Chapter Twenty-Four
They slipped out through the side door, unnoticed by most, though Ivy caught Brooke watching them go. She was in the middle of a circle of avid townsfolk, who were hanging on her every word, stunned that a Hollywood producer had been in their midst all this time.
Outside, the air was crisp and the sky was bright with stars, the last of the paper snow still clinging to Ivy’s coat. The laughter and bustle from the hall faded behind them, along with the music and kids’ shrieking.
Trip took her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and she let him.
It felt completely natural. Different from when she and Raff had held hands, when Ivy would have been frantically thinking of something clever and impressive to say.
For now, Ivy was content with quiet – and to her surprise, Trip was too.
They walked through the lanes of Fox Bay, past silent houses and sleepy cats curled in windows. Through the streets that Ivy had spent years dreaming about leaving behind. Now, as Trip laced their fingers tighter, she realised she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
‘Let’s sit on the pier, like proper locals,’ Ivy said. ‘Which you sort of are. Honorary, at least, after pulling off that show.’
She and Trip sat side by side on the pier, legs dangling over the edge, the celebration pasty on napkins between them.
Neither spoke for a while.
‘Are you relieved the show went so well?’ Ivy asked at last.
‘Super relieved,’ he said. ‘I was worried one of the twins would mess up. You know what a liability they are. I think Mr Trenwith would have leapt on to the stage and made us start again.’
She laughed. ‘You’ve definitely got a knack for this.’
‘What’s this?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know. Theatre? Organising? Bringing people together? Getting them to eat out of your hand?’
He shook his head. ‘I don’t know if it adds up to much of a plan for the future,’ he said ruefully. ‘I can’t exactly do a degree in “organising random village shows”.’
‘No, but it’s a starting point, isn’t it?’ said Ivy.
There was another pause.
Then Ivy asked, ‘So, do I get to know all the secrets now?’
Trip let out a small laugh. ‘Yeah. I think it’s time.’
‘Good. Because Brooke just gave me the topline and I need to know everything.’
‘Brooke’s production company optioned the Kathleen Lee book last year – she’s a romance fanatic, so she pounced on it.
She and Kathleen instantly got along like a house on fire.
The production company was talking about shooting it all in LA and Kathleen wanted something different, something more authentic …
she kept telling Brooke about this little village where she’d had her book launch and in the end Brooke agreed to fly out and take a look.
Brooke thought I could come along too and do some sightseeing.
Grandma always made Cornwall sound so magical. ’
‘That’s why Brooke wanted to see all the sights,’ Ivy said.
‘Yeah, she needed a local to show her around, see the places that she might be able to film. Put her case to the big guns.’
‘And that’s why she was asking all those weird questions,’ said Ivy, remembering. ‘How many rooms Simi has and stuff.’
‘Well, if Fox Bay is really going to be the location, then it’s a big deal,’ said Trip. ‘Brooke was telling me all about it. They need accommodation, catering …’ He looked out across the quiet harbour. ‘I don’t know if I like the idea of this place being overrun.’
Ivy thought about it. She thought about Fin’s giant Cornish pasty and Old Bill’s tall tales and the lighthouse, standing tall and proud on the cliff, shrouded in mist. She thought about Lou and Simi, and The Mariner’s Arms and Wildest Dreams, Fox Bay’s strange, hippyish beating heart.
‘I think Fox Bay can cope with a visit from Hollywood,’ she said slowly. ‘It’s about the people, isn’t it, as much as this pier and the harbour and the lighthouse, the secret cove and Seal Island. And those people aren’t going anywhere.’
He grinned. ‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe Fox Bay is tough enough to handle it.’
‘So that’s why you went to London? For Brooke to have meetings?’
‘Yeah. I hated not being honest with you, so that’s why I went radio silent. But yeah, a lot of meetings, a lot of sightseeing … One of the actors who has just been cast was in London too.’
Ivy nodded. ‘Right. The incredibly pretty girl.’
‘We met with Madison over afternoon tea.’ He nudged her. ‘Her boyfriend was there too. He’s British, hence why she was in London.’
‘You could’ve told me,’ Ivy said gently. ‘About all of this.’
‘I wanted to,’ Trip said. ‘So many times. Believe me, I do not like keeping secrets. But I didn’t want to jinx it. What if it got out and everyone got excited and then it didn’t happen? But I won’t keep any more, I promise.’
After a beat, Ivy asked, ‘And how are you? About your grandma’s house?’
Trip exhaled, eyes on the dark water.
‘I think I’m all right,’ he said. ‘Saying goodbye to Gran’s house will be really hard.
But Brooke’s right. Gran wouldn’t want us to hang on to it and stay rooted in the past. She’d want us to keep the memories – all those special times she gave us – and do something with the money.
Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting her, I get that now.
Besides, she’s kind of woven into everything I do.
Even saying yes to this ridiculous show.
It’s exactly the sort of thing Grandma would do. She’d have loved it here.’
‘And Brooke?’ Ivy asked. ‘Are you guys okay? She really cares about you.’
He nodded. ‘It was good to talk. I think it’s time I grew up a bit and stopped leaving all the practicalities to her. She needs to kick back and let go sometimes too, you know?’
Ivy grinned. ‘I mean, I can’t exactly imagine Brooke kicking back and letting go,’ she admitted.
‘You should see her in the middle of a Hallmark movie marathon,’ Trip said. He glanced at Ivy. ‘She was right about me. I need to think about the future. I need to accept that change isn’t all bad. Pick a college.’
Pick a college. Ivy felt a pang. Of course, Trip was going back to the States. Whatever almost-something this thing between them had been, it would be over before it had begun. They sat in silence for a while, two small figures against the dark sky, legs dangling.
Then Trip leaned a little closer, just enough for his shoulder to brush against hers. ‘What about you? Back to your course with a completely brilliant project?’ She hesitated and he shook his head. ‘Come on. Those drawings you’ve been doing? They’re really good.’
‘You know what?’ said Ivy, feeling the conviction swell again in her chest, ‘I think they are good. But I’m leaving the course.’
Trip’s mouth fell open. ‘You’re not! But Ivy, it was just one bad term. If art has been your dream your whole life …’
‘It’s still my dream,’ said Ivy hastily.
‘I haven’t given up on anything. But maybe I was so focused on studying fine art that I didn’t consider all the possibilities.
Jess thinks illustration will be right up my street.
But there’s another course to think about too …
’ She drew out the pause, grinning. ‘Set design.’
Trip burst out laughing. ‘That fish pie was pretty special.’
Ivy giggled. ‘I’m joking. I’ve had enough papier-maché to last me a long time. They need to review my application and confirm. But Jess sounded positive. She said the illustration tutor really liked my sketches.’
‘Those scrappy little drawings?’ Trip teased.
‘Those scrappy little drawings.’ No serious subtext or meaning, Ivy thought, but real and human. And maybe capturing what was under your nose was just as important, like people kept telling her. Like Trip kept telling her.
‘I forgot, I got you something,’ Trip said, ‘in London. Something crass and commercial, like I promised.’
He held out a small paper bag with WELCOME TO THE UK stamped across the front. Ivy took it cautiously and peered inside.
‘Oh my God. It’s so …’
‘Hideous?’
Ivy drew the item out and held it on her palm. It was a plastic snow globe. Inside was a luridly painted castle, complete with tiny plastic seagulls, glitter and a beach below.
Ivy stared at it. It was objectively hideous. She loved it immediately.
‘It’s like the show,’ she said. ‘The castle and the beach.’
‘Yeah. I was going to get you something serious from the National Gallery or the Tate, but then I saw that and it just … I don’t know. I thought it might remind you of the show.’
Ivy snorted. ‘There is a serious amount of glitter going on.’
‘I know. But when it settles, it looks like snow.’
She turned it over, watching the sparkles catch in the moonlight. Her throat felt tight. She would keep the snow globe and remember this winter, she thought, long after Trip had headed back to America.
‘It’s perfect,’ she said quietly. ‘Thank you.’ She glanced at her phone. ‘I should get back,’ she said. ‘Mum will be wondering where I am.’
Trip gave her the warm smile she would miss so much and held out his hand to her. ‘Come on. It’s not that late. There’s time for one more walk on the beach.’