Chapter Six
A hint of exotic fragrance brought back heady memories Matt could never share with another soul: like being naked on a beach with Zennor, kissing the dusting of sand on the curve of her hip, and longing to stay in that moment forever and never grow a day older.
They’d both grown many days older, so all he could do was smile politely for the sake of appearances and say, ‘Hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.’
‘I didn’t expect to be here if I’m honest.’
It was a tone carefully cleansed of all emotion, unlike their previous meeting at the office. However, that gorgeous scent was another thing … it always reminded him of heat and exotic nights.
‘But – you are here,’ he dared.
She shrugged. ‘I decided that I’ve stayed away too long.’
‘Oh? You didn’t say that at your office.’ He didn’t dare ask if he’d had anything to do with her avoiding the club.
‘You didn’t say how involved you are in all this …’ She waved her hand at the scaffolding at the rear of the club, her gaze returning to his.
‘How do you know I am?’ he said, trying to sound mysterious and cool though he was as nervous as a teen inside.
‘Someone let slip.’
He bit back a curse. ‘I’m only project managing,’ he said, fudging the truth.
‘Even so, you’re giving your time for free.
’ Her tone might be neutral but did she realise her nostrils flared when she was speaking to him?
The hand not holding a glass was clenched at her side and betrayed her real feelings: tension in his presence and, perhaps, a determination to show he made her feel – nothing.
‘And someone is putting up the money. Rumours are flying about who it is.’
‘Are they?’ He laughed. ‘I got in contact while I was thinking of moving back. It felt like the right time and the place needs urgent renovation or it might have to close. I talked to Dawn and she said they’d like to rename the new function space after Grandad Harry.’
‘They do?’ Her eyebrows lifted and then she said, ‘I didn’t know that. That’s a nice gesture.’
‘No one knows,’ Matt said. ‘Apart from me, Mum and Dad and Dawn. And the chair and committee.’
‘It’s a wonder it isn’t all over Cornwall then,’ Zennor said with the wry half-smile that always reinforced the fact that she was far too cool and sassy for a tongue-tied surfer boy. Her lips parted as if she were thinking and she gave him a hard stare. ‘Are you paying for all of this?’
Matt sighed. ‘Has Dawn told you that too?’
‘No. You just did.’
Confronted with a direct question, Matt could no longer lie, especially not to Zennor.
‘Not the whole lot,’ he said, feeling awkward.
‘The club’s done a great job of fundraising already.
They needed a bit of help to get it over the line and I know Grandad would have wanted it to be the best it could.
The kids deserve it. And I’d appreciate it if you don’t pass my financial involvement on to anyone. ’
‘I wouldn’t,’ Zennor said firmly. Matt believed her. She might still loathe him, but he knew he could trust her with a secret. ‘Harry would be very pleased. And you’re right. The kids do deserve it.’
‘Thanks. I wanted to use some of his legacy to help,’ he said, sensing she was itching to leave.
‘Thanks for the email by the way,’ he said, referring to Roo’s message accepting the new tenancy agreement.
‘Before you go, I’d like to arrange a time to talk to you and Roo about a schedule of works for the office.
I want to try to minimise any disruption. ’
‘Disruption?’ Her face fell.
‘Well, hopefully not too much. You won’t have to move out or anything.’
‘We can’t move out. This is our busiest time of the year when most of the events are happening. We can’t have any disruption. I – we – have only agreed to the work because we can’t find new premises at the height of the season. The location suits us and we don’t want to have to move.’
‘It is a great location and, of course, I want to minimise any trouble to you. That’s why I want to liaise with you both to find out the best way of getting these repairs done.
These essential repairs,’ he added, trying to be as reassuring as he could.
‘I’d wait until a quieter time but I’m concerned that if we leave the place as it is, your insurance won’t cover you if something were to happen in the office.
But this isn’t the place to discuss business, so if I could call round soon as? Monday morning first thing OK?’
‘Monday? That is soon. I’ll have to ask Roo and see if we can fit you in. I – um – can I message you?’
‘Yes, please,’ he said neutrally. ‘Shall we exchange numbers now? I’ve got a new mobile.’
‘I suppose we’d better. I deleted your old one years ago.’
Matt hadn’t deleted Zennor’s, but he assumed she’d changed it from when he’d last been in contact before she was married.
They exchanged numbers and Matt added Zennor’s.
Her phone pinged. ‘It’s here,’ she said, opening the WhatsApp. ‘Oh, it says Veryan Developments.’
‘Yes, that’s the company name.’ He held up his screen. ‘You’re Kernow Entz.’
She frowned but then nodded with pursed lips. ‘Great. Good. So, I’ll be in touch as soon as possible.’
‘I’d appreciate it.’
‘See you – when I see you.’
Later that evening, he spotted her over by the barbecue. At some point since she’d left him, she’d piled her curls up with the claw clips she’d always used when she went surfing. The scoop back of her sundress revealed the little tat of a starfish she’d had done after a music festival.
Matt remembered kissing it as she lay on her stomach in the dunes after they’d had sex and the feeling of profound happiness he’d felt afterwards.
They were just teenagers at the time. How grown-up they were now.
How adult and burdened with worries. How free to make their own choices, and yet not free at all.
Just as you were handed the agency to live your life your way, you took on the realisation of how your choices affected those you loved.
You weren’t ever free to make your own decisions. Not without consequences …
As for any idea that Zennor might have mellowed towards him, that had been blown to smithereens. She hadn’t forgotten and she certainly was never going to forgive him.