Chapter 14 #2
Rob didn’t pull away. He darted in for a kiss, only diverting at the last moment to say, “Are you calling me easy?” right into Jude’s ear.
His warm breath was distracting, as was his hand, high on Jude’s thigh for balance.
All of Jude’s questions about why they’d driven to this backwater were forgotten by the time Rob leaned back, his gaze locked on Jude’s lips.
“Because I’ll be easy for you when you’re ready,” Rob breathed.
“So easy.” His next move had their lips almost touching, gone before he could react.
He clicked Jude’s seatbelt release open.
“Now hurry up and get out so I can show you all the ways that you’re wrong. ”
Jude blinked as Rob opened his car door and was haloed by bright sunshine, dazzling him for the second time in minutes.
“Get ready to take back every negative thing you ever thought about this place,” Rob ordered once Jude was out of the car too.
He grabbed his hand once more, and led the way out of the car park, only letting go once Jude kept pace.
The streets were cobbled here, like at home, Jude noticed, but the buildings weren’t so scenic. Some householders had gone to quite some effort though—bunting fluttered in the breeze, more triangles of fabric strung overhead as they approached the harbour. He stopped dead as they rounded a corner.
Here was the reason for the crammed car park.
Ahead, a market bustled with more people shopping than he’d ever have imagined. “What’s going on?”
“Remember what I said about you being slow on the uptake? This,” Rob prompted helpfully, “is another example.” He was far too pleased with himself as he gestured between market stalls covered with fresh produce.
“I’m going to take a wild guess that, as it’s Monday and this is a market full of farmers…
” he drew out the rest of his sentence. “…this might be a farmers’ market. ”
“Very funny. I can see that.” Jude paused whenever Rob did, stopping to inspect some baskets filled with eggs so fresh that straw and feathers still adhered to some shells. “But what do you mean ‘as it’s Monday’?”
Rob picked up a brown hen’s egg before swapping it for a larger duck egg with a blue shell.
“This time of year, there’s a farmers’ market three times a week.
” He cradled the egg in his palm before passing it to Jude while listing other attractions.
“The other days of the week, antique fairs alternate with local arts and crafts sellers.”
Jude was jostled closer by other shoppers. He cupped both of his palms as Rob filled them with more eggs. “Making hay while the sun shines, I suppose.”
“Aren’t we all?” Rob’s small smile was fleeting. “But actually, the markets don’t only run during the summer season. They continue year-round.” He pored over the array on the table, choosing a final duck egg. “Hey, you want some breakfast?”
“We already ate, remember? Croissants and blackberry jam.”
“Was there bacon and eggs?”
Jude’s laugh came with a huff. “No.”
“Then that wasn’t breakfast,”
“Seriously? If I started every morning with a three-course meal, I’d never get anything accomplished.”
Rob said, “Accomplishing stuff is overrated,” as if Jude hadn’t witnessed how hard he’d worked at the Anchor. He’d put in months of effort.
Rob moved past Jude, saying, “Come on. Quick. Before they finish serving.” The pub he led Jude to appeared much smaller than the Anchor, mismatched tables and chairs spilling from the inside to line the end of the harbour, filling the spot where the fishing fleet used to land their catches.
Now a throng of people enjoyed the sunshine while eating plates of breakfasts that smelled delicious.
“Go grab that table, will you, before someone nabs it?”
Jude took the egg box Rob thrust his way, and sat down, watching as Rob entered the pub, his attention soon diverted by the view from where he was seated.
The village was far from the deadly dull place he remembered.
With colourful bunting hanging between market stalls, fluttering like the bright leaflets secured to his table by a pebble, it was alive and vibrant.
He slid out one of the leaflets and read it, then took a look at the menu.
The price for breakfast here was close to the new price at the Anchor, more than three times what his mum used to charge summer tourists.
He twisted in his seat to conduct a mental headcount only to see Rob heading back, the faint downward cast to his lips a reminder of the shift in his expression before he’d changed the subject from his father.
“Listen,” he said, the moment Rob sat down. “You can talk about your dad if you want.” Lord knows he’d bent Rob’s ear enough about his parents. “Families are…” How to end that sentence?
“Impossible?” Rob suggested, that downward cast starting to lift. “Maddening? A complete pain in my arse?”
“Well I wouldn’t go that far, but…” And this was the hard part. “…I know that it’s different—what people see compared to what it’s like from the inside.”
Rob’s gaze held his and just like that, the noise of the crowded quayside faded, cawing seagulls and laughing children silenced, because Rob said, “Thank you.”
The moment broke, a waitress arriving with a tray.
The plate she gave Rob heaved with a full English fry-up while Jude’s plate was much smaller.
A child’s breakfast stared up from the white china, two fried eggs for eyes and a smile made out of bacon.
“What?” Rob mock-protested when Jude raised his eyebrows.
“You just acted like second breakfasts were for gluttons. Of course, some of us don’t need to watch our figures. ”
“Very funny—”
Rob silenced him by stabbing a fried mushroom with his fork and holding it close to Jude’s mouth. “Goodness.” Rob spoke over Jude. “It’s so rude to speak with your mouth full.” He asked, “Whatever would your mother say?” and then winced. “Sorry,” he said quietly.
They both ate instead of speaking for a few minutes, Jude lost in thought while people around them enjoyed the sunshine and sea breeze. “We should do this,” he said, stealing another mushroom from Rob’s plate once his small portion was finished. “Serve breakfasts outside all summer, at home.”
“Why do you think the boatshed is full of tables and chairs?” Rob glanced around, perhaps counting heads and calculating profit like Jude just had.
“I picked them up right after Christmas, at another auction. Even if they only get used for the busiest couple of months of the year, I figured it was worth the investment.” He gestured around him with his knife, using the same bad manners he’d accused Jude of having.
“Can you see why I wanted to bring you here now?” Jude nodded, and he grinned.
“Porthperrin must look as dead now as this place used to, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
” He wiped up the last of his egg yolk with a toast crust. “Look around. All it needs is a bit of vision and a business plan that goes beyond the front doors of the Anchor.” He tapped the side of his head with one finger.
“I’ve got it all up here, so just ask if you’ve any questions.
I’ll tell you everything I’ve got planned,” he promised, “if you’re finally ready to listen.
And—” His wink was far from subtle. “—I’ll make sure to keep my answers simple. ”
Jude looked around again at the bustling harbour, so many people here ready to spend their money, and for the first time, he felt real hope for their business.