A Small Town Affair

by Chrissie Loveday

  A Small Town Affair

  Chrissie Loveday

  © Chrissie Loveday 2014

  Chrissie Loveday has asserted her rights under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.

  First published by Endeavour Press Ltd in 2014.

  This edition published by Endeavour Media Ltd in 2018.

  Table of Content

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Extract from For the Sake of Love by Chrissie Loveday

  Chapter One

  Georgie glanced out of the window. He was there again. The gorgeous young man had been hanging round the café nearly every day lately. Who was he? And why was he always there, sometimes looking out towards the sea but mostly looking at the café. Was he stalking her? If so why? She shook her head telling herself to stop being so neurotic. How could he possibly know her real identity?

  Georgie sighed as her boss, Audrey, called to her to take the latest order to the table.

  ‘Two toasted tea cakes and a pot of tea for two,’ she yelled.

  Her feet were aching and the backs of her legs were screaming, letting her know that she had been standing for much too long. But, she gritted her teeth, determined that she was going to stick out this job for at least the next few weeks. She was going to prove her parents were wrong about her, however much it took out of her. She carried the tray over to the two ladies who were sitting at the window table in the small café. Georgie smiled at them and hoped they would enjoy their tea.

  ‘Thank you dear. Such a lovely spot you have here. It’s a real pleasure to watch the children enjoying themselves on the beach.’

  ‘And a lovely afternoon for the holiday makers.’

  ‘Do you want a break Gina?’ Audrey asked. Georgie gave a slight start, still unused to her new name. ‘You can take ten minutes while there’s a bit of a lull.’

  ‘Thanks. I’d love a break. I could do with a drink myself. Is there some tea left?’

  She took her mug outside and sat at a spare table overlooking the beach. The little Cornish fishing village was postcard pretty and one of the few remaining places unspoilt by a plethora of conversions into holiday accommodation. It was a million miles away from the plush chain of Hetherington Hotels owned by her parents. Anyone from home who knew her, would have been amazed to see her working so hard in this tiny café. She was known as a girl who revelled in going to parties, shopping and generally doing very little but enjoy herself. What exactly she had hoped to achieve by running away, she couldn’t say but she was tasting independence and surviving on her own for the first time in her life.

  ‘Hallo. Enjoying a break?’ She swung round, startled. It was him. She hesitated, still wondering why he was hanging around so much. His dark good looks had appealed to her when she had first noticed him at a distance but now here, close up, she felt her heart pounding. His almost green eyes stared into her own. Green? Or should it be hazel? Or were they brownish? She tried to appear casual and tried to convince herself that she should be cautious. She needed to be cautious. He spoke again and she realised she hadn’t said a word. ‘I’ve seen you in the café several times but you always looked so busy. I wanted to come inside but it’s a bit of a “ladies who take tea” sort of establishment. I didn’t want to disturb you.’

  You would disturb me any time, she thought. He was surprisingly well spoken and had a most appealing, almost boyish grin. She drew her breath and gave a weak smile, not wanting to appear too rude.

  ‘We do get the odd few brave males venturing inside,’ she said lightly. She must look a sight, she thought. She brushed back the strand of blond hair that had escaped from the cap she was supposed to wear for hygiene’s sake. The short black skirt and bright tee-shirt with a logo were hardly the most exciting clothes she would have chosen but, for heavens sakes, he’d stopped for a chat hadn’t he? ‘You must live around here, if you’ve looked into the café regularly.’

  ‘Only been looking since you’ve been working there. Nearly four weeks now, isn’t it?’ Despite herself, she grinned and nodded. Who was this man? ‘I work at the Clarence Hotel, just up the hill. I’m on evenings this week so I have to make the most of the days. Not very good for any sort of social life.’

  ‘I’d better go back inside soon or I’ll be in trouble. Nice to see you.’

  ‘Hang on minute. I’m Jay. Jay Jacobs.’ He held a hand out for her to shake. ‘I’ll bite the bullet and come inside one of these days.’

  ‘Gina. Er Gina ... Hind.’

  ‘You don’t sound exactly sure,’ he teased.

  ‘Just very weary. I’m not used to standing for so long.’

  ‘Well, Gina Hind, maybe one of these days we’ll both have time off at the same time. We could go for a drink? Or something to eat?’

  ‘Sounds good, as long as it isn’t a Cornish Cream Tea. I doubt I shall ever face eating one again after this summer. Just the smell of tea and scones might finish me off.’ Somehow, she couldn’t believe he was anything more than a gorgeous man asking for a date. There was nothing about him to confirm that she needed to be cautious. He couldn’t possibly know who she was. Nobody here in Poltoon knew who she was.

  They chatted for a moment or two longer and by the time her mug of tea was empty, they had exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet the next time they were both free. She watched as he strode away, his long legs covering the ground at a good pace. He was certainly great to look at and seemed to have a most attractive personality and a sense of humour with it. He was probably well aware of his charm and looks but then, wasn’t she always conscious of her own appearance? She would have to watch her reactions to her pseudonym. Gina Hind. The initials were the same but her real name, Georgina Hetherington could be a dead giveaway. Everyone had heard of the Hetherington Hotel chain. Whenever anyone asked her name, they always made the connection. There was even one of the hotels quite near here but right now, she had something to prove on her own terms. She looked round and saw Audrey frantically waving to her. She quickly went back inside, apologising to her boss as she collected the next tray of cups from the empty table.

  Back in her rented flat, she reflected on what had become the highlight of her day. Jay Jacobs was everything that dear old Guy wasn’t. She had known Guy Westland all her life and her parents had desperately wanted them to marry. His family owned Westland Hotels, another chain further North. It would be the dynastic marriage of the century for the hospitality world, a linking of two major players in the business. Fond of Guy though she was, marrying him was never a part of her plan. Her father had completely lost it when she told him she had refused Guy’s proposal.

  ‘What’s the matter with you girl?’ he had blustered. ‘Can’t you see he would be the perfect match for you? We’ve known the family for years. Most of your life. It’s what we’ve always hoped for.’

  ‘Well it isn’t what I want. I’m not ready to be married. Especially not to Guy.’

  ‘For heavens sakes Georgina,’ she knew he was angry, whenever he called her by the full name. ‘Pull yourself together. Life isn’t some sunny dream of hearts and roses. You need to come down to earth and realise the truth. Guy’s a good bloke. Everything you could possibly want.’

  ‘Except I don’t love him.’ Her father glared at her, speechless for a moment and she ra
n from the room. Four long weeks ago, she sighed, as she made herself an omelette, staring into space as the eggs congealed in the pan and turned into an inedible, rubbery mess. She tipped it into the bin and settled for a sandwich. Why was life so difficult? Much as she loved her parents, she was sick of them always trying to run her life. They gave her everything she wanted except the freedom to try new things. She had been working in one of their hotels for a while, as part of the management team. But whatever she did, it was controlled by the rules imposed by her father. So, just over a month ago, after this particularly angry exchange, she had rushed to her room to pack.

  ‘Where are you going Darling?’ her mother had asked, hovering near the door and looking a little teary.

  ‘I have to get away Mum. I’m feeling stifled. You both seem set on me marrying Guy and I don’t love him. Not in the marrying kind of way. He’s more like a brother to me. You can’t organise every part of my life. I need some space. I’m going to see Jenny. Talking to her usually helps me sort out my brain.’

  ‘But how long will you be away?’

  ‘Don’t know,’ she snapped. ‘I’ll ring. Please, just give me some space.’

  At this point her father had arrived on the scene.

  ‘Don’t be so ridiculous Georgina,’ he said on hearing her rather sketchy plans. ‘You have to learn to take orders and not behave like a spoilt brat. You just haven’t got it in you to stick to any normal job, have you? What’s supposed to happen to the work you were supposed to be doing at the Hetherington? Do I appoint someone else?’

  ‘Your decision. I hardly make much of an impact on the place do I? You’ve got so many rules about what has to be done and exactly how you want it done , a tame monkey could do the job if you showed it the right buttons to press,’ she retorted. ‘I need to do something on my own to prove I can. I’ll be in touch when I’m ready.’

  She had driven away in her expensive sports car, not caring where she was going. She always drove fast but this time, she was taking stupid risks. When she skidded round a corner, almost hitting a wall, she finally slowed down. Her heart was pumping with the adrenaline. She parked outside her friend’s flat and rang the bell. There was no reply and a neighbour leaned through her window and told her Jenny was away for a couple of weeks. Would things ever go right for her? Where should she go now? Going back home was not an option. Not now. She picked up the map book and opened it at random. She stuck her finger on a spot and saw West Cornwall.

  ‘Right,’ she muttered. ‘Cornwall it is. I shall get some sort of job and stay there till my head clears.’

  *

  After a couple of nights spent in bed and breakfast, she decided to rent one of the many holiday apartments in the village of Poltoon. Finding a temporary job had been relatively easy. The little café paid minimum wages and certainly didn’t cover the rent of her apartment. For the time being, she was supplementing it with her credit card. Her father was right in one thing. She couldn’t afford to live decently without his support. But, for now, she was at least managing some sort of independence.

  Georgie sat looking over the beach as she ate her sandwich. It was a lovely apartment, small but perfect for her. As the height of the season approached, it would be more expensive to stay there. If she did stay for longer, she would have to find somewhere cheaper or get a better paid job. As the beach was clearing of the families with small children, a different collection of people was taking over. Groups of teenagers were arriving, gathering together and often making fires. Slighter older ranges were filling the sea with surf boards, waiting for endless minutes for The One Perfect Wave. She hadn’t ever tried surfing but it looked fun, as long as you were a very patient soul. She might give it a go herself one day. Meantime, it was much too nice an evening to be sitting inside. She picked up her bag and took a walk along the road. She climbed the cliff path and stood overlooking the little village. It was a good place to be. Life seemed to move at a much slower pace here and despite her aching feet, she felt relaxed and at peace with herself. She had scarcely given a thought to her future or how she was ever going to make the move back home. She watched the gulls wheeling around and screaming at each other. Amidst the noise, she realised her phone was ringing. She looked at the incoming call. Her mother. She hesitated before answering it but knew it would only cause extra hassle if she didn’t take it.

  ‘Hallo Mummy,’ she replied.

  ‘Darling, where are you? Are you all right? When are you coming home? Your father and I are so worried about you.’

  ‘You needn’t worry. I’m fine. I’ve got a job and I’m working hard.’

  ‘But where are you living? Is it clean? How are you managing?’

  ‘Please Mummy. Stop asking so many questions. I have a rented apartment. It’s really lovely. Overlooking the sea and it’s very clean and yes, I am eating properly. I need time to sort my brain and decide on my future.’

  ‘But where exactly are you? I can hear some sort of birds making a racket.’

  ‘I told you before. I’m in Cornwall in a little village. Please just settle for that. I don’t want Daddy rushing down and dragging me back. I’ll come back when the time is right. I promise.’

  ‘But what are doing? How are you managing to live?’

  ‘Like I said, I’m working. Not getting very well paid but it’s okay. I still have my credit card. I assume it’s all right for me to use it?’

  ‘I suppose so. But I’m not sure your father will continue to support you if you persist in being so difficult. What exactly are you doing work-wise?’

  ‘I love you Mummy. Please don’t worry. Bye.’ On that rather unsatisfactory note, she switched off her phone. Her mother was certain to call back and she didn’t want to face further interrogation. There was no way she would admit to just how low her pay was. Undoubtedly, snobs that they were, they’d be horrified to think of their daughter serving teas and washing up in a beach café. If the worst came to the worst, she could always consider selling her beloved car. She sat on her rock for a while longer, thinking. Was she really being terribly ungrateful for everything her parents had done for her? Probably she was but she knew that inside, she had something to prove to herself, if to no-one else. It was difficult to explain to her parents, even to voice it to herself. Suddenly, she shivered. Dusk had fallen, almost without her noticing. She walked down the steep path again and looked up at the Clarence Hotel on the opposite side of the cliff. It was brightly lit and she could see people moving around behind the windows. Perhaps Jay was there. Perhaps he was even now, looking out over the bay and seeing the same view that she was. She looked forward to getting to know him. She hadn’t even discovered what he did during their brief conversation. Was he a chef? A waiter? On the management team? Why on earth was she so interested, when she knew virtually nothing about him? He was a good looking guy who happened to pass her way, and flatter her just a little. She should be used to flattery. Even without her usual hairdresser painstakingly looking after it each week, she was still proud of her long hair, despite the ridiculous cap she was forced to sport at work. Even so, Jay had been passing the café to look at her, according to what he had said and he had no idea who she really was. He was seeing her for herself and not as some rich girl. He seemed to like her for exactly what he saw. She would try to get to know him better, very soon. Something had to relieve her lack of social life.

  The surfing crowd were gathering at the top of the slipway, chatting and laughing. Most of them seemed older than she thought and she hesitated as she was passing them.

  ‘Hallo Darling’,’ one of them called to her. ‘You want to come for a drink?’

  ‘No thanks,’ she muttered slightly nervously. She was out of her comfort zone and wasn’t used to dealing with this sort of casual chat up. She had been protected and wrapped in cotton wool for much too long. This was breakout time. Another day, she might just get the confidence to accept an invitation like this. If she saw Jay again soon, she would certainly at
least go for a drink with him. Stalker? She remembered her thoughts of earlier. Why on earth would anyone follow her for any reason more than he liked her? Nobody knew anything about her so, surely, there could be nothing sinister in his approach?

  Chapter Two

  Georgie went to work the next morning, hoping she might see Jay sitting on the sea wall at some point. She kept looking out during the morning coffee rush but he never arrived. She felt disappointed. Audrey asked if she was feeling all right, as she seemed so distracted.

  ‘Sorry,’ she replied. ‘I was wondering if a friend might come in. I think he’s put off by too many ladies drinking coffee.’

  ‘I never know why the men don’t come inside. Do you think it’s too, sort of, feminine in here?’

  ‘Maybe a bit floral for them. But, we do well enough with the female clientele, don’t we?’

  ‘Well yes. I don’t want to find myself in competition with the coffee chains because I simply couldn’t keep up with them. I heard one of them is trying to get planning permission to move into this village. It will be the end of me if they do.’

  ‘That would be a real shame. You really do provide a service for the people who like to be looked after as individuals, not one of dozens who drift through. Most of these ladies are regulars aren’t they? I don’t see Mrs Ellis and her friend being an avid drinker of StarCosts or anything like them.’

  ‘Doubt they could afford their prices anyway. I’ll keep going as long as I can. Now, I’d better start getting the lunch things organised. You take a few minutes if you like, Gina. The tables are more or less empty now. We could get busy in an hour or so.’

  She poured a coffee and went outside. She looked up the hill towards the Clarence. It was a medium sized place, nothing like the size of any of their hotels. It may have a two or three star rating but she hadn’t ventured close enough to check it out. She smiled to herself. She must have inherited some of her father’s genes after all, if she was actually showing what could be termed a professional interest.