea, the peace of watching boats sailing across the horizon, and the sense of peace she found being back in the village. Once upon a time, she would have scoffed at the idea of settling down there, but now, she realised that living there could well be the route to happiness and contentment for her.
And, of course, there was Jasper. She couldn’t deny the impact of seeing him on an almost daily basis and learning more about him and his young family. He wasn’t much older than Barnaby. She’d found out this week that he was thirty-five, but he seemed so mature while Barnaby had, in retrospect, been like a spoilt child. She had yet to hear from him how his travels were going, although she really wasn’t bothered if she did. It felt strange to transition from living together to complete indifference towards his presence, but she now realised their relationship had continued purely out of habit, and being apart from him had helped her see that. She suspected that some part of her would always care for Barnaby because they had been together for some time, but not enough to want to be with him in a relationship. Besides which, she knew now that he didn’t care about her and what was the point of being in a one-sided relationship with someone? It had been all give on her part and all take on his. She didn’t blame Barnaby entirely for that as his parents had nurtured that selfishness in him, but he should take some responsibility for it because he was an adult. She could only hope that his travels would open his eyes to what others went through and that he would return to London a changed man. Hope, that was, but not expect, because it was possible Barnaby would not change and that he would continue to be the man she’d known. It was no longer her problem though, and so she wished him well.
This evening, she was looking forward to yoga in the café gardens. Her gran was a qualified yoga teacher, and she held classes in the gardens during warmer weather. This evening was the first class of the year.
After they’d cleaned the kitchen, she changed into her sports gear in the staff toilets and looked down at herself. She was wearing the clothes she’d worn for her audition that seemed such a long time ago. How could it be only five and a half weeks since she’d stood on that stage and watched her pump hit the casting director? It felt like years and that was the benefit of coming home to Cornwall. She had put distance between herself and the life she’d led in London, and she felt very different. Far more like herself. It made her aware of exactly how much she’d been trying to force herself to be a certain way in London, to fit the mould that Barnaby, his parents, and Ramona wanted her to fit. But as with trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, it didn’t work and Ellie could now see that. Time and space were incredibly beneficial when trying to work out what she wanted to do and what she wanted from her life. She’d started to understand that having a family was something she could want. Seeing Jasper and his children, as well as other families around the village had confirmed this for her. The time she spent with little Mabel and Alfie when they came to the café made her so happy. She had even joined them in the café the previous evening and read to them while Jasper had taken an important work call on his mobile outside. He’d been very apologetic, but she’d enjoyed herself. She’d also liked the fact that he trusted her with his children, even if he had only been outside and could still see them all. While Jasper had been on the call, Alfie had told Ellie that after they’d left the café on Saturday, his daddy had gone into the sea in just his boxers. Ellie had thought he was joking, but Mabel had confirmed it. The children had giggled as if it was the funniest thing ever. Alfie had then told her they’d had chips and sausage from the chip shop and it had been the best dinner he’d ever had. Ellie admitted she loved chip shop chips and Alfie had invited her to dinner with them one day soon so she could have chips with lots of salt and vinegar like their daddy.
When Ellie walked back out into the café, her gran whistled. ‘Look at you, sexy pants!’
‘What?’ Ellie laughed.
‘In your yoga gear.’
‘It’s actually clothing I bought for auditions, but it’s perfect for yoga.’
Her gran had taught her yoga routines when she was a child and they’d often done it together, but Ellie had been so busy she hadn’t bothered for a while. ‘I think I’m going to be quite stiff this evening, so please don’t laugh at me.’
‘Ellie, yoga isn’t about mocking people, it’s about getting in touch with your body and your breath. It’s about doing what’s comfortable for you and increasing flexibility. It will do you good. And this evening’s yoga has a special surprise.’
‘Does it? What is it?’
‘It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you now, would it?’ Her gran laughed, then opened the door. ‘Come along then, let’s get everything set up before people arrive.’
A blackbird’s song and the mellow strumming of a harp filled the evening air. When they reached the area of the gardens where yoga took place, Ellie smiled to see a local woman sitting on a stool with her harp in front of her.
‘Hello, Cariad.’ Her gran placed a hand on the woman’s shoulder.
‘Hello there.’ Cariad Jones smiled. ‘It’s a beautiful evening for it.’
‘Indeed it is.’ Ellie’s gran went to the storage shed that was disguised by the net of faux leaves draped over it. She unlocked it and pulled out a large basket filled with yoga mats. Ellie went to help her and they started setting the mats out in a semi-circle with Pearl’s mat at the core.
‘Was that the surprise?’ Ellie asked, nodding at Cariad.
‘Oh no, darling. There’s more.’ Her gran chuckled.
People started arriving and taking the mats and Ellie wandered around greeting them. She went back to the café to get the basket of drinks they’d prepared earlier and was just leaving the café when she paused. Her heart skipped a beat. Because there was Jasper, wearing joggers and a fitted T-shirt as he walked up the path to the café. Was he coming to yoga too? And if so, where were the children? It was almost 7pm, so he would normally have been getting them ready for bed, surely?
He spotted her and waved, then jogged over to her.
‘Here, let me take that for you.’ He reached for the basket and she was about to decline, but then she decided to let him help.
‘Thanks. It’s nice to see you here.’
‘I’ve wanted to try Pearl’s yoga classes for a while, but it’s difficult with the children. I know this is the first one this year and didn’t think I’d be able to come, but my parents turned up this afternoon, unexpectedly, so they’re babysitting.’
‘How lovely!’ Ellie said, feeling very pleased to see him. ‘Are you OK?’
He nibbled at his bottom lip. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Well … I know it must be hard for you to leave them at all.’
He gave a wry laugh. ‘You’re not wrong there, but my parents are great with them and said I should have an evening off.’
‘They don’t live locally then?’
He shook his head. ‘They live in Oxford, where I’m from. It’s a long journey, so they try to fit in some other visits along the way. They’re here for two nights then visiting friends in Devon.’
He frowned. ‘Are your parents local?’
Ellie inhaled slowly. ‘My Mum lives in Scotland. She moved there a long time ago. As for my dad … I have no idea.’
‘No?’ Jasper’s frown deepened.
‘He left when I was six. I was basically raised by my gran and grampa. My mum was around but after my gramps passed away when I was eight, my mum didn’t cope very well. She then met her second husband on a dating app and moved to Scotland to be with him. He’s truly lovely and adores her.’
‘But you didn’t go with her?’ There was a gentle curiosity in his eyes, and Ellie found that she didn’t mind telling him about her past. It wasn’t always easy to explain to people, but she got the feeling Jasper wouldn’t judge her, but he would be concerned for her feelings.
‘No, I stayed here with Gran. I couldn’t bear to leave her as she’s always been more of a mum to me, anyway.’
‘Pearl is a special lady.’ Jasper smiled.
‘That’s very true.’ Ellie glanced around. ‘We’d probably better get a move on or there won’t be any mats left.’
‘I know!’ He grinned. ‘Come on, then.’
Jasper set the basket down near Pearl, then he took a mat at the outside of the semi-circle. Ellie took one on the opposite side and sat down with her legs crossed.
Her gran talked them through some stretches and a gentle warm up and Ellie felt herself relaxing. The harp filled the air with a beautiful tune. The scent of magnolia and lavender washed over her and her gran’s calming voice led her through the sequence.
She was drifting off in savasana when she felt something tickle her right cheek. She brushed her hand absently at it, but it happened again, so she opened her eyes and sat up.
‘Oh my goodness!’ She squealed as others around her did, too. Puppies cavorted among them, leaping onto mats, slobbering on faces, nipping toes, and scrambling over people. Her gran was sitting on her mat with a puppy on her lap, cradling it like a baby.
‘Sorry for the surprise!’ her gran said. ‘But I thought it would be a good way to introduce you to some of the puppy residents from the local dog sanctuary. These cuties are all looking for their forever homes. My friend, Leanne Penrose, manages the sanctuary and she agreed to come here this evening with the puppies.’ She pointed over at a woman standing with two others near the café. ‘They are happy to do this to socialise the puppies and to get the message out to the community that these special little ones are available for adoption.’
Ellie looked over at Jasper and saw that he had a small black and white dog that looked like a collie mix trying to nibble at his ear. Jasper was laughing and it seemed to make the puppy try even harder.
‘Just in case anyone is wondering, they’ve all had their vaccines so aren’t at risk being out and about.’ Pearl bobbed her head in Leanne’s direction and the other woman smiled. ‘Right then, shall we continue with our class?’
Ellie had to admit that the class had started off very relaxing, but with the puppies involved, it was significantly less so. However, it was certainly not less enjoyable. Leanne and her colleagues occasionally had to round up puppies that were wandering off and then they plonked them back with the yoga class, which the puppies seemed to enjoy. There wasa lot of nibbling and tugging of hair and clothes, and Ellie laughed so much her stomach ached by the end of the hour.
When the puppies had said their goodbyes and Leanne had taken them back to the sanctuary, Ellie put the mats away and Jasper gave them a hand. He really was very considerate, and it made her like him even more.
‘I’m going to speak to Cariad for a bit and hang around for a coffee,’ her gran said, glancing at Jasper. ‘Why don’t you head home and I’ll meet you there?’
‘Sure.’ Ellie hugged her gran.
‘I’m heading your way, so is it OK if I walk with you?’ Jasper asked.
‘I’d like that.’ Ellie cursed her cheeks for flushing because she suspected it was what her gran had hoped for. ‘I’ll just grab my things and then we can go.’
Jasper waited on the path for her and when she returned to his side, he offered to take her bag.
‘It’s fine, honestly. It’s not at all heavy.’ She hooked the rucksack over her back and tucked her hands into her pockets.
It was colder now, and the moon glowed brightly while the stars twinkled overhead as the sky changed from amber and pink to navy blue.
‘Fancy stopping by the beach on the way?’ he asked.
‘Why not?’
So they walked away from the café, and out onto the road, then headed for the beach. Ellie could already hear the soothing sound of the sea as it caressed the shore and smell the briny air. She was very aware of Jasper’s tall, solid presence next to her and how much she liked him, how much she was already starting to care about him. But then her gran had always told her that when you met the one for you, it was just right. From the get-go. There might to seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, but she would know. And whenever she was close to Jasper, Ellie thought she could understand what her gran meant. It had been a long time coming and Barnaby had been a false start but finally, she felt like she was on the right track.
Was it possible that here in Porthpenny, in the village where she had grown up, she had finally met the one?