Chapter Thirty-Six
The One With the Bitter Sweet Symphony
Kate was awash with sorrow, for both Ryther and Meg. She drew in a short breath. She should never have asked him to explain. She cast a quick look across at Dev, expecting to see disapproval, but although he frowned, he addressed his grandfather.
‘What about Westerleigh?’
Ryther cleared his throat. ‘I made it over to Meg, through the holding company. She did not wish to take it, and the negotiations went on for some time through solicitors, but eventually, she acceded. She and Westerleigh were emotionally bound. I could sense it, and I had to do everything I could to ensure they were not parted.’
‘So what stirred you to return to the cove, Grandy?’
Ryther said nothing for a moment, but his shoulders sagged as he rested against the cushions. Weariness consumed his features, and Kate’s heart went out to him. Not knowing if it was right or not, she got up and sat beside him, taking his hand, and he squeezed hers lightly, his gaze fixed on his grandson.
‘I discovered Meg was in a hospice, suffering from that evil disease, Alzheimer’s.’ Ryther drew in a long breath. ‘I took a risk, ventured back to Cornwall. To Bodmin. I tried three times to walk through the door to her room, but failed. I came back here,’ he waved a hand in the air, ‘to the cove. Stood on the beach below this house for ages, staring across at the cottage, remembering the happiest days of my life. So short, so intense, but never forgotten. They… Meg left an indelible mark.’
He pressed a hand to his chest, then cleared his throat.
‘The next day, I visited her. They warned me she wouldn’t know me, but little did they comprehend it was to my advantage. I sat there for hours, staring at our clasped hands, marked by the passage of time. And I talked. I told her how much I still loved her, that I’d never stopped and wished she could have forgiven me. She drifted in and out of slumber, but then all of a sudden, she roused up and fixed me with a stare. I swear,’ his voice wobbled, ‘I am certain she knew me, for the brief moment in time, but then she became agitated. I called a nurse, and they advised me to leave, but as I reached the door, Meg spoke. “Follow the shells,” she said, holding one out to me. I took it from her as her eyes closed. She said no more, and I left.’
‘Oh, my goodness.’ Emotion gripped Kate’s throat and she fought to hold back tears. ‘Ryther, I’m so very sorry.’
His head drooped as a faint sound came from the other sofa, and Kate glanced over at Dev. His mouth was taut with restraint as, shoulders rigid, he clasped his hands tightly in his lap.
‘You never mentioned this to me before, Grandy.’ His voice crackled with emotion, and Kate sent him a sympathetic look, wishing she could hold both their hands at the same time.
Ryther’s eyes had closed, but he still held firmly to Kate’s hand, and she rested her other one on top.
‘And then, Meg passed away, and there was nothing to prevent me returning to Polkerran. I attended her funeral – not that anyone knew – and a few weeks later, I summoned the courage to visit the grave. It broke my heart anew, that we were never reconciled, but I was able to return the shell she gave me, pressing it into the fresh soil there. Now I go every year on her birthday.’ He opened his eyes to meet Kate’s, which were damp with unshed tears. ‘As I suspect you discovered recently.’
‘But I don’t understand. Did she not explain her intransience over her rigid belief in a child being with its parents? She didn’t have children of her own, as far as I know. It seems at variance with the gentle, kind woman Anna knew her to be.’
Ryther shrugged. ‘It is a mystery I will never have an answer to. And Meg was kind and gentle. That much I can confirm.’ He sat forward, then straightened his shoulders. ‘It feels good to have spoken of it after all this time. Thank you both for bearing with an old man’s waffling.’
‘Not at all,’ Kate reassured him.
‘I wish you’d felt you could talk about it to me sooner, Grandy. I hate to think of you weighed down by such a sad secret.’
‘Well, it is between the three of us, and there let it remain.’
‘Would you—’ Kate hesitated, glancing briefly at Dev. ‘Would you allow me to share this with Anna? Meg treated her as the child she never had. She may know more.’
Ryther drew in a slow, meditative breath before his keen gaze moved between his grandson and Kate. Then, he inclined his head.
‘If you wish, though I will not raise my hopes. Now,’ he picked up his glass and topped it up with sherry, ‘enough on the past. Cheer me up with something more encouraging. What brought you to the cove, my dear?’
With both Devonshire men’s keen eyes on her, Kate fidgeted in her seat.
‘A fresh start.’ She hesitated, then decided to address the elder gentleman, as he had asked the question. So what if Dev had heard it before. ‘There’s a strange almost symmetry. I had stuck with a very unhappy marriage for far too long, mainly for my daughter’s sake, thinking it was the right thing to do. The only thing to do. That escape would come once she was grown up.’ For a second, the former sadness consumed Kate, but she shook it off. ‘When I see how happy Mollie now is, I regret not doing it sooner.’
‘And you, Kate?’ Ryther probed. ‘Are you happy?’
Using every possible restraint, Kate managed not to instinctively look across at Dev. ‘Let’s just say, I’m getting there. It took me some time to realise I’ve been alone most of my married life.’
‘So have I,’ Dev interjected, then blinked as though he’d surprised himself in saying it.
Kate sat back in her seat, hands in her lap again.
Ryther nodded slowly. ‘I see that is all you are prepared to say. For now.’
‘Look, I’d best go.’ Kate got up, desperate for air.
Ryther got to his feet slowly, and she placed a kiss on his cheek.
‘Thank you for inviting me in.’
To her surprise, however, Ryther gripped both her hands in his, his eyes raking her face, then fastening on her own curious gaze.
‘I gave up something so precious because I did not have your courage, Kate. I should have fought harder.’
Reflecting that she hadn’t felt particularly brave, Kate merely squeezed his hands gently and he released her.
‘Good night, Ryther. I’ll see you tomorrow?’
‘You most certainly will, my dear.’
‘I’ll see you out,’ Dev offered, but Kate paled.
The last thing she needed was a moment alone with him!
‘I’m fine,’ she waved a hand and shot towards the door. ‘Say good night to Theo for me.’
Tugging open the heavy door, Kate inhaled deeply. Dusk had begun its gentle enveloping of all in its path, and the breeze from earlier had stilled. Not a breath of air moved, and for a second, she hesitated on the top step, then froze as she heard footsteps behind her.
The traitorous thing in her chest bounced around as though going for gold in the trampoline, and she looked round as Dev joined her.
‘That was intense.’
Kate couldn’t help but laugh gently at his perplexed expression.
‘I must admit, I wasn’t expecting it, but I feel so sad for them both.’ Kate became thoughtful. ‘I’m sure Anna will know more. She’s been digging through a box of letters and photos belonging to Meg. I wonder if she’d be willing to part with one, for your grandad. I suspect he’d love to have a picture of Meg from back then?’
Dev didn’t respond and Kate turned away, ready to escape, but then he stirred.
‘It’s a good idea. Thank you, Kate, for being so… kind towards him. Not judging him.’
She stared up at Dev in the light streaming in through the doorway. ‘None of us can help falling in love. Sometimes, Fate isn’t as kind as we’d like.’
Okay, now she did need to leave, before she said something stupid!
Dev, however, stayed her with his hand.
‘It was so manic earlier, I didn’t get chance to say what a superb job you’ve done. Everywhere looks fantastic up at the manor. I’m sure it’s going to be a roaring success.’
‘Thank you,’ she said, though it came out as a whisper, as though love had stolen her voice, holding it hostage.
‘I think it’s I – or the whole cove – who should thank you , Kate. If not for your vision, tenacity and drive…’ He shrugged endearingly, shoving his hands into his pockets, and emotion caught in her throat.
Great. That will really help the vocal expression.
Kate essayed clearing it. ‘Team effort,’ she managed to croak, but before she turned to take the steps down to the driveway, she impulsively reached up to press a kiss on Dev’s cheek.
Except Dev – for whatever reason – chose at that very moment, to turn his head.
As his lips brushed against hers, Kate drew in a sharp breath, but then the pressure of his mouth became firmer, albeit briefly, before he stepped back.
‘I’m not going to say I’m sorry.’
Kate’s eyes scanned his in the fading light.
‘Good,’ she spoke softly.
Then, as Theo could be heard calling along the hallway to his dad, she shot down the steps with no regard for her natural clumsiness and scooted out of the driveway without looking back, pressing two fingers to her mouth as she walked as fast as she could up the lane.
‘You’re too old to be feeling all this… stuff !’ she exclaimed breathlessly as she reached the top of the slope where the lane levelled out.
Except deep down, Kate knew that she wasn’t, and the slightest hint at Dev possibly having feelings in return was almost too much to cope with.
Think about the fayre, think about the fayre , her mind scolded as she headed along the lane into the village.
In any other direction, even more heartbreak lay.
Kate woke early to another beautiful morning, and walking out onto the terrace in her nightclothes, she could feel the warmth building already. The sky and sea were an intense blue and merged on the horizon, seeming as one.
Two trawlers headed out over gentle crests of waves towards the distant fishing grounds, trailing flurries of white behind them. A scattering of diamonds glittered over the surface of the undulating water, and Kate’s gaze moved to the right.
Although she couldn’t see Harbourwatch from the terrace, she knew its exact location by direction, and as her thoughts on falling asleep and on waking were immediately with one of its occupants, she had no difficulty now in picturing Dev, having breakfast with Theo and Ryther, and wishing she was there too.
‘Perhaps not dressed like this,’ she mused, heading inside to shower. Then she’d give Mollie a prod and get ready, with every intention of being up at the manor long before anyone else arrived.
Forty-five minutes later, having changed her mind three times on how to wear her hair and leaving behind a jumble of discarded clothing, Kate hurried down the stairs.
‘I’m off, Molls. Send me a message when you’re on your way.’
Mollie waved a hand, her gaze not moving from her iPad as she tucked into cereal, and Kate shot down the lane, checking her phone. No messages. That was something.
Or was it? It was a relief nothing relating to today had come in, but wasn’t she hoping to hear from Dev? What about that brief kiss? Was she overthinking what, in reality, was pure coincidence, accidental, a happenstance?
‘Or serendipity…’ she murmured on reaching the bridge, but then a message pinged and she studied her phone. It was Anna, with whom she’d had a long chat the previous night about Meg.
I’ve had a word with Oliver. I’ll see if I can catch Ryther today.
There’s something he needs to know.
Puzzled, Kate leaned on the parapet for a moment. What could this possibly have to do with Oliver? Then, she put it aside to take in the view, letting the scene wash over her as she mentally reviewed her to-do list for the day.
It was a peaceful scene this early, with very few people about beyond some activity on the harbour. The little red-and-white passenger ferry bobbed by its mooring, several seagulls sat on the railings in a line, as though waiting for the next bus, and a small electric truck pulled up by the chippy to empty the bins ready for another busy day in the cove.
Layers of heat embraced the village, even the birds seemed to wheel more slowly overhead, their cries strangely muted, and relieved she’d opted for tying up her hair, Kate adjusted her sunglasses and set off for the manor.
By nine o’clock, the stalls were brimming with goods and the vendors were exhausted, fanning themselves with anything that came to hand and forming a constant queue at the water coolers. Kate made her way around, chatting to everyone and taking photos of the displays ready to share on socials later.
She checked there were plenty of cushions in the story-telling tent, then joined a wilting Mrs Tremayne for a cup of tea, before heading back to wait for Mollie.
Soon, people were pouring through the gate. Kate went to provide back-up on the entrance stand, greeting and directing and hugging Anna when she arrived with Oliver in tow.
‘Who’s that?’ Anna nodded back over at Chloe, busy selling raffle tickets. ‘She looks sort of familiar.’
‘She’s the manager’s PA at the hotel. I—’
‘Kate, Kate, we’re here!’ Theo’s piping voice could be heard, but Kate couldn’t see him beyond the people closer in the queue until her gaze met Dev’s across the jostling heads.
‘I’ll catch you later.’ Anna moved away with a smile, and breath catching in her throat, Kate dragged her eyes away and tried to focus on smiling as she handed out Phoenix’s maps, and pointed out where the loos were and the meeting point for lost children.
Then, they were at the front, and as Dev bought some raffle tickets, Theo came to hug her.
‘I’m so ’cited. I was awake all night.’
‘Some of the night, Teds.’ Dev ruffled Theo’s hair as they moved along the line.
She held out a map to him. ‘Not sure you need this,’ she managed to say. Then, she looked around. ‘Where’s your grandfather?’
‘He’ll be down later.’
‘Grandy’s waiting for Mummy’s train!’ Theo beamed at Kate as her heart sank.
‘Last-minute thing.’ Dev glanced over his shoulder. ‘We’re holding up the queue. Look, I really need to tell you something. Catch you later?’
Kate nodded, feckless strands of hope sneaking around her heart.
With that, they were gone, Theo charging across the lawn to where a young man dressed as a puffin sat, making balloon animals, Dev in his wake.