Twenty-six Chamomile – Energy in Adversity
Twenty-six
Chamomile – Energy in Adversity
It’s all very well coming up with an idea, but how on earth am I going to bring it to fruition, I wonder as I tap on the cover of my notebook with the end of my pen, and take another sip of my orange juice.
I’m sitting in the Merry Mermaid waiting for Amber. This will be our first proper meeting to discuss the wedding since I put my idea to Katie and Jonathan earlier today. The shop had been unusually busy after they’d left us – looking an awful lot happier than they’d been when they arrived – and we’d not had a chance to discuss my plan any further.
My idea was for Katie and Jonathan to hold their wedding at Trecarlan Castle. I was sure I could persuade the Parish Council to agree. Why not? The place wasn’t being used for anything, and it would be a fantastic setting for a wedding.
I smile to myself as I think what Stan would make of the idea. I know he would love it. He liked nothing better than to see Trecarlan filled with people; he always said the house was miserable on its own. I knew he would agree to my idea if I could only ask him. But I didn’t know where Stan was, and no one else seemed to know either. So I was just going to have to try to persuade Caroline and the rest the Parish Council to give it the green light in his absence.
‘Evening, Poppy. On your own tonight?’ Woody asks, standing hesitantly by my table in his civilian clothes: a navy blue sweater, dark blue jeans, and a blue-and-white check shirt.
‘Yes – I mean no. I’m expecting Amber in a bit.’
Woody’s eyes light up at the mention of her name.
‘Why don’t you sit down with me, Woody?’ I say, grinning at him. ‘She’ll be here soon.’
Woody tries unsuccessfully to look cool about my invite. ‘That’s nice,’ he says, hovering by the seat next to me. ‘But it really doesn’t bother me either way, you know?’ He rubs the palm of his hand over his hair to smooth it down, and glances towards the door.
‘Yeah, right, whatever you say, Woody.’ I wink.
He pretends to be shocked, then drops the fake expression. ‘OK, you’ve found me out,’ he says, sliding into the seat next to me. ‘I do find your American friend a very attractive lady.’
I just adore Woody’s style, he’s very… proper. Yes, that’s exactly what it is. Polite and proper should be Woody’s middle names.
‘I’m sorry, how impolite of me, can I get you a drink?’ he asks, looking at my glass.
‘No, I’m fine just now, thank you,’ I say, lifting my half-drunk orange juice.
‘So what are you up to?’ He nods at my notebook.
‘Ah, it’s a long story.’
‘I like stories, why don’t you tell me?’ says Woody, glancing towards the door in case Amber has arrived.
I need as many people onside as possible if I’m going to persuade the council to let me do this. And it wouldn’t do any harm to have our local police constable as one of them. So I tell Woody about the couple and their setback, and my idea for the wedding.
‘What a lovely idea,’ he says when I’ve finished. ‘You have my blessing. I love a good wedding, me. I always end up crying though. Ruins my hard man reputation.’
I smile at him. ‘Yes, I bet it does.’
‘So how far have you got with your plans?’ he asks, sliding my notebook across the table. ‘Oh,’ he says, when he sees the blank page. ‘It’s still in the early stages then?’
I grimace. ‘The thing is, I’ve never done anything like this before. I really don’t know where to start.’
‘Teamwork,’ Woody says knowingly. ‘That’s what they taught us in the army. In a team: Together Everyone Achieves More.’
‘Cool, I like it. So you were in the army too?’ I ask, surprised by this. Gentle Woody as an officer of the law I can about believe. But a soldier?
‘I was before I joined the force. Not for too long, mind,’ he adds. ‘We weren’t really suited, the army and I.’
‘Yes, I can imagine that… I mean, I think you’re much better in charge of a small seaside community like St Felix. It suits you.’
‘Do you think?’ Woody looks surprised.
‘Yes. A place like this, you have to know how to treat people to get the best out of them. You need a delicate touch.’
Woody nods thoughtfully. ‘Yes, I like that. I do have a delicate touch. My sarge at police training college always said I was a soft touch. I guess that’s why they sent me here.’
I smile at him again. ‘You bet it is.’
Lovely Woody was definitely one of my favourite people here in St Felix. Aside from being very proper, he was also kind, and very gentle and understanding with everyone who needed his help. Even though Woody didn’t have a hope of ever preventing any crime here in the town, or achieving the air of authority he longed for, everyone knew Woody, and more importantly everyone loved him.
‘You were saying something about team work,’ I remind him.
‘Ah yes. I may not have been here in the town that long, Poppy, but during that time I have learnt that places like St Felix run on committees, organisations, societies and the like. You won’t get far without them onside.’
‘You mean like the Women’s Guild?’
‘Yes, and the Parish Council.’ He screws up his face. ‘They’re a tough nut to crack. Even I’ve had problems with them. Me, in my position!’
‘I’m not looking forward to dealing with them – especially Caroline. I don’t think she likes me very much.’
‘I don’t think Caroline likes many people,’ says Woody. ‘But you can deal with her, Poppy, I know you can. And do you know how I know?’
I shake my head.
He leans in towards me. ‘Because you already have someone very important on your side.’
‘I do?’
‘Yes.’ Woody nods keenly. ‘Who in a small town such as this commands the most admiration and respect from people?’
‘Erm…’
‘Who do people look up to and listen to when they talk?’
‘Clarence?’ I try, hoping I’ve got it right with our local priest.
Woody looks dismayed, but carries on regardless: ‘Yes… Father Claybourne is definitely one of your allies, and …’
There’s more than one?
‘Jake?’ I ask, shrugging my shoulders.
Woody tries not to let his irritation show as he leans back in his chair.
‘Yes, I’m sure Jake has your back too. But I feel the description applied more to myself than the local flower grower.’
‘Oh! Well, it goes without saying, Woody, surely?’ I reach forward and grab his hand. ‘Of course I know you’re on my side.’
Woody blushes and looks down at my hand holding his. ‘Whatever I can do to help – you know that?’
‘Ooh, what are you two up to!’ Amber calls as she appears behind us, peeping over our shoulders.
Woody immediately snatches his hand away and leaps up, knocking over his chair in the process. ‘Nothing! Nothing at all, Amber!’
Amber grins. ‘As if, Woody. Poppy only has eyes for Jake anyway!’
Amber picks up Woody’s chair for him and heads around to the other side of the table. ‘Thank you, Woody,’ she says, as he dives in front of her and whisks her chair back from the table. ‘Very kind.’
I stare at her across the table while Woody enquires if Amber would like a drink.
‘Guinness, please, Woody,’ she replies, and he heads off to the bar. What?’ she asks innocently, seeing my glare.
‘What you said about Jake,’ I hiss. ‘Didn’t you mean Ash?’
‘Oops, sorry, slip of the tongue!’ Amber grins, not looking at all embarrassed she’s said the wrong name.
‘Will you stop trying to get me and Jake together! We’re just friends and you know it. There’s nothing more going on between us and there never will be.’
‘Sure, I understand,’ Amber says, not looking as though she believes me.
‘It’s the truth!’
‘And you know 100 per cent that Jake feels that way?’
‘Feels that way about what?’
We both turn in the direction of the deep, gentle voice joining our conversation.
‘Hey, Jake,’ Amber manages first. As she turns back she pulls a face at me that Jake over her shoulder can’t see.
‘Feels that way about… women buying men drinks!’ I recover, breathing an internal sigh of relief. ‘Amber said you were still against it, and I said you were fine about it after I bought you one last night.’
Jake looks at us, puzzled, as Woody arrives with Amber’s Guinness.
‘Oh, Jake, you’re here.’ Woody glances with dismay at the pint he’s just bought for Amber. ‘Can I get you anything?’
‘A pint of my usual would be great, thanks, mate.’ Jake pats Woody on the shoulder and sits down in his seat.
Woody sighs and heads back to the bar.
‘So, no Ash tonight?’ Jake asks, casually picking up a bar menu from the middle of the table.
‘No, he’s at a stag party in Newquay,’ I tell him, feeling most awkward discussing Ash with him. ‘He’ll be back tomorrow.’
‘Nice. Can’t remember the last time I went to a stag do,’ Jake says, browsing the menu. ‘I’m sure he’ll have fun.’
I glance at Amber. She grimaces.
‘Yes, I’m sure he will,’ I say tersely. Obviously Jake isn’t at all bothered about Ash. My assumptions last night had been spot on.
‘So, are you getting food tonight?’ Jake asks, looking up from his menu.
‘Erm…’ I turn to Amber.
She nods enthusiastically.
‘Yes, why not?’ I say, determined not to feel so awkward around Jake. ‘We only had time for a quick snack at lunch, the shop was really busy today. I notice Richie has an ale pie on his specials board tonight, that’s always good.’
‘Sounds good to me!’ Jake says, putting down the menu. ‘What about you, Amber?’
‘I’m vegetarian,’ Amber says. ‘I’ll have whatever the veggie option is.’
‘Don’t you find that limiting when you go out to eat?’ Jake asks with interest. ‘I admire what you’re doing and everything – and I love animals, don’t get me wrong – but I’d miss my meat if I had to give it up.’
‘It depends where you go. Most restaurants have at least one non-meat option on the menu these days, if not more.’
Jake nods. ‘Well, good on you. It’s a great thing you do for our animal friends.’
‘Talking of which, where’s Miley tonight?’ I ask, suddenly missing her. Basil is back at the cottage, snuggled up in his bed. But Miley’s unlikely to be doing the same.
‘Bronte is making some sort of collage tonight for her art project at school, and Miley loves sticking stuff with glue. We figure it’s best to give her something we don’t mind being stuck down to play with, rather than finding our socks stuck to the walls when she’s a bit bored one day.’
Amber and I are both laughing as Woody returns with Jake’s drink.
‘Cheers, Woody,’ Jake says, holding up his pint of beer. ‘My round next.’
We all decide on, then order, some food from Rita at the bar, then we begin chatting amiably around the pub table while we wait. The earlier awkwardness I thought might be there between me and Jake seems to melt away, and Woody and Amber are getting on very well too.
‘Poppy is going to try and hold a wedding at Trecarlan,’ Woody tells Jake. ‘And lovely Amber is going to do all their beautiful flowers.’ He smiles dreamily at Amber.
‘Really?’ Jake asks, looking at me in astonishment. ‘How on earth are you going to do that – it’s derelict, isn’t it?’
‘No. It’s just not lived in. Mad Stan, the previous owner, had to go into a home when he couldn’t live there any more.’
‘ Mad Stan?’ Jake enquires. ‘I’ve never heard him called that before.’
‘That’s what the locals used to call him. Stan was a bit… eccentric, I guess you’d call it. How long have you lived in St Felix if you don’t remember Stan?’
Jake thinks. ‘Erm, we moved here about seven years ago when I got the flower business, and we were here two years before… well, you know.’
I nod hurriedly. ‘Perhaps that’s why you don’t remember Stan then. He must have left before you arrived.’
‘Stan sounds fabulous,’ Amber says. ‘I love elderly people – they have so many interesting stories to tell.’
‘You’d love Stan then, he was always telling stories. Not all of which I think were true.’
‘You still haven’t explained why you’re going to hold a wedding at the castle though,’ Jake persists.
I quickly fill him in on what happened in the shop earlier.
‘Well, good luck with that,’ he says, looking doubtful. ‘I can’t see Caroline letting you hold a wedding there.’
‘Why not? She doesn’t own Trecarlan.’
‘You’d think she did the way she carries on. She’s very protective of it. But then Caroline seems to have taken it upon herself to be in charge of all of St Felix.’
‘Well, not this time,’ I say. ‘Trecarlan was Stan’s house, not hers, and I intend to breathe some life back into the old place with or without Caroline Harrington-Smythe’s permission!’
We talk about the wedding and Trecarlan some more, deciding that if I am going to try and hold a wedding at the castle next month, not only will I need the blessing of the Parish Council, but the help of some of the townsfolk of St Felix too.
‘You need to hold a meeting,’ Woody suggests. ‘The people here are very helpful, and I know they’ll chip in, like they did with your shop.’
Jake nods. ‘He’s right, whatever you might dislike about living in a tight-knit community, the people here always try to help each other when someone’s in need.’
‘That’s what I love about this place,’ Amber says affectionately, ‘the closeness. Coming from New York, it’s like a different world.’
‘Do you miss it?’ Jake asks. ‘Being here in little old St Felix can hardly compare to the Big Apple.’
‘I miss the energy,’ Amber says. ‘Nothing can compare to the buzz of Manhattan. And of course I miss my friends and family over there, big time. And I’ll definitely miss New York in the fall this year.’
‘Is it pretty?’ Woody asks. ‘I’ve never been to America.’
‘Oh yes, very. If you go upstate, the colours are even more intense and beautiful than in the city.’
‘It sounds amazing, Amber,’ Woody says, hanging off her every word like a puppy waiting for a treat from its master. ‘I’d love to go there one day. I’m sure it’s wonderful.’
‘It is, Woody, you’d love it. But St Felix is a wonderful place too, don’t ever doubt that. I miss things about the States, sure, but here –’ she gestures around the room – ‘in this friendly pub, on the beautiful sandy beaches, walking the quaint little streets, and visiting your olde worlde harbour with its colourful boats bobbing around – it’s…’ She searches for the right word. ‘It’s safe. Here in St Felix I feel safe, like nothing or no one is going to get to me.’
I notice that Amber’s bottom lip is quivering as she finishes her impromptu speech. She hurriedly picks up her almost empty pint glass and drains the last of her second Guinness of the night.
‘If Richie doesn’t hurry up with those meals, I’ll be quite tipsy soon,’ she says, and her eyes are a bit misty. ‘That’s what you Brits say, isn’t it – tipsy?’
We all nod, touched at Amber’s emotional speech, but at the same time mystified.
‘Right then, my round!’ she announces in a tight voice. ‘Same again, everyone?’
Without waiting for an answer, Amber leaps up and heads off to the bar.
‘Is she OK?’ Woody asks, looking worriedly after her. ‘She seems a bit upset.’
I watch Amber at the bar as she waits to order from Rita.
‘Yes, I think so,’ I say, remembering what my mother said on the phone yesterday. ‘But I have a feeling there might be a bit more to our Amber than a few crystal beads and some incense. I think she’s hiding something.’
‘What sort of something?’ Jake asks, looking up at Amber waiting at the bar.
‘I’m not sure. But knowing St Felix, whatever it is, I bet being here is already making it better.’