Chapter 26
26
Boathouse Cottage, St Aidan
Angels, fish and seahorse tails
Monday
O nce Miles and I came back yesterday afternoon, I took charge of the buns which he’d already boxed, and sent him off to get on with his day. That left Pumpkin and me heading for the beach to meet the crowds and sell our wares. We came back a couple of hours later with empty bags and a pocket full of cash.
With that job done, I spent the evening going through my photos to see if any of my sand-writing quotes would work as postcards. I start by thinking there won’t be any, but in the end there are so many it’s hard to narrow it down. By the time I remember it’s not supposed to be real, I’ve already found a fabulous online deal, and I’m too invested to pull back. When I get to the checkout, I’m so impatient to see the results, I sod the expense and chose the fast-track delivery option. And while I hold my breath for Wednesday, I’m trying to make up for my rash spend by chasing down other ideas for magazine pieces.
Monday is the day Zofia comes. She likes to have the place to herself, so I make sure Pumpkin and I are out when she arrives. When we get back a couple of hours later she’s already back in her beige suede loafers and is in the kitchen chatting to Miles.
She rushes over, drops a kiss on my cheek, and steers me towards a row of plants lined up on the work surface.
‘Betty Beth, I’ve brought you some living herbs to liven up your summer salads.’ She stops and points. ‘Curled parsley, flat-leaf parsley, chives, thyme, oregano, basil and summer savoury.’
I’m despairing that she’s followed Miles’s lead and doubled up my name, but I’m smiling at the mass of bushy green leaves and terracotta pots. ‘Thank you, Zofia, they’re way too pretty to eat, but I bet Fenna would love herb growing too!’
Zofia’s eyes light up. ‘I can see it now! Readers filling pots with compost, readers planting seeds, readers with watering cans. You must come and take pictures this afternoon!’
I’m beaming. ‘Those herbs definitely make the kitchen a happier place.’ I catch sight of Miles looking at the ceiling. ‘Don’t knock it, Miles, anything this feel-good has to be positive.’
As I think of Scarlett and Tate, who may never enjoy this place together again, there’s a pang in my chest.
Miles raises his finger. ‘Have you told Zofia your news?’
‘My news?’ As he and I haven’t acknowledged Scarlett and Tate’s rift, I’m surprised he’s talking about it now. ‘I was hoping to keep that on the back burner until it’s more public.’
Zofia laughs. ‘Nothing is secret in St Aidan! I’m sorry, a little bird already told me– you’ve taken a workspace at the Net Loft!’
‘ That news!’
Miles nods. ‘Betsy Bets is opening a postcard shop. How brilliant is that?’
Seeing Zofia reminds me of all the honesty box outlets in her village, and before I know I’m extending my make-believe mission statement. ‘It’s very early days, but I’d love to bring a garden-gate vibe into town too if I can find the right things to sell.’
Zofia looks thoughtful. ‘It’s very a big space to fill if you’re only doing postcards.’
I’m looking at the deep green of her parsley and remembering her greenhouses and cold frames full of cuttings. ‘If you’d like to sell some of your plants, I could try those? And your cut flowers would fit in too.’
She beams at me. ‘Magnificent! I’ll give you my very best price!’ Her smile widens. ‘And the same little bird said you’ve been selling those pastries you make too, but I also know that from my vacuuming.’ She laughs. ‘So pastries, flowers, plants and postcards? That sounds like a good mix.’
I hold up my hand. ‘The pastries aren’t for the shop. They’re Miles’s personal business project. He’s taking those straight to national franchise level.’
Zofia frowns at him. ‘Are you sure?’
I might as well explain. ‘There’s small business, like I would be, then there’s big business like B&Q, then there’s Miles.’ I pull a face. ‘We’re galaxies apart in our ethos.’
Miles gives a cough. ‘It’s not that bad, Betsy Eliza.’
It is. In fact it’s probably worse, which reminds me. ‘Yesterday’s takings from the beach are in the fruit bowl under the apples, Miles.’
Miles holds up a finger. ‘While I’m working on my product development, all my costs will be absorbed down the line.’
Zofia winks at me. ‘So many big words, you’re right to say he’s ready to take over the world.’
I’m yawning at the office talk. ‘And I need to know this because…?’
He’s blinking at me. ‘I should have made this clear before. Any money you collect from sales is yours to keep.’ He shrugs. ‘That way it leaves me free to concentrate on the range. You’ll be doing me a favour.’
I can’t quite believe my luck, and I’m not about to refuse, so I offer the best I can from my side. ‘In return I promise to bring you every scrap of feedback.’
‘That’s good enough for me.’ He’s rubbing his hands. ‘So the next important thing– what about fittings for the Net Loft?’
Zofia sends me another look. ‘His ethos might be up the spout, but we can’t fault his enthusiasm.’
‘I’ve already got the postcard stand.’ I’m thinking of the village shop boxes. ‘The rest will be freestanding. I’ll start with a couple of tables for the plants and add more if I need them.’
Zofia nods. ‘I’ll see what I have in the outhouses at the Manor.’
Miles is nodding too. ‘My mum has planks in her garage. I can knock together any shelving you want.’
I can’t believe how far this has come in five minutes. ‘Well, thank you both for your help.’ I’m summarising. ‘I’ll see what’s at yours, Zofia, when I come to take pictures for the herb growing. If it’s okay with you, I’ll quiz you about the fruit trees while I’m there.’ Fenna’s given me an open order for pieces featuring apples. Pies, crumbles, cider makers, picking, growing them– apples are so versatile and universal, readers can’t get enough of them.
Zofia is collecting her cloths and putting them into her buckets, then she looks up. ‘Before I go… is Scarlett okay?’ She hesitates. ‘It’s just that I had a message last night saying she and Tate were splitting up, but to carry on with my cleans as normal.’
My intake of breath is so big, I’m still grasping to find the right words when Miles steps in.
‘Let’s not jump to conclusions. I’m sure if we give them space, they’ll sort this out.’
Zofia pulls down the corners of her mouth. ‘Let’s hope so.’ Then she sighs and smiles again. ‘Call by whenever you want, Betsy Beths. I’m in all afternoon.’
By the time I look up again, Miles has followed her out too. And I’m left wondering how a simple card rack expanded to a full-blown shop– and more to the point, how the hell I’m going to handle it!