Mo ignored this jibe. “I’ve been flat out. Not everything revolves around you.”
Ashley raised his eyebrows at this. “Did I ever say that it did?”
He hadn’t and Mo knew she was being sharp. She took a deep breath. “Sorry, that was out of order, but I’m not going to make dinner tonight.”
He nodded. “I’d already figured as much. Still, dinner or not, I wanted to give you something.” Ashley released her and, stepping back, reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a folded envelope. “I’d stupidly mislaid it, which is why I was sprinting back home in case I’d missed you.” He held it out. “Go on. Take it.”
Mo did as he asked. The envelope was thick and heavy between her fingers.
“What is it? A writ?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “So suspicious, Red. No, it’s not a writ, although maybe it should be, seeing as you’re trespassing on my property.”
She glared at him.
“Joke!” Ashley said swiftly. “It’s just something I thought you might find interesting and that I wanted you to have. I have to go away for a while and I thought you ought to have it before I leave. Call it a little goodbye present. Don’t read it now though. Open it later on.”
What on earth was all this about? Mo guessed it was the latest move in his game of chess with PAG. Ashley was certainly weird.
“Why would you want to give me a present?”
“Jesus, Mo, you’re hard work. I don’t know. Take a wild guess. Maybe because I like you? Because it feels like the right thing to do? Because for once I don’t mind losing? Take your pick.”
She scowled at him. “Stop taking the piss. Everyone knows we hate each other.”
Ashley’s face was deadpan. “Do they?”
“Yes, they do. And it’s true. I told you before, I can’t stand you.”
His lips twitched. “And I told you that on the lips of a woman love and hate taste pretty much the same.”
Before she could avoid him, Ashley stepped forward and brushed his mouth against hers. The heat of his lips and the rasp of his stubble against her skin turned Mo’s blood to fire and, horrified with herself, she shoved him away.
“See what I mean?” grinned Ashley. “Stop fighting it, Red.”
“I’m not fighting anything,” Mo lied. A pulse was beating in her most secret place and her knees felt decidedly watery. To distract herself she said, “Where did you say you were going?”
“I didn’t, but I’m flattered you want to know.”
Mo could have kicked herself. “I just want to make sure I can avoid it.”
“Just away.” Ashley ran a hand through his hair and then shrugged. “It’s personal business.”
Mo thought he looked sad, but then again that was ridiculous. Nothing ever bothered Cashley; he was as hard as nails.
“What did you want to tell me earlier?” she demanded.
He looked away. “Nothing that won’t wait for another time, the right time. This isn’t it.”
God, he was being strange. Mo decided that she preferred it when Ashley was horrible to her. The air of sadness around him this evening was unnerving.
Mo stuffed the envelope into the back pocket of her jeans. “Look, fun as this is, I can’t hang around here chatting. I need to find my friend Summer.”
“So you’ve already heard the news then? I was on my way to find you first. I didn’t think it was something you should hear over the phone,” Ashley said. His dark hair was ruffled and now she was looking more closely Mo noticed that his cheeks were flushed. He must really have been in a hurry to reach her. This, too, was oddly out of character. Usually a sardonic quip was never far away and he behaved as though he had all the time in the world.
It drove Mo mad.
Usually.
“News?” She thought of the blue lights down in the village and her hand flew to her mouth. All thoughts of the envelope were instantly forgotten. “What news? What’s happened? No one’s hurt, are they?”
“Hey, calm down, Red. There’s nothing to panic about, OK? Everyone is fine. Everyone is safe.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and the strong grip of his fingers felt like the only thing stopping Mo from spinning into orbit with agitation. She found herself hoping that he wouldn’t let go. “I do have to say that for a small fishing village an awful lot seems to go on here, though. Mo, look at me and try not to panic, but there was an assault on your friend Summer earlier this evening. A violent assault by all accounts and perpetrated by her partner.”
Mo stared at him. The words seemed to echo in her ears. Violent assault on Summer… Violent assault on Summer… Round and around they went, and she felt dizzy with dread and guilt. What had she done?
“There’s been an arrest already,” Ashley was saying. His hands felt like all that were holding her up. “The village rumour mill has it that the police have just carted away none other than Justin Anderson himself. Hey, don’t look like that, angel. It’s not your fault.”
Mo couldn’t look him in the eye. It was her fault. All of it.
“Is she all right?”
“As far as I know she’s fine,” Ashley reassured her. “I promise you. From what Sheila Keverne told the Rev, who then told me, Justin Anderson’s come off worst. Close encounter with a coffee jar, apparently – and your little nephew seems to have captured most of it on film. He was busy showing everyone until the police took his camera. Apparently he went crazy at that.”
Mo laughed in spite of herself. “Yes, he would.”
“So panic not; she’s safe. Your brother’s a hero and the local press have got two good stories from Polwenna Bay in one day,” he finished. “Honestly, it’s the village that keeps on giving.” His eyes narrowed. “Hey, you’re really pale.”
Mo felt pale. “I need to find Summer.”
“I’ll walk you into the village,” Ashley said. He let her go and she swayed for a minute. She’d not eaten all day and this, added to the shock of hearing about Summer, made her feel weak.
“I’m fine.”
“No arguments, Mo. I know you think I’m a bastard but there’s no way I’d leave you alone when you’ve had such a shock. I’m walking you down.” He paused and then a ghost of a grin flickered over his mouth. “Fact.”
They walked down into the village, side by side but without speaking. It was dark now and the restaurants and pubs spilled warm light and delicious smells into the cool air. Holidaymakers strolled through the streets, lingering to read menus or to peer into shop windows, and music from one of the pubs trembled on the air. As they passed the village green a police car drove by with a slumped figure in the back, unmistakably Justin Anderson. He must have driven like fury to get down here and reach Summer, Mo thought. She’d given him exactly what he wanted.
The lights were blazing from Harbour Watch Cottage and there was a crowd of people gathered outside. Mo spotted Sheila Keverne and some of the old biddies from the church as well as Kursa Penwarren and the vicar. When they caught sight of Mo and Ashley, there was a fresh ripple of excitement.
“I’ll leave you to it. I’m not exactly flavour of the month with that bunch,” Ashley said, grinning at Mo. “If they come for you with faggots and a stake, give me a bell and I’ll see what I can do.” He bent down to kiss her cheek and she shuddered at the charge of electricity that jolted her to the core. What on earth was this about? She hated him. He stood for everything she despised.
It must just be a strange reaction to the strain she was under. That was it.
He touched her face almost tenderly and then, stooping down again, he brushed her lips with his own in another kiss as soft as butterfly wings.
“Take care, Red,” he said gently. “I’ll see you around.”
Ashley melted away into the crowd, dismissing the congratulations for his earlier rescue and being his usual disagreeable self. Mo stared after him, her fingertips touching her mouth wonderingly, but the darkness had consumed him. Suddenly Mo realised that she
would miss him being there to spar with and to challenge her. Unnerved by this, she swallowed back the uncomfortable feeling and made her way inside.
Inside the cottage Summer was sitting at the small kitchen table next to Jake, who had his arm around her shoulders and was holding her close. Meanwhile Alice was brewing tea and Danny was trying to convince Morgan that having the police take his camera was actually a very exciting thing indeed. Issie and Nick were texting on their phones, their father was deep in conversation with Bobby Penhalligan and even Symon had abandoned his restaurant. Eddie Penhalligan leaned against the cooker, his meaty arms folded over his ample belly, and spouted forth about what he’d like to do to Justin, while Susie sat on the other side of Summer, holding her daughter’s hand.
“Mo!” Alice’s face lit up when she caught sight of her granddaughter. “There you are, my love. We were going to call but Jake didn’t want to alarm you.”
Mo met her brother’s eyes across the room. They both knew the truth. Jake’s gaze still simmered and Mo didn’t blame him one bit for feeling this way.
She had nothing to lose now by telling the truth. If Summer and Jake and everyone here despised her forever because of what she’d done, then so be it. She deserved it. Looking at Jake now, his mouth set in a grim line and with anger in his eyes, Mo felt a stab of grief. After what Mo had done to Summer, the girl Jake had loved for so long, she would understand if he never found it in his heart to forgive her. She had to face that. She dredged up all her courage and the words came tumbling out.
“I’m so sorry for everything,” she said to Summer. “This is all my fault. If I’d given Jake your letter none of this would have happened.”
But Summer shook her head at this. “Of course it isn’t your fault, Mo. You were just a kid. You weren’t to know what I’d said. Besides, you thought you were doing the right thing. You wanted to protect Jake.”
“She’s right, love,” agreed Alice. “It was a long time ago and you were very young.”
Mo wasn’t going to let herself off the hook that easily, though.
“But it’s not just the letter, although that was bad enough.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Summer, it was me who called Justin’s people and told him where you were.”
There was a ripple of astonishment. Jake inhaled sharply.
“You did what?”
Summer looked stunned. “Mo, why on earth would you do that?”
Mo hung her head. She didn’t think anyone could despise her right now as much as she despised herself.
“I’ve been riding one of Ella’s horses and she only put him with me on the condition that I helped her get close to Jake. She said she’d take him away if Jake didn’t take her to the ball.” The tears spilled over Mo’s cheeks, splashing onto the floor. “I love that horse but I know that’s no excuse. I shouldn’t have listened. I didn’t have to do what Ella told me but I was still so angry with you, Summer. I thought you’d come back to hurt Jake all over again and I couldn’t bear it. I just wanted you to go away for good and for everything to go back to normal. I thought if Justin came and you made up then it would be fine.”
Alice had put her hand to her mouth in shock. “Oh, Morwenna, you didn’t? Summer’s ex is violent. That was why she was here. Wasn’t it obvious?”
“I didn’t think about why she was here,” Mo choked. She dashed her tears away with the back of her hand and fought to gather sufficient control to carry on speaking. “I didn’t know any of the other stuff Summer had gone through and I had no idea that Justin Anderson was violent.” Her voice shattered and she was sobbing in earnest now. “I’m so, so sorry, Summer, and I wish to God I’d never done any of it. Everything that’s happened to you, it’s my entire fault! All of it!”
The room was quiet and her sobs sounded harsh against the stillness. Then Summer pushed her chair back with a loud clatter, and moments later she was hugging Mo and sobbing too.
“Of course it isn’t your fault,” she said, wiping Mo’s tears away with her thumbs. “Mo, it’s nobody’s fault! It’s just life. You made mistakes but so did I and so did Jake. We’ve all messed up.”
But Mo shook her head. “Summer, didn’t you hear what I just said? I called Justin’s people and I let them know you were here. It’s totally my fault he came to find you.”
“Mo, stop. Listen to me! Justin didn’t find out from his agency. My agent, Hattie, had already told them not to breathe a word about where I was. She knew what he’s like and so do they. Believe me, the last thing his team want is another scandal.” Summer stroked Mo’s tangles back from her damp face, just as she’d done when they were children and Mo had broken her heart over losing her mother. It was such a tender and familiar gesture that Mo wept even harder. “Nothing you did made any difference. He’d already figured out for himself where I was. I expect he saw me on the news when the trawler story broke.”
“She’s right,” Jake said quietly. “This isn’t your fault, Mo.”
“But Ella is,” Mo choked.
“I’m far more to blame for that than you are.” Jake looked troubled. “I’ve not been fair to her in some ways and I will make that right, if I can. And Mo? I know I was really angry with you earlier but I was being unreasonable. Summer’s right: we were just kids. You ripped up a letter. Big deal. I should have fought harder for Summer and been mature enough to see that she needed to have a chance at a career in the theatre.”
“But I still did it all,” said Mo bleakly. There was no getting away from the fact that she’d allowed her temper and latterly her ambition to get the better of her. She glanced at everyone and then hung her head again. “I’m so ashamed.”
There was quiet. The clock ticked and outside somebody laughed. Down in the harbour a boat engine spluttered into life. Summer didn’t speak; instead, she hugged Mo even tighter.
“We’ve all done things we regret,” she said softly. “I put my career above Jake and then I made choices with it that could have been better. I embarrassed my family and I stayed away from them rather than coming back home and admitting that I’d made some huge mistakes. I should have stood up to Justin a lot earlier too.”
“Summer’s right. We’ve all done things we’re ashamed of. Me more than most.” This comment was from Danny, who smiled at her encouragingly. “It takes balls to admit it though.”
Eddie Penhalligan pulled a face. “Christ! What’s this? Confession? You’ll have the bloody vicar in here next.”
“No we won’t,” Danny muttered. There was a bleak look on his face. “She’s not so keen on hanging out with me anymore. Says I need to sort things out with Tara.” He snorted. “As if that will happen. Tara’s playing her usual games again and Jules is far too soft to see it. Tara’s latest boyfriend’s probably dumped her so she’s decided she needs me again.”
Alice glanced at Morgan and then frowned at Danny.
“It’s all right, Grand Gran. Don’t look so worried,” said Morgan kindly. “I know that my mum and dad are going to get divorced. It will be all right. Issie says I’ll get twice as many presents. And if I have stepparents, probably even more because everyone will want me to like them. Fact.”
“Oh, Issie! That’s dreadful! You shouldn’t tell him such things,” scolded her grandmother, looking appalled. Everyone else was laughing though and, shaking her head in resignation, Alice smiled too. The tension was well and truly broken.
“You saved my brothers’ lives today as well,” Summer pointed out to Mo. “Don’t you dare deny it either. Dad’s already told me that if you hadn’t thought as fast as you did and reached them they could have died. I think that more than makes up for anything else that might have happened. There’s nothing to forgive, Mo.”
“She’s right,” Jake agreed. “It’s time to put all this behind us.” His eyes slid to Summer’s and he smiled at her, a slow and secretive smile that spoke of the tender words they’d already shared, the promises made and the future yet to come. Then he winked at Mo and added, “Ju
st do us both a favour, Mo? Don’t tear up any more letters.”
Mo wiped her eyes on her sleeve. She felt wrung out. “I don’t deserve any of this after everything I’ve done. Why should you forgive me?”
Summer smiled at her. “Because you’re my best friend, Mo. You always were and I know that you always will be. I’ve missed you so much.”
Susie Penhalligan rose from the table to join her daughter. “I think there’ve been enough grudges and misunderstandings to last a lifetime, don’t you?”
“So you forgive me too?” chipped in Nick, hopefully. He was always one to chance his luck.
“Don’t push it,” growled Eddie. He stepped forward and Nick paled, shrinking back to cower behind Symon. Then the big fisherman shrugged his burly shoulders. “Man up, you great girl’s blouse. I’m not going to deck you now, am I? There’s been enough hitting for one day. Just be grateful I’ve got a heart condition and more important things on my mind.” His brows drew together in a dark scowl. “And somebody way up higher on my hit list than you. Or you,” he added, glowering at Mo.
“Oh stop it, Eddie.” Susie’s voice was firm. “There’s been quite enough of that sort of behaviour for one day.” To Mo she said, “We can never thank you or Ashley enough for what you did for our boys today. It won’t be forgotten by any of us, Morwenna. You can count on that.”
“So the subject’s closed,” Summer said, smiling at Mo. “It’s all behind us now.”
“I’ll make some more tea and we can drink to new beginnings,” suggested Alice. Tea was her solution to most things. Mo sometimes thought that her gran, armed with a teapot and a bumper box of PG tips, could probably do a fantastic job of running the UN. Militant groups and sworn enemies would be chatting away over a brew within minutes.
Nick opened his mouth, probably to say that a toast like this deserved something stronger, but he caught Jake’s eye and shut up hastily.
[Polwenna Bay 01.0] Runaway Summer Page 40
