Chapter Thirty-Three
The wind had freshened so Zennor untied her hoodie from her waist and pulled it on. She shivered at the way she’d just been dismissed with a startling finality.
It had been a day of memories resurfacing and just as Zennor was trying to come to terms with her reaction, another one was triggered.
When she walked on to the Surf Club terrace, Trev was by the new glass balcony chatting to a shaven-headed guy in tight white trousers, a black silk shirt and Ray-Bans.
Trev had a glass of wine in his hand and was leaning towards the guy, giving him the full star treatment. At one point, Trev even guffawed and clapped him on the back.
Zennor felt as if a curtain had been lifted to reveal the past: the old Trev, in his element, when steering a deal.
The guy was positively basking in the attention and it was no wonder – Trev was an imposing figure and he had never looked more handsome.
People were bound to be drawn to him, and so his explanation for the waitress was perfectly feasible …
even so, Zennor had been troubled by it ever since he’d told her.
She could have walked away but she wanted to see if Trev would mention the youth theatre donation so she approached them, although her heart was beating faster than she liked.
He smiled broadly when he saw her. ‘Zennor, your ears must be burning. We were just talking about you.’
‘Why’s that then?’ Zennor asked lightly, accepting his kiss on the cheek.
‘I was telling Chad here about Kernow Entz and how you’re brilliant at finding performers for events. Chad is the genius behind RumJar.’
Chad shook her hand, which mercifully was a brief, if sweaty, handshake.
‘Good to meet you, Chad.’ Zennor vaguely recognised Chad Reynolds from a Cornish lifestyle mag feature earlier in the year. RumJar sponsored a few local events at which her clients were involved, though she’d never met him before.
‘I wouldn’t say I’m a genius.’ Chad grinned, showing a set of teeth so bright they could have illuminated the beach stage without need for a lighting rig.
‘And I expect Trev has exaggerated our brilliance?’ Zennor said, torn between bigging up her company and being wary of what Trev might have told this Chad.
‘So, you’re the famous Zennor?’ Chad looked her up and down. He had a tan so deep it could only have come courtesy of a bottle or sunbed. ‘Trev’s other half?’
Zennor’s heart sank. Even though she was used to saying she was divorced, it was beyond awkward to have to correct this man in Trev’s presence.
‘Gosh, I’m definitely not famous and actually, Trev and I are divorced.’
‘I did say my ex-wife,’ Trev said lightly and she felt his fingers brush the small of her back.
‘You could have fooled me, the way Trev goes on about you. Still carrying a torch for her, eh, Trev?’
‘Who wouldn’t?’ Trev said. ‘And Zennor and I have recently reconnected since I moved back to the area.’
‘Reconnected?’ Chad smirked. ‘That’s one way of putting it, I guess.’
‘Only in a business sense,’ Zennor said, more brusquely than she’d meant. ‘I’ve been providing some clients for the St Piran’s Spa.’
‘OK …’ Chad touched the side of his nose, as if he were privy to a great secret.
‘We may be exes, but we are on good terms,’ Trev said. ‘No point being any other way, is there, Zen?’
Even though she sensed Trev was looking for affirmation, Zennor could hardly disagree. ‘No,’ she said with a smile.
Chad stayed chatting for a few minutes and was more interested in bigging up his business than listening to anyone else, which suited Zennor fine.
She didn’t want to have to speak to him anyway.
With her jaw aching from a polite smile, it was a relief when he was claimed by someone else wanting to schmooze with him.
Her shoulders slumped when he was out of earshot.
‘Sorry about the misunderstanding. I did tell Chad we were exes,’ Trev said.
Zennor watched him holding forth to a group of club members by the bar. ‘It’s OK. I don’t think he listens to much of what anyone else says.’
‘Yeah. Maybe he’s a bit of an egotist but he is a good contact to have. RumJar have links with so many venues across the southwest – nationally too. He could be a great connection for your agency if you’re planning to expand beyond the area.’
‘Thanks, but we’re still trying to get established in Cornwall,’ Zennor said. ‘We do have plans but we’re not ready yet. I think Chad would probably have expectations that we wouldn’t be able to meet.’ And wouldn’t want to, Zennor thought.
‘Oh, come on, you know you could make the agency huge if you wanted. Don’t confine your ambitions to our little corner of the world.’
Zennor’s patience was wearing thin. ‘But you returned, Trev. You said that you came back here yourself because your perspective had shifted after losing your mum.’
‘Yeah.’ He shrugged. ‘I did – but that’s because the area had other attractions …
’ He looked at her and smiled. ‘You look stunning today, Zen. You always do but there’s something about you that – I don’t know – has caught the light.
’ He smiled. ‘Look, I only introduced you to Chad because I thought he might be useful. It’s your decision how you run your business.
I’m not trying to interfere. I promise.’
‘Thanks for the introduction. I’ll keep it in mind. Now I had better get down to the stage. I can see the jugglers having a warm-up and the band have arrived. I want a quick chat before they go on.’
‘Wait just a moment. I’ve been meaning to tell you something …’
‘Is it about the youth theatre?’
‘Yes, how did you know? I – Has Paul told you?’ He groaned. ‘I asked him not to share it with anyone until I’d had time to tell you.’
‘Please don’t blame him. He accidentally let it slip when I bumped into him in town yesterday.’
‘Jeez.’ Trev snorted. ‘That man couldn’t keep a secret to save his life. I wanted it to be a surprise. I hope you approve?’
‘I – It’s very generous though you don’t need my approval.’
‘Maybe not but I’d still like to have it. I know that theatre is very dear to your heart and I’ve got some money tucked away from Mum’s inheritance. After we spoke at the Minack, I thought: What better way to spend it?’
‘It – I think it’s a great idea but it feels like a big responsibility to influence what you do with your money. I hope you’d have done it without my input.’
He frowned. ‘Being honest, it probably wouldn’t have occurred to me but you sowed the seed in my mind. I thought it would make you happy.’
‘It does – it’s fantastic for the theatre and I am glad you’ve done it. I’m not sure I should take any of the credit,’ she said, keeping things light while wanting the conversation to end.
He shook his head, smiling down at her indulgently. She was transported back to that moment in the wedding pavilion in their first moments of married life, as if the past five years had never happened.
‘Oh, Zennor, Zennor. You might be a sophisticated, successful businesswoman but some things never change. You never did think enough of yourself. Of course you have influence. People would do anything you wanted. But it’s nice you still don’t realise that.
’ He lifted his hand to her cheek but Zennor moved away with a forced smile.
‘You’re still the girl I fell in love with. ’
‘Listen,’ she said, ‘that’s the band warming up and you can see the jugglers lighting up behind the stage. I really have to go. I can’t miss this.’
Trev glanced at the stage and curled his lip. ‘OK, but it would be a lot more fun to stay up here and chat. Another time, after all this’ – he waved his hand dismissively at the festival – ‘is over. There are things I want to talk to you about. I mean it.’
‘I have to go.’
She hurried away, hoping he wouldn’t follow. First Paul and now Chad thought she and Trev were back together.
Ahead, Matt was rinsing out kids’ wetsuits and hanging them on a rail, not leaving someone else to tidy up. He was happy to get stuck in and do all the tedious jobs, the ones that weren’t glamorous or fun.
She thought of Matt helping the children – not to impress her or make her feel grateful but because he genuinely cared. He couldn’t not help people, even when that help went too far.
Zennor had to stop at the bottom of the steps and catch her breath. A powerful rush of emotion surged through her, so strong it almost made her stumble.
And she knew in an instant what the feeling was. There was no denying it: it was love with all the terrifying and wonderful consequences that brought.
She would have to tell Trev how she felt – or didn’t. He was clearly hoping to get back with her and she knew that could never be. There would be no second chances for them.
That was a devastating thought but the other side of the coin was even more terrifying: she was in love with Matt, had always been, and he was in love with her.
But had she left things too late? Pushed him away too often?
Unless she told him how she felt, she would never know – and she had to do it now and hang the consequences.