The Gift of Cockleberry Bay

by Nicola May

  ‘Ha, bloody, ha. Good to see you smiling though.’ Rosa bit her lip. ‘You’re looking well – must be all that running.’

  ‘Yeah, I’ve…er…I’ve met someone. It’s early days, but I needed a distraction, you know.’

  Rosa wasn’t sure how she felt at this news. She swallowed down what she really wanted to say about it all being a bit quick, instead put her hand on his arm and said, ‘Whoever it is, she’s a lucky girl.’

  Charlotte had now jumped down off the stage to get Rosa back up. Barry was live on air again, singing along to Bruce Springsteen’s version of ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’. He suddenly bellowed, ‘But it’s not Santa Claus who’s coming to this town, is it, Rosa? Or maybe it is, with the funny Christmas names you requested. Hahaha. Come on, tell us all what we’ve been waiting for. Spill it. Who are the two finalists, one of whom will be winning the amazing prize of not only a shop but a flat too?’

  Rosa looked down to the front two rows, where an evidently pregnant Vicki Cliss was now waving back at her. She looked to Ritchie, who nodded nervously. Holding a bright orange envelope and a silver one with gold stars on it aloft, Rosa then asked: ‘So, can Frosty the Snowman and Tinkerbell make their way up here, please?’

  Danny’s mouth dropped to the floor, both in shock that it wasn’t him being called, and also due to the fact that the woman he had shagged in Rosa’s back kitchen was there right in front of him, making her way up onto the stage as if she was about to collect an Oscar. Especially after he’d confessed to Rosa what he knew about her on the phone the other day.

  ‘Go on.’ Ritchie gently eased Titch up off her seat. ‘That’s your envelope, isn’t it?’

  ‘But…’ Titch looked completely confused. Then: ‘No! You bugger!’

  ‘Come on, Titch.’ Helping her best friend up onto the stage, Rosa forced down the emotion that was already rising within her. She needed to keep a clear head in order to deal with another matter first. ‘Ah, and Bergamot,’ she said sweetly. ‘Who’d have thought it, eh?’

  Titch stood awkwardly next to the scarlet woman before Charlotte hurried the two to sit with a microphone in front of them at the table that had been set up on the stage.

  ‘So, Rosa, why these two glamorous specimens? Do tell!’ Barry hadn’t quite grasped the new way of how you could or could not address women on a global stage.

  ‘Well, Bergamot here,’ Rosa began. ‘What can I say? Polhampton Paws. With my love of dogs, what a great charity – and the fact that you want to sell crystals, which you know are very close to my heart too. And as for doggy designer blankets, how could I not choose you?’

  Scott and Kelly from the South Cliffs Gazette pricked up their ears. They sensed from Rosa’s tone that something else was coming and it was something they were going to love.

  ‘Charlotte, can you start the video clips running, please,’ Rosa asked pleasantly, and with relief that there were no children in the audience.

  You could hear a pin drop in the room. The audience’s jaws were hitting the floor. On seeing the film, Danny backed out of the door, although his dignity remained intact, since his identity was not shown, aside a white bottom moving in and out of the screen with the very evident and ecstatic face of Bergamot Hamilton-Jones doing what we all do, but usually in private.

  Charlotte went to stop it, but Rosa wouldn’t let her, for in the clever edit that Nate had helped her with, you then saw the vile woman sneak back into the kitchen and steal the Corner Shop’s day’s takings that Danny had dutifully left in the microwave for Rosa, as instructed by Jacob.

  The producer, who was now bright red in the face with stress, went straight into a song. Barry, knowing that this was more than a ratings winner, that it would probably see him promoted to a regional station, was laughing fit to bust out of his Christmas jumper. DC Clarke had stood up and, loving the drama of having such a crowd to play to, he strode forward to arrest Bergamot for theft.

  He called up to Rosa: ‘I don’t understand. You didn’t report this.’ Rosa picked up the handheld microphone that was on the table so that everyone in the room could hear.

  ‘No, I didn’t report this crime, DC Clarke, because I thought this public revelation of her guilt would be far more of a punishment. A public flogging, so to speak. Because not only had this deluded woman stolen a whole day’s takings from me, if she was the winner here, she had planned to get the shop, then illicitly sell it directly to Costsmart Supermarkets.’

  There was a collective gasp from the audience.

  ‘How did you know that?’ Bergamot gasped. She felt sick.

  ‘I won’t name names, but pillow talk – or should I say kitchen talk – can sometimes be a very dangerous thing. Now just get out of my sight, and you are to give every penny you pledged to Polhampton Paws – and I also want the shop takings back.’

  The song-playing came to an end. ‘So that was Rudolph the Red-Faced – ha-ha – I mean Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ Barry was joyous. As were Scott and Kelly, who had enough words for the paper to cover the whole of the quiet Christmas period and way into the New Year. Bergamot stormed out with the policeman just as Danny sneaked back in, to a handshake from Nate and a thumbs-up from Rosa.

  ‘And now to Titch Whittaker,’ Barry said smoothly, ‘who, if I’m not mistaken, Rosa, is going to be the proud new owner of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.’

  ‘Yes, yes, she is!’ Rosa said jubilantly.

  Ritchie rushed up onto the stage next to Titch. Josh, Jacob and Raff had come to sit right in the front row too. The gangly one spoke up first.

  ‘My wife-to-be had no confidence about running the shop. She overheard something – incorrectly, I must believe – about her not being good enough.’ Josh squirmed in his chair. ‘Now this little lady here may be small in stature, but her heart is big. She’s a survivor, see. Her dad and her brother died, and she still got up, brushed herself down and kept going. Our baby was very ill too, but never once did she complain or moan, just did what she had to do for her little man until he was well again. She’s really great in a shop, too. Got the gift of the gab. Can charm the birds out of the trees, this one, and as for managing stock and stuff – she can do that as well. She can do anything in my eyes. Well, anything apart from fill out the form to try and get the shop, which was her dream.’ He held Titch’s hand. ‘I haven’t got much to give you, not yet, but what I can do is try to be the best husband to you and dad to our little Theo. So, when I knew that I could help to make this dream of yours come true, then I just had to do it.’ He kissed Titch on the forehead. ‘And you know I will support you fully in whatever you choose to do in life. I believe in you.’

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

  Titch leaned forward to the microphone. ‘I managed to add the charity name myself, at least.’ The audience laughed at this. ‘And got as far as saying that I would keep the shop just the way it was. But that’s enough about me. This is more about Rosa than anyone else here. My dear, best friend. Possibly the nicest woman I’ve ever met in my life. Sorry, Mum.’ Titch then confided, ‘She’s not here, so that’s OK.’

  Another laugh went around the room. The producer was so happy to be getting this heartfelt speech after what had just happened that she let it run.

  ‘Rosa has been on a long and painful journey too,’ Titch resumed and looked down at Mary, who nodded. ‘She was brought up in a succession of children’s homes. Never thought she would make anything of herself – until Ned, her great-grandfather, left her the shop, that is. Running the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay was to be the making of her. It led her to being happy with her wonderful boyfriend – now husband – Josh, and it also led her to Alec – Dr Alec Burton, our local psychotherapist and friend to all of us in Cockleberry Bay.’

  Alec and Sara were both trying to keep it together now.

  ‘It was Alec who helped her when the demon drink ruled her emotions. Then there was Jacob and Raff and Vicki, even Darren the lifeboat man.’ Titch waved to
a bald man at the back of the room. ‘They all had a part in helping her make her the best version of herself – not that there was one thing I didn’t like about the old one, by the way. But what’s important now is that the “new Rosa” is happy, and I know she won’t mind me saying, now that she’s sixteen weeks gone, that she’s pregnant.’

  There was a small round of applause as Titch continued, ‘It will be an honour for me to take over the shop from you, Rose. You can always have your say, you know that too. But why am I even mentioning that? You won’t be able to resist.’ They both laughed, and Hot let out a loud bark from the back as Titch finished with, ‘Mr Sausage obviously gives his approval too.’

  Rosa, by now bubbling over with pregnancy hormones, reached for the big gold key that South Cliffs Today had made for her, and with tears in her eyes, she steadied herself before she spoke again.

  ‘So, here’s the key to the Corner Shop door for you and your little family. I cannot think of anyone in the world I would rather take over the shop. From the day I arrived in the Bay, Titch Whittaker, you were there for me. Rose, you called me, and Rose is what you will always call me. Our quirky friendship was built on trust, understanding and kindness.’ Rosa’s voice started to waver. ‘I love you, mate, and I cannot wait to walk you down the aisle in a few days’ time.’

  Barry then thanked Rosa and all who had taken part before closing the show and returning it to the phone-in gardening programme back at the studio. As the dreamy sound of ‘The Power of Love’ by Frankie Goes to Hollywood blasted through the speakers, there was a cry from one of Vicki Cliss’s boys. The children had just arrived with her husband and were shouting, ‘It’s snowing! Father Christmas is coming and it’s snowing!’

  CHAPTER 57

  As the wedding party walked animatedly down from the Cockleberry Bay church, the fifty-strong choir could be heard across the beach from South Cliffs to West Cliffs. So powerful was the delivery of ‘As’, it brought joy to everyone’s soul. The group were swaying along as they sang on the beach right outside ROSA’S, not showing any sign of cold or discomfort as delicate flakes of snow fell on to the singers’ matching navy fur coats. It really was a wonderful sight to behold.

  ‘On my God!’ Titch was agog with happiness as she clasped Rosa’s hand. ‘You walked me down the aisle, that was beautiful enough, but this…Oh Rose, this is everything I dreamed of and more.’

  Ritchie then grabbed Rosa’s arm and swung it high as they carried on walking down the steep hill towards the beach. ‘Thank you, thank you so much for helping to make our special day so perfect.’

  ‘Ritchie Rogers, don’t you be getting all soppy on me too.’

  The revellers then all made their way into the café, where Nate was busy overseeing getting the choir fed and watered, and making sure that the whole place was warm and cosy. Special wedding candles were on every table and a beautiful Christmas tree stood in the corner, with wedding gifts underneath that guests had dropped in earlier. Jacob and Raff, who’d had to work and were back at the Lobster Pot with the Duchess and the two pugs, had sent a huge, silver-wrapped gift with a photo of them all attached to it, with the message: Love and Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Rogers from the Lobster Pot.

  Titch gaped in astonishment as she looked at the tables where red and green festive vases were full of bright yellow blooms. ‘Daffodils? How did you manage that? This is just too much.’

  Rosa smiled. ‘No, what is too much is this bloody bridesmaid’s dress. It’s SO tight, I need to change out of it before I burst.’

  Josh followed Rosa out the back. ‘Look at you undressing for me already.’ He stood behind his wife and kissed her neck. ‘Happy?’

  ‘So bloody happy. We can concentrate on us now, and me knowing that the shop is safe in Titch’s hands – well, it’s just the best scenario all round.’

  ‘I should never have doubted her,’ Josh said ruefully.

  ‘It’s all good. Look at me.’ Rosa stuck her stomach out. ‘I’ve never had a belly before.’

  Josh leaned down and kissed it. ‘You’re beautiful inside and out, and this time next year we will have a little family of our own. I love you, Rosa Smith.’

  ‘And I love you too, but we’d better get out there, we’ve got a wedding to run.’

  With the choir on a coach on their way back to Exeter and the guests tucking into the wedding gift from Ritchie’s parents of a hot fish-and-chip feast, Rosa wriggled along a bench beside Mary. ‘You OK, Mother?’

  ‘This is wonderful, darling. I am so proud of what you’ve achieved. In fact, I’m just proud to call you my daughter, full stop.’

  Rosa tutted. ‘We’ve got a good thing going now, Mum, you and me. Now eat up and enjoy yourself.’

  Mary put her fork down. ‘Rosa, about your dad.’

  ‘Not now.’ Rosa went to stand up.

  Mary stayed her with her hand. ‘I met him. He says if and when you are ready, he will be there for you.’

  Feeling a wave of emotion go straight to her throat, Rosa stood up and kissed her mother on the forehead, saying chokily, ‘That’s good, Mum, that’s great.’ She went outside to take in a breath of fresh cold air. Not realising that anyone else was out there, she stuck her tongue out to catch snowflakes, just as she used to do as a child.

  ‘Be careful where you’re sticking that,’ said an amused voice.

  ‘Well, I won’t be sticking it anywhere near you, Luke Hannafore, that’s for sure. Look at the trouble that caused.’ She smiled. ‘I didn’t realise you were joining us?’

  ‘I didn’t either, but I bumped into Titch the other day and she said to come down for drinks after the food if I wanted to. Seeing as I’m staying down here, I thought it would be good to start drumming up some business.’

  ‘Aw, that’s great news. So, will it be plumbing or will you be taking the helm at the Ship again?’

  ‘Tom and I have chatted, and we’ve decided to turn the old pub into a boutique hotel. Mum left us a pretty packet, so we can do it up for a high-end market. I also got talking to that Danny fellow, with the scar, in the Lobster Pot the other day. He’s one of us, Rosa. He’s all right. Handy by the sound of it, in more ways than one.’ They both laughed in understanding. ‘He’s going to help me do it up and I’m sure I will find a job for him when it’s done. Him and his son can have a room there. Genius, actually.’

  ‘That’s brilliant news, and relieves my slight guilt about him not getting the shop.’

  ‘Oh, shut up, Rosa. You know and I know it had to go to Titch. It was obvious.’

  ‘Don’t be a smartarse. Where’s your new girlfriend, anyway? Is she coming down?’

  ‘Nah, she’s working tonight.’

  ‘But it’s Christmas.’

  ‘She’s a copper.’

  Rosa, now shivering slightly, opened her eyes wide. ‘You with a policewoman?’

  ‘Yes, she’s fit. You met her. She was in the room when you were being questioned that day.’

  While Rosa took this in, Josh appeared at the door. He acknowledged Lucas, then putting his arm around Rosa, he ushered her inside. ‘Come on you, it’s freezing out here.’

  Rosa winked at Lucas and dutifully followed her husband inside. She then went through to the kitchen, where Nate was busily hand-drying glasses and putting them on trays.

  ‘All right, bruv?’ she said in a comical voice. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘All good. You know I love working here. I’m in my element.’ He stopped what he was doing, wiped his hands, then placed them on Rosa’s shoulders. ‘I have to thank you, sis.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘For not showing me a red card straight away, even when I was acting like a complete arse.’

  ‘You can’t kid a–’

  ‘Kidder.’ Nate finished her sentence.

  ‘This isn’t really the time,’ Rosa went on, ‘but, well, I’ve had a chat with Sara and found out that she’s ready to hang up her apron.’ Nate stood back and looked at Rosa qui
zzically as she continued, ‘She wants to pursue some of her art projects. So, er, we were wondering if maybe you’d like to work here full-time? I’ll be part-time overseeing things, but with a baby on the way I need someone I can trust to run the business.’

  Nate ran his hands through his curly brown locks. ‘Are you serious?’

  Rosa nodded. Seeing her brother’s face so full of love for her and lit up with excitement at the challenge of running ROSA’S, made her feel warm inside.

  ‘That is possibly the best Christmas present I have ever had – and yes, of course, I would love to take it on.’

  Hot, Saveloy, Mr Chips and Theo were now all causing chaos. The bridegroom rounded them all up, then stepped back as Titch briefed Ben, Theo’s real dad, and Ben’s stunning new girlfriend on baby and dogs, and as planned, the young couple left with their noisy charges and headed back to Alec’s place, where they would all spend the night. Hot, of course, was to stay and carry on running around under everyone’s feet until the last reveller was ready to leave.

  ‘All sorted?’ Ritchie kissed his new wife on the cheek.

  ‘I’m a bit worried,’ Titch admitted, ‘but Ben is a doctor so I’m sure he won’t panic about anything.’

  ‘He’s only up the road, it will all be fine. Now come here, you.’ Ritchie pulled his new wife into him and squeezed her tightly. ‘Mrs Rogers, I do presume.’

  ‘Speech, speech!’ a few shouted from the tables as they noted the happy couple in a warm embrace.

  ‘OK. OK. You noisy lot.’ Ritchie lifted a glass of champagne from the counter. ‘Firstly to my wife. My love, my best friend, the brilliant mother to our amazing Theo, and the magnificent new owner of the Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay. My wife!’

  He lifted his glass as the room echoed, ‘Your wife.’

  ‘And now to Rosa.’ Rosa gave a little wave from the back of the café. ‘A beautiful soul, whose kindness, love and generosity has not only seen us celebrate in such a marvellous fashion today but who has gifted us a shop and a home and ensured a bright future ahead for all of my family. If diamonds were people, then she would without a doubt be a priceless one.’