The Cornish Beach Hut Café

Chapter 40

40

Milla’s ring-making day at Latitude One, High Tides Hotel, St Aidan

More splashes than Jackson Pollock

Saturday

R ule number one with Milla-the-brunette is to always anticipate a little extra, so when she and her ring-making group clatter up my steps at nine instead of arriving at Kit’s at ten as arranged on Saturday morning, Shadow and I exchange a smile and carry on as we were. We’ve been up a good three hours already, so we had time to pull in a walk and baking for a busy weekend at the Pleasure Dome. Shadow’s now back to napping, and I’m doing my last jobs in the kitchen before heading over to Kit’s.

Milla leads the crew into the living room, where they drop their bags in a pile and then flop down onto every available surface. ‘We thought we’d drop in at The Hideaway to put the finishing touches to our outfits and make-up, Aunty Flo.’ Cue the usual mass clothes swap, in other words. ‘And are we good to have Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes, custard and ice cream on the deck while we’re here?’

I’m already in the kitchen loading a tray with cups and cereal boxes. ‘Can you serve yourselves while I take my last batches of scones off the cooling trays?’

Milla wiggles her eyebrows at me. ‘Of course.’

I’m covering every eventuality. ‘And if Jean and Shirley come past with their walking group, can you point them to the “Once they’re gone…” ginger cake and triple chocolate muffin stack by the bottom of the steps?’

She nods. ‘All good, M— Aunty F.’ She laughs. ‘I nearly called you Mum there. By the time we all get our blonde wigs on for the Ken and Barbie fancy dress roller-fest it’s going to be well confusing.’

It’s funny to look back to that first day they came round and think how strange it felt then having people here. Now it happens so often that the beach hut happily expands to welcome whoever descends on us. Where I used to feel engulfed and overwhelmed, I now feel happy and fulfilled. It’s as if by rediscovering my hostess role, I’m redefining myself.

Milla beams. ‘And we’re all coming back here later to finish off the afternoon with plant pot painting. As Mum says, someone has to use up that pot of pink paint Granny Suze bought you, it’s a shame to let it go to waste. It’s a good thing we’re all in our ironic Barbie pink phase.’

This is another of Milla’s brainwaves she sprang on me yesterday before I could say no. An hour later, when we roll into Kit’s, it’s a relief I’ve avoided being pushed into anything more. The doors between the studio and the veranda are thrown wide open, and there’s a long wooden table placed across the beach hut.

Kit looks pretty relaxed as he grins at me and shows the girls to their places. ‘Six of you each side, and there’s a board and a set of tools for each of you. Floss will bring round some ring blanks to practise with first.’

I sidle up behind him. ‘Nice cut offs.’ It’s the first time I’ve seen him working in shorts, and he’s teamed them with my favourite Paul Smith T-shirt.

‘Quicksilver flip flops too.’ He looks super proud of himself.

I give him a discreet nudge. ‘Well done for getting down with the teenagers.’

Milla’s waving her finger in the air. ‘I take it we’re okay to put our playlist on to work to, Kit?’ She pulls a speaker out of her bag and stands it on the table. ‘No offence, but we’ll be way more creative listening to Wet Leg and Olivia Rodrigo rather than The Beach Boys.’

I murmur to Kit. ‘Don’t take it personally, you’ve come a long way with your music.’

Kit gave them a choice of methods for their ring-making earlier in the week and the girls opted for the one where they carve hard wax blanks, leaving Kit to cast the rings in silver later, using the three-dimensional templates they’ve created.

As Kit starts to demonstrate what each of the cutting tools do, I take the box of blanks round to give them one to play with, then go round again giving them a second, letting them size them properly for their chosen fingers. Once everyone’s got what they need, I leave Kit promising they can come back to make rings using the other methods another time, and I do a quick dash to drop off the last boxes of scones for the hotel.

By the time I get back, Sophie has arrived wearing the dress I spent a good ten minutes searching for at home earlier, and she’s got herself a ring blank too.

She murmurs under her breath, ‘After what happened with Mum and the pool, I thought I’d seize the opportunity to be on site.’

I lower my voice. ‘Have you heard anyone mention it at all?’

Sophie shakes her head. ‘Not a peep! But it’s impossible to keep a secret in St Aidan.’

Behind us the girls are fully absorbed with their carving. As the conversation moves onto wedding rings Kit’s answering their questions as fast as they fire them, showing them pictures on his phone.

Then Milla puts up her finger again. ‘As you’re the expert, Kit, we might as well ask – how can we tell when we’ve met “the one”?’

Kit gives an unbothered shrug. ‘Sometimes you just know because it feels different from anything else that came before it.’ He turns to me and grins. ‘It can happen in an instant, can’t it, Floss?’

I answer before I think. ‘Totally.’ Then I protest. ‘Why have you brought me into this? I’m St Aidan’s most committed single person! ’

He laughs. ‘I just wanted to see your cheeks go pink.’

I’m going to widen this out before they go scarlet. ‘At any moment any one of us may only be a heartbeat away from finding that special person. The studio seems to be the kind of place that puts people in the mood for falling in love.’ I’m kicking myself for how wrongly that came out too. Milla is opening her mouth to pick me up on it, but I’m saved on two fronts. First, Pink starts singing ‘Just Give Me A Reason’ and everyone immediately starts singing along, and then Rye strides in.

I jump forward. ‘Rye! I dropped your personal brownies off at your office earlier so you didn’t have to turn up to an opposition event.’

He laughs. ‘Catch up, Floss! We’ve actually moved their afternoon tea from here across to the hotel. I know this is a sea pool fundraiser, but the word-of-mouth publicity we’ll get for the Pleasure Dome more than makes up for that compromise.’

Sophie raises an eyebrow at me, then turns to Rye. ‘I hear business is picking up nicely since Floss sweetened your range?’

He nods. ‘We’re proving a very popular destination for ladies who like cake, and they’re coming for the treatments too.’ He looks at both of us. ‘And David is very committed to historic St Aidan because whatever local people think, he isn’t a complete stranger; he actually remembers the sea pool as a boy.’

My mouth falls open. ‘I thought he was from Australia?’

Rye purses his lips. ‘That’s where he made his fortune, but he was in St Aidan for the sea air for a short time in the eighties. He rented a cottage on the hillside above the harbour.’ Rye’s wave and description covers most of the houses in St Aidan. ‘That’s why he particularly wanted to build the hotel here.’

‘Great.’ I’m saying this as someone who should be grateful we’re using his facilities, not because I think it is. In terms of historical dates, I often think of The Crown . Even if Byron spent a few weeks here while Charles was still married to Princess Diana, it doesn’t change anything for me . In my book, due to his underhand methods and dubious aims, David Byron is still a first-class shit.

Rye murmurs to us. ‘I’m here because I have news for the girls.’ As he moves towards the table several of the faces are definitely appreciating his good looks. ‘If I could have your attention, ladies! You’ll be having refreshments later in the dedicated dessert centre at the hotel. And the special part is…’ he pauses ‘…we’ve arranged for the High Tides gardeners to wait on you.’

The screams are so loud I have to clamp my hands over my ears. It’s okay for Rye. He just says, ‘You’re welcome!’ and a second later he’s gone, leaving us to deal with the mayhem.

When the excitement finally subsides I turn to Sophie with a grimace. ‘They’re never going to want to come to mine to paint flowerpots after that.’

‘Don’t worry, I’m sure they will. I can help you if you’d like?’

I’m thinking the words came from Sophie, then I look behind her and see Mum walking in off the veranda. I make sure I get off on the right foot so I throw in a compliment. ‘Another nice jump suit, Mum.’

This one’s dark turquoise with a navy monstera-leaf print, and it really suits her.

Sophie mutters at me, ‘We can only hope she keeps it on.’

I smile at Mum. ‘Would you like to make a ring?’

She tenses a little. ‘I’ll probably just watch, and chat to the girls.’

It takes Milla a nanosecond to notice her grandmother is there. ‘Granny Suze! That’s lucky! Now you’re here you can tell us first hand – is the goss true?’

Mum smiles. ‘What’s that, Muffin?’

Milla’s straight back at her. ‘Someone said you’d been skinny-dipping in High Tides’ warm pool!’

My heart freezes mid-beat. It’s bad enough us knowing. Other people seizing on it is too humiliating to think about.

Sophie’s on it like a Rottweiler. ‘Someone who? ’ She’s talking through gritted teeth. ‘Come on, Milla, this is non-negotiable! ’

Milla shuffles in her director’s chair. ‘The High Tides gardeners have a WhatsApp group. It was all over school!’

I’m rigid, but I can’t let Mum go under the bus like this – I have to save her! I give a cough. ‘I’m afraid the WhatsApp group have got their wires crossed. If you’re talking about skinny-dipping at High Tides last Tuesday, it was actually me and Kit.’

I’d rather not land Kit in this too, but it won’t work without him.

There’s a roar from the table, and Milla punches the air. ‘So you two are an item! I knew it!’

I stand and waggle my finger. ‘Honestly, Milla! Two people swimming naked doesn’t necessarily indicate any kind of commitment. It just means they’d rather not go home with wet pants.’

Sophie’s flashing me a secret thumbs-up.

Milla’s turned on Kit. ‘But you did feel that thing? You do know she’s the one, don’t you? ’ She turns to me. ‘If you two get married, I can be your bridesmaid! ’

Kit’s looking a lot less mortified than he should, but the heat has skipped over him and onto me.

I hold up my hand before this express train runs away. ‘Milla! I’m not having a wedding.’ I’m trying to move the focus on. ‘If Plum and Rye ever get engaged, you can always ask them.’

A moment later, they’re talking about wedding outfits, and I’m left staring at Sophie, who’s running her fingers through her fake hair, and Mum, who’s tugging nervously on her belt. I’ve saved her from a lot, but she’s not getting a completely free ride.

‘So what do you think, Mum – if you were the one skinny-dipping would it be a sign of a significant relationship?’

She chokes, and then recovers herself. ‘You know I’ve always liked Kit, sweetheart. Whatever name you decide to give to your attachment, I’ll be happy for you.’ She turns to Sophie. ‘Your hair is still throwing me, I was about to call you sweetie again too!’

Which reminds me – while we’re here, I may as well say. ‘The other day Sophie and I were talking about when we were kids, Mum. Maybe we could all have a chat about it sometime?’

Mum slams closed faster than a laptop at home time. ‘There’s really nothing to talk about.’

I’m not letting this go. ‘But there’s so much I can’t remember!’

She almost bites my head off. ‘That’s why it’s called the past – because it’s over and done with and there’s no point digging it up.’ She backs towards the veranda. ‘My memory’s like a colander, it’s no use asking me, I’d better go.’

Sophie lets out a cry. ‘But you promised you’d stay for Floss’s cupcakes in the Pleasure Dome?’

Mum tosses her head. ‘I can’t be doing with lunch! Especially now.’ And a second later, she’s across the deck and hurrying back towards the hotel car park.

I blow out a breath. ‘I didn’t think that through. I should have asked her after the pot painting.’

Sophie comes across. ‘You weren’t to know she’d be so uptight. But thanks for putting yourself out there.’ She pulls me into a hug. ‘Don’t worry about the pots, I’ll help with them.’

‘Will Milla mind?’

‘Not so long as I’m there as you.’ She widens her eyes. ‘Life is so much easier, even though I’m sweating buckets in this wig. I may have to stay this way for ever.’

As for me claiming the naked bathing was me and Kit, I’m banking on that being so insignificant that the excitement of the gardener/waiters later will wipe that from everyone’s memories.