The Gift of Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

  Recognising the symptoms of a severe asthma attack, the ailing woman managed to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. And then sat back in her kitchen chair, exhausted, and passed out.

  CHAPTER 32

  Rosa was putting clean sheets on the bed, ready for Josh, when her mobile rang. It was Sara. She listened to what Sara had to say, then asked, ‘What do you mean, Nate isn’t there?’

  ‘I couldn’t believe it. There was a queue six-deep waiting outside when I arrived at eight. I’ve only just been able to give you a ring – I’ve been rushed off my feet.’ Sara sounded very harassed.

  ‘That’s really odd. I only spoke to him last night and he said he would definitely open up.’ Rosa didn’t dare add that all he had to do was wake up and switch everything on.

  ‘The heating was on when I arrived too, which is strange.’

  ‘Shit, I’m sorry, Sara. Can Wendy come down and help, do you think?’

  ‘Don’t you worry, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate today. I just wondered if you’d heard from Nate, that’s all. Is Josh back?’

  ‘No – and that’s another thing. Josh’s phone is switched off and I’ve no idea what time he’s landing. I just hope he will contact me soon as I don’t know whether to make my way to the police station on my own or not.’

  ‘He’s driving down from the airport, isn’t he?’

  ‘Yes – getting a hire car. It’s a long journey from New York just to be by my side for a short time.’ Then Rosa heard a banging on the shop door and the doorbell being rung. ‘Anyway, I’d better go. Titch has just arrived, and it looks like she’s forgotten her shop key. I’ll phone you later.’

  ‘Oh Rosa, I’m so stressed,’ were Titch’s first words on barging through the door of the Corner Shop. She looked flushed and upset. Rosa noticed Ritchie was sitting at the wheel of the fish-and-chip van outside, with Theo red-faced and crying in his arms.

  ‘Theo is doing that screaming thing he does when the bowel blockage happens, so we’re straight off to Ulchester General. I couldn’t get through on your bloody phone.’

  ‘Oh, sorry, Titch. I’ve been trying Josh constantly, that’s why. I should have listened to Mary; I felt in my gut that it was a bad idea, him rushing back for this. Go on, Titch, get moving and don’t worry about the shop.’

  ‘Listened to Mary? And what about the Christmas designer coat delivery – it’s coming from London this morning, isn’t it?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter and that’s not your worry now. Just let me know how the little man is as soon as you can, right?’

  When Titch had gone, Rosa turned the shop sign to Open, sat at the counter, put her head in her hands and let out a massive sigh. ‘Oh Hot, what’s going on today?’

  ‘Blimey, love, what’s up with you?’

  Rosa looked up to see a man in a black puffa jacket with a claret and blue scarf round his neck. She wasn’t sure if he was fat or whether it was the jacket making him look that way. His hair was cut so short it could pass as stubble. His light eyes owned a distinct twinkle, while his right cheek bore the kind of scar you were too scared to ask about.

  Rosa found herself confiding, ‘It’s just – well, my husband’s gone AWOL, my best mate’s kid is ill, I need to go and talk to the Old Bill and there’s a big Christmas delivery on its way.’ She became more businesslike. ‘Can I help you before I try and get my head around it all?’

  ‘I feel stressed for you myself now, after hearing that lot. I was looking for a Rosa Smith, but with Ma’s description and noticing you are a fellow scar-wearer – although it’s a mere blemish to my train track – I think I’ve found my girl.’ The thirty-something held out his hand. ‘Danny Green. You saved my little Alfie’s life. I had to come and see ya, soon as I could, like.’

  ‘Oh, hello.’ Hot started barking as Rosa’s mobile rang. She put her hand up to halt the fellow Londoner and mouthed, ‘Just a sec.’

  Danny nodded and made himself busy looking around the shop. Hearing Rosa gasp he looked over. Her face had gone white and her hand was trembling. He went to her side as she spoke. ‘Oh my God, when? OK, yes, sure. Thank you, Colette. Exeter? Yes, I understand, I’m on my way.’

  ‘You OK?’ Danny said with concern. ‘Not your day, is it?’

  ‘No, it’s not. That was Colette from the Co-op. My mum has collapsed. An ambulance is taking her to Exeter.’ At that moment, the delivery man rang at the back door with the Christmas order. Tears started to pour down Rosa’s face. ‘Oh, this is just all too much. I can’t cope.’

  Danny took control. ‘You go, darl. Give me your keys. I’ll sort the order and look after the little dog. The delivery just needs taking in and signing for, yeah?’

  Rosa nodded shakily. ‘Are you sure?’ For some reason she felt she could trust Alfie’s dad. ‘That would be great. Hot, that’s my sausage dog, his food is in the little kitchen there. His lead is on the back of the door, and you need to feed him a small bowlful of his special biscuits at twelve.’ She jotted down her mobile number, saying, ‘Danny, will you ring me so I’ve got your number? And phone if there are any problems. Thanks!’ And she raced upstairs for her coat and bag.

  When she came down, Danny was already bringing in the boxes from the supplier and holding the paperwork to check. ‘Just go,’ he urged her. ‘I’ll be fine. It’s the least I can do for you for saving my boy’s life. Now go to your mum. Now!’

  ‘Danny Green, you’re a diamond,’ Rosa called, albeit a rough one, she added mentally. Then she threw the stranger her keys, and with one hand on her tummy she pelted out of the door, straight into Lucas.

  ‘Jesus, bird, you nearly knocked me clean over.’ Then he saw the look on her face. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘It’s Mary,’ Rosa gulped. ‘She’s collapsed and I don’t know where Josh is and Theo is sick again too, and there’s an order coming in and–’

  ‘Blimey. I just saw a blue-lighted ambulance going hell-for-leather at the top of the hill and wondered who it was for.’

  ‘Oh no, why didn’t they wait for me? It must be serious.’ Rosa could feel herself going into a full-blown panic attack.

  ‘OK, calm down, girl. What can I do to help?’

  ‘The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. I need to get there – and fast.’

  Merlin jumped down from Queenie’s chair, tipped back his head and started prowling around the empty kitchen, wailing. It was as if he was calling out to his mistress to tell her that if she had just finished listening, she would have learned that the only drama was that, due to extreme weather conditions in New York, all planes had been grounded until further notice.

  CHAPTER 33

  Staring ahead, Lucas Hannafore sped down the fast lane of the M5 in his Mercedes van, Meatloaf’s Greatest Hits blaring out from the loudspeakers. Rosa, oblivious to the dust, crisp wrappers and empty Coke cans rolling at her feet, decided she’d better phone the Corner Shop. Now that the first panic had subsided, realisation had set in that not only had she left a total stranger in charge of her livelihood, but she had also left her precious hound and best friend, Hot Dog, in his care too.

  Rosa reached forward to turn the volume down so that she could make the call. As she did so, Lucas took a deep breath and said, ‘Look, about the other night, Rosa.’

  Getting a sudden whiff of the sausage roll that Lucas was now scoffing next to her, Rosa felt her stomach rising and an awful feeling of nausea overtake her. Before she had a chance to ask him to pull in and stop, it was too late; she only just managed to open the window in time.

  ‘Oh my God, bird, why didn’t you tell me you were going do that?’ Lucas was trying bravely to stall his own gag reflex.

  Rosa reached for a tissue from her bag and wiped her face. ‘At least I managed to miss the window.’ She laughed and then began to cry at the same time.

  Lucas put his hand across her arm. ‘Rosa, please don’t cry. It must be the shock.

  What do you want me to do? Stop at a service station so you ca
n get cleaned up?’

  ‘No, just keep going. Oh Luke, what if she dies?’

  ‘Don’t be so dramatic. Look, she’s in the best hospital. What actually happened, anyway?’

  ‘It’s her COPD again. Around fireworks night it’s always worse. She told me that she had got all the emergency drugs handy for when she was going down with a cold so it didn’t reach her chest, but only the hospital can help when she has a bad asthma attack like this.’

  ‘I can’t believe Colette didn’t phone you earlier, so you could go in the ambulance with your mum.’

  ‘Colette did everything she could. She saw the ambulance pull up outside. Apparently they found Mum unconscious.’ Rosa checked her phone again. ‘Damn, Josh, where are you? Shit! And now my battery has gone!’

  ‘Here. Have a drink of this.’ Lucas handed her a bottle of water from his side door compartment. ‘We’re not too far now. And you can connect this charger to the lighter. How are you feeling now?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Rosa replied weakly, sticking her tongue out and making a yuk-type noise as her nose and throat burned with vomit. Something else to stall her from telling him about her pregnancy.

  ‘Somehow the words Lucas Hannafore and Exeter Cathedral don’t seem to go together,’ Rosa murmured as she came in and sat down next to the handsome plumber.

  ‘I thought it might be a long wait and something compelled me to come in here,’ he replied, equally quietly. ‘It gave me a chance to think about Mum.’

  As she looked up at the magnificent stone-structured vaulted ceiling, tears began to fall silently down Rosa’s cheeks. ‘God, it’s so beautiful here.’

  ‘You can’t say God like that when we are in a place like this,’ Lucas remonstrated. Then, on noticing Rosa’s tears, he put his hand gently on her coat-covered leg. ‘What’s the score, sweet lady?’

  ‘She’s on oxygen, but her breathing is back under control. She’s now just very tired.’

  ‘You heard from your old man yet?’

  ‘No, and I can’t get hold of Carlton either, to find out what’s happening. I’m worried bloody sick about him too now.’

  ‘OK. So, did you see your mum, then?’

  ‘Yes, but she was too weak to talk, just kept patting my hand, and crying. I promised her I’d feed Merlin and make sure the kitchen fire was safe – you know, the usual things.’ Rosa yawned. ‘I needed the walk here in the fresh air to calm me down. I’ll go back and sit with her in a bit.’

  ‘Mothers, eh…’ Lucas’s voice tailed off. ‘Can’t live with them, can’t live without them.’

  ‘Life isn’t very fair, is it, Luke? It always seems to be loving families who lose a parent or a child. I do believe the good die young.’

  ‘My mum wasn’t that young.’

  ‘She wasn’t that good either.’

  ‘Oi.’ They both then laughed nervously.

  Rosa continued, ‘How are you feeling today?’

  ‘No different from any other day this week. I mean, she’s been gone less than a week and I’m numb. Kind of devoid of emotion. Can’t really describe it. It’ll be good to get the funeral out of the way, I suppose. All me and Tom are doing is talking about her, which is positive in one way, but part of me wants to just forget for a bit and start getting back to normal.’

  ‘Grieving is a process, Luke. You’ve got to do the time on it, or it will come back and bite you in the arse later in life.’

  ‘Well, give me the fucking rule book then, Rosa, and I’ll see what I can do.’ Lucas raised his voice. ‘I don’t think it’s quite as easy as that. Step One: cry like a wild animal. I’ve done that. Now, shall we tick that off and see what Step Two brings?’

  Visitors to the sacred building stared in disbelief at the couple’s lack of respect.

  ‘I was only trying to help,’ Rosa replied quietly. The cathedral was cold; she shivered.

  ‘Well, don’t bother. Let’s go,’ Lucas said gruffly, striding off towards the great wooden doors that led outside.

  When they were out in the chilly November air, Rosa put her hand on Lucas’s shoulder. On the grass nearby, a man was placing large Remembrance Day poppies on crosses.

  ‘I am so grateful to you for bringing me here,’ she said, ‘but honestly, do get back if you need to. I can take the train home. It’s fine.’

  ‘Get back to where?’ Lucas sighed. ‘I feel so fucking lost, Rosa.’ A lone tear trickled down his right cheek.

  ‘Oh, Lucas.’ On reaching for a packet of tissues in her bag, Rosa noticed the letter from Sheila. ‘Here, you dropped this the other day.’

  ‘I take it you read it?’ Lucas bit his lip.

  ‘No, I – no, I…’

  ‘What is it you always say? You can’t kid a kidder. It’s fine, I’d have read it too.’

  Rosa felt it was the right moment to address the love-shaped elephant in the room. Too many times she had acted like a child and brushed things under the carpet as if they weren’t happening. ‘Come on, let’s go for a coffee, it’s freezing out here,’ she suggested, then gasped and put her hands to her head. ‘Oh no!’

  ‘What now?’

  ‘I was meant to go to the police station today, but with all this going on I totally forgot all about it. PC Poirot will be putting a warrant out for my arrest by now.’

  Lucas began to grin, but then he, too, looked a bit concerned. ‘You’ve just reminded me that I had a missed call from him yesterday as well. Me and Tom were busy discussing the funeral – not that we’re allowed to set a date yet with a post-mortem going on.’

  ‘What does DC Clarke want, do you reckon? Not that it matters.’

  ‘You already know, Rosa! So, it obviously does matter. It’s about Mum’s secret, isn’t it? I overheard her say it. I’m not stupid.’

  CHAPTER 34

  ‘Can I help you, sir?’

  ‘I hope so.’ Jacob smiled at the bear of a chap behind the counter of the Corner Shop. With that twinkle in his eye and his scar fitting for a James Bond villain, Jacob thought he was rather sexy. Hearing the publican’s familiar voice, Hot came rushing off his basket and jumped up at Jacob’s designer-clad legs, his own little ones scrabbling furiously.

  ‘Danny, isn’t it? I’m Jacob, Rosa’s friend from the Lobster Pot pub up the hill. She just called me from the hospital in Exeter so I thought I’d pop in and say hi and check that you’re doing OK. It’s really kind of you to step in like this.’

  ‘It’s the least I could do after your mate Rosa saved my son’s life. My old dear is called Tina – you might have met her when she was staying in the Bay with my boy.’ He smiled to reveal a gold back tooth. ‘They’ll be down here later for the fireworks. I know they’d love to see Rosa – if she’s back, that is.’

  ‘I’m not sure if she will be, in the circumstances.’

  ‘Well, I’m all right to stay for a bit longer if she needs me to.’ Danny looked around. ‘Bet it’s a little goldmine here, isn’t it?’

  ‘Er, she does OK, I think. Look, if you’re sure you don’t mind hanging on for a while here that will be incredibly helpful for Rosa, especially at this time of year. Thank you, Danny.’

  Ding! The shop bell rang, and a fur-coated Bergamot flounced to the back of the shop without acknowledging either man and began looking at the Christmas gift selection that Titch had so beautifully displayed only the day before.

  ‘Cool.’ Danny leaned forward and said in a low voice, ‘I’ve seen a safe out the back. Any idea of the code? I shall need to put the takings away in there later.’

  ‘I have no idea. Sorry.’

  ‘OK, I shall come and find ya at the pub after, then, shall I? I’ll bring the takings. Don’t want to be leaving a load of cash on the premises, eh?’

  ‘It’s not like London here. Just leave the notes in the microwave out the back, and it should be fine. I’ll take Hot with me now too, so I can keep him amused while the fireworks are going off.’ Jacob leaned down to clip on Hot’s lead, causing his furry frien
d to bark his approval at a pending walk. Before he left, Jacob asked, ‘So, Danny, where are you staying while you’re here?’

  ‘At the caravan park at the top of the hill.’

  ‘OK. Well, look – thanks again on Rosa’s behalf.’ He handed the stranger a business card. ‘Here’s my number if you need to ask me anything at all.’

  ‘Nice threads,’ Danny said under his breath on clocking Jacob’s designer coat and jeans as he walked towards the door.

  ‘Pardon?’ Jacob turned around.

  ‘I said, “Have a nice day, mate”.’

  As Danny was looking around for the light switches, he noticed a dark-haired young man stop outside the shop window and peer in. The fellow’s hair was dishevelled, his long parka coat dirty, and he had a rucksack on his back. His anxious grey-eyed stare made the Londoner feel slightly uncomfortable.

  Relieved to find the light switches, Danny illuminated the shop and poked his head out of the door onto the street. The man was still outside.

  ‘You all right, mate?’ Danny asked.

  ‘Who are you?’

  ‘Who’s asking?’

  ‘I’m looking for Rosa.’

  ‘She ain’t here, mate.’

  ‘I can see that. What time is she back? Do you know?’ The lad scratched at his greasy hair.

  ‘Dunno, sorry.’ Danny had a lot to thank this girl for, and although he knew nothing about her, he certainly wasn’t going to be sharing her business with anyone – especially someone who looked like a homeless stray. ‘See you then, mate,’ he said, beginning to close the door. ‘I better get in, got a customer. Who should I say called?’

  ‘Nate. Just say Nate.’

  Bergamot was still fingering items on the Christmas shelf but on hearing Danny come back in she turned around and smiled at him. Her long red hair framed her thin pale face and her red lipstick somehow brought out the blue in her eyes. She had undone her faux-fur coat, and her tight, white roll-neck jumper alerted the Londoner to the fact that she was obviously bra-less. He tried hard to keep his eyes at face level.