Summer at Conwenna Cove

by Darcie Boleyn

‘Well that’s nice to hear. I will be back … after half-term.’

  ‘Right!’ He snapped his fingers and Eve jumped. ‘But much as we want you back, are you sure you should risk it? After that rather unfortunate little incident.’ He lowered his gaze and shook his head as if remembering the details of Eve’s projectile vomiting.

  Something about his tone and his smug expression made Eve’s blood boil. She knew she should contain her feelings, that she should filter her words before her anger burst forth, but she couldn’t; it was just too powerful. ‘Now look, you weaselly little maggot! I’ve just about had it with you and your sodding snaky ways. How dare you stand there and look down your pointy nose at me!’

  ‘Wha—’ He raised his hands in alarm, but Eve cut him off.

  ‘No! Oh no you don’t, Donovan! I’ve had an absolute gutful of you being such a sly worm. Always sneaking around behind my back trying to find some dirt on me or Amanda, putting me down in front of the governors and staff. All I have ever done is strive to do my job and do it well. I’m not bloody perfect. Believe me, I know that very well.’ She paused to take a deep breath, and out of the corner of her eye saw that she’d attracted a small audience of shoppers and supermarket staff, but she was too angry to care. ‘But I am a human being, and although I love my job, I am not made of steel!’ Her voice broke on the last word and she gasped as she tried to fill her lungs.

  ‘Eve!’ Donovan squealed as he waved his hands either side of his blotchy face. ‘Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’

  ‘Are you, though?’ She gulped down air then took a step towards him. ‘Are you really? I know you’re ambitious and I know that your job means the world to you. You’re not a bad teacher, far from it, but you are still quite inexperienced, and believe me, in teaching, experience counts for a lot. You’ve climbed the ladder quickly, and good on you for that, but you mustn’t forget that you still have a lot to learn. I never forget that, Donovan, and if I had any intention of staying in teaching then I would remind myself of it every day.’

  Donovan stared at her, his mouth opening and closing like a landed fish. ‘You’re not staying in teaching?’

  ‘What?’ Eve frowned at him.

  ‘You just said that if you had any intention of staying in teaching—’

  ‘Oh shit!’ Eve covered her mouth. So she had! As she’d vented her long-building frustration with her assistant head, her inner decision had been released.

  ‘Do other people think I’m a snake?’ Donovan asked, hanging his head and toeing the speckled supermarket floor with a shiny loafer. She noticed how the gel in his hair had turned white and how some of the strands clung together in a sticky clump.

  ‘Sorry? What?’

  ‘You said I’m snaky. I never wanted to be snaky. I just thought I was being kind of … clever. You know … Machiavellian.’ His cheeks reddened and Eve started to giggle.

  ‘Oh Donovan, really?’

  ‘Honestly. I was just trying to get on. Playing the game, as one of my heads of department once told me. I just want to do well, Eve. Like you.’

  Eve stared hard at him, seeing for the first time exactly how young he actually was. While she was in head teacher mode, which she was fast recognizing as her battle mode, she saw practically everyone as some sort of threat. Poor Donovan had been one of those threats, and rather than being brutally honest with him about his behaviour, and trying to guide him, she’d let him carry on while resenting him. As his line manager, she hadn’t been fair at all. He needed nurturing, not resentment and the cold shoulder of authority.

  ‘Donovan, do you want to grab a coffee?’

  The gratitude that flashed over his face made Eve feel even guiltier. ‘That would be great, thanks. I only have about half an hour, though. I came to order a cake for Sandra.’

  ‘You did?’

  ‘Yeah. She had her baby.’

  Eve smiled. ‘Everything okay with them?’

  He nodded. ‘A healthy girl. Mother and baby doing well.’

  ‘Oh that’s great news,’ Eve said as they entered the store cafe and went to the counter.

  ‘Eve, are you really going to quit? I just can’t imagine the school without you there.’

  ‘Oh Donovan,’ she replied as she handed him a mug of coffee and went to pay, ‘I just can’t imagine being there any more. So yes, I’m going to resign. But first let me tell you a few things I’ve learnt along the way, and who knows? You could be the next super head teacher to make the local news.’

  * * *

  Eve stood in front of the postbox.

  What she was about to do would alter the course of her life forever.

  It was an enormous decision to make.

  But it was the right one. She was certain of that now.

  She ran a finger over Amanda’s name, then over the school address. She could have gone to see Amanda and given her the resignation letter in person, but she’d worried that her friend might try to dissuade her, or delay her, and she knew she wouldn’t be free until she did this.

  Of course, this was just the start of proceedings; she’d have to negotiate with the school a way of working out her notice. But she suspected they’d be able to sort something out for her, some sort of flexi working plan, to run down her time as head teacher.

  She raised the letter to the opening in the red postbox that reminded her of an open mouth just waiting to swallow up her past. Her hand was steady; no trembling at all.

  ‘See. It’s the right thing to do,’ she said out loud. Then she pushed the letter through the slot and heard it land on top of other post.

  She dusted off her hands and walked away.

  It was a beautiful summer morning. Flowers bloomed in gardens and someone was mowing their lawn. When she reached her house, she stopped and stared at the For Sale sign that stood proudly in the front garden. She’d given the estate agent the keys so she could show interested parties around in her absence, and now that Darryl had taken his things and removed a lot of their unwanted possessions, the house had a showroom feel to it: a blank canvas just waiting for its new owners.

  She unlocked the front door and entered, conscious of how her footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. She’d scrubbed the house thoroughly and everything shone; there wasn’t an empty wine bottle, takeaway carton or pair of pants hanging from a cupboard door handle to be seen.

  The house really was just a house now. It needed a family; then it could become a home.

  As for Eve, she was heading to her home.

  Home to Conwenna Cove.

  Home to Aunt Mary.

  And home to find out if Jack felt the same way as she did.

  Her stomach fizzed with excitement and she placed a hand over it. She couldn’t allow herself to get too far ahead. He might have decided that she was too crazy, too neurotic, too needy … hell, too much of everything for him.

  But she had to find out. She had learnt that recently; that honesty was best, whether with yourself or with those around you. Even if it wasn’t always the easiest route.

  Chapter 24

  As she pulled up in front of Mary’s cottages, Eve was trembling. She couldn’t believe she was back. She’d only been away eleven days, but it had been long enough. She yanked on the handbrake and removed the key from the ignition, trying not to stare at Jack’s cottage to see if he was there, wondering if he would come out to greet her.

  Or not …

  She got out of the car and stretched. The journey had seemed interminably long, as she’d got stuck in traffic jams with everyone else who hadn’t set off for the bank holiday weekend on Friday evening, choosing to leave on Saturday morning instead. Like them, she’d hoped to miss the rush; like them, she’d ended up stuck in it.

  But she was here now. The late-afternoon air smelt woody and fresh, a mixture of laburnum, cut grass and salt. Eve went to the boot and pulled out her holdall, then shuffled it across the gravel towards Aunt Mary’s cottage.

  As she reached the door, it swung open and her
aunt beamed at her. ‘Oh Eve! It’s so good to see you! When I got your text last night, I was thrilled!’

  ‘It’s wonderful to be here, Aunt Mary. I’m so glad to be back.’

  Mary hugged Eve so tightly that she wheezed.

  ‘Oh sorry, Eve. I’m small, I know, but I’m stronger than I realize.’

  ‘That’s fine! Never apologize for hugging me.’ She glanced around once more but there was no sign of movement from Jack’s cottage, so she followed her aunt inside, leaving her holdall in the hallway.

  As she went through the lounge, the dogs raised their heads in greeting and she gave them both a quick ear rub, then did the same to the cats, who were curled up together on an armchair.

  ‘Okay, the kettle is on and I’ve a fresh lemon drizzle cake here, so we can sit down and catch up.’

  Eve nodded. She sat at the table and took the plate her aunt offered.

  ‘How’ve you been?’ she asked.

  ‘Very good, dear.’ Aunt Mary smiled and Eve noticed that she was, in fact, glowing. As she placed the milk carton on the table, a sparkling on her left hand caught Eve’s eye.

  ‘Oooh! Let me see!’

  Mary chuckled. ‘I asked for something quite cheap and, you know, not fussy, but Edward had other plans.’ She held out her hand and Eve gazed at the diamond engagement ring. It was a square solitaire set in a platinum band.

  ‘It’s beautiful and it’s not at all fussy.’

  ‘With all the cooking and gardening I do, I’m terrified it’ll fall off or get dirty, but Edward said it’s quite hard-wearing, so I’m trying to relax about it. I’ll be honest, though, Eve, it’s strange wearing a ring on my finger. Anyway, enough about me. I want to know how you’re faring, Eve.’

  ‘Much better, thanks.’

  ‘You said you’d done something drastic?’ Her aunt paused at the table with the teapot in both hands.

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘You haven’t …’ Aunt Mary chewed her bottom lip, her eyes wide.

  ‘I did. I gave in my notice yesterday.’ Her stomach flipped; saying it out loud made it real. ‘I posted it, which is a bit cowardly perhaps, but I’d made up my mind and wanted to get it done.’

  ‘And you’re certain about it?’ Aunt Mary asked as she poured tea into their mugs.

  Eve nodded. ‘It was bumping into a colleague that helped me make the final decision.’ She decided not to go into detail; it was a long story that would keep for another time. ‘And so it’s done.’

  Aunt Mary cut two slices of lemon drizzle cake and placed one on the plate in front of Eve. ‘What will you do now?’

  ‘Now I will allow myself some time to just be. Coming back here a few weeks ago was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s helped me to come to terms with what’s been wrong in my life.’

  ‘I told you Conwenna Cove has magical elements, dear.’ Aunt Mary smiled with satisfaction.

  ‘I believe you now, Aunt Mary.’ Eve paused and bit into her cake. It was moist and light and the tartness of the lemon was complemented by the crusty sugar glaze. ‘How’s … uh … Jack?’

  ‘I thought you’d never ask!’ Mary laughed and tapped the tabletop. ‘He’s been like a sad puppy around the place since you went.’

  ‘What?’ Eve sat up straight. ‘But why?’

  ‘Why d’you think?’

  Eve shrugged. She knew she should feel bad for Jack, but knowing that he’d missed her made her smile inwardly.

  ‘Is he there now?’ She nodded at the wall, indicating the cottage next door.

  ‘No, dear.’ Mary shook her head. ‘He had to go up to the farm.’ Her face fell. ‘There was an emergency with one of the dogs.’

  ‘Which one?’ Eve’s stomach flipped.

  ‘I’m not sure. One of the male greyhounds, I think. The vet told him on the phone that it didn’t look good.’

  ‘Oh God! That’s awful. Should I ring him?’ Eve’s mind filled with images of the big black dog she’d grown so fond of. She couldn’t bear it if something had happened to Gabe and she hadn’t been there. She’d missed him so much, it was almost as if he was hers and she was his.

  ‘I doubt he’ll answer if they’re in the middle of something.’

  Eve drummed her fingers on the table. She’d only just arrived but she didn’t know if she could sit here chatting with her aunt when Gabe needed her. She knew the dog had formed an attachment to her. What if he’d thought she’d abandoned him, that she would never return?

  ‘I have to go up there!’

  ‘I understand, dear.’

  ‘Sorry about this.’ Eve dusted the cake crumbs off her fingers, pecked Mary’s cheek then grabbed her bag from underneath the table.

  ‘Let me know how you get on!’ Mary called after her as Eve rushed out to the car and jumped in, quickly fastening her seat belt before doing a three-point turn and heading off along the gravel road.

  * * *

  Jack shook the vet’s hand. ‘Thanks, Oliver.’

  ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t do more,’ Oliver Davenport replied. ‘Sometimes this happens, even to relatively young dogs; their hearts just give out. It could be due to a variety of factors, but I think in this case it’s most likely a congenital defect.’ His tone was neutral, his eyes kind.

  Jack swallowed hard. Losing a dog was always rough, but the male greyhound had been making good progress. It seemed so unfair that it hadn’t worked out for him.

  ‘If you get him out to my Land Rover, I’ll take him in with me and sort out the cremation.’

  ‘Of course.’ Jack nodded. He glanced at Neil, but his boss was staring out of the window. Neil had been silent throughout the vet’s examination of the dog, unable to speak for emotion. For a farmer, a man who’d grown up with animals, viewing life and death as intertwined, he had an unwonted soft side when it came to the rescue dogs.

  Once Jack had wrapped the dog in a large grey blanket and carefully placed him in the back of the vet’s vehicle, he turned and gazed out across the fields. It didn’t get easier losing a dog and he doubted it ever would. At the rescue sanctuary they strove to help the greyhounds in every way they could. So losing one, especially a young one, was the worst possible scenario, although he knew that at times it was inevitable.

  He watched as Oliver got in his car then gave a brief wave before driving away.

  ‘I’m off for a cuppa. You want one?’ Neil asked.

  Jack shook his head. ‘No, I’m all right. Need some air if I’m honest.’

  Neil nodded, then patted Jack’s shoulder before walking away.

  Jack leaned against the low wall in front of the office and gazed into the distance, out in the direction of the sea. He imagined that he could hear it, the waves crashing against the shore, rolling up and down the beach, possessing then rejecting the sand as they had done for what must have been forever. There was some comfort to be found in that knowledge, that even after you’d gone, the world would carry on: the wind would blow, the clouds would race across the sky and the trees and plants would continue to grow.

  Life was short and he knew he should grab happiness while he could. And with that thought came another that pierced his heart: he missed Eve so damned much.

  * * *

  Eve drove through the farm gates then got out of the car to close them behind her. As she entered the yard, she spotted Jack by the wall in front of the office and her heart leapt. Then she saw his expression and it plummeted.

  What was wrong? Had the dog travelled over the rainbow bridge? It was a comforting euphemism that they used at the sanctuary; a beautiful image of the hounds following the rainbow across the sky. It was easier to imagine them heading that way than the alternative. Eve wasn’t a religious person but she could accept any idea that helped people to deal with grief. Besides, why shouldn’t lovely dogs be able to go to a beautiful, peaceful place after they left their owners?

  Has Gabe gone over the rainbow bridge?

  Her throat tightened as she p
ictured his big brown eyes, his long muscular legs and waggy tail.

  Oh please no …

  She got out of the car and approached Jack. Her heart hammered as she took in his handsome face, his strong physique and the deep line that now sat between his black brows. Something was wrong.

  ‘Jack?’

  No answer.

  ‘Jack? Are you okay?’

  He stared into the distance, not seeing her, not hearing her, and Eve was consumed by panic.

  ‘Jack?’ She’d reached him now, and she took hold of his upper arms and looked into his eyes. He jumped and blinked.

  ‘Eve?’ His face contorted and Eve saw pain, confusion and something else pass over his features. ‘Where did you come from?’ He held her elbows and scanned her face.

  ‘I arrived at Mary’s about an hour ago. I came as soon as I could.’

  ‘Bloody hell, it’s so good to see you.’ He pulled her against his chest and Eve wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed him in. His scent was fresh as mountain air and woody as a forest; beneath that was the aroma of dogs. It made her smile.

  When he loosened his hold, she took a step back to see him better.

  ‘Are you staying? I mean, for a while? Until after half-term?’ His eyes were hungry as they roamed over her and she knew hers would appear the same to him.

  ‘Yes.’ She swallowed. ‘Jack, we’ve things to discuss, but I have to know. Is … is Gabe all right?’

  He frowned for a moment, then realization dawned on his face. ‘Oh, yes. Yes, Gabe is fine.’

  Eve released a sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness.’

  ‘But we did lose a dog. A young male called Bailey.’

  ‘Oh love,’ Eve said, taking hold of his hands. ‘What happened?’

  He shrugged. ‘Oliver wasn’t sure, but he thinks it was heart failure. Sadly, it happens.’

  Eve hugged him tight, offering the only comfort she could.

  ‘Do you think I could see Gabe? I’ve missed him.’

  ‘Yes, of course. He’ll be thrilled to see you.’

  Jack led her towards the stables. The dogs out in their pens barked and jumped and circled as they passed them. When they reached Gabe’s kennel run, there he was; big, black and shiny. When he saw Eve, something flickered in his eyes, then he ran at the wire and jumped at it. He bounced up and down on his front paws, then circled again and again, his long tail curved upwards in a perfect semicircle.