Chapter Thirty-Seven
It had been a week since her meetings with the villagers and things were proceeding nicely. Paddy walked up slowly from the cottage to the house. There was a site meeting going on with the subcontractors, and whilst Michelle normally handled that for her, she had mentioned that Hal was going to be present and, try as she might, Paddy couldn’t stay away. A group of contractors were out by the barns and Michelle seemed to have the whole show in hand. She saw Paddy and gave her a big wave as the men turned to see who was approaching. Hal’s face lit up, and the two of them were still smiling at each other when Michelle coughed and introduced the subcontractors. They were discussing some details of the renovations, and Hal excused himself, taking Paddy to one side.
‘To be honest. I’m not sure why I’m here. Michelle said she needed my input on something, but when I got here, she said I may as well join in the site inspection. Do you have any idea why she called me?’
Paddy sent her matchmaking manager little daggers and then turned to Hal, artfully declaring that she had no idea. She wasn’t supposed to be at the meeting either, she was just on her afternoon walk. If he wanted to join her?
She wanted Hal to see she wasn’t going to be difficult. Each time they had met she had worked hard to not mention his wedding or Bianca and keep the topic firmly on Baby. It wasn’t easy though. The production company’s envelope sat sullen and unopened on her mantlepiece. She kept it in full view, so she wouldn’t forget what a fool she was, and that Hal wasn’t worth breaking her heart over.
It felt impossible, but if she was going to stay here then she needed to get through this, and learn to talk to Hal without becoming an emotional wreck. ‘I thought you should know I’ve decided to settle in Cornwall. At least for now. There’s lots to do in the village and I think Baby will enjoy living by the sea.’
Hal stopped walking, and taking her hand kissed it, beaming at her as though she was a miracle. Alarmed at her surge of emotion she snatched her hand away in case she embarrassed herself. Mortified, he apologised. ‘I’m so sorry, that was wrong of me, but that is wonderful news. I can’t tell you how happy that makes me. Come on, come back to the car and let me show you what I brought you.’
Her heart was in her mouth, this was hopeless. How could she stay in Cornwall when he made her feel like this? But what else could she do? Morosely, she walked back to the car and looked on curiously as he pulled a large wetsuit from out of the boot.
‘It’s Dad’s old suit. I wondered if you could have it cut down around the arms and legs to fit you. There are some great workshops on the north coast that might be able to do something with it. I was just thinking you and he have the same sort of girth at the moment.’
Paddy laughed. She wasn’t sure if this was wonderful or insulting. But it was thoughtful.
‘I could drive you over there. Why are you laughing? Oh God, is this really rude of me? I was just thinking of you getting cold and there are jellyfish in the water at the mo, and I didn’t want you to get stung.’
‘No, I don’t want to get stung either but the problem with any wetsuit, no matter how ‘fancy’,’ she waved at the suit that looked like it might have come from the ark, ‘is putting the damn things on and then getting them off again. My levels of flexibility are diminishing daily. I fear I might put it on and then end up giving birth in it because I could never get out again.’
He returned the suit to the boot of his car and promised her he would think of a solution. Michelle and the contractors came around to the front of the house and reluctantly Paddy called out to them. As the meeting came to a close Hal looked as if he was about to speak, but then paused and, saying goodbye to all, he drove off followed by the two contractors.
‘Well, that went well,’ beamed Michelle.
‘Oh good, when can they start?’
‘I mean you two, all smiles and you kept looking at each other when the other had turned away.’
Paddy bit her lip; she didn’t want to sound cross but this wouldn’t do.
‘Please don’t try to matchmake. You know he’s married.’
‘Are you sure?’ From what she had seen Hal behaved nothing like a newly married man.
‘One hundred per cent,’ Paddy snapped, then realising she was taking it out on the wrong person, she smiled and apologised. ‘Now, show me these workshops.’