Chapter Six
“The Great Escape”
With daylight came perspective, and Ellie found she was better able to relegate the resurfaced emotions around Will fairly well, determining to keep so busy she had no time to think.
‘How is it Friday already?’ She addressed her reflection in the hallway mirror as she tied up her hair before flying out the door to collect a protesting Liam, who insisted that, at nearly eleven, he was old enough to walk to school alone.
Watching him charge ahead, Jason skipping by her side, Ellie couldn’t help but agree, but Nicki had concerns over leaving her eldest in charge of his brother.
On her return to Westerleigh, Ellie eyed the improvised workstation in the orangery, her heart swelling with gratitude towards Anna and Oliver, who had made it so much easier than it could have been.
Flicking through her photos, Ellie’s lips curved upwards.
She appeared to have a growing fascination with the local scenery.
She put the camera aside, adding the finishing touches to a few cards she’d made the other day, dropping on the decorative pearly ink dots and stacking the cards in the slots of the stand to dry.
She had a vague notion of putting together a portfolio to present to the local book shop.
Once she’d stopped for lunch, however, the more pressing dilemma of income resurfaced.
As she munched on a hastily made sandwich, Ellie scoured Instagram for local businesses.
It wasn’t worth approaching the hotels or wedding venues, as they would have already secured services for any events likely to occur during Ellie’s stay.
The same applied to school shoots, which often took place in the autumn.
There was no point doing posts and reels until she had a grasp on what might work in this small community.
‘Mini-sessions,’ she mused as she swallowed the last morsel and headed to the dishwasher with the plate. ‘But first I need a few evocative headshots.’
Feeling inspired, Ellie started to tap notes into her phone. Then, hearing a sound, she glanced over her shoulder.
‘Hey, how was your visit?’ Ellie looked to Anna’s left and right as she hovered in the doorway. ‘You seem to have forgotten something.’
Anna grinned. ‘It was great. Gemma loves the twins, plus there’s quite the menagerie out there for them to chatter at. We just got back, and Oliver didn’t feel like writing, so he’s taken them out with Dougal. It’s such a beautiful day.’
They both looked out across the bay, which was bathed in soft light today, a weak sun trying its best to peer through hazy wisps of gossamer cloud and dusting the turning trees clinging to the steep hillsides with gold.
‘How will it be as a place to work long-term?’
‘Perfect. I’m so grateful to you both.’ Ellie wrapped her arms around her middle and turned to stare out of the open patio doors. A yacht had just turned to approach the embrace of the cove, and her mind fled back to the recent sighting of Will.
‘But?’
Ellie shook her head. ‘I’m being stupid. I just wish… oh, I don’t even know what I wish!’
Anna rested a gentle hand on her arm. ‘This chap from the past?’
‘I saw the article announcing him as the producer for this TV thing, so now I’m dreading coming face to face with him.
But there’s this stupid—’ Ellie broke off, huffing out a breath.
‘Idiotic, damn, bloody, ridiculous slither of hope that keeps tapping me on the shoulder, saying perhaps our paths have crossed for a reason.’
Anna eyed her with sympathy.
‘I can’t see that he’d be in the cove much. If they aren’t filming until spring, I mean. I suppose there’s a risk he’ll stay at the manor, knowing the family, but the entire production is based in and around the Fowey area.’
All very true, but the trepidation remained, and as Anna left to unpack the overnight bags, Ellie set off to collect the boys from school, her mind as conflicted as ever over what the coming weeks might bring.
‘No change,’ Nicki admitted after ending her most recent call with Hamish.
‘Give it time. It’s only been a few days since he got to his parents. Let him rest, give his body time to recover. Come on. I need you.’
‘Why? Where are we going?’
Ellie tugged Nicki out the front door.
‘What about the boys?’
‘We’re literally going a hundred yards down the lane. They’ll be fine for five minutes.’
They fetched up by a stretch of low wall, running along a gap between the closely huddled, pastel-painted cottages, revealing a perfectly framed view of the bay, with both Westerleigh Cottage and Harbourwatch acting as sentinels, perched on their respective cliffs at the entrance to Polkerran Point.
‘Here, the sun’s in just the right place.’
She urged Nicki to lean against the wall, taking quick shots face on, directing her to turn her head, then back, letting the breeze lift her blonde hair.
‘Now swing back towards me. Perfect.’
Continuing to click away, Ellie started to tell Nicki about her latest encounter with Mrs Lovelace, whereby she’d asked her how life was in the ‘organery’, and captured Nicki’s laughter.
‘Okay, serious now. Just look over at the harbour. Turn your shoulder a bit further towards me. Think about something special.’ Ellie moved around, capturing the emotions flickering across her cousin’s face. ‘There. Done.’
‘Why were we doing that?’ Nicki queried as they returned to the cottage.
‘You’re going to be my poster girl while I try to kick-start some local business.’
Nicki’s phone rang, and she threw Ellie a sceptical look as she answered.
Ellie went to check on the boys who were, as she’d predicted, oblivious to their having left the building for five minutes.
Back in the kitchen, however, Nicki chewed on her lip, and Ellie’s heart quickened.
‘Is Hamish okay?’
Nicki blinked. ‘What? Oh, yes. Sorry. Look, we’ve just had a last-minute invite to dine up at the Point Hotel tomorrow. With that Will, as producer of this upcoming production? He wants to talk to some key locals.’
A sense of foreboding crept through Ellie, and she sank onto the nearest kitchen chair.
‘How are we invited?’
‘Well, we aren’t, exactly. There were a couple of places spare and my colleague, Kate, offered them to me.
She’s organised it, private dining room, low key, strictly no press.
Look, I know you won’t want to go, but I’d love the chance.
’ Nicki’s tone was hopeful. ‘The food is exceptional, and it’d be fun to be out, dress up for a change. ’
Ellie sent her a comforting look.
‘You go. I’ll stay here with the boys.’
Nicki frowned. ‘Are you sure?’
More than you’ll ever know!
‘Go for it, Nicki. You’ll have so few chances to go out in the coming weeks. I’d just rather not.’
A reassured Nicki headed to the fridge to start preparing supper, and Ellie pretended to check the photos she’d taken, but her head was spinning. The hunger to lay eyes on Will had taken hold with a vengeance, but being ignored by him was more than she could handle.
The following evening, Ellie stood in the lane outside Westerleigh, waving off an excited Nicki.
Offering to babysit had been the perfect excuse, but despite the demands of two energetic boys, once they were in bed, her mind took the flying leap across the bay to the hotel. She tried losing herself in an old film showing on an obscure channel, but it wasn’t much help.
‘Hey, I’m back!’ Nicki called as she came into the kitchen some hours later, and Ellie joined her with relief.
‘How did it go?’
Did she even want to know?
‘It was fun,’ Nicki declared as she filled the kettle and reached for the tea caddy. ‘And that Will created quite the impression.’
Ellie essayed a nonchalant, ‘Oh?’
‘Yeah, he was very unhappy about the leak to the local paper the other week, emphasising he wants to ensure the mayhem won’t extend to the cove.
He’s sending the cast and crew to Fowey for accommodation next spring.
However, he’s aware of Polkerran’s proximity and, by limiting possible trade in a quieter season, hopes to support the community as best he can in other ways. ’
‘How’s he going to do that?’
‘Making use of the hotel where appropriate, for meetings and dinners. More discreet, he anticipates. He seems paranoid about publicity.’
Ellie frowned. ‘Won’t he need it, though, when it comes to promoting the programme?’
‘It felt personal rather than professional,’ Nicki mused as she poured hot water into two mugs.
‘He clearly doesn’t want press snooping around the cove, either, and he’s planning on using Polkerran’s bakeries and cafes to supply lunches – despite them having access to a catering truck – and channelling some funds into local charities. ’
Ellie was filled with a deep sense of contentment. Will had been thoughtful back then, the most gentlemanly man she’d ever come across. It warmed her heart to know that, despite the fame and fortune, he appeared to have retained his integrity.
Once back in her room at Westerleigh Cottage, Ellie stared out of the window at the lights shining through the fir trees in the grounds of the hotel at the very top of Polkerran Point.
Her heart clenched in despair. She may have escaped being in the same room as Will tonight, but she couldn’t avoid him forever.
Fate was not being particularly kind, Ellie mused, as she closed the curtains on the view. If only she could do the same on her troublesome thoughts.
On Monday, the usual crowd descended on Anna, and Ellie realised she’d begun to enjoy their company. It was an entertaining break from looking after the boys and working on her designs.
Ellie met Matt and Gemma when they called at Westerleigh, trying not to stare at the once-famous musician. They were an adorable couple, and clearly very attached to Anna, Oliver and the twins.
She also enjoyed chatting with Jean when she stopped to get ice creams for Liam and Jason, and often had a coffee with Phoenix after the school drop-off, discussing their mutual love of art.
It was a gentle pace of life, undemanding, yet Ellie’s emotions felt stretched, as though they were on too small a canvas in a frame unable to contain them.
One morning, after Ellie dropped the boys at school, she popped into the book shop, which sold stationery and other small gifts, with a sample of her cards, leaving them with the friendly girl behind the counter, who said she’d show them to the proprietor.
Stepping back into the street, Ellie looked around. It was quiet now they were into October. A man was busy digging out the fading plants in a repurposed rowing boat on the harbourfront, and a couple of fishermen in yellow overalls were unloading crates of fish from a nearby vessel.
Despite wrinkling her nose at the fishy odour drifting her way, Ellie walked over to watch the proceedings, which was her undoing.
‘Hey, Ellie!’
She spun around. Matt had emerged from Karma and crossed the road towards her, and she took a moment to appreciate the absurdity of someone from a band she’d idolised as a teen being within her acquaintance.
‘Hi,’ she began, but the smile froze on her lips. Will had emerged from the cafe too, tugging his hat firmly in place and his attention on his phone, but as he neared Matt, he looked up.
‘You’ve not met,’ Matt continued, blissfully unaware of the undercurrents as anxious green eyes met unfathomable deepest, darkest brown.
We knew each other… once.
‘Hi.’ Will’s tone was the politely dismissive one of following courtesy against his present inclination, and Ellie raised her chin, holding his gaze firmly under the rim of the hat.
Fine. She could play that game too.
She gave a cursory nod. ‘Sorry, got to dash. I’ll leave you two in peace.
’ Sending Matt a warm but apologetic smile, Ellie turned away, willing her limbs to move steadily, but not too fast, unaware she’d forgotten to breathe until she turned the corner towards the church, whereby she sank back against the wall of a small tea shop and drew in a sharp bolt of air.
‘Well, that was fun,’ Ellie muttered, pushing away from the support of the wall and walking briskly towards the church.
She hadn’t explored it yet and now seemed the perfect time to make a plea for some divine intervention.
‘Well, at least it’s over.’ Ellie picked up a plate, giving it a thorough dry before placing it in the rack on the pine dresser, but Nicki merely sent her a doubtful look.
‘I assume you mean the first proper meeting rather than the entire memory that seems to have haunted you for years? I can’t believe I didn’t know about this.’
Huffing, Ellie selected another plate. ‘I buried it deep.’ Or so I thought .
‘And this is just one of those awful coincidences. I doubt our paths will cross again if they aren’t filming until next year.
’ Ellie’s brow furrowed as she stacked the plates in the dresser, then placed the tea towel on the rail to dry.
‘What I don’t get is why Will is in Polkerran now. ’
‘Maybe staying with the Tremaynes is convenient? They were certainly close back then.’
Not wanting to think about it, Ellie inspected her nails. She had to stop biting them. She hadn’t done that in years…
Nicki emptied the bowl of fading suds into the sink. ‘He seems obsessively publicity averse, more so even than Matt. In fact, they were heads together a lot at the dinner. Probably comparing notes.’
Recalling online reports of fans hounding him, Ellie sympathised with Will. Avoiding notice would certainly account for the hat pulled down over his eyes…
Then, a sudden thought occurred to Ellie.
‘Did Will recognise you? You pretty much disappeared after you met Hamish, but he saw you at the caravan a couple of times.’
Nicki leaned against the sink, drying her hands. Then she sighed. ‘Look, I wasn’t sure whether to tell you or not…’
Ellie’s skin grew cold. ‘What?’
‘I thought I’d test the ground for you.’
‘Oh God. What did you say?’
Nicki laid the damp towel on the radiator. ‘Nothing, really. Just when Kate introduced us, I said I remembered him, that I was your cousin, and I believe he’d seen us in the pub the other day.’
‘Nicki!’
‘I told you I wasn’t sure whether to mention it to you!’
Ellie held Nicki’s gaze, her heart flapping like the pillowcases on the washing line outside. ‘Go on. Hit me with it.’