by Georgia Hill
‘I told my Lee it was you. It is Theodora Bart, isn’t it?’ the woman trilled. ‘We saw you at the duck race this afternoon.’ They insisted on a selfie and a chat and by the time they’d gone, most of the pub’s other drinkers were staring.
‘Do you mind if we go, Millie. It’ll only encourage others if we stay.’
‘Of course,’ Millie murmured, casting a regretful glance at the half-full bottle.
Dora followed her look. ‘We’ll take this with us, shall we? Find somewhere secluded on the beach and hide. Grab the glasses.’
Giggling they tripped across the cooling sand and sat where the wooden groyne met the path which ran in front of the beach huts. Sheltered under the lip of the concrete path, which ran parallel to the promenade, they were more or less hidden.
‘I feel about fifteen again,’ Millie giggled as she flopped down. ‘We always used to come here to gossip.’
‘Best thing is you can still see all of the beach. Perfect for spying. Refill please.’ Dora held out her glass.
‘Does that happen often?’
‘What?’
‘People asking you for autographs.’
‘Not so much over here, although it depends. Not often when I’m going incognito like tonight.’ Dora gestured to her enormous sunglasses and straw hat. ‘It’s just if one person recognises me it seems to spark others off. Half of them don’t even know who I am. They just assume I’m famous enough to warrant a signature and a selfie. Once a guy got me to sign his arm and then had a go at me as he was disappointed I wasn’t Bonnie Wright. You know, out of the Harry Potter films?’
Millie screwed up her eyes. ‘I suppose you do look a bit like her. Not really thought about that before. Cor, my bestie the celeb! Not really thought about that before either!’
‘Yes well,’ said Dora, evenly. ‘Just remember, I’m really only Dora Bartlett, who held your hair off your face when you were sick the first time you got bladdered. And listened to you wax lyrical about, oh, who was it?’
‘Rick.’
‘Oh yes, he of the floppy fringe, soulful brown eyes and poetic tendencies. Whatever happened to him?’
‘He went to Manchester to do electrical engineering. Living in Watford now. Everyone seems to leave here.’
Dora ignored her friend’s mournful tone. ‘Okaay. Living the dream, then.’
Millie snorted. She leaned against Dora. ‘I’ve missed you. I can never get hold of you when you’re in the States, you know.’
‘Yeah well, the schedule gets pretty crazy.’
‘It’s so good to have you back, Dor.’
‘Get off, you soppy mare. Never took much to get you drunk, did it?’ They watched as Trevor rolled on his back, wriggling into the sand, getting his golden-brown coat covered. Millie went suddenly rigid against her. ‘What is it, honeybun?’
‘Oh God. It’s him. He’s back. Jed’s back.’
Chapter 6
Millie pointed a wavering finger at a tall blonde man walking along the promenade. He vanished behind the beach huts only to reappear towards the harbour end of the prom.
Dora lowered her sunglasses to see better in the gathering dusk. ‘Oh, I saw him earlier at the duck race. He’s friends with one of Mike’s cronies. Some city type, I guess.’ She squinted at Jed’s disappearing form. ‘Mike said you knew him.’ She peered at Millie, who had gone white beneath her tan. ‘Come on, then, spill the goss.’
She filled Millie’s glass with the last of the wine and settled back against the groyne, a now snoring Trevor lying on her feet.
‘He’s a man I know. Knew. He came into the café in January and I fell for him.’
‘Don’t blame you, he’s gorgeous.’
Millie nodded. ‘Kind too. He paid for Daisy’s operation when Arthur couldn’t afford it.’
‘Daisy?’
‘Arthur Roulestone’s golden retriever.’
‘Ah. So why does the reappearance in Berecombe of this totally gorgeous, beautifully dressed, and apparently kind, man give you a nervous breakdown?’
‘Oh Dor. He’s the man I love. Will always love. But –’
‘But?’
‘He just happens to work for Blue Elephant.’
‘No shit!’
Millie nodded. ‘Or rather, as he was at pains to point out, he’s their management consultant or something. Or was. He’s stopped doing work for them now.’
Dora relaxed. ‘Not so bad, then.’
‘Not if you don’t count him overseeing the opening of the branch here and not telling me. The café which may yet put me well and truly out of business.’
‘Ouch.’ Dora finished her wine and crushed the plastic glass. ‘And it’s the not-telling you that really hurts?’
‘Yup.’ Millie stared gloomily into her wine. ‘That and the fact that he and I come from different worlds.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Oh, he travels the world, is never in one place longer than five minutes, skis, dives, has holidays in St Lucia. That sort of thing.’
‘Oh, that sort of thing.’ Dora sounded amused.
‘Don’t laugh!’
‘I wasn’t laughing, honey. It’s the sort of life I had until recently. It doesn’t stop us getting on, does it?’
‘Of course it doesn’t. But you’re not my lover, are you? And you’ll go away too at some point, won’t you? And I’ll still be here.’
‘It wasn’t like Millie to be self-pitying.’ Dora put an arm around her. ‘If he loved you, he’d give it all up, wouldn’t he? To be with you?’
‘What and live in Berecombe and run the café with me?’ Millie gave a hard laugh.
‘Maybe that’s what he’s looking for?’
‘He said once I was home to him,’ Millie said wistfully.
‘Well, there you go, honeybun.’
‘But I’d never be enough for him. I know I wouldn’t.’
Dora stared at her friend. It wasn’t like her to be defeatist either. ‘Millie, you’re one of the kindest, most generous people I know. And you’re beautiful.’ When Millie snorted derisively she added, ‘Yes, you are. You look just like Keira Knightley with added curves. And you’re brave. Far braver than me. I couldn’t have taken on what you did when your parents died. You know me, I’d collapse in a fit of the vapours.’
‘You did an awful lot of crying. I think you did my share too.’
‘Well, I loved them too, don’t forget.’
Millie let her head sink onto her friend’s shoulder. ‘Oh Dor, you’re such a good pal.’
‘Even though I have the temerity to go skiing and have been known to holiday in St Barts?’
‘Even that.’ Millie’s voice was slurred.
‘Good, there’s hope for me yet, then. I think, my lovely, we’d better get you home and to your bed.’ She picked up their discarded bags, the crumpled wine glasses and the bottle and put the loop of Trevor’s lead around her wrist. ‘Come on, my sandy boy. You need to go home too.’
As they meandered along the promenade, towards Millie’s flat, Dora’s mind was busy plotting how to get her best friend well and truly hooked up and back with the delectable Jed.
Chapter 7
‘It’s just one big social whirl in Berecombe nowadays, isn’t it?’ Dora slugged back her wine and surveyed the crowd milling about at the launch of the Arts Workshop.
‘Hello Dora. Standing on the edge of the party and looking superior as usual? Bit Mr Darcy, isn’t it?’
‘I really don’t have to make any effort at that, Mike.’ It came out more diva-ish than she meant. Whenever he came near she felt herself reduced to a stereotype. The truth was she was lonely and a bit self-conscious. Tessa and her husband Ken were the focus of everyone’s attention, something she was more used to being, and Millie was busy overseeing the catering. The venue they’d decided upon for the Workshop was an old youth club tucked away in a grimy part of town next to the tennis court and children’s playground. The interior was rundown and filthy. S
he felt distinctly uncomfortable and out of place and Mike’s presence wasn’t helping.
‘It’s hardly the sort of thing I’m used to.’ Whoa! Where had that come from? Was she channelling Scarlett O’Hara now?
‘No, I don’t suppose it is.’ Mike’s voice was dry. ‘I suppose it hasn’t occurred to you that you could use your celebrity status, however limited, to help them fundraise?’
She turned on her heel. ‘Putting aside the fact I already have, I don’t suppose you have either? Or is your celebrity status even more limited?’ She smiled archly and was pleased to see the barb hit home. There was a fascinating pulse beating at the base of his throat. Dora stared at him, a desire to either hit or kiss him warring. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. Oh, she definitely wanted to kiss him. Maybe to find out if it was as good as the memory. Mainly, to kiss him until she left him gasping for mercy. Deliberately and very slowly, she licked her lips and then looked him straight in the eye. He gave a sort of strangled gasp and she knew she’d won this round.
He blew out a breath, looking as if he longed to get away. From nowhere Kirstie appeared and claimed his arm. She gawped up at him, adoringly. ‘Darling, there are literally millions of people you need to meet.’ As if only just realising Dora’s presence, she added, ‘Oh hello again, Theodora.’ She gave a cat’s smile.
‘Kirstie.’ Dora looked from Mike to the girl. So this was how it was? She might have known. The disappointment felled her like a physical blow. How had she been so stupid?
Mike cleared his throat. ‘Dora, I’ll introduce you to Jed, shall I? Only be nice to him, he’s had his heart broken.’
‘Oh Mike, you silly boy. I’m sure Theodora will be lovely to Jed.’ Kirstie batted a hand at Mike’s arm. She turned a baleful gaze upon Dora. ‘Won’t you?’
‘I’ll try my best.’ Dora gave them her best celebrity mile-wide smile and was gratified to see both blink. She drank her wine down in one and gave the empty glass to Kirstie. ‘Put that somewhere, won’t you?’
‘Who is going to be nice to me?’ A deep, cultured voice sounded behind them.
‘Ah, Jed,’ said Mike. ‘Dora here is panting to meet you.’ Mike gave Dora an evil look and allowed himself to be led away by a sullen Kirstie.
In her head Dora stuck out a tongue at them. Then she pulled on a professional veneer and put out her hand. Jed. ‘How nice to meet you.’
‘Jeez, you’re Theodora Bart!’
‘This is very true.’
‘Sorry, did I just go all fan-girly?’
Dora laughed. ‘You did, rather.’
‘It’s just that I love The English Woman. I travel a lot so have to download it. Saved many a lonely night in a hotel room.’
‘I’m very gratified you like it. And it’s plain Dora when I’m here in Berecombe.’
Jed lifted a couple of fresh glasses from a tray being circulated by the Tizzards’ eldest son and passed one to her. ‘Then Dora it is.’ He clinked glasses with her. ‘It’s a complete pleasure to meet you.’
Dora drank the wine and observed him over her glass. A smooth operator, confident and assured; she’d met many like him. Expensive clothes and a permanent suntan, he was good-looking in a glossy blonde way. Not remotely her type, but she could see how he had dazzled poor Millie. For a second she very much hoped his heart had been thoroughly broken. Then remembered her pledge was to get these two together. Well, there was no time like the present.
‘So, I understand you know Millie?’
‘Yes. We went out a while back.’ He wrinkled his high-bridged nose attractively. ‘Well, I suppose we never really went out much. She was always working too hard.’
‘That sounds like my friend Millie.’
‘How do you know her?’ His almost pathetic gratitude at being able to talk about her made Dora warm to him a little.
‘We went to school together. Berecombe Comp.’
‘Along with Mike?’
‘Yes, we were all there together, although Mike was known for his absences rather more than his attendance.’
They looked to the middle of the crowd, where Mike was deep in conversation with the town councillor who had made the feeble joke at the duck race. He must have heard his name being mentioned, or the old sixth sense was working, as he raised his head and looked straight at them.
Dora, to her horror, felt herself blush. She took Jed’s arm and steered him away. ‘You know Millie’s here tonight, don’t you?’
Jed’s face went through a tumult of emotion. Joy, fear, apprehension, need. Dora watched him, fascinated. He’d make a marvellous actor, with such mobile and transparent features. She melted further. If Millie had fallen for him, then he couldn’t be all bad.
‘She’s in charge of the catering for this.’
‘Do you think she’d want to speak to me?’
He seemed to assume Dora knew all about his and Millie’s relationship.
‘I’m not sure.’ At the corner of her eye, Dora caught sight of Millie perfecting the buffet. Watching her friend disappear into the kitchen, she turned her laser gaze on Jed. ‘How did you two leave it?’
Jed looked down, scuffed his expensive-looking brogues and sighed. ‘I was a twat. She told me to disappear out of her life.’ He glanced up. ‘Which was completely justified, I have to say.’
‘So I understand.’ Dora smiled, she was beginning to like Millie’s Jed a great deal. ‘Well, if you know you’re in the wrong and Millie feels she has had the last word, all, in my opinion, is not yet lost.’
Jed looked at Dora, starstruck but also with total and abandoned admiration.
She turned him towards the kitchen door. ‘She’s in there. Whenever in doubt, seek Millie in the kitchen.’
Jed gave her a grateful look and went. Dora returned to the margins of the party, sipped her wine and hoped she’d done the right thing.
Chapter 8
‘Hello Millie.’
She started. She’d know that voice anywhere. It was inevitable, she supposed, if he was in town, that they’d bump into one another. ‘Hello Jed.’ Passing the tray of smoked salmon canapés to Clare, who was waitressing for her, she forced herself to meet his eyes. She drank him in. Thinner than she remembered, but browner. The suntan emphasised his fine cheekbones and there were new highlights in his blonde hair. He looked like a well-bred racehorse, nervy and on his toes before an important race. She gulped. He could still make her heart race and her knees buckle. But part of her, the ever-cautious part, remembered her fears over the long-term compatibility of Cinderella and Prince Charming.
‘How have you been?’
She nodded. ‘Okay thanks.’
‘And the café?’
‘Doing quite well.’ She added in a rush, ‘Thank you for helping Arthur out. With Daisy, I mean. He couldn’t afford the operation.’
Jed shrugged. ‘He’s a nice man. Daisy, I’m sure, is a nice dog.’ His brown eyes burned into hers. ‘But I really did it for you, Millie. Arthur is a friend of yours and I could see his being unhappy made you unhappy too.’
‘Oh.’ Millie swallowed. Every fibre of her being yearned to gather Jed in her arms and tell him she loved him, had always loved him, would never stop. ‘I said some things back in February.’
For the first time, Jed smiled. ‘You did and I deserved everything you threw at me.’ He spread his hands. ‘How could you not be angry?’
Clare yelled from the kitchen and Millie gave Jed an apologetic look.
‘I know, work calls.’ As she turned to go, he added, ‘Millie, do you think we could get together sometime? To talk things over? I’d like that.’
Millie was about to nod but the little voice of caution that always wreaked havoc between her and Jed piped up. ‘I don’t know, Jed. I’m not sure that’s a good idea.’
His face tightened. ‘I don’t understand you, Millie,’ he said through clenched teeth.
‘Did you think we could just start up again? Just like that?’
‘Yes. No.
Yes. Maybe?’ He shrugged helplessly.
Millie looked at him. She doubted if anyone had ever said no to Jed. All his life everything had fallen into place for him. A golden boy with effortless charm. Well, she wasn’t going to be the latest in a line of easy conquests. He’d lied to her! ‘It’s just not that simple, Jed. And maybe, if you don’t like that,’ she added, as his angry expression deepened, ‘You’d better keep away from me altogether!’
Chapter 9
‘So, how did it go?’ Dora took a slug of wine, thinking she could get used to the stuff Millie had stashed away.
They were holed up in Millie’s flat, sharing a bottle of wine and a bowl of Kettle crisps. It was Sunday night and it seemed the thing to do.
‘What do you mean?’ Millie’s voice was guarded.
‘Last night between you and Jed?’
Millie concentrated on stroking Trevor. She hesitated before answering and then blurted out, ‘Oh Dor, it was such a shock seeing him like that!’ She hugged the dog to her and buried her face in his fur. ‘I told him … I told him to go away.’
Dora spilled wine on her white skinny jeans. ‘You did what?’
‘I just couldn’t face him,’ Millie continued miserably. ‘I mean, I knew he was in town, but I didn’t think he’d turn up at the launch party. I had no idea he even knew Mike!’
‘He doesn’t, not really. He’s a friend of that idiot Phil.’
‘Oh.’ There was a pause. ‘How do you know?’
‘Mike told me. I had a little conversation myself with your Jed. I rather fell for him actually. And he’s –’
‘Not your type!’
‘No need to shout, Mil.’
‘Sorry,’ Millie mumbled. ‘Hands off, though.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it, honeybun.’ At Millie’s glare, Dora put up her hands. ‘Honestly, I really wouldn’t go there if you paid me. But others might if you don’t sort this out. A man like that won’t stay around here for long.’ As soon as she said it, Dora knew it was the wrong thing to say. ‘I don’t mean –’
