Chapter Eight
Sylvie followed Alex out to the garden where he lay a large check blanket underneath a low-hanging tree she recognized as a grey willow.
The garden itself was beautiful, larger than she had imagined those belonging to these cottages would be.
So close to the sea you could smell the salt and the seaweed in the air but it didn’t seem to have too much effect on the things growing.
Being September it was coming to the end of the season, but Sylvie could see the raspberry canes from the summer, next to a host of other fruit bushes.
There were remnants of sweet peas that had clambered up trellises throughout the early summer months and now were ready to be cut down and composted.
A huge Cornish palm tree dominated the far corner of the garden where there was a large shed, painted a pale seaside blue, and a woodshed, with all the logs chopped and arranged in higgledy-piggledy rows ready for the coming winter.
She watched as Ellie and Sam came out through the wooden kitchen door, balancing pots of salad bits that Alex had instructed them to bring from the fridge, a green salad, beetroot and goat’s cheese, coleslaw.
Everything was placed in the centre of the blanket and then they all slowly munched their supper, content with the last of the day’s sunshine warming their skin.
Sylvie fell into her usual evening meal routine with Sam, without even thinking. It was a time the two liked to catch up on all that had been done in the day, and today had been so hectic that they hadn’t done so yet.
‘So, Sam, Ellie, have you had a good day? What did you do at school?’
Sometimes Sam would just murmur nothing and sometimes he would tell her in great detail, every possible second covered of what he had been up to. She never knew which it would be, but from his face this evening, it looked like it would be the latter.
‘Oh, we did a wishing tree, didn’t we, Ellie?’
Sam put his pizza down, unlike Ellie who nodded and made an uh-huh-yummmm noise as she gave him a thumbs-up and carried on eating her pizza at an alarming speed.
‘A wishing tree. Sounds cool. How does it work?’ Alex joined in.
‘We all think what we’d wish for most in the world and then we write it on a leaf, a leaf made of paper…’ Sam liked to be accurate, ‘…and hang it on our wishing tree. Miss Winter says mummies and daddies can come and see, so I can show you next school day. That’s not tomorrow, is it?’
‘No! Tomorrow is Sat-ur-day,’ Ellie was interested in that enough to pause eating, ‘and Daddy’s taking me to see Angileeena!’
‘That wasn’t a promise, that was a maybe,’ Alex clarified.
‘What if I make it a wish, then it has to come true.’
‘That’s not exactly how it works,’ Alex qualified and the children looked at him, horrified. As if he had kidnapped the tooth fairy and hidden her in a cupboard somewhere.
‘So, what did you both wish for?’ Sylvie tried to divert them.
‘I wished for an elephant.’
‘OK,’ grinned Sylvie. ‘To have for ever? To see one? What do you want your elephant for?’
‘I want an elephant ’cause we have the same name nearly so we’d have to be friends…’
‘That’s not tru…’ Sam interrupted only to stop, horrified by his own daring.
‘Go on, Sam, what were you going to say?’ Alex prodded gently. Sylvie tried to avoid scrunching her face up, her go-to reaction when she was worried about what might happen next. Sam did not like being put on the spot; he could retreat back into his shell so very easily.
But instead he looked at Alex, swiped a quick glance at Ellie and spoke.
‘Just that I know another Sam from gym club and I didn’t like him…’
Ellie scowled.
‘…but I ’spect your elephant will be different, Ellie.’
‘Of course it will. And we’re going to be friends, and it can sleep in the shed, and it will give me rides to school and then everyone will be like…
Ellie, I want to be friends with you ’cause you’ve got an elephant and I’ll say I’m sorry, I might let you stroke him but he’s my elephant and he only likes me and Sam, so there.
’ Finally, she stopped to take a breath, Alex looked like he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do or say in this situation and Sylvie had to fight back the laughter, both at Ellie’s conviction that this was going to happen, and any day now; and at Alex’s fear that that might be the case!
‘That sounds great, I can see why you’d want an elephant, Ellie. Although it would be a long way from home if it came to Cornwall. He might get a bit chilly.’
Ellie narrowed her eyes at Sylvie. The child did not like to be challenged.
‘I’d give him a blanket.’
‘Good idea, we might have to put lots together, so it was big enough. What about Sam…’ Sylvie made her tone gentle, ‘…did you have a wish?’
‘Yes.’
‘Did you want to tell us?’
‘Um… um… do you have a wish, Mummy? Alex?’
‘Alex?’ Sylvie echoed her son.
‘Oh, I don’t know. I’m pretty happy with things, I don’t know what I’d wish for. I suppose I should go big, I don’t know, world peace? Yep, I’m going to use my wish on world peace.’
‘That’s cheating, we all want world peace, don’t we?’ Sylvie laughed loudly and the children nodded vigorously, although they didn’t really know what she meant.
‘It’s not cheating.’
‘OK, it’s not, and it’s a very admirable wish. But what about something more… more personal.’
‘Oh, ah, I don’t know. Do you know what, actually I do. I’ve had an idea bubbling and I don’t know if I’m ready to verbalize it yet. I don’t want to jinx it before I’ve seen if I can get it off the ground.’
‘Maybe we can help you get it off the ground.’
‘Maybe you can.’ Alex found himself giving her a glance that was far too flirtatious.
OK, he was going to have to explain now, give it some context, so he didn’t look like a complete creep.
‘I’ve been toying with doing some fundraising, serious fundraising to help kids caught up in civil war.
I’m just not sure how yet, it’s the beginnings of a plan, a kernel, that’s all. ’
‘That sounds like an ace plan. I’d love to help if I could. Let me know when it takes shape and I’ll help in any way I can.’
‘Only if you promise not to be bossy.’
‘I can’t promise that.’ Sylvie scrunched her face up mischievously.
‘Yes. Don’t be bossy to my daddy.’
‘No, Ellie, I was teasing, of course she wouldn’t. She was being helpful and I was just joking. I shouldn’t have said that and thank you for standing up for me but you mustn’t be rude to our guests.’
Ellie didn’t look convinced.
‘I promise not to boss your daddy about.’ Sylvie smiled.
‘OK. What about you, Sam’s mum, do you have any wishes?’
‘Do you, Mum?’
‘Yes, I suppose I do. Although now I feel bad because they’re pretty selfish compared to Alex’s.
I’d really like to get the chance to learn more about Berber, North African, dance – it’s always fascinated me.
I was going to be part of an educational exchange thing when I was working but then became pregnant and someone else had to go instead…
’ She was aware that Sam was watching and listening to every word.
‘…and I had my baby, which was the best thing in the world, far better than any dance stuff, and now I’m the happiest mummy ever. ’
‘That’s good, it’s nice to be a happy mummy.’ Alex smiled down at Sam before continuing, ‘But you’d still like to explore it? What sort?’
‘Yes, that’s hard to answer, there are so many different types and I guess that’s part of what fascinates me.
There are three main types of Berber folk music, and the dances are often tied to rituals and have meaning.
They can be to celebrate masculinity or femininity, obviously some are for ceremonies such as weddings, some have been repurposed and in modern use have become quite political.
They even have a dance for exorcism and their musicians are seen as doctors for the body and soul.
It’s fascinating, I love it, I love the way dance is an embedded and valued part of culture, I could ramble on about it for ever.
I used to dream about it. I guess it’s just an itch that hasn’t been scratched. ’
‘I like dance too. Is that your best wish?’ Ellie asked. They were obviously no longer mortal enemies.
‘Hmm, I guess whilst I’m wishing, a house in the village for me and Sam would be great, oh, and a new job to help pay for it. That’s three wishes. Am I allowed that many or does it make me greedy?’
‘Oh no, that’s OK, three wishes is what it is in stories,’ Sam reassured her.
‘That’s true.’
‘I wished…’ Sam spoke quietly but was obviously now happy to share, ‘I wished Ellie would be my friend for ever.’
‘Course I am! For ever and ever and ever and ever and ever.’ Ellie’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and then pulling herself together rubbed his shoulder quite hard as she answered.
Hard enough to almost unbalance him. ‘Wanna go play teddies? We could take them some of your pizza if you don’t want it. ’
‘I’m full, they can have it.’
‘Come on then, race you.’ And she bounded up, grabbed the pizza crusts from his plate and hurled herself into the house in typical Ellie fashion.
‘Glass of wine?’
‘Oh, thanks but no, my car’s at school, I should get Sam home. Let me help you clear up, and then we’ll make a move.’
‘But Ellie’s teddies are starving! How could you be so selfish? How about we have a coffee – I’ve got decaff as well – and then they can have an extra half-hour, we can enjoy the last of the sun and I’ll clear up on my own later.’
‘That doesn’t sound very fair.’
‘What if I make it a wish?’
‘Really.’
Alex raised his hands. ‘Yeah, I know. But Ells is having such a nice time, I reckon half an hour and she’ll be ready for bed, so you spare me the horror of her jumping on me demanding stuff by letting her play with Sam instead.’
‘So, you’re saying me staying for a drink would be a kindness, charity even?’
‘Ha, yes. That’s it. I’m in need of all the help I can get. I love her, but oh my! Will you help?’
‘You make the coffee, I’ll wipe down some surfaces and you’re on.’
‘OK. And then we’re going to work out how to get you a new job! I’ve already got an idea.’
Coffee made, they headed back to the blanket. The sun was beginning to set and the sky was alive with the boldest pinks and oranges there could be. This really was heavenly, she couldn’t remember feeling this relaxed in the evening since, well, since for ever.
‘So, earlier you said you needed work and ideally a home in the village.’
‘Yup,’ said Sylvie, not really willing to give any more away and wondering where he was going with this.
‘So, if you were a professional ballerina in London before you moved back down, what do you do now? Or are you concentrating on Sam and not working at all at the moment?’
‘I’m definitely prioritizing Sam but with him in school that gives me a bit more flexibility, and obviously up until recently I was helping care for my mum.
But I do teach a couple of classes as well – I have two evening classes in adult self-defence and I run a couple of ballet classes for little ones on a Saturday as well, both at Roscarrock leisure centre.
In fact, that’s how I know Rosy Winter a little bit – she took one of my defence classes a few years ago. ’
‘Self-defence from ballet seems a bit of a stretch.’
‘I can see why you’d think that, but the truth is I did ballet, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu from a really young age, and they do both have quite a lot in common in terms of discipline and flexibility. I went into ballet professionally but I still do the martial arts, still do gradings and stuff.’
‘What grade are you?’
‘Um… I’m a black belt third dan in taekwondo and fourth dan in jiu-jitsu.’
‘So you could completely kick my arse if you needed to?’
‘I could completely kick your arse any time, big man.’
‘Do you know what?’ Alex held her eyes and she couldn’t bring herself to look away.
Those eyes really were something. Glancing at them was enough to make her tingle, but staring into them – a girl could get utterly lost. Alex continued speaking and it took all her self-control to concentrate.
‘I believe you utterly. I’m no fool, there’s no way I’m putting it to the test. OK, so what would you like to do if you had your own way? ’
‘I love teaching, I love little ones…’
‘You’re a natural with them, it’s impossible not to notice.’
‘Oh, I don’t know about that, but I do enjoy their company so. Your Ellie is a joy, she’s a real firecracker. She’s done Sam such a world of good in one short week, I’m very glad she’s in his life.’
‘She’s certainly something. And I’m very grateful Sam is in her life too. So, you want to teach young children?’
‘Not as a teacher teacher. I don’t want to go and do my training but I would love to teach ballet properly, here in Cornwall.’
‘Well, why don’t you do that then?’
‘I’m hoping to. When I started teaching my ballet classes I rang the village hall and it’s booked absolutely solid, no appropriate slots at all, so I needed to find another location and Roscarrock was the easiest. But I’d really like to start something locally, rather than always driving miles away.
Plus, staying local would mean I could increase my hours and ultimately I’d like to build up from running classes to having my very own ballet school – but that’s my ten-year plan, not for right now. ’
‘Oh, you are speaking to the right man, I do love a plan. But first steps, what about seeing if you could rent the school hall, use that as a community space? The village hall doesn’t have to be the only option. You should talk to Rosy about it.’
‘That’s not a bad idea.’
‘You know who you really need, who could round up a veritable army of customers desperate for their little ones to study with a proper ballerina?’
‘Don’t say it. Rosy has already said it.’
‘You need…’
‘No! Don’t! Black belt, remember. I swear to God I’ll suffocate you with this cushion.’
‘You. Need.’ Alex brought up two cushions in front of his face to defend himself. ‘Marion.’
Sylvie attacked him with the remaining cushion, laughing so much that her tummy began to hurt, Alex laughing alongside her as the tears ran down her face.