Chapter 16
Beth
Beth found herself gravitating towards the open fireplace as soon as she stepped inside the Jolly Pirate. The large pub was busy hosting Sunday dinner, the roasting meat wafting through the air, taking over any beer-infused scent. A large Jolly Roger flag behind the long bar caught her eye, then some pictures on the wall of ships and pirates. She could just imagine how the old tavern once served such buccaneers.
Looking around, one of the ladies she noticed first was the elderly woman she’d met on a bench, Luna.
‘Hello, love. Heard you moved into the harbour.’
Did everyone know her business? It was starting to look that way.
‘Only for a while.’
Those prying eyes of Luna’s were boring into her soul once more. It was as if she could read each and every fleeting thought.
Luna peered into the pram, and Archie seemed to smile. Beth was never quite sure if he was happy when he made that face or just had wind. Luna’s mouth twitched to one side. ‘Is that right?’ she said to him, making Beth frown.
A man around the same age as Luna approached. At least his slate-blue eyes held friendly vibes, unlike Luna’s stare, which spoke of a million questions and answers.
‘Hello, Beth, right?’ He didn’t wait for a reply. ‘I’m Jed Moore. Sophie’s grandfather. You ever need anything, my girl, you come see me.’ One hand pointed at the main doors while the other rubbed over his grey wiry beard. ‘Got me a couple of vessels out there. You want to blow away the cobwebs anytime, I’ll take you out to sea. Does wonders for a soul.’
Do I need cobwebs blown away? Do I look that ill? They all know about me, don’t they?
Beth told herself off for the bout of paranoia. She had to stop thinking everyone she passed on the street knew she had left Archie on Spencer’s doorstep. Would the guilt ever go away? She tried for some sort of neutral expression. Anything to hide how she really felt, although she was still sure the old lady could read her mind.
‘You want a drink, my girl?’ asked Jed, thumbing to the bar.
‘Spencer’s already getting me one, but thank you.’
He bobbed his head. ‘So, how you finding Port Berry so far?’
‘I’ve not been out and about that much yet, but from what I’ve seen, I love the harbour the most.’
Jed stood proud as though he owned the lot and she’d just complimented his land. ‘Best part of Cornwall.’ He winked, placing a finger lightly over his lips. ‘Shh! Don’t tell everyone I said that. Myrtle over there comes from next door.’
‘He means Penzance,’ said Luna.
Beth followed his eyes to see the elderly woman in question sitting in the corner, supping a pint of stout.
‘Did you both grow up here?’ she asked, thinking small talk would take her mind off Luna, who had placed her finger in Archie’s palm.
‘Yep,’ replied Jed. ‘All us lot from the Hub did. I come from a long line of fishermen, and Luna’s family have always had the newsagents along here for as far back as I can remember.’
‘The one called the Treasure Chest?’
‘That’s right, love. Pop in whenever you like. My daughter does the tarot in there sometimes. You just have to wait your turn.’
Beth looked at Jed to see if that was a joke, but apparently not.
‘Speaking of family,’ added Luna. ‘Here’s my granddaughter. Here, Alice. Come say hello to Beth and Archie.’
Beth smiled at the tall slim woman heading over. ‘Hiya, we met at the Hub.’
Alice lightly touched Beth’s shoulder. ‘Yes, I remember. I’m glad you’re joining our meetings. This is what happens when you help out at the Hub. One minute you’re in there handing over a cuppa to someone who has just popped in for a chat, the next, you’re breaking bread with the team.’
‘It was nice helping out. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy it.’
‘Gets you like that,’ said Jed.
Alice waved over a well-built man in his forties. ‘Have you met Will yet? He’s part of the team. Ginny’s other half.’
‘I would say better half, but she’d argue that,’ joked Will, grinning at Beth before poking his nose in the pram.
Beth was surprised at how well Archie was taking to so many strangers. Perhaps being dumped on one gave him the courage to face anyone. She had to move on from that.
‘Nice to meet you, Will. I hear you’re going to be a dad soon.’
His dark eyes filled with delight. ‘Can’t wait. We’re so busy this year, trying to get a tearoom and a farmhouse ready before the little one arrives. I’m trying for some sort of organization.’
‘Will’s ex-navy, so he knows how to be organized,’ said Alice.
Will chuckled. ‘I won’t lie. I do feel better when everything is in place.’
Beth remembered when her life held a form of structure and routine. She thought it best to leave Will to find out for himself how that would go out the window once his baby was born. Although, looking at him, for some reason he looked the capable type, unlike her, who had fallen apart at the first signs of stress.
Jan had told her not to be hard on herself, but it was difficult to remember sometimes, and so much easier to simply lay blame.
Spencer finally came back with some drinks. He handed Beth an orange juice, checked on Archie, then greeted his friends. ‘We sitting down or what?’
Beth followed them over to the restaurant part of the pub, where they had secured a long table.
Spencer grinned, pulling out a chair for her, then motioned with his head to the man he’d placed her next to. ‘This is Matt, Sophie’s partner.’
Matt smiled. ‘Have they mentioned I was the first guest at the Hub yet? They tell everyone.’
‘He’s the celebrity around here,’ called Alice, moving to sit near Will and Ginny.
Matt shook his head. ‘Ignore her. So, Sophie tells me you did a shift already. You’re game.’
What with Matt’s London accent and Will’s Welsh one, Beth stopped feeling like an outsider. ‘I even got an idea for something to be added to the food bank.’ She figured it was best to throw her idea out there, as it seemed the team were all seated at the table now.
‘Ooh, what’s that?’ asked Sophie, leaning over Matt.
She looked to Spencer, wondering if he might like to take over, but he gave her the nod to continue. ‘A baby bank.’
‘What’s that exactly?’ asked Will.
‘I know,’ said Lottie. ‘People donate baby items instead of food. I mean they can donate food too, but unlike our food bank, there would be clothes and even soft furnishings. Things people might take to the charity shop.’
‘Or throw away,’ said Ginny.
An athletic man with dark hair and the most piercing blue eyes Beth had ever seen placed a plate of food in front of her. ‘You get fed first, as you’re new.’ He had a handsome smile. ‘I’m Robson. Good to meet you, Beth.’
Ginny threw her hand in the air. ‘I should get fed next, as I’m eating for two.’
Everyone laughed as the pub staff started to hand out dinners.
Beth leaned closer to Spencer, who was twisted to one side, hand inside the pram. ‘Your friends are so lovely.’
He glanced her way with smiling eyes. ‘Yep, and they’re your mates now as well.’
She slid his arm away from Archie, telling him to eat his dinner before it got cold.
‘When do you want to make a start on the baby bank?’ asked Samuel, raising his fork Beth’s way.
‘Oh, I wasn’t sure. Spencer suggested I mention it today, and I figured we’d brainstorm.’
‘All we need to talk about is advertising to the locals,’ said Sophie. ‘We’re so on board with this idea, Beth.’
Beth saw Spencer smiling out the corner of her eye. ‘Erm, I’m going to join a parent and baby group at the church hall. I was thinking I could ask there. See if I can find out how much need there is around here.’ She felt Spencer’s arm press against hers, but she daren’t turn his way for fear of smiling too widely. She was already starting to feel a bit goofy around him, the last thing she needed was to show that in front of his friends.
‘Great idea,’ said Robson, finally sitting down.
‘If we end up with any big items, we can store them in HQ,’ said Samuel, making Lottie laugh. ‘What?’ he asked her.
‘You and your HQ.’ She looked down the table at Beth. ‘He always worked from home, but then Ginny wanted to sell the flat above her café, so this one here snatched her arm off. I’ve never known someone to love their office so much.’
Samuel frowned, clearly amused. ‘It was needed.’ He glanced at Beth. ‘I have more staff now.’
Sophie laughed. ‘Yeah, Sam just about hired half the county last year.’
‘I’m building the Les Powell Trust, and now we can add baby banks into the mix.’ Samuel raised a glass of water to Beth. ‘Here’s to our newest member of the Happy to Help Hub team, Beth Horton.’
Everyone raised their glass, and Beth blushed. She’d been in many meetings during her time as a teacher but none that made her cheeks flush.
Wow! They’ve really made me part of their community .
She felt a tad overwhelmed and told her eyes not to water. She wasn’t going to be emotional because she had so many people around her showing support. No, sir! Old Beth was in there somewhere, and she could blimming well come out and act normal. Glancing at each person in turn as they tucked into their Sunday roast, she pretended she was at a PTA, and just like that, she relaxed.