Chapter Nine
“Come Dine with Me”
‘What do you think?’
The blatant apprehension in Marcus’s voice was wholly endearing, and Ellie, who’d found the site – optimistically named The Shire – a little austere for her own taste, softened her response.
‘It will be stunning when those trees become a little more established, and I think the beech hedging will fill out nicely to provide privacy, as well as blending with the natural landscape.’
‘The budget didn’t stretch to trees further into their life. The hedges are going to provide entirely private plots once they’re established, so it’s crucial to create the right – but not misleading – images for the website. I don’t want to pretend it’s fully enclosed yet, but I need it to look…’
‘Inviting? I’ll see what I can do.’ Ellie looked around as Marcus dug out his keys for the cabin housing the site office. ‘I’ll be creative with the photos, don’t worry.’
There was a track opposite the turning into The Shire, a wooden marker proclaiming it to be ‘Private Property’ and a slate sign bearing the word ‘Peaches’.
‘What’s down there? Is that part of the business, too?’ The Cornish climate might be mild, but she couldn’t imagine it allowed the growing of such a fruit.
Pushing open the door to the cabin, Marcus shook his head. ‘Peaches Cottage. It’s pretty isolated; part of the Devonshire estate.’
Marcus took her coat, hanging it on a row of hooks housing various hats, a well-worn umbrella and a quilted gilet.
‘Not the Devonshires? You know, the Chatsworth dukedom?’
He laughed. ‘No. Just a local family of the same name. Quite extensive landowners, though.’ Marcus indicated the small kitchen. ‘Tea or coffee?’
‘I’m good, thanks.’ Ellie took a seat as Marcus settled behind his desk.
‘Have you thought about keeping a sort of blog on your website? You know, almost like a diary of the site from conception to the first year of trading and the expansion as you move along? You could include lots of photos and links to your suppliers. Great for sharing on the socials.’
‘That’s a brilliant idea!’ His momentary delight faded. ‘The only problem is I’m not the best writer. Numbers are more my thing.’
‘I’d be happy to help,’ Ellie offered. ‘No charge. It would help me understand the whole setup better if you share with me the challenges and rewards you’ve experienced along the way?’
‘Perfect.’ Marcus’s smile reached his eyes, and Ellie returned it. He was such easy company, and she could already feel the benefit of the distraction from her thoughts, which her present lifestyle gave her far too much time to indulge.
‘I don’t suppose you’re free Friday night, so I can talk you through the beginning of it all?’
Ellie quashed the instinctive urge to shake her head, claim a prior commitment, but as she hesitated, Marcus shook his own.
‘Sorry. Pushy of me. It’s just I’m over babysitting my kids this evening, and tomorrow I have to be in Truro to see the bank, but I don’t want to delay getting the website sorted as I’m already running late for promoting next year’s season.’
‘You have children? How many? I’m experiencing all aspects just now, looking after my cousin’s boys, who are at the village school, and fitting in the occasional play date with my neighbours’ adorable baby twins.’
Marcus’s expression softened as he reached for a photo on the desk and swung it around.
‘Lucy, seven, and Poppy, five.’ He released a soft sigh as he returned the framed picture to its original position.
‘My wife and I split a couple of years ago. Amicable, thankfully, and they only live in Looe, not at the other end of the country, but I grab every chance to look after them that I can. Sadly, my fledgling business takes up too much time when the busy season is here. It’s half-term soon, though, so I’ll be taking them away for a few days. ’
‘Of course we can have dinner. Shall I sort it out? Would you prefer the bistro or Harbourmasters? Or there’s always The Lugger? I insist we go Dutch on it.’
After all, it wasn’t a date, was it?
Marcus’s eager agreement was enough to reassure Ellie she’d pitched things right, and genuinely interested in the background to the business, she made a note to book a table at Harbourmasters and agreed, as she left, to meet Marcus there at seven on Friday.
On Friday, Oliver and Anna headed up to London for a weekend with friends, as Oliver was due to meet with his agent on the Monday.
Ellie worked hard to complete two card commissions – thankful she’d managed to fit her printer into Fifi, her faithful Fiat 500 – sending them off in the post and then picking up Liam and Jason.
She’d also had a call from a school over in Port Wenneth whose usual photographer had been taken ill.
Would she be able to come and do the year eleven portraits for them?
Agreeing to drop by to discuss the details, she added it to her pretty empty calendar, chewing on her lip as she surveyed the lack of work.
She must get organised and start promoting the mini-sessions.
Ellie was just drying the last plate from their early dinner and mulling over what to wear for her meet-up with Marcus when a notification pinged on her phone.
Bella!
I’m back in the cove! Any chance you can meet up later? xx
I’ve got a business dinner in Harbourmasters at 7. Want to meet
afterwards for a drink and catch up?
Deffo! Can’t wait to see you. I’ll wait outside. 9 any good?
Ellie sent a thumbs-up, tidied the kitchen and headed into the cosy sitting room to check the boys were doing their homework.
Once Nicki was home, frustrated she couldn’t get a sitter at short notice to join them, Ellie sped over to her room for a shower and a change, far more eager to see Bella than meet Marcus.
But when she saw him, pacing nervously up and down outside the restaurant, constantly checking his watch, her heart warmed towards him, and she called his name as she scooted along the harbourfront.
‘Hi. Sorry,’ Ellie said breathlessly as she joined him outside Harbourmasters. ‘Am I late?’
Marcus grinned. ‘No. I’m just naturally angsty!’
Laughing, she entered the restaurant as he held open the door, only to hesitate by the desk. What if Will was in here, with his cronies?
Led to a table on the far side of the stylish restaurant by the manager, Ellie sank thankfully into a seat with its back to the room.
A wary skim of the dining area had shown no sign of Will, but it would be kinder to Marcus, and her distraction less obvious, if she kept her attention on him and not every person who walked through the door.
Marcus, as it happened, was an entertaining dinner companion, and had plenty to say about his early steps into the new business venture, with Ellie tapping notes into her phone in between enjoying the food.
It was only as they got up to leave that Ellie recalled her trepidation over seeing Will, but a swift look around the restaurant as they left reassured her he wasn’t there.
She parted from Marcus with the agreement that she would draft a few suggested posts for the blog and that they would meet up again when she’d come up with some sketches for the rebranding.
‘There you are!’
Ellie swung around from watching Marcus cross the road to his car.
‘Bella!’ They hugged in mutual delight. ‘It must be a couple of years since we’ve managed to be in the same place at the same time!’
‘Yes,’ Bella said, dryly, falling into step beside Ellie. ‘And of all the places.’
Ellie threw her a sidelong glance as they made their way along the front, dodging people emerging from the Three Fishes pub, amused as a couple of young men stopped in their tracks as they passed by.
Bella was incredibly striking, tall and agile, with an athlete’s grace, rippling, pale gold hair, a prominent nose and incredible amber, almost hawk-like eyes, which Ellie knew missed very little.
She hadn’t forgotten Bella having a fling with Alex Tremayne during that long-ago summer, but her friend had walked away about a month after they’d returned to their respective homes, head held high and claiming she hoped to never see the bastard again.
She’d never said why, though, and after all this time, it felt awkward to ask.
They headed to the bistro and secured a high table by the window – Ellie having once again done a quick sweep of the clientele – as Bella fetched a bottle of wine and two glasses.
‘This should keep us going.’
Ellie laughed. ‘I’ve already had one glass with dinner. You can have the lion’s share.’
Bella gave a throaty chuckle. ‘My pleasure. Cheers.’
They clinked glasses, and Ellie took a sip of the red wine, savouring the flavour. ‘Mmm, delish. Okay, maybe I’ll help too.’
They caught up on their jobs, with Bella outlining the work she’d done lately for Oliver and how she’d come back to help him tie up the loose ends on the final book of the trilogy he’d signed up for eighteen months ago.
‘Where do you stay?’
‘I’m in one of Oliver’s cottages. It’s on the same run as Mrs L.’ She sipped her wine. ‘You met her yet?’
With a laugh, Ellie settled back in her seat. ‘Yes. I think Jean struggles to keep her in check.’
‘She’s hilarious. Anna says she often mixes her words up, but Nicki reckons she does it on purpose sometimes just to wind Jean up.’
‘Sounds about par for the cove.’
They chatted about Nicki for a while, and Hamish’s situation, and Ellie mulled over whether to say anything about Will being in town. Would Bella even remember who he was? Although the group had splintered as they paired up, there had been days when they’d all hung out together at Tremayne Manor.
When it came time to head home, they lingered to chat a little more by the harbour wall.
‘It’s a shame the ferry’s stopped running for the night.’ Bella gestured towards the little red-and-white boat moored by the steps.
‘I’ll enjoy the walk. At least it’s no longer raining.’
They both cast a wary glance at the dark heavens overhead, then hugged each other.
‘Let’s chat later about meeting up again. I have to be back in Bristol at the weekend – private student tuition.’
Bella was about to cross the street towards the lane leading up to the church, from which she could access the side road where her cottage was located, when a flashy red car came to an abrupt halt at the kerbside.
Bella placed her hands on her hips as a blond-haired man emerged into the fading light.
‘Bella! You’re back.’
‘Shame you are too,’ she drawled.
Ellie edged closer to her friend as Alex fetched up in front of Bella, wishing the recollections would stop flooding in.
‘Come on, Bells. I’m trying.’
‘You are. Very.’
Alex’s eyes flicked to Ellie. ‘Why don’t you introduce me to your friend?’ He flashed the gorgeous smile she remembered even to this day.
Bella’s hands remained on her hips, and Ellie found it hard to read the emotions running across her face.
‘Fine. Ellie, this is Scumbag. Do you remember him?’
Ellie cast a wary look at Bella, then nodded at the man by her side.
‘Hi, Alex.’
He blinked. ‘Sorry. Have we met?’
‘It was a long time ago,’ Ellie responded, touching Bella lightly on the arm. ‘Are you okay if I go?’
Bella’s eyes narrowed as Alex paled suddenly, his gaze fixed on Ellie.
‘I— er. I’ll see you another time, Bells.’
With a frown, Ellie watched as he fled back to the car and departed at a fine pace.
‘What was all that about?’ she mused as Bella adjusted her bag and shook her abundant tresses over her shoulder.
‘I don’t know. Yet. Something spooked him, and I think it’s because he remembered you.’
‘But why would that cause him to act like someone had just stuck a spoon up his rear?’
A spurt of laughter came from Bella. ‘No idea. The man’s an imbecile. I just hope it’s one of his flying visits.’
They parted company, and Ellie made her way back home, deep in thought. Her friend may have buried deep the reason she and Alex had split, but right now Ellie had a suspicion the man wasn’t ready to let Bella disappear from his life a second time.
As for Ellie, she’d not seen Alex in all these years, other than those early glimpses. She shuddered as she put the key in the lock at Westerleigh, closing the door with a snap. If only she could shut out the memories of the last time he’d spoken to her so easily.