The Cornish Cream Tea Bus

by Cressida McLaughlin

  ‘How could I forget?’ He gestured at the bus, gleaming proudly in the sunshine, and Charlie laughed.

  Seb wandered back to his friends and Charlie noticed Oliver watching her from the mojito stand. She gave him a wave and went to see if the young couple wanted more tea.

  The surfers were loud and cheerful and their laughter and good-natured noise filled up the space, making it seem busy and vibrant. They might all be one large party, but that didn’t make it any less of a success. And the photos she had taken, of the various food trucks busy with customers, and the bus surrounded by people, were bound to encourage more to come to the next event. She tagged Seb in some of the posts, hoping he’d get the hint and add his own to social media.

  ‘So, this is the first Porthgolow festival?’

  Charlie looked up from the cake stand she was rearranging, her mini doughnuts temporarily forgotten.

  Daniel was wearing jeans and a navy T-shirt, his eyes narrowed against the sun. Behind him were Lauren and Hugh, and Jonah almost running, Paul keeping a hand on his shoulder to slow him down. Behind them, miraculously, was Myrtle. Her walk was more of a trudge, and her expression suggested she was being led towards the fiery pits of hell rather than a festival on a sunny beach, but she was here.

  Charlie was at the door in seconds. ‘Hello.’

  Daniel smiled and approached, while Lauren made a beeline for the sushi truck. ‘Hi,’ he said. ‘It’s looking busy.’ He didn’t try to hide the surprise in his voice.

  ‘Did you ever doubt it?’ Charlie asked, silently thanking Seb and his crew. ‘I told you it would be a success. How was the meeting?’

  Daniel sighed and tipped his head back. ‘Tedious. I understand that it’s a problem if teenagers are messing about up there, especially in the dark, but I don’t know what we can do except petition the council for some kind of barrier. I’ve told Myrtle that I’ve already done that and I’m waiting to hear back, but either she doesn’t believe me or she doesn’t think it’s enough. But whatever the answer, it didn’t need a two-hour meeting, and definitely not today.’

  ‘It did seem a bit coincidental.’

  Daniel laughed. ‘Don’t take it to heart. Myrtle isn’t backwards in showing her disapproval, but she’s like that with anyone who was born more than a mile away. She’s certainly not my biggest fan, even when I give up my Saturday mornings to attend her meetings. Anyway, she’s here now.’

  ‘Is that your doing, though?’

  Daniel glanced at the sea. ‘I just told everyone that I’d had enough and I was coming to check out the festival. I wasn’t the only one who was keen, and if there’s anything that Myrtle hates more than usurpers, it’s being left out.’

  Charlie wondered if that was true, or if he’d been more persuasive. Whatever it was, she was touched. ‘Thank you.’

  ‘What for? I haven’t done anything.’

  ‘I feel like … as if you might be on my side.’

  ‘It’s still not about taking sides, Charlie. You’ve done something new in Porthgolow. Some people will like it, some will hate it. You shouldn’t take it so personally.’

  ‘You sound like Uncle Hal.’

  He narrowed his eyes. ‘Should I take that as a compliment? I know he was a big part of your life, but—’

  ‘You approve of all this, do you Daniel?’ Myrtle appeared at his side, her gaze fixed firmly on Charlie. ‘Figures.’

  ‘Come on Myrtle, you know it makes sense to bring more life to the village. What have you got against it?’

  Charlie had thought that Daniel would have been shrewder than to give the older woman an open platform, but it was too late.

  ‘It’s mucking up the beach, and it’s not the right way to celebrate the solstice. At least those idiots on Crumblin’ Cliff had the right idea, even if they chose the wrong place. Lauren should have beaten ’em with her handbag. The size of it, she could’ve given ’em a proper hidin’.’

  ‘Lauren?’ Charlie asked.

  ‘She saw the bonfire on the cliff on her way home from work,’ Daniel said. ‘She spoke to Myrtle about it first thing and Myrtle called the meeting. I wasn’t going to go, but Lauren wanted the moral support.’

  ‘Bleddy lot of use that did,’ Myrtle said. ‘And now this!’ She flung her arm wide, and a couple of Seb’s friends glanced in their direction.

  ‘So if this isn’t the right way to celebrate the solstice, what is?’ Daniel asked.

  Charlie shot him a warning look but he just smiled back, amused.

  ‘You want a good fire to symbolize the longest day,’ Myrtle said. ‘I know it was technically last night, but in Penzance they have fireworks and a festival and all sorts, running over the whole weekend.’

  ‘Well,’ Daniel said, laughing, ‘we’ve got the festival. If I can rustle up a bonfire and some fireworks – even if it’s a day late – will you be satisfied?’

  ‘Daniel, I—’ Charlie felt a swell of panic.

  ‘Where’d you light it?’ Myrtle folded her arms.

  ‘We could do it further down the beach now the tide’s going out,’ Daniel said. ‘And I’ve put on fireworks displays up at the hotel before now – I can get in touch with the team I’ve used in the past and see if they have availability at short notice. We can launch them from the end of the jetty. Celebrate the solstice and Charlie’s first festival at the same time. It won’t be as big as Penzance, but it will be unique to Porthgolow. What do you think?’

  ‘You can organize all of that in such a short space of time?’ Charlie felt control slipping away from her. How could Daniel be so calm about lighting a huge fire? What if the smoke overwhelmed the food stalls?

  ‘Leave it with me,’ Daniel said. ‘Only if Myrtle approves, of course.’

  Myrtle’s suspicious gaze flicked between Daniel and Charlie for what seemed like hours. Then she nodded. ‘I’ll go and tell Rose.’ She shuffled off in the direction of the pop-in.

  ‘Daniel,’ Charlie said, as soon as Myrtle was out of earshot, ‘do you really think this is a sensible idea? Are we even allowed to light fires on the beach?’

  ‘Come on, Charlie, live a little. You’ve worked hard for today and this will ensure it’s remembered. And I’ve done this sort of thing before. I can promise you that bonfires are allowed on this particular beach, and I’ll even telephone the fire authority and let them know what’s happening. I know what I’m doing.’

  Charlie didn’t doubt that for one second, which was partly why she felt so apprehensive. At the moment the festival was her initiative, the one thing she was contributing to the village. If she let Daniel take control of that too, then she was worried she would be powerless against him. But it was a great idea, and if it made some of the reluctant villagers warm to her, then it would be worth it.

  ‘All right,’ she said. ‘Let’s celebrate the summer solstice in style. I’d better go and tell everyone what’s happening.’

  She asked Juliette to cover the bus while she updated vendors and customers alike, wondering, not for the first time, if she should invest in a loud-hailer. She watched as Daniel went to talk to Lauren at the edge of the beach, the receptionist’s pretty face twisting into a frown at his words. The black handbag on her arm was huge, just as Myrtle had said.

  Chuckling to herself, Charlie went to give Oliver the good news.

  Chapter Fourteen

  By the time Charlie locked up The Cornish Cream Tea Bus, the sun was a mere glimmer over the sea, a line of burning amber below a sky of endless blue. Above her, she could see the first few pinpricks of stars.

  Some of the other food trucks were still open – there was more appetite for burgers and burritos than evening cream teas – and The Marauding Mojito queue was longer than Charlie had ever seen it. Seb and his friends had stayed on, and their number had slowly grown until there was an unmistakable buzz that spread along the whole beach.

  ‘Wow, this is gorgeous!’

  Charlie turned to find a young woman with a pixie crop taking
a photo of Gertie. ‘Is she a London bus?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, a vintage Routemaster, though the paintwork and most of the interior were redone this year. If she was still in her original state she would struggle to get admiring looks.’

  ‘I’m sad we’ve arrived just as you’re closing. Where will you be next?’

  ‘I’m open here most days,’ Charlie said. ‘And I’ll be travelling around Cornwall too. Look up The Cornish Cream Tea Bus online and you’ll find me. Are you heading down to the bonfire?’

  ‘Yup, meeting my friends by the burger stand, then we’re going to wait for the fireworks on the beach.’

  ‘It should be a good display.’ With Daniel in charge, she couldn’t imagine anything else.

  Charlie could hardly believe that, on her first day as festival proprietor, people were already arranging to meet their friends here. Of course, that was mostly down to Daniel’s quick thinking, finding a way to placate Myrtle while also turning the first Porthgolow Food Fest into something bigger.

  There had been definite interest when she’d told the other vendors and visitors about the bonfire and fireworks display, and she didn’t think it was solely Seb’s friends filling up the beach. Word was getting around that the day was due to end in spectacular fashion. She couldn’t imagine anyone back home being as enthusiastic at such short notice, and wondered whether it was something about Cornwall, with its wildness and holiday atmosphere, that exuded a sense of freedom and spontaneity.

  Charlie walked further down the sand, towards where the large bonfire was crackling noisily, sparks and flames shooting up into the darkening sky. It had been cordoned off by netting and metal poles, and gave the impression of being planned and professional, rather than something that had only been dreamed up that afternoon. There was someone playing a folk tune on a ukulele, and a group of friends were braving the shallows, lit by the glow of the fire.

  ‘Charlie!’ She turned at the sound of her name and saw Juliette waving, Lawrence standing behind her with a bottle of beer. She went to join them.

  ‘God, Charlie,’ Juliette said, ‘did you ever imagine it would be like this? It’s magnificent! Look at all the people. Look at the size of those flames!’ It was hard to ignore the way they shimmied and danced against the backdrop of the inky sea. There was someone standing inside the wide cordon, no more than a silhouette, but Charlie didn’t think it was Daniel – perhaps one of the team he’d mentioned earlier.

  ‘It’s brilliant.’ Charlie took a beer and sat next to Juliette, pulling Marmite onto her lap. He didn’t seem anxious about the fire, but it would be the first time he’d encountered fireworks, and she was worried he would be terrified. ‘Though it’s not how I imagined tonight panning out, if I’m honest,’ she continued. ‘I thought we’d be packed up by eight and celebrating at home or in The Seven Stars.’

  ‘You don’t regret this happening, do you?’

  ‘Not at all. I’m just … surprised that Daniel was able to put it together so quickly.’

  Juliette was quiet for a moment. ‘He really meant to give me that contract? I can’t imagine him messing up like that, signing something without reading it properly.’ Charlie had given Juliette Daniel’s explanation about the marketing mix-up, and told her all about the near miss, the day it had happened.

  ‘I know, but that’s what he told me, and I believe him.’ It had been the first time she felt as though she’d seen below his armour of confidence and swagger. He was angry with himself for the mistake, and for letting Juliette down, and for some reason he had been able to swallow his pride and admit it to her. ‘I’m just not sure why he’s doing all this. Why he’s gone to the effort.’

  ‘He’s not exactly the village’s most popular person,’ Juliette said. ‘Perhaps this is his attempt to give back to the community and show them that he’s one of us.’

  ‘One of us,’ Lawrence intoned in an emotionless voice. ‘Sounds like something from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.’

  ‘More like The Wicker Man.’ Charlie gestured to the bonfire and they laughed.

  Night settled around them, the crackling flames and churn of the waves the backdrop to their conversation. Jonah made a fuss of Marmite until Paul decided it was his bedtime and they left with only a minimal amount of protest. Stella and Anton came and sat with them, sharing a bottle of red wine that they’d brought from home.

  ‘I’ve never seen it like this,’ Stella admitted. ‘The beach is always so quiet in the evenings; it’s such a sleepy little cove. This reminds me of Australia. We partied all night and then went to watch the sun come up on a beach near Sydney. It was as busy as if it was midday, just like now.’

  ‘We missed out on the food, Charlie,’ Anton said, ‘but we’ll be there next time. I never turn down the chance of a fully loaded burger.’

  ‘That’s what I’m having next weekend, for sure.’ Lawrence clinked his bottle against Anton’s wine glass, and Charlie watched the flames flicker over their faces, playing with their features. She heard a burst of laughter and turned to see Myrtle talking to a tall gentleman wearing a grey windbreaker. She was holding a mojito and clutching his arm while her body shook with mirth. Charlie had to force herself to stop staring, sure that when she turned back they would be gone: a figment of her imagination appearing in the bonfire’s heat haze.

  Juliette stretched her arms up to the sky. ‘When are the fireworks kicking off?’

  ‘Give me a chance,’ said a voice from behind them. Daniel crouched on the sand between Charlie and Juliette and rested his elbows on his knees. ‘Half an hour,’ he added. ‘They’re just doing the final safety checks.’

  ‘I wasn’t being impatient,’ Juliette said hurriedly, ‘I was just wondering.’

  ‘I know that.’

  Charlie could hear the smile in his voice, could feel the warmth of his shoulder pressed against hers.

  ‘And look, Juliette, I don’t know if Charlie mentioned to you—’

  ‘She has,’ Juliette said. ‘You don’t need to explain.’

  ‘Great. Good. Thanks, Charlie. And I really am sorry, Jules. I should have had all my ducks in a row, and I didn’t. I’ll be more careful in future. I hope this will go a little way towards making up for it. It was Charlie’s idea.’ He handed her an envelope, and Juliette squinted at it in the gloom. ‘It’s a spa voucher, for you and Lawrence. Come and have a pampering session.’

  ‘Daniel, you didn’t—’

  ‘It’s the least I could do. Just call reception when you want to book in and we’ll sort everything out. I’d better go and check on the fireworks, seeing as some people are so impatient for them.’ He used Charlie’s shoulder as leverage to help him stand.

  ‘Daniel—’ she called.

  He turned to face her, and she could see the fire reflected in his eyes.

  ‘Thank you, for all this. It’s wonderful.’

  ‘If it gets us in Myrtle’s good books, then I’ll be happy.’ He strode over to the jetty, where several powerful torch beams lit up a hive of activity.

  ‘That’s not the only reason he’s done it,’ Juliette said, filling the space Daniel had just vacated. ‘He’s never bothered trying to placate Myrtle before. And he’s never, ever looked like he was even capable of offering an apology until today. I wonder if you might have something to do with it?’ Her voice was light and amused, but it made Charlie’s stomach churn.

  She had been thinking about their previous conversation a lot in the days leading up to the festival. His offer of a massage, his hand over hers on the table. Her mind kept pinging between that and Oliver on the beach, the way he had come to her rescue in March, and Stuart; Stuart who had been so smooth and sure of himself – similar to Daniel in that one way – and who had then discarded her like a used-up chew toy. It was an uncontrollable game of Ping-pong that she couldn’t seem to put an end to.

  She hadn’t come to Cornwall to find romance. She was wholly focused on her bus, on giving Gertie the future she deserved
and, since she’d arrived in Porthgolow and fallen for its quaint beauty, on bringing life back to the village.

  Love wasn’t on the cards for her: she wasn’t ready. But as the first firework shot up into the sky above them and Charlie held her quivering puppy against her chest, soothing him and kissing his fur, she found herself focusing, not on the sparkling display in the night sky, but on the jetty, wondering which of the silhouettes was him.

  The online response to the first Porthgolow food festival was beyond Charlie’s wildest dreams. She lay in bed the following morning and scrolled through her phone, looking at the photos and videos that had been uploaded and reading the comments below her posts. The hashtag #PorthgolowFoodFest had been shared hundreds of times. Even the Porthgolow Hideaway account had got in on the act, taking a shot of the festival from above – it looked like from the top of the south cliff – that showed the colourful trucks bright in the sunshine.

  She thought of Daniel’s involvement, and how much smaller the event would have been if he hadn’t stepped in. Had he been driven by self-interest, getting the villagers on side so there was less animosity towards him, too? He’d promoted the fireworks and bonfire on the hotel’s social media pages, which had no doubt spread its reach even further.

  Charlie sighed and closed her eyes. She should be feeling triumphant. There were no bonfire accidents, the fireworks had been spectacular, and she’d seen Myrtle laughing. It was miraculous. And yet Daniel’s involvement – and his motivations – unsettled her. She had wanted the villagers to be involved, for the event to be for, and owned by, all of them. But as soon as Daniel started to take over, anxiety had crept in. She knew that was probably more about her than him, about wanting to regain control of a life that had, in the space of six months, changed completely, but that realization didn’t make her feel any better.

  If she wanted her events to be truly successful then she would have to loosen the reins a little bit, even if that meant allowing Daniel to help. After all, he clearly knew what he was doing.