The Cornish Beach Hut Café

Chapter 46

46

The bedroom at The Hideaway

Fishy tales and oyster catchers

Tuesday

‘Y ou’re the only friend I know with a zillion pairs of bright stretchy shorts, so you were bound to be my first port of call.’ Clemmie flicks through the pile of coloured Lycra on the bed and pulls out an acid yellow vest with purple swirls and a pair of lime green shorts. ‘Perfect. I’ll wash them after and bring them straight back, and I’ll make sure Charlie has something matching.’

I’ve been helping Nell to organise this but I’ve no idea when I became head of wardrobe. ‘If you hate the Lycra, Barbie also loves dresses, and long blonde wigs are available from Hardware Haven – Janice has bought a job lot specially.’

Clemmie’s ticking off on her fingers. ‘I’m lending you my skates.’

I nod. ‘So long as you’ve bought your tickets, you’re good to go.’

Clemmie blows out her cheeks. ‘And now I need you to tell me all the goss in two minutes flat. It’s my first time out without Arnie, I promised I’d be back in five.’

I grin. ‘I’d better hurry then. Sophie is in a better place after the family chat you know all about, Rye no longer has Mum pegged as a gold-digging psycho since he realised she and David already knew each other, and apparently when David made his offer for The Hideaway, he was already aware who I was.’

Clemmie’s eyebrows go up. ‘Ignoring the stalker vibes, that explains why the offer was so generous.’

I shrug. ‘I’m guessing he hoped it might help him reconnect with Mum.’ I’m still trying to take it all in myself. ‘As for the pool, that had always been in his mind, but the approach to the council was more to hide what he was up to than anything he was planning immediately.’

Clemmie shakes her head. ‘It’s all been for the best. Without that push you might never have hit on the idea of resurrecting the sea pool and that’s going to be so good for the town.’

I laugh. ‘Things are looking up at the hotel too. If we play our cards right, Mr Byron may make a donation to our fund.’

Clemmie gives me a searching stare. ‘Do I sense you’re warming to him?’

I roll my eyes. ‘It’s not going to happen overnight. But if he and Mum are in it for the long term, I’m going to have to make the effort.’ I think about what’s left to cover for Clemmie. ‘As for the rest, Shadow and I are so busy we wouldn’t have time for a social life even if we wanted one.’

Clemmie wrinkles her nose. ‘Is your mum properly loved up?’

‘She and David have both had a lifetime to change since the first time they met, so it wasn’t a given.’ I laugh. ‘Mum’s denying it madly, but she’s head over heels.’

Clemmie hugs her arms around her. ‘It’s lovely she’s having her happy ending.’ She coughs. ‘Is it too much to hope you’ll grab the same for yourself?’

I screw up my courage to say the words. ‘I’m only seeing Kit for business from now on, and that’s not going to change. Regardless of anything else, he actively wants a girlfriend who can have kids.’

She lets out a cry. ‘Oh, Floss, I’m so sorry.’ She looks at me more closely. ‘Are you sure about that?’

I pull a face. ‘It’s easier this way. If I know I’m a hundred per cent unsuitable anyway, it saves any soul-searching about the rest.’

She frowns. ‘And how’s that working out?’

I make my voice bright. ‘I’ve done the moving-on sex, so I really have waved goodbye to Dillon. And it’s a big relief not to be trying to hide Kit anymore.’

Her eyes narrow. ‘But how are you doing really? ’

I let out a long sigh. ‘I’m currently eating my body weight in cookie dough, but I’m optimistic it’ll pass.’ Seeing Kit every day at the studio is agony. Watching him and pretending to smile and be happy for those other couples, my heart breaks all over again every day. But it can’t go on for ever. I give a hollow laugh. ‘Hey, Mrs, you need to go! We’ll catch up soon. And don’t forget your wig.’

And that’s it for me for now. The next significant event in my life is the Barbie and Ken event next weekend. As I stand on the veranda and wave goodbye to Clemmie, it may as well be a century away.