Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty
After showing Raphael the High Street with its smattering of cafés and gift shops, they walked down to the harbour to watch as a trawler arrived and unloaded its catch.
Raphael seemed enthralled with everything that was going on within the small port.
‘And now we have some Cornish cider, yes?’ he asked as the last of the catch was loaded into a large refrigerated van to be transported to one of the local fish markets.
‘Cider it is. This way, Signore Bianconi.’ Jodie indicated with a sweep of her hand. Grinning, Cat followed them both back up the slope.
‘It’s a lovely afternoon, shall we sit outside?’ Jodie asked, pointing out a couple of spare tables. ‘There’s a great view of the harbour from here.’
‘Truly, it is a lovely day,’ Raphael agreed with a smile, ‘but I would like to see what this pub looks like inside. Do you still have smugglers here?’
‘Heavens no,’ Cat laughed, ‘smugglers lived hundreds of years ago. However, if you’re interested there is a museum.
It’s over there.’ She pointed towards a long, low grey building tucked at the far end of the harbour.
‘Aunt Em works there part-time. Shows people around, gives talks. She’s very knowledgeable. ’
‘Then maybe I shall visit,’ Raphael confirmed, ‘but at the moment I would like to sample some cider. Shall we go in?’
With Jodie in the lead and Raphael behind, Cat followed them through the open door.
Finding Luke propping up the bar of The Smugglers and chatting to a group of fishermen took Cat totally by surprise.
He was the last person she expected to see there at that time of day.
The moment he turned and their eyes met, some strange emotion shook her and all she wanted to do was leave.
But firm fingers wrapping around her arm said she wasn’t going anywhere.
Instead, she allowed Jodie to manoeuvre her over to a table in the corner and sit her down next to Raphael, whose curious eyes were already checking out the room and its occupants.
‘This is wonderful,’ he said as Jodie headed to the bar to order a round of drinks. ‘A Cornish pub. I love it.’
Continuing to make small talk with Raphael, she was aware of people staring. She looked up, made eye contact and smiled. The gesture was returned and then Jed, who was busy collecting empty glasses, arrived at their table.
‘Cat.’ The stocky balding landlord gave her a friendly nod as he reached out a tattooed arm to collect a couple of empties. ‘It’s good to see you. What brings you back to Carrenporth?’
‘Great-Aunt Em, it’s her seventy-fifth birthday and she’s having a party this weekend.’
‘Ah yes, of course. Going to introduce me then?’ He winked and nodded towards Raphael, who was busy watching Jodie being served with three pints of cider.
‘Oh, sorry, yes. This is Raphael Bianconi. We work together at a hotel on Lake Garda.’ Cat kept the introduction brief. She doubted Jed knew étienne so thought it best not to complicate the conversation.
‘Italy, eh?’ He grinned, accepting Raphael’s hand in greeting. ‘We all wondered where you’d gone.’
‘Cat is amazing,’ Raphael said, keen to enlighten Jed about his work partner. ‘So wonderful, so organised. I do not know what we would do without her at Fiore Del Lago.’
‘We’ve missed her,’ Jed said, loading the glasses onto his nearly full tray. ‘Still do. Not the same without you around, Cat. Everyone says so.’ His eyes drifted across to Luke who was leaning on the bar, deep in discussion with one of the barmaids.
‘Yes, I miss you all but my life is in Italy now.’ She brazened it out, deliberately ignoring his gesture, feeling unwanted warmth heat her cheeks.
Raphael smiled and reached over to pat her hand. ‘You cannot have her back I am afraid. She is ours now.’
‘Ours?’ Jed arched a curious eyebrow.
‘He means étienne Di Marco, Dad’s old friend. I’m working for him now,’ Cat clarified.
‘Well, it’s nice to see you again, Cat,’ Jed said, lifting his tray, ready to depart. ‘You make sure you look after her, Raphael. She means a lot to us.’
‘And to me.’ Raphael gave Cat one of his stunning smiles and squeezed her hand.
‘What was that all about?’ Jodie frowned as she reached the table and set the drinks down.
‘Oh, just Jed being friendly … and curious,’ Cat replied, watching him make his way back to the bar and begin offloading glasses into the dishwasher.
‘I gather your reluctance to come in here earlier was because you spotted Luke over in the corner,’ Jodie said, watching him over Cat’s shoulder.
‘I didn’t particularly want to run into Tanya,’ Cat admitted. ‘I know a year has passed but there are some things I’d still prefer to avoid while I’m here.’
‘Cat,’ Jodie said crossly, ‘as everyone has been telling you since you arrived, she isn’t here. She never was. But he is …’ She bit her lip. ‘Forget it, drink up your cider.’
Cat made a face as she picked up her glass.
This was supposed to be a pleasant ending to Raphael’s tour of Carrenporth and here was Jodie determined to spoil it by dredging up subjects she’d rather not talk about.
She wondered what had happened during her year away.
If Tanya really wasn’t around any longer did that mean Luke was with someone else?
Is that what her half-spoken comment meant?
Em hadn’t mentioned anything, but then she wouldn’t have.
In her misguided and blinkered way she was determined to bring them back together come hell or high water.
Another girlfriend? Well, Em would soon have her out of the way. She was one determined lady.
Her thoughts skidded to a halt as the door opened and a girl walked in. Dressed in jeans and a matching denim jacket, her thick red hair was tied back in a ponytail. Cat studied her for a moment; she looked familiar.
‘Hey, this cider is pretty good.’ Raphael grinned as he set his glass back on the table but the comment was lost as Cat watched the girl head straight for Luke.
‘Is that the but you were talking about?’ she asked, feeling an unexpected pang of jealousy as the girl fell easily into Luke’s arms and was rewarded with a kiss.
‘If the gossips are to be believed. Personally I’m not so sure.’
‘How long?’
‘No idea.’ Jodie frowned, her eyes like Cat’s, fixed on the new arrival. ‘As I said, it’s merely gossip. Her name is Mia Boscawen and she’s—’
‘Cadan Boscawen, the boatbuilder’s daughter. Yes I know who she is,’ she snapped. ‘Aunt Em told me he worked there but I had no idea he was cosying up to the boss’s daughter as well.’
‘Hey, what’s up with you?’ Jodie gave her a nudge. ‘You don’t want him, leave him alone.’
Cat exhaled loudly and stared into her glass. ‘No, you’re right, I don’t.’
Movement at the bar made her look up. Luke and Mia were leaving to a chorus of goodbyes. She noted the way his arm hung loosely around her shoulder. That was me once, she thought, then quickly wiped away the memory as the door closed behind them.
The next morning after Ruan, étienne and Raphael had escaped for a round of golf, Cat decided it might be a good opportunity to catch up with her grandmother. She found her in a quiet corner of the hotel gardens, seated under a large beech tree, reading. As she approached she saw Jenna look up.
‘Hi there, everything okay?’ she asked, as she found her leather bookmark, marked her place and closed what Cat noticed was a thriller written by one of the guests who had stayed at Champs de Lavande while she was there.
‘Yes, fine. I’m at a bit of a loose end this morning. The men are out, Jodie is busy, so I thought it might be an opportune moment for a catch up. Sorry, I can see you’re reading.’
‘Oh, I think I’m all read out for now.’ Jenna set her book to one side and moved along the bench, patting the empty place next to her. ‘Come and sit down.’
‘Is it any good?’ Cat nodded towards the book as she settled beside her.
‘Not my usual thing. But yes, not bad …’ she picked it up, thumbed through it and smiled ‘… for a freebie.’
‘Ever thought of getting a Kindle? You know a whole library in one small tablet?’
‘I’m an old-fashioned girl, I like books.’ Her grandmother gazed at the cover and ran an affectionate hand over it. ‘Anyway, how’s Italy? Are you enjoying your stay with étienne?’
‘Yes, I love it and I’m fluent in Italian now, mia cara nonna.’
‘Well, I’m impressed, but not nearly as impressed as I am with Raphael.’ Jenna’s blue eyes danced with mischief. ‘Where did you find him?’
Cat smiled at her grandmother’s expression. With his curly jet-black hair and soulful brown eyes he was totally gorgeous … and of course there was that accent.
‘I didn’t. étienne did. He’s the son of a friend, another hotel owner. Raphael is working at Fiore Del Lago as Events Manager. I’m his assistant.’
‘Wish I was forty years younger, I’d give you a run for your money.’ Jenna gave a sly wink.
‘I think his fiancée, Sara, might have something to say about that.’
‘He’s engaged? Oh, Cat, how disappointing. And I thought there was a chance you were together. Oh, wait though,’ she raised a finger, ‘I forgot, there is someone—’
‘Grandma, stop it.’ Cat raised her hands, knowing exactly the direction the conversation was heading. ‘You’ve been talking to Em, haven’t you? And she’s told you about Luke?’
‘She has. I gather they’ve struck up quite a friendship.’
‘Yes, and she’s already tried to persuade me to see him. To make my peace with him as she put it.’
‘I know. She feels he’s had a bad time of it.’
‘Because of me?’ Cat was instantly defensive.
Her grandmother shook her head. ‘No, of course not. From what she said, the situation seems to have simply spiralled out of control. I can see how hurt and angry you must have been and why you chose to react the way you did, leaving Carrenporth so suddenly, but …’
‘I knew there would be a but in there somewhere.’ Cat sighed. The last thing she wanted was another member of her family joining Em’s crusade.
‘Actually, I think Em’s right.’