Chapter 53
53
St Aidan Beach
Meet me at the beach
Friday
I t’s close to five by the time we leave Zofia’s swing seat. We have a very long goodbye kiss, and head back towards St Aidan in our own cars, but as the roads are clogged, we divert to Boathouse Cottage, double park, and then walk the rest of the way. It’s almost time to close up, so we pick up Pumpkin from his field and lead him over the dune path at the top of the beach where it’s quieter.
As we pass the Surf Shack my phone starts to vibrate.
‘Scarlett!’
‘Tate and I are back together. We’ve both agreed to give it another go.’
I smile. ‘Are you going to tell me how?’
She snorts. ‘I went to his with that list of requirements you told me to give him, and we ended up in bed.’ There’s a beat of silence. ‘I apologised, too.’
‘I’m pleased you got your happy ending.’ I hesitate. ‘I asked Miles about the cottage. Apparently it’s for Pumpkin.’ I flash a grin at Miles. ‘And I’ll join him there too. Unless you’ve changed your mind about selling?’
Scarlett is straight back. ‘You know Tate and his projects. He’s already looking for another Cornish wreck to transform.’
I shake my head. ‘We’ll look forward to seeing you in October.’
And then she ends the call and we walk on. When we come off the sands and onto the quayside, I can see the Betsy Plum and Nell are there; Sophie’s kids and their friends are darting between the crowds, handing out crisps and veggie sausage rolls; Edie and Aunty Jo have big platters of cupcakes to give out. Lots of the makers are here waving their glasses, and the baking team have brought most of the over-sixties along too.
Aunty Jo has made Pumpkin a special strand of pink and orange gingham bunting which she drapes over him, and everyone is coming up to ruffle his mane and wish him ‘happy birthday’.
A few glasses of fizz later Zofia comes across and pulls me into another hug. ‘All thanks to you, Betsy Beth, my summer projects are going very well.’ She grins. ‘First my plant sales, now my matchmaking.’
I’m talking through a mouthful of buttercream. ‘You were right when you said, “never say never”.’ I hug her back hard. ‘Thank you for helping.’
I smile at Clemmie, who’s holding Bud up to pat Pumpkin. ‘We couldn’t have done it without you and your friends at the barnyard.’
She beams back. ‘You’re very welcome. And it’s the best news about you and Milo. Now you’ve put your fruit bowl issues behind you, there’ll be no stopping you!’
Malcolm wanders over, waving a muffin. ‘Any time you want to extend the lease on the studio, just let me know.’
Miles is standing with his arm draped over my shoulder. ‘Betsy’s more comfortable living in the moment, so it might be best to ask again later.’
I’m shaking my head. ‘Actually, I’m good. Once I wouldn’t have been, now I am. However long you want, Malcolm, this is us– Betsy and Milo are here to stay.’
When I look up at Miles, I know the reason there isn’t any doubt. ‘Are you okay with forever too?’
‘I am.’ He grins. ‘Forever will be perfect.’ His eyes are shining as he looks down at me. ‘I promise we’re going have the best adventures.’
Then he pulls me into another kiss and we only stop when Pumpkin lunges to take a bite of geraniums out of the window box he’s been eyeing up since the day we arrived.