Coming Home to Heritage Cove

by Helen J Rolfe

  ‘I thought I’d take him croissants from the bakery and some homemade jam.’

  ‘I looked in the window, the bakery seems to have evolved since I was last here.’

  Tracy laughed and checked the door was still closed. ‘They were always so stuck in their ways, weren’t they? It was iced buns, ring doughnuts and vanilla slices from what I remember.’

  ‘And those cream horns.’

  She pulled a face. ‘Those were revolting, never liked them. You should try their cookies; these days they’ve made a lot of improvements. Celeste and Jade travelled around Europe for a year and picked up a lot of tips. They did start to do the most amazing coffees but Etna didn’t like it.’

  Etna ran the tea rooms. ‘I’ll bet she didn’t. I remember when Lottie at the little shop floated the idea of having a coffee machine for takeaway drinks. Etna was livid.’

  ‘She talked with Celeste and Jade and they agreed to leave the beverages out of their repertoire but helped her get a new machine installed for the fancy coffees. Etna resisted it at first but Barney persuaded her to move with the times. It was that or get left behind.’

  Here beneath the sunshine, the confrontation had moved from accusatory and upsetting to a friendship that had been there all along, was neglected but still salvageable. Melissa shifted into the shady spot right out front of the bakery. ‘I’d forgotten how beautiful summer days could be here.’

  ‘They sure are.’ Tracy hesitated before asking, ‘Were you worried about coming back after so long?’

  ‘A little…OK, a lot.’

  ‘I wish you’d talked to me more after you left, you might’ve felt more able to visit then. I missed you. Giles is my husband and I love him dearly, but there’s nothing like a girlie night out or trip to the pub to catch up on gossip.’

  ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

  ‘So what happened, Melissa?’

  She needed to talk and before she could stop herself the admission was out. ‘Harvey really let me down.’

  ‘Have you ever asked him why?’

  ‘You think I should’ve come back before, just to see why he didn’t leave with me when we’d planned it all along? How could I? I was humiliated that I wasn’t enough for him.’

  ‘Is that what you really think?’

  ‘He chose Heritage Cove over me.’

  ‘Maybe he chose to give you your life, Melissa.’ Tracy smiled at her. ‘He never spoke to me about it, he’s a guy – you know what they’re like with their feelings – but I’m reading between the lines. Perhaps there are things that went on that you don’t know. Maybe talk to him, give him a chance to try to explain.’

  ‘Maybe it would be better not to rake it all up again.’

  ‘Perhaps you’re right, especially if you’re with someone else now.’

  Melissa looked at the baguettes in her friend’s arms when Tracy swatted a fly away. ‘What are they for?’

  ‘I’m making lunch for my book club. Hey, why don’t you come? I’m hosting it at the inn at midday.’

  ‘Maybe one day, but not today.’

  ‘The only person you’ll know is Etna…oh, and Nola, and then there’s Lucy – you’d like her, she’s the temporary blacksmith.’ She took a breath. ‘Listen to me trying to give you five years’ worth of information in a few minutes! If you’re still on the same number, would you mind if I messaged you?’

  ‘My number’s changed but grab it from the guest records, you’ve got your hands too full to add it to your phone right now,’ Melissa smiled.

  ‘I’ll definitely do that, perhaps we could catch up soon.’

  ‘For sure.’

  Melissa went on her way, a sense of relief washing over her at seeing Tracy, although she’d only just waved her on her way when she passed the archway separating the bakery from the tea rooms and almost knocked into a woman coming from the opposite direction.

  ‘Look out!’ the woman laughed but any hint of a smile disappeared when she saw it was Melissa.

  ‘Tilly, good to see you.’ She didn’t look any different. Only a couple of years younger than Melissa, she had the kind of hair that always stayed in place. The middle part never wandered off centre, the bottom of her mid-brown hair curled up evenly around the base.

  ‘I won’t say likewise.’ Distrusting hazel eyes stared back at Melissa.

  It seemed she’d got off lightly with Benjamin and Tracy. Tilly, who ran the candle shop, wasn’t about to give her any break at all. Her face had become a dark cloud of disapproval and despite her bohemian dress sense with natural fabrics and earthy colours and patterns, she didn’t exactly seem open-minded about what had driven Melissa to stay away for so long.

  ‘Poor Barney had to put himself in the hospital to get your attention,’ Tilly huffed. And without waiting for a response she stalked across the road and headed for the bus stop.

  ‘What did you expect?’ came a low voice from behind Melissa.

  She swung round to face Harvey. ‘Look, can we at least be civil while I’m here? I’m in the village to spend time with Barney, I’d rather not fight.’

  ‘It’s all about you isn’t it?’

  ‘You hurt me as well, remember.’ Hands on hips, she snapped, ‘It’s not all one-sided.’

  He opened his mouth ready to disagree but instead rubbed a hand across the stubble on his chin. ‘I don’t want to fight either.’

  A memory of an argument between them came back to her. He’d been working hard as a builder’s labourer, she was working as a personal assistant for a solicitor, both earning their own money. They’d talked about travelling and so they both saved, but one day he came home with a surprise. He’d taken her outside and shown her a motorbike, told her he’d been taking lessons in secret. He offered her a helmet and said he’d take her for a ride. He thought she’d be thrilled but instead she saw the dangers, she had a go at him for spending too much money and not being committed to their plans. He’d yelled back at her and the night he took off on that bike in a rage had been terrible. She’d sat with Barney in his barn as he set up for the annual Wedding Dress Ball, sobbing that her last words to him were so horrible, even though she did it out of worry. When the deep rumble of Harvey’s motorbike sounded outside the barn she ran out and flung her arms around him, both of them apologising over and over again, her for overreacting, him for not realising that the extra danger of him on a motorbike had sent fear cascading through her, fear that she could lose someone else she loved to a road accident.

  Not interested now in bickering for the next three weeks, she changed the topic back to the reason she was here in the first place. ‘How do you think Barney’s doing?’

  ‘He’s eating, he’s sleeping, so that’s positive. But he still won’t do any of the exercises given to him by the physiotherapist.’ He pushed his hands into his jeans pockets. He’d always looked good in a simple pair of Levi’s and a T-shirt like he was wearing now, a small thread of cotton hanging down onto his bicep.

  ‘It’s hard to know whether you’re encouraging him or nagging him,’ she smiled. ‘That’s how it felt when I mentioned trying a few exercises – I even offered to help, but he wasn’t having any of it. He keeps saying he needs his rest, which I guess is part of it. I’m so afraid of upsetting him I’m not sure what else to say.’

  ‘You and me both. But one of us might have to be more forceful soon if he doesn’t come around. The doctors told me his best chance of a full recovery will be to slowly get his strength and mobility back, which means doing the weight-bearing exercises, balance training.’

  ‘Sounds like a gym workout.’

  ‘It does, but it’s important and he doesn’t seem to see that. Thanks for trying with him, though. Out of the two of us, you’re probably our best chance at convincing him. He’s pleased you’re back – you’re a novelty, whereas I’m here all the time and he bites my head off if he thinks I’m badgering him.’

  He sounded exhausted with it all. ‘I’ll try again, see what I can do.
He’s definitely not himself…emotionally, I mean.’

  Harvey sighed. ‘I thought I was imagining it.’

  ‘Definitely not. I expect him to be tired but it’s the lack of spirit I find such a shock. Maybe I’m overreacting, we did talk a lot last night before he told me he was exhausted and needed to go to bed. But I guess it’s a big change going from total independence to having everyone looking out for him, you staying at his house to make sure he’s OK.’ She held up a hand, pre-empting the rebuke. ‘I’m not saying you’re wrong to do it – in fact, I think it’s the right thing – but he’s so used to being on his own that it’s an adjustment.’

  ‘I’m not sure how long to keep doing it,’ Harvey admitted. ‘Part of me thinks I should stay weeks, the other part thinks he’ll be better if I go back home soon. It feels like a delicate balancing act.’

  ‘I guess he’s only a phone call away when you are back home; do what you think is best.’ The look he gave her seemed to suggest he was dubious about her giving him the deciding vote, but he said nothing. ‘Maybe he just needs time.’

  ‘Tilly probably does too,’ he said.

  ‘She was not happy to see me.’

  ‘She got close to Barney after you left. I think after the breakup with her boyfriend she didn’t have many people to turn to and you know what Barney’s like, he has a knack of magically appearing right when you need him the most.’

  She grinned. ‘How does he do that?’

  ‘Intuition?’ Harvey suggested.

  ‘Well, whatever it is, I hope he’s back to it soon.’

  ‘You showing up will do a lot of good,’ Harvey confessed, ‘as long as you’re hanging round for a while.’

  ‘You know I am.’

  ‘Didn’t know whether you’d have to get back quicker than you planned, now you know he’s home and well.’ His gaze lingered on hers. ‘I believe he told you he’s not going ahead with the Wedding Dress Ball.’

  ‘He did, and I mentioned it to him again last night. I thought it was a knee-jerk reaction but now I’m not so sure.’

  ‘It’s a first, I know that much.’

  ‘What about White Clover? He raises a ton of money for them every year.’ White Clover was the charity that had benefited from the proceeds of the ball every year, for as long as it had been running. Based on the outskirts of Heritage Cove, it supported families after the death of a child and with Barney a strong voice of the community, he must have been driven to support a local charity.

  ‘White Clover will miss out, I guess,’ said Harvey. ‘He does appear to have made his mind up.’

  ‘Then we need to change it.’ The smile they exchanged made her stomach flip because he hadn’t smiled at her like that since she arrived, not since the heady days of the spring before she left the Cove for good.

  ‘I left a handout from the hospital with a list of exercises on the bench in the kitchen near the kettle. If you could get him to at least take a look, I think it would be a start. Maybe he’ll see his life isn’t over yet, much as he appears to think otherwise.’

  ‘I’ll give it my best shot.’

  ‘I’ll see you around.’ And with a civil wave, off he went.

  Melissa made her way along The Street and crossed over the road. She stopped when her phone rang and she smiled to see it was Jay calling. She sat on the low wall that curved around the bend and would lead down to Barney’s place and chatted to her fiancé. He was drinking coffee in one of their favourite cafés and sounded lost without much to do until she suggested he finally take his sister up on the offer to go stay with her in Bath. She felt terrible he was having a wasted week and hoped he’d consider her suggestion. She almost wished she was heading down that way with him, exploring the cobbled streets, watching street entertainment, strolling along by the canals. But she needed to be here for now.

  Trying not to feel too guilty about ruining their shared time off, she ended the call and continued around the bend, down to Barney’s, where she followed the path between the trees and went in through the back door. Barney was in the lounge in the same armchair he’d sat in every other time she’d visited in the last couple of days. ‘Harvey says you slept well,’ she said, sitting on the ottoman opposite, ‘and Tracy asked after you.’

  ‘Well, that’s nice. And I’m fine. I always sleep like a log.’ He’d pulled a blanket across his lap but pushed it away now, his lips curving into a smile, ready to gossip. ‘So, you’ve spoken to Harvey, and Tracy too. How was it with Tracy?’

  ‘It was awkward, but then it was fine. And we’re going to meet up again and talk properly.’

  ‘I told you people around here wouldn’t hold a grudge, and if they do, send them to me.’

  ‘Once you’re up and about you could tell them yourself,’ she tried. But when she got no response she said, ‘Tracy said she’ll be bringing you treats from the bakery tomorrow, so be warned.’

  ‘Best bakery in the village.’

  ‘The only bakery in the village,’ she laughed. ‘Now, can I get you anything?’ With her parents gone and her brother living elsewhere, Barney was the closest she had to family, and she intended to spend as much time with him as possible while she was here. ‘How about a cup of tea?’

  ‘I’d love one.’

  The summer was warming up and it was almost at the stage where a cuppa first thing was fine but anything later on was too much, but for now she made them both a tea, his black, hers with a dash of milk, and when she sat down again she asked, ‘How are the exercises going?’

  ‘You really did talk to Harvey. Telling tales about me, was he?’

  ‘It’s because he cares. He said you slept well and told me you were still refusing to do the exercises. I hoped he might have been wrong.’

  ‘I’ve had an operation, I should be resting and letting things heal. I’m not daft. It’s my hip that was fractured, not my brain.’

  ‘The doctors say it’ll speed up recovery.’ She picked up the leaflet Harvey had told her about and put it on the arm of Barney’s chair, but he simply moved it to the table behind his mug where it wouldn’t fall onto the floor. ‘They’re right,’ she went on. ‘I did a bit of research myself –’

  ‘Doctor now, are you?’

  ‘No, but it’s not hard to find these things out, and increasing your activity gradually will help. I’m not suggesting you take up hiking or mountaineering, but little and often is a start.’ And stop slumping in the chair all day everyday like you’re doing now, she wanted to add but didn’t.

  ‘They’ll say anything these days.’

  ‘You know, if you do the work, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be on your feet and able to dance at the ball this year.’

  ‘You know how I feel about running it this year. Besides, I’m too old for all of that dancing nonsense, and you won’t even be here so what’s the point?’

  The ball was almost a fortnight after she was due to leave and she’d be flying off somewhere no doubt so couldn’t even offer to come back for it when she didn’t know her schedule yet. ‘How about Tilly? I’m sure she’ll want a dance.’

  ‘I hardly think any amount of exercises will have me bopping around a dancefloor,’ he grumped.

  ‘Barney, I’m not suggesting you do street dance or even the tango, but standing up, a girl in your arms – you can do it, I know you can.’ She had his attention and didn’t miss the sheen in his eyes.

  ‘I’m not running the ball this year, Melissa, and my decision is final.’

  ‘I think it’s a big mistake not to.’

  ‘I said I’m not doing it,’ he snapped.

  He was getting worked up and she didn’t want to upset him any further. Far more than the physical recovery he still had to face, she was concerned about the emotional changes she’d noticed already. It was as though all of a sudden he wanted to hide away from the world.

  She drank her tea and talked about the bakery instead, a safe topic. ‘Tracy told me Celeste and Jade travelled and got a few i
deas for the bakery. I heard about Etna’s reaction to their idea of installing a coffee machine.’

  Here was something Barney could get on board with – gossip he could never resist, not in a bad way but he always took an interest and would leap in as a mediator if he needed to. ‘Etna was furious,’ he chuckled. ‘I don’t think Jade or Celeste realised how much it would bother her but, to their credit, they backed down and to be honest, I think they were sort of pleased, it was one less thing to focus on.’

  ‘I’ll have to go in and sample something delicious soon.’

  ‘Be brave. I know it must be hard facing people after all this time. We’re a small village, we look after each other, but most people are only annoyed at you because they care.’

  ‘I’m not sure Tilly sees it that way.’

  ‘Now, she might take a lot of persuading to let you start over. But she’s a nice girl underneath.’

  ‘I heard you’ve spent a bit of time with her.’

  ‘She was lost when that boyfriend of hers took off, don’t think she knew which way to turn. I just leant an ear to talk to, that’s all.’

  ‘You always did put everyone else first.’ He didn’t say anything to that so she picked up the hospital leaflet again. ‘The exercises are nothing to be afraid of, you know, and you’ve got so much outside space here, you’re in the perfect situation to start slowly and build up.’ She spotted the walking frame in the hallway. ‘I’d love to see the barn again, would you take me out there?’

  ‘You go ahead, you’ll get there faster without me.’

  ‘It wouldn’t be the same.’

  He rested his head against the chair and picked up the remote control to flick on the television. The Barney she knew hadn’t had much time for the ‘idiot box’, as he put it; he’d always wanted to be outside, or listen to the news on the radio or his iPad.

  ‘Please come out there with me, Barney.’

  He set the remote control down. ‘I’d rather rest.’

  ‘Come on, I’m back in the village to see you and spend time with you.’ And when she kept staring at him, her gaze unwavering, she hit his weak spot. Having her here was enough of a boost to win him over.