Chapter 26
26
The Deck Gallery, St Aidan
Closed roads and space invaders
Monday
G eorge Alfred Harry Trelawney Trenowden was born at Truro Hospital at ten-thirty the next evening, weighing in at nine pounds ten ounces. Two days later he and Nell were settled back home in St Aidan, and when George senior announced that they were ready for visitors we all went around to meet him.
Shadow and I took him a tiny sage green dragon suitable for newborns that I saw in Plum’s gallery and fell in love with because the wings were so cute. And for a short time we all sat around marvelling that Nell and George are parents, and they have a tiny human who looks just like George but with a redder face, who will no doubt occupy every second of their thoughts for the next twenty years and longer.
I’d actually been worried I might cry, but the devastation in the kitchen caused by most of St Aidan calling for tea and cake wiped all the baby emotion away. By the time I’d loaded the dishwasher, put all the flowers into vases and narrowly stopped Shadow demolishing an entire tin of Scottish shortbread, I didn’t need my tissues anymore. And then we all went back to doing what we were doing before, and life went on.
As Plum and I are the only baby-free ones left in the group, we felt a fleeting but significant connection, which led on to a crazy late one at the dog-friendly Hungry Shark karaoke night, and a suggestion that I should go along to hers with my next batch of sweets to taste once they were ready. So on Monday I arrive in the light, airy, very white Deck Gallery, carrying a bag of Ivy’s cups and a basket of other random goodies, and we sit around Plum’s long table on her arty metal chairs to finesse my concoctions.
As an international business magnate it’s fortunate Sophie’s good at delegating and can free herself up from office meetings for ones like this instead. Obviously once she and Clemmie heard Plum and I would be here with ice cream, they weren’t going to stay away.
I look around the table, ready to tell them what I’ve brought for them to sample, but before I can Sophie cuts in.
‘Before we begin, has anyone heard any more about Mum?’
Over the years Sophie and I have often gone out with the same crowd or ended up at the same parties, but I can’t actually remember a time when we’ve deliberately sought each other out. But Mum’s upcoming date with David Byron has drawn us together like we’re magnetic.
The slightest whisper we hear around the town, it’s pinged off in a text. When I called round to see Mum the day after the spa night and found her with her entire wardrobe strewn across her bedroom, Sophie was the first to know. When Fenella from Fish Quay Fashions rang Sophie to tell her Mum had been in later the same day, half an hour later she’d messaged me with photos of every outfit she’d tried on.
I pull a face. ‘Her date is tonight, but every time I’ve texted her to check she’s okay she rings back then cuts me short.’ I’ve thought about this a lot. ‘Mum choosing to go out with the most controversial man in St Aidan has forced us onto the outside. This all came from her and I feel excluded.’
Sophie sighs. ‘She’s always more open with you than me, but if she’s shutting you out, it’s worrying.’
I’m nodding in agreement as I hand round the loaded cups. ‘I’m just glad we’ve got each other for this.’ I can’t remember ever feeling truly grateful for having Sophie before, but I do now. ‘In the meantime, see which ice cream goes best with the apple crumble – vanilla, or toffee?’
Plum is peering into the next batch of cups as she dips in her spoon. ‘You’re getting adventurous! What else have you brought?’
I smile because I’ve had such fun doing these. ‘Swiss roll, pink custard and rainbow sprinkles, an orange Eton mess with raspberries and mandarins, rainbow macaron pieces with vanilla ice and squirty cream, and a treacle tart special.’
Plum pops a cube of tart into her mouth, and nods as she chews it. ‘Where did you buy that? The pastry is amazing.’
I try not to smile too much at the compliment. ‘It’s one I made earlier.’ I laugh. ‘It makes more sense to bake for myself rather than buying things in. I’m actually enjoying it too.’ It’s a huge surprise to me to find myself pouring over recipe blogs, and even more of a shock that I’m producing anything edible.
Clemmie’s grinning at me. ‘You’re certainly raising your game here!’
‘It’s all down to David Byron. I was so angry at the way he stole the crowd at our event, but I’m not grumbling about the result.’
‘Good for you!’ Sophie gives a cough and looks at Plum. ‘And while we’re talking about David, have there been any developments with Rye?’
Since her bikini we’ve stopped pretending we hadn’t noticed how much she likes him.
Plum pulls on her ponytail. ‘There are plenty of sparks but that’s it – I’d get more attention if I were a kitten trapped in a tree.’ She lets out a sigh. ‘Tell me something to take my mind off it.’
My other news is why I’m pushing ahead with so much enthusiasm. ‘I had an enquiry from a hen party group, I got back to them with ideas and they’ve booked for five weeks’ time!’
Clemmie and Plum both shout ‘yay’ and give me high fives, but Sophie’s face falls. ‘I suppose Milla will be helping you with that?’
I’m treading very carefully here. ‘I told her I’d need to chat to you before I decided.’
‘Thank you for that.’ Sophie closes her eyes for a second. ‘She still wants to cut her hair like yours.’
I smile as I think of how different the dark-haired Milla is. ‘She was forceful as a blonde, but as a brunette she’s something else.’
Sophie sighs. ‘Don’t I know it! As far as Milla’s concerned, the sun shines out of your bum.’
Clemmie laughs. ‘I can think of worse role models.’
Sophie shakes her head. ‘It’s so infuriating because all she does with me is criticise.’
Since I’ve seen more of Milla and her friends, I’m all over the adolescent problem articles. ‘To become independent, they have to separate themselves from their family, and with a daughter, the mum takes the brunt.’
Sophie’s mouth puckers. ‘I’d seen it with other kids, but somehow I assumed Milla would be different. With it just being the two of us when she was small, we’ve always been like best friends.’ She puts down her spoon and slumps back in her chair. ‘I’m just so sad that I’ve lost her.’ She gives a loud sniff and rubs her eye with her knuckle.
‘Sophie! Are you crying?’ There’s no need for her to reply, the shining tracks on her cheeks are enough of an answer.
I can’t remember when I last saw her in tears – probably when I coloured in her favourite Barbie’s eyes with indelible Sharpie when she was ten. She’s always been so tough and busy striving, it’s a shock to see her breaking. But there’s something so vulnerable about her that before I realise it I’m on my feet and my arms are wrapped around her.
Sophie gives a sob. ‘I’ve worked so hard to be successful, but Milla’s what has always made me proudest. Her turning against me makes me feel a complete failure.’
I’m patting her on the back like a child. ‘It shows what a strong character she is. It’s a sign she’s taking after you.’
She sniffs again. ‘That could be it.’ She dabs her eyes with the tissue Plum hands her, and then scrutinises it. ‘Mascara that’s a hundred per cent tear-proof. At least I got that right.’
As I go back to my seat Plum pushes the ice cream towards her. ‘Try the vanilla with macaron, that’ll cheer you up too.’
Sophie gives a final sniff as she loads ice cream on top of the pastel-coloured biscuit fragments and swirls a mega helping of squirty cream on top. ‘It’s strangely satisfying having pudding out of cups.’
Clemmie nods. ‘It’s a small helping with a big volume, but you can still eat three or four!’
Plum licks her spoon and turns as the gallery door opens. ‘I’ll just check if this customer is okay to browse.’
Clemmie gives me a nudge. ‘Not just any customer either, Florence Flapjack, it’s your new boss.’ She calls out as Shadow jumps up from under my chair and shoots off towards him, ‘Someone’s pleased to see you, Kit.’
Sophie calls out too. ‘If you want to see the latest from Floss, it’s over here.’
Whatever Kit’s wanting, I’m hoping it’s quick. As I hurry down the length of the gallery to get Shadow, I give a silent cheer as I see Plum is already ringing up the till and passing him a paper bag.
I get hold of Shadow’s trailing lead. ‘We were just having a quick tasting session.’ I’d rather the others didn’t get the chance to scrutinise us together. ‘It’s pretty much finished.’
Kit holds up his bag. ‘I have my sister’s birthday card in here. I need to catch the post.’
‘Lovely!’ I’m giving more silent hurrahs. ‘Don’t let us hold you up.’
Sophie calls again. ‘Any more news on Mum’s date with David this evening?’
‘You haven’t heard?’ Kit’s voice falters. ‘They brought it forward and had it yesterday.’
‘What?’ My mouth is hanging open.
Sophie is quicker to recover herself. ‘It’s barely afternoon, no doubt we’ll hear about how it went later.’
Kit frowns as he hesitates. ‘It went well enough to arrange another, apparently.’
His words echo off the walls, as I try to take it in. What the actual hell is our mum doing? If once was bad judgement, twice is unbelievable. As for leaving us to find out what’s going on from someone else – it’s humiliating. As I march down the gallery, I’m stamping my feet so hard, the clatter of my footsteps is bouncing back off the ceiling.
‘Good for them!’ I say sarcastically over my shoulder. I can’t say to Kit it’s the worst news ever.
‘I’ll be in touch about tomorrow, Floss,’ he calls.
‘Absolutely.’
My first stint at my new job just got a whole lot harder. But my determination to prove myself just got a whole lot stronger.
I lean back in my chair and eat a handful of macaron pieces. Then I look across at Clemmie. ‘Okay. How about fixing a date for that Mums and Bumps session at mine?’