Chapter Thirty-Two
The One With the Lady in Red
Kate headed to Westerleigh when she finished work, surprised to find Dev there, talking to Matt and Anna. Before she had time to work herself into a state over the very sight of him, Oliver joined them, bringing Bella too.
Anna urged everyone over to the table, but despite her protests, Oliver wouldn’t let her carry the tray over, insisting there were plenty of hands to do that.
Matt steered his sister into a chair and sat beside her, as if half expecting her to leap out of her seat, and Kate grinned as Bella placed a plate of biscuits on the table.
‘This is killing you, isn’t it?’
Anna slumped back in her seat, a hand on her growing bump. ‘I’ve got months to go yet. I can’t stop doing things!’
‘No, but you don’t have to do everything,’ Matt cautioned as Oliver carried over a tray of coffee and some mugs, followed by Dev with the sugar and milk.
‘I still don’t get who dobbed us in to the newspaper.’ Kate helped herself to coffee from the pot.
‘You say only you and Dev knew what had happened – other than the Tremaynes? Surely it was one of them?’
‘We think it was probably Alex.’ Kate glanced at Dev, then away before she fell into the trap of simply staring at him.
‘I can’t believe he’s still up to his old tricks,’ Bella added, stirring sugar into her tea.
‘I forget you knew him.’ Anna grimaced.
Bella pulled a face. ‘Wish I could!’
They mulled over possible ways to mitigate the crisis, but there really was only one option. With barely a fortnight to go, there was no choice but to shut the fayre down. Kate had exhausted every possible venue before the manor had been offered.
‘All the banners state where it will be held too.’
Bella’s amber eyes were on fire, her hands gripping the table, and she muttered an expletive. ‘Sorry, Kate, truly. I wish there was something I could do other than offer platitudes.’
‘We all do,’ Oliver added. ‘I take full responsibility, Kate.’
‘You’ll have to share it with me, then,’ Matt chipped in, dunking a biscuit in his tea.
Kate shook her head. ‘No, none of you are to blame. This is down to one person only.’ She sank back in her seat, conscious of Dev’s sympathetic look as he studied her across the table. ‘I need to work out the best way to tell those involved before the next edition of the paper comes out on Tuesday.’
Friday morning was spent – in amongst Kate’s daily tasks – doing as she’d said, notifying people, apologising profusely and being vague about the loss of the venue. This wasn’t Arabella Tremayne’s fault either, and she didn’t deserve to take the flack for her horrid son.
Kate ended the call with Phoenix, who’d taken on the job of contacting all the artists who’d expected to exhibit at the fayre. She’d been full of sympathy and adamant the art trail could still take place, as it was along the lines of a treasure hunt around the cove, not confined to one place.
Scrolling down her list, Kate ticked off the food and drink vendors, which Anna had taken responsibility for contacting. She was about to call the chap who organised the Morris dancing group, who’d also volunteered to man the barbecue, when her mobile rang.
It was her contact at the charity shop. Ten minutes later, the call ended, and as soon as lunch time came around, she drove over to Port Wenneth to complete matters.
The next morning, she stood in the queue at the post office inside the Spar, waiting to send off a parcel, when Old Patrick came in.
‘Wasson, my lovely?’ he greeted her, and Kate smiled, hugging the parcel to her chest as she waited in line.
‘I’m okay, Pat, thank you. How’s things with you?’
‘Nay so bad, young’un.’ Pat picked up a newspaper, folding it and tucking it under his arm, but then something caught his eye outside, and he headed for the till. ‘Best be gettin’ on. Cleggie’s out there on that scooter agin. Be the death of her, silly old mare.’
Kate hid her smile as she shuffled closer to the post office counter. Mrs Clegg was indeed rolling along the harbour front with gay abandon on her wheels, visitors leaping out of the way as she brandished one of her sticks as though a participant in the two-thirty race at Epsom Downs. And there, thundering along behind her, was Mrs Lovelace.
On Saturday afternoon, there was an open day at the private yacht club, which took place annually to raise funds for the RNLI. There would be games for the kids and food and drink on offer, and as Kate had promised Anna she’d come along with Mollie, she got ready, desperately trying not to think about whether Dev would be there with Theo.
‘Molls? Are you ready?’
Kate checked her large tote and, satisfied she had everything, slung it over her shoulder, walking over to close the doors overlooking the terrace.
It was a stunning August day and a bright sun shone down on the pots Kate had so carefully planted out and tended. Their blooms were spilling over now in abundant trails. She’d need to water them later.
Returning to the island, she scooped up her keys.
‘Molls!’ she called up the stairs.
‘Okay, okay. Geez!’
Skipping down the stairs, Mollie rolled her eyes at Kate. ‘Anyone would think you were keen to see someone.’
Not even trying to hide her smirk, she headed for the hall, and Kate huffed on a breath. It was pointless trying not to think about Dev, so she wasn’t even going to attempt it.
‘I just hate being late, that’s all,’ she admonished as she followed Mollie down the driveway.
‘Hard to turn up late when it’s an open house.’
Quashing the urge to snap back with a very juvenile, ‘what ever ,’ Kate hurried to catch up with Mollie’s quick pace.
Polkerran continued to heave with visitors, and the long spell of dry weather seemed to bring more people by the day. The shops and businesses were booming and making the most of it. They needed to earn as much as they could at times like this to balance the dead winter months.
Once they’d arrived at the juniors sailing club, Mollie headed off to join her school mates on one of the jetties, munching on sweets or crisps, and Kate willed herself not to look around for Dev.
As it was, the initial moment of peace was soon over. It was surprising how many people now knew Kate, considering the short time she’d lived in the cove, as she gave out the same evasive answer on the fate of the fayre again and again.
‘There you are!’
Kate swung around to greet Anna, giving her a hug and admiring her noticeable bump. ‘Gosh, for five months…’
‘I know,’ Anna shook her head. ‘Goodness knows what size I’ll be by December!’
‘Is Bella coming over?’
‘No. We did ask her, but she said she had to go up to London this weekend, so left yesterday morning.’ Uncertainty filled Anna’s features.
‘What’s up? You don’t think she’s had enough of the cove? She did seem wound up by the mention of Alex the other day.’
‘I hope not. It’s taken so much pressure off Oliver.’
Kate didn’t have chance to say any more, as Nicki came over.
‘Anna, you look more blooming every day, and Kate, you look stunning.’
‘Oh, er, thanks.’ Kate glanced down at her tailored pin-stripe shorts and Skechers. ‘Not my most glam look.’
Nicki chuckled, tucking her arm through Anna’s as they made their way across the grass to the refreshment tables set up opposite the water.
‘I meant overall. Nice to see you sticking with the less formal hair.’
‘And this…’ Anna briefly touched the linen of Kate’s sleeveless top. ‘I’m not used to seeing you in dark red. Is it because it reminds you of someone?’
Kate’s mouth opened to protest, well aware of Anna and Nicki’s amusement, but then she spotted Dev by the water. He must have been crouched down by Theo, but had now straightened and he turned and his gaze met hers over the heads of the people spilling across the lawn.
Closing her mouth with a snap, she swallowed fast on rising emotion, and Anna looked over her shoulder.
‘Ah. Talk of the devil. Let’s go and say hi.’
‘No! I mean, I can’t…’
Anna ignored her, tugging Kate by the hand as they navigated their way to where Dev remained standing, Theo sitting at a long table with several other little ones.
‘Hey.’ Dev’s smile was warm, and Kate’s heart smiled back, much to her consternation.
‘Hi, and hi, Theo. How are you?’
The little boy glanced over his shoulder, rapt with attention as he turned back to watch Tommy the Boat’s demonstration. ‘We’re making knots.’
‘He’s been talking for days about having a go. I think I’m surplus to requirements.’
‘I know the feeling. I didn’t see Molls for dust the moment we got here. Oh.’ Kate looked to her left. ‘Where did Anna go?’
‘Was she here?’ Dev’s brow furrowed as they both scanned the growing throng. ‘I spy Oliver, but then he’s never hard to miss over a crowd.’
Nor are you, you’re almost as tall…
‘How’s it going with the cancellations.’
Kate pulled a face. ‘Well, in the circumstances. Most people are understanding, even if they’re disappointed. There have been a few complaints, but…’ She shrugged. ‘I hate giving up on it. I feel such a failure, that I’ve let everyone down.’
‘Kate.’ Dev’s grey-blue eyes held a warmth she longed for, voice lowered. ‘You could never let anyone down. This isn’t your fault, or mine. It’s not even Matt’s or Oliver’s. We all know who’s to blame for the whole debacle. You,’ he added, placing a firm hand on her bare arm to give it a gentle squeeze before releasing her, ‘are amazing.’
Words had all but fled Kate’s brain, but Dev seemed perfectly at ease, turning back to answer Theo’s sudden call. And why wouldn’t he? He wasn’t madly in love.
What she’d said the other day, about never having truly experienced the condition, could hardly have been more evidenced. The crush, the lust that often runs through the veins when young had beguiled her into believing herself in love. Finally, she comprehended its fickle sensations, and the total discordancy with how she now felt.
Flustered, Kate made her escape, joining Nicki and Hamish at the gin stand.
‘Where are Liam and Jason?’
‘Queuing up for the kayaks.’ Nicki pointed to where there was a line of children of various ages, unsurprised to see Mollie and her friend, Freya, also hovering.
Tommy the Boat and Peggy, who lived in Polwelyn, were doing their best to keep them in order, the latter walking along and handing over suitably sized life jackets.
‘Kate.’
Heart pummelling her chest again, she turned around.
Dev didn’t look quite so content as earlier, his phone gripped in his hand.
‘Can I have a quick word?’
‘I… er, yes, of course.’
She ignored Nicki’s knowing look as they walked away.
‘What’s up?’
‘Just had a call,’ Dev spoke quietly, fetching up at the far end of the lawn, near to the entrance, ‘from Arabella Tremayne. Said she tried your phone, but it went to voicemail.’
Kate’s forehead furrowed. ‘Well, she can’t have anything else bad to tell us. Can she?’ Her troubled gaze met Dev’s.
‘She wants to meet. Now. Says it’s urgent. At least,’ Dev shrugged, ‘will you come? She asked for both of us.’
‘Oh. But what about—’
‘I saw Anna on the way to find you. She’s keeping an eye on Theo for me. I’m sure Nicki will watch out for Mollie.’
‘Yes, of course. Where does she want to meet?’
‘At Tremayne Manor.’