Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop: The heart-warming, romantic read we all need right now

by Ali McNamara

  ‘How do you have a key?’ I begin, but then I notice the intruder looking over my shoulder.

  ‘All right, Dad,’ he says grinning. ‘Quite some security guard you’ve got yourself here!’

  Twenty-six

  I look back at Jack, who’s managed to get himself down the stairs now and into his second chair, then I turn and stare at the boy in the hoody, and slowly I lower the crutch.

  ‘Hi, I’m Ben,’ he says, stepping forwards again smiling at me. He holds out his hand. ‘Dad obviously didn’t tell you I was coming?’

  ‘Er … no, he didn’t,’ I say, shaking his hand. ‘I’m Kate, pleased to meet you.’

  I turn and glare at Jack.

  ‘Sorry,’ he says, ‘I did try to warn you, but you set off at such a speed down those stairs I couldn’t stop you.’

  ‘It’s good to know someone’s watching out for the old fella,’ Ben says. He heads over to Jack and leans down to hug him. ‘Good to see you again, Dad.’

  ‘And you,’ Jack says, hugging him extra tightly. ‘It’s been too long, son.’

  Suddenly, I feel a little awkward standing here, still holding Jack’s crutch.

  ‘I … I’ll just take this back upstairs,’ I say, ‘and then I’ll let the two of you be. You must have a lot to catch up on.’

  ‘Kate, you don’t have to go,’ Jack says. ‘The truth is I wasn’t expecting Ben until later tonight. I sent him a key so he could let himself in easily when he got here.’

  ‘I got an earlier train,’ Ben says, shrugging. ‘I thought I’d surprise you, and it appears I have! Sorry, I didn’t know the old man would have company.’ He winks.

  ‘Oh no,’ I hurriedly protest. ‘It’s not like that. We’re just friends, aren’t we, Jack?’

  Jack doesn’t look quite as keen to use this excuse. Instead he just nods.

  ‘What do you want me to do about the things upstairs?’ I ask. ‘Shall I move them before I go?’

  ‘Yes, if you could.’

  ‘Do you have much luggage?’ I ask Ben. ‘Do you need a hand?’

  ‘Nah, you’re all right,’ Ben says. ‘I can manage. Look, don’t leave on my account. I can make myself scarce for a while.’ He raises his eyebrows suggestively at Jack, and immediately I can see Jack in him. They have the same dark eyes and the same dimples in their cheeks when they grin mischievously.

  ‘I have to go anyway,’ I tell him firmly. ‘I have things to do. I’ll just pop upstairs and get my things, and then I’ll be gone.’

  Without giving them the chance to object, I hurry past Jack and head back up the stairs. I grab the embroidery from the easel, and then quickly lift the painting of Clara and place it behind Jack’s sofa. I fold the easel and pop it in the hall in a prominent enough place for Jack to see it but hopefully tidily enough to avoid questions from Ben.

  Then I grab my bag with the embroidery tucked safely away and head quickly back to the top of the stairs just in time to witness Jack hauling himself back up the steps, while Ben, looking impressed, watches him from below.

  I stand aside when Jack reaches the top so he can access his wheelchair, then I wait again while Ben bounds up the stairs carrying a rucksack on his back and a large holdall in his hand.

  ‘Please don’t go on my account,’ Ben says again. ‘It’s good to see that Dad has made a friend here. Be nice to get to know you a bit more.’

  I smile. Ben has obviously been heavily drilled in manners from his mother. His overt politeness didn’t sound like Jack at all.

  ‘That would be lovely,’ I say, ‘Perhaps we could all have dinner together one night?’

  ‘Sounds like a plan,’ Jack says. ‘Why don’t you bring Molly along too. Ben and your daughter might have a bit more in common than us oldies!’

  ‘Sure, sounds like fun. Right, I really must be going. I’ve folded the easel and popped it over there,’ I tell Jack. ‘I’m sure Ben can carry it downstairs again for you.’

  Jack nods.

  ‘See you both soon,’ I say, giving a casual wave in their direction. Then I hurry back down the stairs and outside into the balmy evening air.

  Once outside, I take stock of what has just happened. It isn’t the surprise appearance of Jack’s son that’s making me feel on edge as I walk back towards my own flat, more the things that Jack had said to me before he’d arrived.

  And what might have happened if he hadn’t.

  ‘What?’ Molly says a couple of days later when I tell her that I’ve arranged for us to go out for dinner with Jack and Ben. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because Ben is new here, and it might be nice for him to know someone younger than Jack and me.’

  Molly rolls her eyes. ‘What’s he like, this Ben?’

  ‘He seems perfectly nice. He looks like Jack, but other than that I don’t know much about him. He’s a bit older than you, so I don’t think you need worry about him wanting to hang around with you.’ I look at her imploringly. ‘Please, Molly, I’ve said you will now. Are you supposed to be seeing Chesney tonight, is that it?’

  Molly looks awkwardly down at her Converse trainers. ‘Nah, not tonight.’

  Did I sense some reticence on Molly’s part again? This was new. The last time we’d spoken about Chesney Molly’s eyes had lit up at the very mention of him. Her opinion of him seemed to change as often as the tide.

  ‘So you’re free then?’

  ‘Yeah, I suppose so. Where are we going?’

  ‘Just to The Merry Mermaid. It’s nothing fancy – a quick bite to eat, that’s all.’

  ‘Sure, I’ll do it, but you owe me one, Mum!’

  ‘When don’t I? How about I start making that list I keep talking about – the one where I write down every favour we’ve done each other, and we’ll see if we’ve equalled out yet?’

  Molly rolls her eyes again. ‘All right, you win. What time?’

  ‘Eight.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll be ready for eight o’clock.’

  ‘Thank you!’

  Later that afternoon I’m alone in the shop when Julian pops his head around the door.

  ‘Busy?’ he asks.

  ‘Not particularly. The warm weather may be filling St Felix with holiday-makers but they’re spending their time on the beaches not in the shops.’

  ‘Ah,’ Julian says, not knowing how to react to this. ‘How do you fancy dinner tonight – my treat! I have something to celebrate!’

  When wasn’t it Julian’s treat? He never let me pay when we went out. As chivalrous as that was, it was also very frustrating.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry I can’t … I already have other plans.’

  Julian looks disappointed. ‘Ah, too late as usual. I should have known a beautiful lady such as yourself would be a popular dinner companion. I will form an orderly queue.’

  ‘No need for that. I’m only going to the pub with my daughter, my friend Jack and his son.’

  Julian looks relieved.

  ‘So, what’s your big news?’ I ask. ‘Can you tell me now?’

  ‘I have found a property at last!’ Julian says excitedly. ‘Here in St Felix,’ he adds, in case I don’t know.

  ‘You have? Where?’

  ‘Up on the hill as you go out of town. There’s a huge house up there, bit derelict, needs a fair amount of modernising, but I can get some people in. It’ll be as good as new in no time.’

  ‘Do you mean the house with the blue door?’ I ask, feeling a little dismayed by this news.

  ‘Er … I think it has a blue door, yes. But it won’t be there long – that will have to go too. The door to your home says a lot about you, and that peeling old wreck does not say what I want it to about me at all!’

  I just nod.

  ‘Aren’t you pleased for me, Kate?’ he asks, looking a little aggrieved. ‘I thought you would be?’

  ‘Of course I am. If you really do want to put down some roots here then why not buy that house? It’s one of the biggest in St Felix after Tregarlan Castle.’

 
; ‘Yes, I looked into the castle, but it seems it’s part of National Heritage now so it’s very definitely not for sale.’

  I smile at him. Julian really was from a different world.

  ‘So when do you exchange contracts?’ I ask. ‘I assume you’ve put in an offer on the house?’

  ‘Hmm, that’s a slight bone of contention right now. I wanted to but the estate agent says it’s possible it might be going up for auction. He said he’ll consult with the vendors though and see what they say.’

  ‘Auction – really? When I was there they seemed pretty desperate for an offer …’ My voice fades out. Now I was going to have to explain why I’d been to the house.

  ‘You were at the house?’ Julian asks. ‘Why?’

  ‘I wanted to see what it was like. I’ve always loved the look of it, so when it came up for sale I thought I’d take a peek.’

  ‘And what did you think?’ I can tell by the tone of his voice that this is anything but a casual question.

  ‘Very nice. It will make you a lovely home.’

  ‘A little sizable for only one perhaps?’ Julian suggests.

  ‘Maybe, but I’m sure you can make it work.’

  ‘I have every intention of doing just that,’ Julian says meaningfully. ‘In all aspects of my life.’

  ‘Hi,’ I say to Jack, as Molly and I arrive at the pub and find Jack already sitting at a table. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Good thanks,’ Jack says. ‘Hi, Molly, thanks for coming. Ben is just getting some drinks in. What would you like?’

  ‘Er, Diet Coke please,’ Molly says warily, pulling out a chair.

  ‘Make that two,’ I say, sitting down next to her.

  ‘Would you mind adding two Diet Cokes to that order, Ben?’ Jack asks as his son comes over to the table with two pints of beer in his hands.

  ‘Sure,’ he says, beaming at us. ‘You must be Molly?’ he says, inclining his head towards her.

  Molly nods feverishly.

  ‘Great,’ he says. ‘See you in a mo,’ and he heads back up to the bar.

  I look at Molly. ‘You all right?’

  Molly nods again. ‘Excuse me, I’ll be right back,’ she says. ‘Bathroom!’

  I watch mystified as she rushes over to the Ladies loo.

  ‘Kids, eh?’ I say, shrugging. ‘Although Ben is hardly that now, is he? He’s very tall.’

  ‘Gets that from me,’ Jack says. ‘Not that you’d know it now though.’

  ‘He seems like a good lad,’ I say, smiling as Ben turns to look at us. ‘I don’t know what he thought of me the other night though, brandishing a crutch at him like some sort of lunatic!’

  Jack laughs. ‘I think he was just pleased someone was looking out for me. For some reason my family worry about me.’

  ‘I’m not surprised. You’re far too independent for your own good. I’ve only known you a while and I’ve learnt that the hard way.’

  ‘Am I that bad?’

  ‘A nightmare! But you do have some redeeming qualities, I suppose.’

  ‘Like?’ Jack asks, grinning.

  ‘Like a handsome helpful son!’ I say, grinning back at him as Ben brings our drinks over.

  ‘Where’s Molly?’ he asks, looking around for her.

  ‘Popped to the loo,’ I say. ‘She’ll be back in a minute. I’m really sorry, Ben, for the other night,’ I begin.

  ‘Nah, don’t be daft. You were only looking out for Dad. I tell you what though, I wouldn’t fancy my chances as a burglar with you in the building!’

  ‘So, what are you going to study at university?’ I ask to change the subject. ‘Jack said you were off there in October.’

  ‘Medicine,’ Ben says. ‘I want to be a doctor.’

  Jack looks proudly at his son.

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ I say. ‘Any particular field?’

  ‘I’d like to be a surgeon, if I’m good enough – trauma and orthopaedics. I saw how they saved Dad’s life and I want to be able to do that for someone else’s father one day.’

  Jack and Ben exchange a tender look, and I feel my heart leap into my throat.

  ‘Ah, Molly, you’re back,’ I say as she arrives at the table again, and I notice she’s brushed her hair while she’s been gone and applied some lip gloss.

  ‘Hi,’ Molly says, looking shyly at Ben.

  ‘Hey,’ Ben says, giving her a quick look. ‘How’s it going?’

  ‘Good, thank you,’ Molly says in a high-pitched girly tone I’m not used to hearing from her.

  ‘Ben was just telling us how he wants to be a surgeon,’ I say. ‘He’s going to study medicine at university.’

  ‘That’s so cool,’ Molly says. ‘That might be something I’d like to do in the future too.’

  This is the first I’ve heard of it!

  ‘Aren’t you a bit squeamish for that?’ I ask. ‘You almost fainted when you had to dissect that frog in biology.’

  Molly glares at me.

  ‘What? You did!’

  Molly glances hurriedly at Ben to see his reaction, but Ben just looks back at us with a slightly amused expression.

  Suddenly it clicks. Molly likes Ben!

  ‘Shall we order some food?’ Jack asks, diffusing the moment.

  ‘Yes, let’s.’

  We order our food at the bar, and then we sit back to talk again while we wait. Ben is a lovely boy, and chats happily about himself and his dad, telling us some hilarious stories about Jack’s time in the army, much to his embarrassment.

  ‘I knew I should never have introduced you to some of my army mates,’ Jack says, rolling his eyes. ‘It was never going to end well for me.’

  ‘They miss you, you know?’ Ben says, serious for a moment. ‘I bumped into Dave Bryant the other day at the cinema. He was asking how and where you were?’

  ‘And what did you tell him?’ Jack asks uneasily.

  ‘I told him you were well, and you’d moved to Cornwall, but I didn’t tell him anything else. He was pretty surprised to hear you’d moved down here though.’

  Jack just nods.

  ‘I don’t know why you don’t just tell everyone,’ Ben says. ‘People are asking after you all the time. It’s not like you’re hiding out or anything. You’re running a legitimate business down here. It is all legit, isn’t it?’ He glances at me.

  ‘Of course it is!’ Jack says. ‘Why would you think otherwise?’

  Ben shrugs. ‘I dunno. You and Kate were in a mighty hurry to cover up something the other day when I arrived … and you’ve been a bit shifty around the shop, Dad.’

  Jack glances quickly at me.

  ‘I am never shifty!’ he protests. ‘You’re imagining things. That’s your mother’s influence. She was always seeing things that weren’t there – usually things that put me in a bad light!’

  Ben holds up his hands in surrender. ‘Easy, man! I’m not Mum. Let’s not start a fight about nothing.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Jack says, patting Ben on the shoulder. ‘One mention of Georgia and the touch paper is lit! Ah, is this our food coming now … great!’

  As we tuck into our pub meals the atmosphere returns to its previous jovial level. I notice Molly doesn’t eat much, and keeps stealing glances in Ben’s direction when she thinks no one is looking.

  ‘So what will you do now school is out?’ Ben asks Molly when we’ve finished eating. ‘Same as me, work in your parent’s shop?’

  Molly’s cheeks immediately redden. ‘Er … yes, probably. Mum lets me do some shifts in the school holidays.’

  ‘I think it’s important that Molly concentrates on her schoolwork during term time,’ I reply, ‘especially now she wants to go into medicine.’

  I smile at Jack, and he grins knowingly back at me.

  ‘If it’s really what you want to do I can give you some help if you like?’ Ben offers. ‘You know, what subjects to concentrate on and stuff.’

  ‘That would be wonderful, Ben, thank you,’ Molly gushes.

  ‘But I’d
want something in return.’

  ‘Anything.’

  ‘Could you show me around St Felix? You know, introduce me to a few people? Much as I love Dad, I don’t want to spend my whole summer in his shop. Where are the best places to hang out? I wouldn’t mind learning to surf while I’m here.’

  ‘My friend’s brother teaches surfing,’ Molly says excitedly. ‘I’m sure I could introduce you.’

  ‘Cool, thanks.’

  ‘Well, it looks like everyone is happy with their summer plans,’ Jack says, raising his glass. ‘Here’s to the rest of the summer in St Felix. May it bring much sunshine, good friendships and new experiences for all!’

  He taps his glass with mine.

  ‘Including for you and me,’ he mouths quickly while Ben and Molly are clinking their own glasses.

  ‘Especially you and me,’ I whisper back.

  Twenty-seven

  St Felix ~ August 1957

  ‘Which way again?’ Arty asks Maggie as he pushes her chair down towards the beach.

  ‘Down here,’ Maggie says, pointing to a row of fisherman’s cottages. ‘It’s the one with the black stable door. That’s it, this one right here.’

  Arty looks at the narrow whitewashed cottage in front of them. Both the windows and doors are painted black, and the upper half of the door is already open waiting for them.

  Maggie climbs out of her chair eagerly.

  ‘Careful, Maggie,’ Arty warns.

  ‘Stop worrying, Arty. I’m much stronger now. Even stronger than Mummy knows.’ Maggie knocks hard on the bottom of the door. ‘Is it okay if we come in, Freddie?’ she calls. ‘I’ve brought a friend to meet you today.’

  ‘In ye come, young Maggie,’ a gentle voice calls back. ‘I’m just through here.’

  Arty follows Maggie into the tiny cottage, where they immediately find themselves in what is supposed to be a kitchen but what looks to Arty more like a painting studio. There are pots of paint and clean and dirty paintbrushes in jars on the worktops, with both finished pictures, random bits of wood and also metal stacked up against the walls. In the middle of all this sits an old man with white hair. He’s wearing rough trousers and a simple collarless white shirt, and is currently hunched over a table painting on a small piece of broken wood that looks like it’s come from a boat’s hull.