Chapter Nineteen
The One Where Mrs Tremayne is a Wannabee
Kate worked flat-out for the next ten days, with events through the entire weekend. Anna had been begging her to call for a long overdue catch-up, so she sent Mollie a text to say where she’d be when she got back after school and made her way down the hill from the hotel into the centre of town.
It was a beautiful day for early summer. An array of geraniums, petunias and trailing lobelia had taken up residence on the metal hangers along the harbour front and a second rowing boat, which had clearly been repurposed, was crammed with late spring blooms in its new mooring outside the small aquarium.
She turned her steps towards the harbour itself, leaning for a few minutes on the wall to look around. It was an hour yet before the primary school children emerged, so it remained fairly quiet, but it was lovely to see Jean’s ice cream shop open, the striped canopy which matched the one on her van unfurled, and outside Harbourmasters, the smart tables and chairs overlooking the water.
The restaurant reminded Kate of her impromptu lunch with Dev, and she cautioned her tummy when it did the strange dip that accompanied every thought of him lately.
She straightened, crossing the bridge to the quieter side of the village and wrinkling her nose as a whiff of engine oil drifted across from where a fishing boat idled near the harbour wall.
‘Hey, stranger, come in!’ Anna greeted Kate on her arrival, and she put her things on a chair and took a seat at the kitchen island.
They caught up quickly over tea and biscuits, and Kate watched Anna preparing dinner as she relayed the latest updates on the fayre.
‘The head teacher met with the PTA, and it turns out we aren’t covered by their insurance to hold the fayre in the building. They said we could use the playground, but it’s so small and up the hill, away from the hub of the village.’ Kate pulled a face, then she noted Anna’s somewhat distant expression. ‘Hey, are you okay?’
Anna summoned a smile, but it wasn’t her usual happy one. ‘Oh, I’m fine.’
‘Hmm. We didn’t work together for years without me knowing when you’re decidedly not fine.’
Anna shook her head. ‘It’s Oliver. At least, it’s not him exactly. It’s work stuff.’
Kate glanced at her watch. ‘Mollie will be here in about fifteen minutes. Do you want to share, or shall I keep my nose out?’
‘I could do with your ear. Oliver’s working on a new book. Haunting History was such a success, particularly in schools, they’re keen for another of his non-fiction-that-reads-like-fiction books and they’re dangling a three-book series for lower grades.’
‘But that’s not all?’
Anna shook her head again. ‘It’s this not-for-profit thing he set up.’
‘Didn’t you say Daniel became involved?’
‘He runs the finance side. Even though they’re now abroad, he can still do that up to an extent. When they do choose to sell, it’s at a reasonable value and with a residency restriction in place. Daniel has been managing all of that, too. The thing is, it’s becoming huge. When Oliver’s dad died, he inherited a vast property portfolio, plus stocks and shares, which he’s been liquidating over time to invest locally. Then, Matt sold up several properties he’d bought over the years and wants to give a chunk of the money to Oliver’s scheme too.’
Kate eyed Anna with curiosity. ‘Sounds fantastic. So come on, out with it. What’s troubling you?’
For a moment, Anna said nothing. Then, a heavy sigh emanated from her friend.
‘It’s Alex.’
Kate’s gaze narrowed. ‘What the hell has he got to do with it?’
‘I think I mentioned he wasn’t fond of Oliver. He resented that he was everything Alex wasn’t.’ Anna sent Kate a rueful smile. ‘That should have been my wake-up call, right there, but you know me, gullible as they come. Anyway, Alex continues to refuse to sell directly to Oliver – or rather, his charitable organisation.’
An unanticipated rush of affection for Polkerran wrapped itself around Kate. ‘Isn’t that counter-productive where the village is concerned? So long as the Tremaynes get the same price, with Oliver’s scheme, the properties are lived in all year round, which brings trade to Polkerran and keeps it alive?’
‘You’d think. Anyway, now Alex has put some more properties up for sale, and Oliver is letting the frustration of not being able to acquire them for the village’s benefit get to him. It’s taking his focus off his writing, so he’s further away from meeting his deadline and hesitating over signing for a series he’d adore doing.’
‘Wow.’ Kate’s mind was full, so she couldn’t begin to imagine what Oliver’s felt like. ‘I saw the sign for the alms-houses and the gatehouse.’
‘Oliver would love to get them for the community. I’ve told him to let it go, he’s got enough on. Dev, bless him, offered a cliff-top cottage, but it’s a bit remote, so instead has given a plot of land, so affordable housing can be developed with local occupancy restrictions. It’s lovely, but now there’s all the planning approvals to manage and the architect to engage and Oliver has Daniel and Matty, but one’s remote and the other’s in his studio half the time.’
Anna slumped in her seat, and Kate’s heart went out to her.
‘I wish I could help—’
The boot room door opened and Mollie came in, sporting a wide smile.
‘Hi, Mollie,’ Anna called. ‘Would you like a cold drink?’
‘Yes, please.’ Mollie dropped her bag and blazer, then leaned down to extract a sheet of paper, which she held out to Kate before joining Anna, who had headed to the fridge.
Soon furnished with a glass of homemade lemonade and two biscuits, she took the sturdy armchair by the hearth, nudging Heathcliff over to make room. The cat opened one sleepy eye, then rolled on her back, and Mollie stroked her exposed belly as she nibbled on a biscuit.
‘Can I go?’
Kate raised her head from reading the note, taking in Mollie’s anxious expression. Despite her daughter’s enjoyment of the local water sports, this was encouraging further interest in life at the new school.
‘Are you sure?’ Kate skimmed through the page again, then passed it to Anna, who had resumed her seat. ‘It’s for a whole week. I know you’re off to London with the history residential, but this one’s abroad, love.’
Foremost in Kate’s mind was the wildly expensive skiing trip to Switzerland Mollie had begged to go on when at her equally expensive private school in Yorkshire. Having received tearful phone calls every evening, feeling the worst parent in the world when Mollie begged to be allowed to come home early and saying she needed to see the week out, she couldn’t quite understand her daughter’s desire to spend a week in southern France in September looking at Roman remains and receiving basic instruction on an archaeological dig.
‘Don’t show this to Oliver. He’ll want to come too.’ Anna smiled warmly at Mollie as she handed the paper back to her.
‘I’m older now,’ Mollie said, shaking her hair back over her shoulders and raising her chin.
Kate and Anna exchanged an amused glance.
‘Let’s talk about it later. I’m happy for you to go if you really want to, but I need to be sure.’
Satisfied with that, and tolerating a few questions about her day at school, Mollie drank her lemonade, polished off the second biscuit and, dropping a kiss on Heathcliff’s furry head, took her glass to the kitchen sink.
‘Can I go and see Oliver? He promised to lend me a book.’
Anna looked over at the clock on the mantelpiece. ‘I’ll make him a coffee, and you can take it up. He ought to take a break.’
Mollie seemed content with that and resumed her seat beside Heathcliff as Kate and Anna moved over to the kitchen. Eyeing her friend as she fired up the coffee machine, and aware she wouldn’t want to continue their earlier discussion, Kate regaled her with her impromptu lunch with Dev at Harbourmaster’s restaurant.
‘Tyler said afterwards we looked like we were on an awkward first date.’ Kate didn’t see the look Anna exchanged with a curious Mollie.
A smile tugging at her mouth, Anna fetched milk, then faced Kate across the island.
‘And was it?’
Kate frowned. ‘What?’
‘Like a date?’
Her lips parted, but nothing came out as a flicker of sensation rippled through her midriff. ‘I – er, no!’ She huffed on a laugh. ‘Of course not! We were discussing the fayre. It’s all we ever talk about. Well, except for Theo.’
Anna retrieved the coffee. ‘It’s ready, Molls.’ She held it aloft, and Mollie came over to take it.
Unable to decipher the look Mollie sent her, Kate watched the door close behind her daughter deep in thought, then turned back to Anna.
‘I did inadvertently invite him round one evening.’
Anna grinned as she dipped her hands in the soapy water in the sink.
‘I suspect you’re beginning to find your inner flirt again.’
Kate had popped down into the village when Nicki phoned to confirm her next hair appointment at the salon.
‘How did this morning’s meeting go?’
Kate hesitated, then said, ‘It was… interesting.’
Nicki laughed. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t be there. Were they being as helpful as usual?’
Quickly summarising – again, it didn’t take long – Kate leaned against the harbour wall, admiring the flowers in the old rowing boat, which had now come into bloom.
‘Mrs T turned up.’
‘You’re joking!’ Nicki’s amusement was blatant. ‘Now I’m really sorry I wasn’t there! How was she? As snooty as usual?’
Reflecting on the lady’s unexpected arrival at Westerleigh, Kate had to laugh. ‘She’d messaged to forewarn me, but only an hour before. I’m hoping she comes every time. It’s certainly an effective way of curbing the locals, although they’d clearly warmed up by the time she left. Old Patrick told her he’d had what he called a “helluva” crush on her mother, back in the day. Poor Mrs T looked rather taken aback, especially when he’d added “solid legs, good farming stock”.’
A giggle came down the phone, and Kate added, ‘Although we did gain a point with her. Anna told me once she had a thing about Oliver. Contrary to her son, she’s longed to become acquainted with him and never quite managed it, but he happened to come into the kitchen during the meeting.’
‘Don’t tell me he put on the charm?’
It was Kate’s turn to chuckle. ‘I did see Anna whispering to him by the coffee machine. I’ve never seen Oliver like that, but it was hilarious the effect it had on Mrs T. Anyway, she left soon after, and I’m not even sure why she came.’
‘Perhaps she just wants to be part of something. Leigh rejected every overture from Lady T as well as anyone else,’ Nicki added sagely before ending the call, and Kate pocketed her phone and crossed the street.
She needed to pick up some cards from Pen & Ink and intended to pop into the boutique too, where she’d seen a rather fetching shirt in the window. It was as she came out of the latter, carrier in hand, that she noticed the aforementioned lady getting up from a table outside Karma.
Kate turned about, heading for the Spar.
‘Yoohoo! Kate!’
Mrs Tremayne hurried towards her, and Kate gave her a warm smile.
‘Thank you for joining us this morning. It was lovely to have some fresh input.’ To Kate’s astonishment, the lady looked a little uneasy. ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Yes, yes.’ The confident demeanour returned. ‘I am impressed with how you have pulled something out of nothing. I like the idea of this more traditional fayre and the focus on the local community. I had not realised there were so many people in the village who had so much to offer.’
Not wanting to go down that road, bearing in mind Mrs Tremayne had played the role of a distant and disinterested lady of the manor all her married life, Kate said nothing.
‘I wish to make a contribution.’
‘That’s very generous of you,’ Kate began, but Mrs Tremayne shook her head.
‘Not pecuniary. There’s something I would like to offer. Perhaps you might care to use the grounds and stables at the manor house as the venue?’
Kate felt a sudden affinity with the idea of one’s jaw dropping, but she pulled herself together, her heart lifting in delight.
‘That would be fantastic! Are you absolutely sure? Is your… is Mr Tremayne okay with that?’
A wave of a dismissive hand told the story there. ‘He is going on a golfing holiday for the entire month of August. He’s hardly likely to notice.’
‘I’m truly so grateful, Mrs Tremayne. The whole village will be.’
For the first time, the lady smiled. A genuine smile, which reached her eyes. ‘Arabella. And It’s nice to be part of something after all this time.’
With that, she walked off and Kate’s thoughtful gaze remained on the lady as she walked along the street towards the lane leading up to Tremayne Manor. Thrilled to have secured a location at last, and such a fantastic one, she couldn’t wait to tell Dev, but she felt sad for Mrs Tremayne. Her life’s work seemed to have been treating the local community with disdain.
With her position in question following her husband’s retirement, it looked like she’d finally realised what she’d missed out on and longed to find a purpose as part of the community.
‘Mum, Heathcliff’s out there again.’
‘Where?’
There was no reply. Mollie, as usual, had her earbuds in, curled up on the sofa and resuming her giggles at animal reels.
Kate walked over to the expanse of glass. Podge looked unperturbed by the visitor, but Heathcliff – no doubt missing Anna, who’d accompanied Oliver on a trip to London for two days to see his agent – had her back arched and her black tail fuzzed up.
Retrieving a packet of Dreamies, Kate went outside, and once Heathcliff had finished her impromptu treat, she scooped her up.
‘Come on, cutie. Let’s take you home.’
Thankfully, Heathcliff wasn’t averse to the invitation and nestled into Kate’s shoulder as they headed down the hill, but just as she released the cat by the cat flap into the boot room at Westerleigh, the door swung open and Matt came out with Dougal at his heels.
‘Oh, hi! Just returning something.’ She pointed to the cat, who’d trotted along the path towards the terrace. ‘Anna worries she’ll get lost if she goes too far along the cliff path.’
‘Thanks.’ Matt locked the door. ‘I’m just taking this one for a walk. Breakfasts are all done.’
‘Oh! I didn’t realise there were any guests.’
‘Two lots of walkers. They were booked in before the trip was planned, so I said I’d stand in.’
‘Gemma’s still at the experimental stage, then?’ Kate followed him round to the driveway.
‘You could call it that. Still, she’s far better at making beds and cleaning than me, so she’ll be along later. She’s got a growing brood to care for.’ He laughed at Kate’s puzzled look. ‘A kitten, a puppy and soon some chickens. I’d better make this a quick walk. I need to get back while the tide’s in, so Gem has time to get here to do her bit.’
‘Do you mind if I walk with you? There’s something I could do with talking to you about.’
‘Sure, come on. Dougal!’ Matt whistled and the dog came scuttling back to him, sitting patiently as he fastened the lead to his collar.
They were soon up on the open grassland near the top of the hill and, removing the lead, Matt threw a ball for Dougal to scamper after. Kate tried not to scour the dogs for Bayley but there was no sign of him or his owner.
‘What’s up?’
She started.
‘Oh! I – we – really need your help, Matt. We don’t have anyone with the know-how to manage the performance set-up. We’ve been offered the use of the grounds at Tremayne Manor for the weekend, which is brilliant, but…’ Kate’s voice tapered off at the wary look crossing Matt’s handsome features. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.’
‘No, it’s fine. I can help… happy to be the roadie, look into licences, and so on, it’s just—’ He whistled to Dougal, who came scampering across the field, the ball in his mouth. ‘Look, I’ve got something going on right now.’ His smile was tentative. ‘I’d need to go up to Tremayne Manor, do some scouting around, work out the layout, etcetera. But I can’t do it for a bit.’
‘That’s fine,’ Kate said, hoping she sounded as though she meant it. Securing a venue had been a huge relief, but what she didn’t need right now were any further delays – whatever the cause might be that prevented Matt from being proactive right now.