Chapter Fourteen
The One Where Jean’s an Ice, Ice Baby
Kate had missed Jean when she stopped working up at the hotel, but at least Nicki was around, doing her shifts in the beauty salon around school hours, so they managed the occasional catch-up lunch, and she stayed in contact with Phoenix, who – although remaining at the studio in Mevagissey – was keen to move back to the cove as soon as a suitable rental came up.
The three ladies were the only ones who were offering any practical help in the organisation of the festival, aside from Anna’s attempts to line up takers for the food and drink stalls. Not that their contributions were balanced. Phoenix was full of enthusiasm, but it was fairly obvious she had her own agenda, which was to make sales and secure new commissions.
It was impossible to mind too much, though, and Kate understood that – with such a precarious source of income – events like this had to be maximised. Phoenix was grateful too, saying Leigh used to bat her away as though she were a persistent fly.
Nicki offered to do face-painting and hair-braiding for the children, and Dev had found the name of the company who’d produced the flyers and programme the previous year, leaving Kate to negotiate with them.
Getting the hotel to add the fayre dates and details – such as they were at present – to their upcoming local activities was easy, and Anna added a widget to her website for the bed and breakfast. Kate also had it posted as an event in the village Facebook page.
When Thursday rolled around, Kate took a day off as she’d be working the entire holiday weekend, and she decided to make the most of it.
She slid one of the vast doors aside and stepped out onto the terrace. The sun peered hopefully from behind a billowing cloud, its rays holding a hint of long overdue warmth as they caressed Kate’s arms through the fabric of her dressing gown. A light breeze lifted the hair from her forehead, as though checking for lines, and Kate grimaced.
Nicki’s colleague at the salon had thrust a leaflet into Kate’s hand the previous day, offering laser treatment and fillers, saying they did a discount for staff, but Nicki had snatched it from her, balled it up and tossed it in the bin, declaring Kate had no need for it.
Something in the grass caught Kate’s eye.
‘Podge.’ The cat’s head popped up from chasing an imaginary fly. ‘Here, baby.’
Emerging from the wildflowers beginning to bloom where the garden had been encouraged to take control, Podge trotted over to be fussed under the chin, then shot into the house and, with one last look at the view, Kate followed.
Half an hour later, she stepped out of the house in her walk boots and set off down the lane. Tempted to call on Anna, but knowing that would mean sitting with the locals rather than exercising, she turned towards the bridge and the main part of Polkerran.
Before she knew it, Kate was heading down the slope past Harbourwatch, trying with all her might not to think about Dev and what he was up to. She hoped he wasn’t too low. Wasn’t Theo due to leave today?
When she reached the charming tidal beach, Kate stopped to pick up a take-away coffee from the little cafe, stepping around a couple waving at someone via the webcam but as she resumed her walk, she was hailed from behind.
‘Kate, it’s me!’
Turning around, her heart warmed. ‘Hello, Theo. How are you?’
‘I’m staying!’
She was about to blurt out, ‘For ever?’ but thankfully Ryther appeared beside his great-grandson on the beach.
‘For the holidays, at least,’ he offered. ‘Good morning, Kate. How are you?’
Kate felt she ought to be asking Ryther. Even had she not heard of his being unwell, she’d have noted the paler-than-usual complexion and her assumption from their previous encounter was right. He had lost weight.
‘I am perfectly well, my dear,’ the gentleman said quietly as he took a step closer.
Relieved, Kate smiled. ‘I’m pleased to hear it. Now,’ she turned to Theo and crouched down, ‘let me see, what flavour do I think this is.’
Indicating the cone he held, she eyed the contents. ‘Definitely some sort of chocolate… hmm… and are those bits of mini-egg I see?’
Theo nodded enthusiastically. ‘It’s yum. D’you want some?’ He thrust the cone forward, almost touching Kate’s nose and she laughed, raising her coffee cup.
‘Thank you, but I’m thirsty rather than hungry.’
‘Where are you going?’ Theo asked as Kate straightened.
‘Doing my usual walk.’ She waved a hand. ‘Out to the lighthouse and back. That reminds me, I looked into them for you. None of them are manned any more, I’m afraid, but there are ones you can visit. If your dad gives permission, would you like to come with me to see one?’
The delight in Theo’s eyes was enough of an answer, but he unceremoniously shoved his half-finished ice cream at Ryther, who caught it deftly as the little boy threw himself at Kate, hugging her tightly around the top of her legs.
Laughing, she disentangled him just in time to see Dev come striding down the lane.
A strange sensation skittered over her skin and she took a stumbling step backwards, only to find herself backed up against the cliff that bordered the beach. Conscious of Ryther’s keen eyes upon her, Kate fixed hers on Dev as he joined them.
‘Kate.’
Correct.
‘Hi. I’ve been admiring Theo’s rather splendid ice cream.’
Dev ruffled his son’s hair.
‘Daaad.’ Theo ducked away. ‘That lady in the shop said this,’ he waved what was left of his treat, ‘is the bestest.’
‘Let’s hope she’s got plenty of stock then, Teds.’
‘Well, I’ll leave you to it.’ Conscious of her reluctance to do precisely that, Kate said a hurried goodbye and resumed her walk.
As she reached the top of the stone steps onto the path leading out to the lighthouse, however, she glanced back. Only the far side of the beach was visible from her raised vantage point. There were several families there, and Ryther, Dev and Theo were now over by the rock pools. The latter appeared to have finished his ice cream and wielded a small net, his dad holding a colourful bucket. Ryther’s attention wasn’t with them, however; it was on something in the distance, and Kate followed his gaze.
Unless she was mistaken, he was looking across the rippling water to where Westerleigh Cottage perched, nestled in its cliff-top gardens.
Returning from the rocks sometime later, Kate could see no sign of the Devonshires, and she strode up the hill past the house as fast as she could. Once back in town, she glanced at her watch. Time for some lunch.
Toying with crossing the bridge to the Lugger, she looked around at the other options. The Three Fishes was more a drinking establishment. Both the bistro and the new restaurant looked busy, the latter having all its outdoor seating filled, which was great for business but not so much for someone as suddenly hungry as Kate was.
‘Kate! Over here!’
Spinning around, Kate waved at Jean, who stood outside the ice cream shop, next to an ice cream van with a giant cone on the top.
Laughing, Kate skipped across the street between two passing cars, fetching up beside a beaming Jean.
‘This is Greg.’
Kate sent her a puzzled look. It seemed an odd name for an ice cream van, but then she realised a man stood on the steps.
They exchanged greetings as Jean excitedly explained how Greg was an old friend and he’d made a rogue promise to her that, one day, he’d buy her a mobile ice cream shop. She hadn’t really thought it would happen, but lo and behold, here it was!
Friend? Kate hid her amusement as she noted the looks being exchanged between Jean and Greg.
‘Come and have a tour.’
Jean showed Kate the rather small interior and where the ice cream went and how to operate the machine which would produce the traditional swirls. Then they came back outside to admire the exterior, which had drawn quite a few onlookers made up of locals and holidaymakers alike.
Greg popped inside the van, appearing at the window, which he lowered. It was an old-fashioned vehicle in design, with a bulbous front and painted a warm russet, the same shade as the cone on the roof. When Greg pulled a lever, a candy-pink-and-white-striped canopy – similar to the one attached to the shop – unfurled itself, rippling in the breeze coming off the harbour, and Jean clapped her hands like a delighted child.
Grinning, Kate met Greg’s amused look, which became decidedly affectionate when it moved to Jean.
‘I think you’re going to have quite the summer,’ Kate whispered. ‘I’ll catch you both later.’ Lifting a hand to Greg, who was helping Jean up the steps into the van, she eased her way through the throng of people, her stomach protesting at its continued neglect.
Perhaps the chippy was her only option today. It wasn’t exactly a hardship, and Kate joined the fast-moving queue, soon emerging with a paper package emitting the delicious aroma of proper chips, liberally doused in salt and vinegar.
Looking around, she couldn’t see a spare bench and was about to walk over to the harbour wall to lean on it when someone moving swiftly along the front caught her eye.
Kate turned back to the water, a frisson of something indiscernible fizzing somewhere within her core. Dev strode with some purpose, alone, and silently scolding her skin for warming so precipitously again, she approached the harbour wall with relief. Why, though? It wasn’t as if he was looking for—
‘Kate.’
With a start, she dropped her precious package, which thankfully didn’t split open, but as she bent to retrieve it, Dev beat her to it, handing the chips over, his gaze raking her face.
‘Sorry.’
‘It’s fine.’ Kate willed the building warmth not to travel into her cheeks. The warmth was disobliging.
Dev, however, looked as uncomfortable as Kate felt. ‘Could I have a quick word?’