Chapter 8
Feeling a lot better now he was on the right side of a bacon and egg sandwich and two cups of coffee, Ed headed off into the village.
As well as the black knitted fisherman’s cap and a matching pair of gloves, Harry had insisted on lending Ed his padded winter jacket as the thin one Ed had been wearing was screwed up in the bottom of a bin bag, covered in red dye.
As soon as he was back from his shopping trip, Ed would need to track Matt down and figure out what had happened to all the stuff he’d left behind at the cottage.
Hopefully his cousin had it stored somewhere safe.
Trying not to worry that most of his worldly goods had ended up in a skip somewhere, Ed hurried along Harbour Road opposite the seafront then turned right into the heart of the village.
Even wrapped up as he was it didn’t take long for the chill to seep into his bones.
It was crazy how soft a few months in the warmth had made him, because this wasn’t even cold by the standards of some of their more recent winters.
A colourful banner stretched overhead and he paused to read the bright, bold words.
Halfmoon Quay Christmas Fayre
A list of events, games and types of stalls was written underneath offering everything from festive food to wreath-making and a gift-wrapping service. They’d never had anything like that in the village before and Ed wondered how many of his family were going to be involved with it.
All of them, probably.
If he’d been around no doubt Ed would’ve been roped in to help too.
He felt a pang in his gut. If he had been around to get dragged into something he would’ve moaned about it the whole time while secretly enjoying every minute.
It felt weird to be on the outside of everything when he’d always been at the heart of things when he’d lived here.
The village had moved on without him, and it didn’t seem like anyone had missed him much in his absence.
There was a queue at the counter in the small pharmacy and Ed browsed the packed shelves while he waited for things to quieten down a bit.
He located the area dedicated to hair products, but it was nearly all shampoo, conditioner and those gold cans of hairspray like the stuff Ma used.
He finally found a couple of boxes of hair dye tucked away in the corner and he picked them up.
The young women on the packaging grinned at him as though their lives had been made perfect thanks to their glossy locks.
He frowned at the colour swatches on the top of the boxes, trying to decide which one of his limited options had more chance of covering the mess on the back of his head.
‘You all right there, Harry?’
Ed glanced up to find Sheila, the assistant who’d worked in the chemist for as long as he could remember, approaching him with a smile. She did a double take then quickly apologised. ‘Oh, Ed, I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t know you were home.’
He didn’t need to ask how she knew it was him – the tan he’d acquired while he was away only served to accentuate the white scar bisecting his eyebrow.
‘Hello, Sheila. I’m just back for a few weeks.
’ He held up the two boxes towards her. ‘Now then, would you say I’m more a Frosted Chocolate or an Elegant Mink kind of guy? ’
Sheila laughed. ‘What on earth are you wanting to dye your lovely hair for?’
Damn, Ed should’ve thought of a cover story before he’d asked her.
Sheila had a heart of gold but, while she was always discreet when it came to anything to do with prescriptions and medical ailments, she liked a bit of gossip as much as the next person.
Ed wracked his brain for a moment before settling on something that was just absurd enough to be believed.
‘I had this idea to surprise the family and dye my hair red for Christmas, you know, like a bauble.’
Sheila raised her eyebrows at him. ‘If I’d heard those words from anyone else, Edward Penrose, I might be surprised, but that does sound exactly like the sort of stunt you’d pull. I suppose it went wrong?’ For once Ed was grateful for his reputation for pranks and nonsense.
He gave her his best shucks-you-know-me-too-well look.
‘The pack said to do a test strip.’ Ed was also grateful he’d read the instructions on the back of the boxes he was holding while he’d been trying to decide between them.
‘Only the tube leaked and I got it everywhere and to add insult to injury it went a weird orange rather than red.’ He tucked one of the boxes under his opposite elbow and used his free hand to edge the cap up at the back to show Sheila his hair.
‘Oh my goodness, what a mess!’ she exclaimed. ‘Just as well you didn’t go any further with it.’
‘It’s stained my hands too.’ Ed heaved a sigh. ‘I thought it would be funny, but the joke’s on me.’ He untucked the box and held them both up. ‘So, what do you reckon? Frosted Chocolate or Elegant Mink?’
Sheila frowned. ‘I’m not sure either of them will be any good, given how dark your hair is.
Let me have a look out the back and see if we’ve got anything else in the stock room.
’ She returned a few moments later, her face wreathed in a triumphant smile.
‘Midnight Black!’ she declared as she placed a box of dye on the counter.
‘You are a lifesaver!’ Ed declared as he hurriedly placed the other two packs back on the shelf. ‘Honestly, Sheila, if I’d had to pitch up at Mum and Dad’s in this state, I’d never have heard the last of it.’
‘Well, your secret is safe with me,’ Sheila said with a wink as she scanned the dye at the till.
‘That’ll be ￡9.50, please.’ Ed doubted she’d be able to keep it to herself, but he just smiled as he pulled a card out of his wallet and tapped it on the payment reader.
It didn’t matter if people gossiped about him.
As long as there was nothing to connect what had happened to Frankie, then he’d consider the situation salvaged.
Ed was almost back at the seafront when a familiar voice called his name and he turned to find his older brother Rick hurrying towards him, a broad smile across his handsome face.
‘Hello, stranger!’ Rick dragged him into a huge hug and for the second time that morning Ed felt truly at peace again, secure in the love of one of his brothers.
‘Welcome home,’ Rick said when he finally released him after several pats on the back.
He eyed Ed up and down. ‘You’re looking well. Everything going okay with the job?’
Having expected the third degree about his latest misadventure, Ed was surprised by the question. ‘It’s brilliant, mate. Honestly, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.’
‘Good. That’s really great to hear.’ Rick sounded genuinely delighted for him.
‘How’s things with you? All good with Anya and Freya?’
If his brother’s smile had been broad before, he was beaming now at the mention of his girlfriend and her daughter.
‘They’re brilliant, both of them. I couldn’t be happier.
And moving in with Ma and Pa has gone better than we could’ve hoped.
It’s given Freya the security and routine she needs, and Ma and Pa adore having her around. Pa told me he feels ten years younger.’
‘That’s wonderful.’ Ed was thrilled everything was working out so well for Rick.
Of all his brothers, Rick was the most selfless and always put the needs of others before himself.
As well as running his own summer hire business, he helped their mum out in the family chandlery business on the quayside and still found time to be a local parish councillor.
If anyone in the village had a problem, be it a blocked drain in the street or noisy holiday renters disturbing the peace, Rick was the first person they called for help.
Seeing him happy, knowing he had someone in his life who loved him and would take care of him while he was taking care of everyone else, was a great relief to Ed.
And he’d bet their grandparents, known to the entire family as Ma and Pa, were loving the chance to have some of their brood back under their roof to cherish and look after too.
‘Have you seen Mum and Dad yet?’ Rick asked him.
Ed shook his head as he held up the box of dye in his hand. ‘I thought I’d better make myself presentable first.’
Rick laughed. ‘Yeah, probably a good idea. Mind you, Mum will be so thrilled that she’s got you home for Christmas I think she’d forgive you pretty much everything. They’ve been worried about you being out of touch.’
There was only the gentlest hint of reproach in Rick’s tone but it was enough to make Ed feel like a complete heel again.
‘I know I should’ve sorted out my phone when I lost it, but it just felt like such a hassle and I honestly didn’t think anyone would notice.
’ Ed sighed and shook his head. ‘Truth be told, I didn’t give it any real consideration.
I was so busy with work that I got caught up in the moment and didn’t think it through properly. ’
‘Well, you’re home safe and sound and that’s all that really matters,’ Rick said, ever generous and willing to forgive. ‘Anyway, I’m glad I ran into you, because I wanted to talk to you about the Christmas Fayre.’
‘You want me to give you a hand with setting up?’ Ed replied, eager to change the subject.
‘Well, yeah, that would be great if you have time, but what I really wanted to ask is if you’ll sign up for the splash-for-cash fundraiser.’
‘Ask me, he says, as if I have a choice in the matter,’ Ed replied with a roll of his eyes.
Rick grinned. ‘You know me too well. We’re raising money for the lifesaving club. You know how hard the volunteers work all summer.’
‘I know, I know!’ Ed protested, holding his hands up. ‘Enough of the hard sell, just tell me what you want me to do and when.’
‘Good man!’ Rick clapped him on the shoulder. ‘It’s really easy. Three o’clock, on the beach. Everyone who has signed up just has to run into the sea and take a dip.’
‘Run into the sea? It’s going to be bloody freezing!’
‘That’s the point. And you already agreed to do it, so no backing out now.’
Ed sighed. ‘I should’ve got the details from you first, before I said yes. I hope you’ve at least roped Liam and Harry in already?’
‘Of course I have, and Dad’s doing it too. In his full harbour master’s uniform.’
‘Well, it’ll be worth it just to see that. What about the rest of it? I’ll be happy to help where I can.’
‘Fab. I’ll send you a text when I’ve sorted out the details. Have you replaced your phone yet?’
Ed shook his head. ‘No, I was planning to go into Port Petroc but then last night happened and it’s thrown my plans off track.’
‘I’m heading over there now if you want a lift?’ Rick offered. ‘Freya’s got her heart set on one particular toy and Anya’s been tearing her hair out trying to track one down. The toy shop there finally got some stock back in and we’ve got one on reserve so I said I’d run over there and collect it.’
‘Sounds stressful.’
Rick shook his head. ‘You have no idea. I’ve got a list of stuff to sort out for the fayre, but Anya and Chloe have set aside today to make more stock for the stall they’re going to run.
’ He shrugged and smiled. ‘I didn’t sign up to be Freya’s dad only when it’s convenient for me, so I’ve juggled a few things around. ’
There was something so natural about the way Rick referred to himself as Freya’s dad, it touched Ed deeply. ‘They’re lucky to have you.’
‘I’m even luckier to have them, not that it’s all plain sailing,’ Rick replied. ‘Freya’s such a little sweetheart most of the time, but she has her moments. When she’s kicking off about something I wonder how the hell Mum and Dad survived the four of us hellions.’
Ed laughed. ‘There are not enough apologies in the world for what we put them through. I should definitely find something nice for Mum while we’re in town so I’m not turning up at their place later empty-handed.’
‘I think that would be a very sensible idea.’
While he was at it, Ed decided he should look for something for Frankie.
He knew Harry thought he should stay away, but it didn’t sit right with Ed not to at least try and apologise for scaring her, and something pretty might make that easier for Frankie to accept.
There was a florist in Port Petroc his dad always used for special occasions like his mum’s birthday and their anniversary.
He could get a nice festive basket for his mum and some flowers for Frankie.
All women liked flowers, didn’t they?