Chapter Twenty-Eight
The One Where Kate is Walking on the Moon
The rest of the school term sped by, with sports days and awards ceremonies, culminating in a lively performance of Annie in the village hall, featuring many of the pupils from Polkerran’s school, but directed, choreographed and produced by those studying drama at Mollie’s school in Fowey.
Kate barely saw Dev other than in passing, and their email and message exchanges had dwindled to almost non-existent. With the fayre the only mutual connection, she had no excuse to contact him, especially as there was little left to do, but how she longed to simply hear his voice.
Phoenix and her fellow artists from the studio had come up with a fabulous art trail for the children around the cove, and Matt had been up to Tremayne Manor to assess the cabling needs for the musical performances. Meanwhile, Bella had moved into her cottage and was busy researching specific aspects of history for Oliver’s book.
Pleasure craft jostled for space on the temporary pontoons and the village was crammed with visitors as every holiday let and hotel room filled with those bent on seaside pleasures. The beach below Harbourside heaved from dawn until dusk on the warmer days – regardless of whether the sun showed itself – and Kate scanned the crowds in vain but saw no sign of Dev or Theo.
Berating her heart for finally caving in, Kate didn’t know how to handle the conflicting emotions. Never had she felt like this in all her life. The attraction she’d had to Hugo all those years ago paled into insignificance. Dev was becoming all she could think of; yet he was entirely out of reach.
Frustrated and desperate for distraction, Kate took Mollie away for their week in Greece, where they soaked up the sun as she pretended to read book after book, lounging by the pool but imagining the lapping of water to be that of Polkerran harbour.
The distance solved nothing. Kate missed Dev so much it hurt, and knowing there was no chance of a sighting, she’d taken to opening her laptop as soon as she woke, lying on her side in the vast bed, a warm breeze stirring the voile panel covering the window, and staring at the livestream, willing him to take Bayley for his early morning walk.
When he did, she watched him throwing a stick into the waves for Bayley to fetch. Then he’d stand, hands shoved in his pockets, staring out to sea. What was he thinking? Did he – at any moment – ever wonder about Kate? The pain would always intensify as he returned up the beach, the happy dog at his heels, carrying the stick proudly, and tears would prick her eyes.
Worse, however, were those mornings when Dev didn’t appear – she assumed due to the unpredictable weather, which was typical of a British summer, being fair one day and foul the next. Kate did her best, though, to give Mollie a great holiday, and they enjoyed some fun boat trips, ending the week with three days in Athens so they could explore the Acropolis and visit the museums.
It was the end of the first week of August when they returned home and the next day was Gemma’s birthday gathering. Kate knew Dev and Theo were on the invite list for the barbecue, she only hoped nothing had changed to prevent them going.
The following morning, having barely slept from a combination of anxiety over Dev not going to Rivermills at all and how she could possibly conceal her feelings if he did, Kate rose early and took a cold shower in the hopes it would wake her up.
A notification pinged as she fastened her hair into a ponytail, and Kate walked to the window, the better to appreciate the gorgeous day as she viewed the screen.
Come to us for two o’clock, we’ll go upriver together. A xx
Kate shot a message back and headed to the dressing room to choose what to wear.
At one thirty – having changed several times – she tapped on Mollie’s door.
‘You ready, love? Anna wants us at Westerleigh soon.’
‘I’m down here!’
Kate looked over the banister. Mollie was at the foot of the stairs, dressed and with her bag already on her shoulder.
‘Keen, aren’t we?’ Kate teased as she reached the ground floor.
They reached Westerleigh in good time and were soon down at the small jetty where Oliver’s boat was moored.
Kate eyed the bags lined up in the cabin. ‘Did you do enough food, Anna?’
She laughed as she took a seat. ‘Gemma was in a blind panic, so I said I’d help out.’
‘Or do it all,’ Oliver muttered, but he sent his wife an indulgent smile before shooing Dougal – who was joining them on the trip – away from the bags.
‘We’ve brought some,’ Mollie piped up, stowing the bag next to Anna’s, and Oliver started the engine, and they set off across the bay.
‘When does Nicki get back?’
‘Tomorrow. I think their flight was due into Bristol around six in the evening.’
They’d reached the bridge now, and as the boat emerged on the other side into the calmer, deep green waters of the river, Kate relaxed.
‘I had no idea how busy it would be in the cove at this time of year. The beach was rammed yesterday, when I went to get a coffee at the little shop.’
Anna smirked, flicking a glance at Mollie, who was occupied learning to steer the boat under Oliver’s direction.
‘You seem to spend rather a lot of time down that end of town lately. Hoping to bump into someone?’
Heat flooded Kate’s cheeks, and she put a hand to one of them. ‘Stop it!’
‘Sorry.’
‘You don’t look it!’
Anna scooted a bit nearer. ‘He can’t keep his eyes off you, Kate.’ She spoke softly. ‘Surely even you have noticed.’
Of course she had. It was just that she didn’t want to believe it, in case it was all her own imagination messing with her, encouraging her to dream. Besides, she hadn’t seen or heard from Dev in what felt like for ever.
‘He’s never given any indication of… anything.’
Anna patted her on the arm and turned to look upriver.
‘There’s Theo! Hey, Theo!!!’ Mollie waved frantically as she dashed to the side of the boat, and conscious her heart had done a fast lap around her chest, Kate avoided Anna’s eye as she oh-so-casually turned her head to look behind them.
Dev’s boat was a sleeker, speedier model than Oliver’s but with the six knots limit, he was unlikely to catch them up, and she tried to ease the combination of trepidation and excitement gripping her throat. That gave her approximately seven minutes to get her act together.
Grateful Dougal had taken a seat beside her, Kate put an arm around his comforting body, tongue lolling as he faced the front of the boat, the breeze caressing his ear tips and ruffling his golden coat.
They had almost unloaded everything by the time Dev’s boat drifted slowly up against the mooring and Kate – whose preference would have been for watching him secure the ropes – concentrated instead on ferrying bags to the picnic tables by the water’s edge.
It wasn’t yet high tide, but the clear water lapped against the lawn. The sun was fully on the sheltered creek, and a soft breeze teased the treetops, barely stirring the long grasses at the end of the inlet by the little bridge.
The distant chug of boats drifted over as they passed by, heading up and down river, and the sea birds’ cries as they soared overhead mingled with the clucking of chickens from somewhere behind the house and the sound of laughter filtering out through the open windows of the conservatory.
‘Hey.’
Kate willed her heart to stop its foolish pattering and turned a warm smile on Dev. ‘Hey. You made it, then.’
He said nothing for a moment, his eyes raking her features, and she almost held her breath. He’d opted for a fitted polo shirt and tailored shorts today which, with his lightly tanned skin, looked rather fetching.
‘You look…’ He cleared his throat. ‘Well. Good holiday?’
‘Yes, thanks. Lots of sun and chillout time. How’ve you been?’
Dev didn’t reply, his gaze locked with hers, and Kate clasped her hands to prevent them from reaching out to straighten his collar, which was tucked under on one side.
‘Dev?’
He gave a visible start. ‘Sorry. There was a minor crisis up on one of the farms near Lerryn yesterday. It looked like it would be a whole day job today, but we managed to sort it quickly.’
‘Dad!’ Theo dashed over, grabbing Dev’s hand and tugging. ‘Come look at the pretty kittens. Can we get one, Dad? Can we?’
Kate drew in a slow breath as they walked over to a basket on the lawn, turning her attention to emptying one of the bags. It held far less distraction than standing close to Dev, listening to the now familiar growl of his voice, which no longer sounded grumpy but warm instead, but oh how filled with delight she was to finally see him again!
The afternoon passed in leisurely pleasure, with Mollie and Theo paddling in the sandy-floored shallows, the former towing a small dinghy for a while, with Theo attempting to use the paddles to steer. Matt had fired up a vast barbecue outside the studio, and before long he and Anna had placed a feast on a trestle table which, along with the salads, fries and crusty rolls brought over by Kate, were soon devoured.
Gemma had done her best to fry some onions for the hot dogs, and some of them were close to edible. Mollie and Theo tucked into theirs with relish regardless, and once the meal was over, the ladies took a lounger each as the men declared they had ‘business’ to discuss and disappeared inside the house.
‘Watching the Test results, more like,’ Gemma murmured, eyes closed.
‘Gemma’s very interested in your grandfather’s well-being,’ Kate said with a smile as she followed Dev out onto the deck later.
Dusk had begun to fall, and Oliver and Matt were busy lighting lamps hanging from hooks outside the studio. There were strings of white lights suspended between the deck uprights too, and it all cast a warm glow over the tranquil scene, moths fluttering to and fro and the occasional hoot of owls in the treetops.
Mollie and Theo were sitting on the jetty, their legs dangling over the water, which had slowly begun to recede. Every now and then the little boy’s piping voice or Mollie’s giggles would drift upwards on the still night air.
‘They met when she came to Polkerran last year and have formed quite a bond.’ He sent Kate an amused look in the fading light. ‘The ladies have always seemed drawn to him for some reason.’
It didn’t seem the right moment to point out how drawn this particular lady was to Ryther’s grandson, and Kate turned back to the wooden railing, her hands resting where the residual warmth from the sun’s rays lingered.
‘Kate,’ the word was almost a whisper, but with her senses on high alert, her skin tingled as she became aware of Dev moving closer, his arm almost touching hers. His gaze remained on the children, and she drew in a short breath and focused on Mollie. Surely it would help her be less aware of Dev’s proximity…
‘Kate,’ he said again.
‘Yes?’ she murmured in response.
‘I missed you. Missed talking to you.’
There was silence for a moment as Kate’s heart swelled with delight.
Then, he continued, speaking softly. ‘It’s said the Devonshire men only have one grand passion in their lives, one eternal love.’
Kate held her breath.
‘Sadly, there’s a family history of it not being the person they marry.’
A laugh rose up and caught in Kate’s throat.
‘Will you – I mean, would you…’ Dev broke off, and Kate turned swiftly around, eyes scanning his face, shadowed in the dim light.
He ran a hand around the back of his neck, as she’d become accustomed to seeing him do, but she waited.
‘Would you like – I mean you and Mollie, of course—’
‘Yes, of course,’ she interjected, then bit her lip. ‘Sorry. You were saying?’
He edged slightly closer, casting a quick look at the jetty, then fastening his blue-grey gaze on her. ‘I mean, we don’t need to eat. We’ve been eating all day. I don’t suppose you’re hungry at all, but…’ He stopped and swallowed visibly, and Kate summoned all her will power not to speak.
It failed her.
‘Kids are always hungry. Molls and Theo are bound to want something.’
‘Yes, yes,’ Dev nodded firmly. ‘Good point. Well made. So, would you—’
‘Time to light the candles!’
Matt appeared at the top of the steps from the lawn, Oliver on his heels, as Dev took a step back, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Glancing over the railing, she saw Mollie herding Theo towards the steps, and although her heart refused to stop pounding, she felt strangely elated, as Matt and Oliver disappeared inside the house, smiling warmly at Dev as they waited for the youngsters to appear.
‘It looks like they’re about to prove us right.’
Kate fled to the bathroom once inside, staring at her wide-eyed reflection, then rubbing at a smudge on the side of her nose. When would this colour ever fade from her skin? Then, she puffed on a breath. Had Dev been about to invite her to dinner? At Harbourwatch, she assumed? This evening? She couldn’t eat another thing, but she wasn’t averse to feasting on his features…
Returning to the main living area, feeling no calmer, her eyes found Dev instantly, sitting on the arm of one of the sofas, Theo on his lap as they watched Matt light the candles on Gemma’s cake.
Once the song was over, the cake cut and those who still had room were tucking in, she took a glass of champagne from Oliver as he moved around the room with the bottle, then found Anna at her side.
‘I think you’ve caught a bit too much sun,’ she murmured, but Kate could hear the humour in her voice.
‘Stop it,’ she said quietly, putting a hand to her warm cheek.
‘Or perhaps I mean caught someone’s grand son?’ With a chuckle, Anna gave Kate a one-armed hug and headed over to sit beside Gemma, who rested a hand on the growing mound of the twins.
Should she go over to Dev? Theo was happily tucking into his cake, seated now between Oliver and Matt.
Her phone pinged and she fished it out of her pocket. Arabella Tremayne.
Opening the message, she sipped the champagne, but then she coughed, putting the glass aside and re-reading the words. She slipped out of the room into the conservatory, the phone to her ear, her mind racing as the call connected.
‘Arabella, hi. What’s so urgent—’
Two minutes later, Kate pocketed the phone, turning slowly and retracing her steps. Her mind had screeched to an unceremonious halt. What the hell was she going to do now ?