Frustrated, Jason nodded. ‘But I don’t want any of that herbal crap.’
‘I can do normal, too.’
Can you? Jason wondered. Do you ever do normal? But then it wouldn’t be Claudia, would it?
‘I sponged more teabags off Sarah and Evelyn, in case you popped by unexpectedly,’ she admitted. ‘Little did I know. Take a seat.’
Jason perched on the sofa and ran through the last five minutes in his head, but it didn’t play back any other way.
When she placed his ‘normal’ tea in front of him, he almost sighed aloud with relief. ‘Thanks.’ He gestured around the flat. ‘Care to explain? Just for my sanity?’
Claudia gave him a look. ‘Firstly, for the health-and-safety part of your brain – which I know is screaming loudly inside your head – I was fully in control. The bowl’s metal, and it only contained paper. I suppose, when I first set fire to it, there was a bit of a glow. You must have looked up at just the wrong time.’
‘Rather me than the fire brigade. Why didn’t your smoke alarm go off?’
At that, Claudia looked sheepish. ‘I took the battery out.’ When Jason’s expression became thunderous, she added hastily, ‘Only for a minute.’
Jason didn’t trust himself to comment. ‘Dare I ask why you were burning paper in a bowl? Have you never heard of a shredding machine? And why were you just sitting there?’
His heart had calmed now, settling into a slow but heavy thud as he took in the vision of Claudia in lamplight. The golds and reds of her hair shone. Soft, white yoga pants clung to her thighs, while an oversized green knitted cotton top draped across sculpted collarbone and curves, hinting at what might be beneath. Her golden eyes sparkled at him in amusement. It took all his willpower not to allow his gaze to drift down to her mouth. Alarmed, he tried to corral his thoughts. What had they just been saying?
‘It was a ritual,’ she told him.
‘You mean a spell.’
‘No. I said a ritual. A spell is different.’ She sighed. ‘Do you want an explanation or not?’
Jason nodded, curiosity overriding cynicism.
‘It’s a bit like the sand-drawing. If something’s upset me and I can’t let it go, I write it down. Fair enough? Writing down your thoughts to release stress?’
‘I have no quibble with that.’
‘Glad to hear it. When I’m done, I tear up the pages – a symbolic gesture.’ She waited for him to say something as she sipped whatever disgusting tea she’d made for herself.
Jason didn’t. He’d been known to tear up pieces of paper he didn’t like.
‘I set it alight then watch the flames, imagining those thoughts going up in smoke so I don’t have to give them headspace any more. Do you have a quibble with that?’
‘No, but I think your beach version’s safer, unless you drown yourself.’ A thought struck him. ‘Did you manage to rid yourself of your unwanted thoughts before I threw a vase of perfectly good flowers over them?’
‘I won’t know until or if they come back, I suppose. But I can do it again.’
‘Great. More fires.’ Jason caught Pudding’s eye. No wonder the cat wasn’t ruffled. He was obviously used to minor blazes in the home. ‘I’m sorry if I wrecked it.’
‘Don’t be. You were being a hero. A misguided one, maybe, but I am sorry for worrying you. Your heart was racing like mad when you hugged me.’
Ah. She’d noticed that, had she?
Jason wondered what she’d taken that fierce hug to mean. Only that he cared, he hoped.
‘It wasn’t me that upset you, was it?’ he asked.
‘You’re not the only person who can upset me, Jason Craig.’ Her brows drew together. ‘Although you are quite good at it, and you do manage it on a frequent basis.’ She sighed. ‘It was to do with you, but only in an indirect way.’
By the time Claudia had told him her woes about overheard conversations and allegations of her bad-mouthing that wretched Hester’s Cauldron, Jason was beginning to hanker after his old life in Edinburgh. There was an element of anonymity in a big city. There was no anonymity here in Porthsteren.
‘I can’t believe that the worst thing we said was the one bit that was overheard,’ Claudia finished. ‘And I have no idea how – that dog walker was right down by the water’s edge.’
Jason shrugged. ‘Maybe there was another one, nearer the wall,’ he pointed out. ‘Or the breeze had carried our words.’
Claudia sighed. ‘Things are still stilted with Sarah and Evelyn. Evelyn thanked me for the flowers and said they weren’t necessary, but we all know they were. I’ve always had such an easy relationship with them.’
‘It’ll come back,’ Jason soothed, hoping it was true. ‘I’m sorry our conversation caused you problems, but just so you know, I haven’t said anything to anyone other than Millie – and she knows that came from me, not you.’
‘Thanks. I cautioned her, too, last night. I could tell how much she likes the shop. I was careful about what I said – I just told her to double-check any advice on the internet.’ Claudia’s face fell. ‘Which could be worse – but she’s already been on there, anyway.’
Jason’s gut flipped, and he wasn’t sure whether it was because he didn’t want Millie looking up inappropriate crap online or because this woman in front of him clearly cared so much about his daughter.
‘She guessed that I didn’t rate Amber and Raven’s advice,’ she added, ‘but I played that down.’
‘I appreciate you sticking your neck out. Thanks.’ Talk of Hester’s Cauldron led Jason’s mind to witches and then Tanya. ‘How on earth did you become friends with a witch, by the way?’
‘We met when I contacted her about designing the website for Healing Waves.’
Jason realised he hadn’t even thought about what job Tanya might do.
Claudia gave him a knowing look. ‘Wicca’s what she is, Jason, not what she does for a living. We clicked the moment we met, and the rest, as they say, is history. I wasn’t looking for a best friend, and I had no intention of confiding in anyone about my old life – if I wanted to reinvent myself, I had to leave the past behind.’ She sipped tea. ‘But it was different with Tanya. It felt right, telling her. And it’s good that one person in my new life understands my old one.’
Jason could understand that. He kept so much to himself. Having just one person who knew where you were coming from? There would be comfort in that.
He was itching to know about this past she’d mentioned. An ex-husband was all he knew so far. A career she no longer wanted. But she’d made it plain it wasn’t open for discussion.
Pudding provided a timely change of subject by jumping onto his lap and pushing his head into Jason’s hands. Jason cautiously stroked his head and ears, making him purr loudly. The sound was strangely hypnotic.
‘How long have you had him?’ he asked.
‘Before I moved down here, I lived temporarily with a friend in London. Pudding was Debbie’s cat. They didn’t get along, but he took to me.’
Jason smiled at the way she said it, as though she couldn’t imagine why. He could imagine why. She was calm and kind and warm and everything a cat might prize in a human.
‘When I left, Debbie said she didn’t have enough time for him and claimed the sea air would be good for him. So here he is.’
Pudding lifted his face in expectation of a tickle under the chin.
Jason provided it. ‘He seems happy enough.’
‘We’re both well suited here, aren’t we, Pudding?’
Perhaps due to Pudding’s copious supply of fur, Jason sneezed without warning. A phalanx of claws dug deep into his thighs. Jason yelled. The cat shot off his lap.
‘I have holes in my leg,’ Jason announced, rubbing ineffectually at his jeans.
‘Then you shouldn’t sneeze unexpectedly,’ came the mild reply. ‘Want me to take a look? I have tea-tree oil.’
Jason stared at her, unsure whether she was teasing. ‘Er. No. I can manage my
own wounds, thank you.’
Claudia’s lips twitched.
In response to his act of wanton vandalism on Jason’s person, the cat moved onto Claudia’s lap and curled into her midriff, one proprietorial paw across her arm. Watching, Jason was horrified to realise he felt… Surely not. Jealousy?
Disturbed, he distracted himself by gazing around the room, taking in the muted coastal colours and tasteful art.
‘I do love your flat.’
‘Thank you. When I came down here, I expected to lease retail premises and buy a little cottage. But I fell in love with this building, and it was purchase-only. I knew the downstairs could work for me, and the position’s incredible. But it left me without the money for a home. Anyway, this suits me well enough. There’s only me, after all.’
Why was she unattached? Jason wondered. Still scarred from a painful divorce? Not found the man of her dreams yet? She must surely have had plenty of offers.
Aware that she was waiting for him to say something, he brought himself back to the conversation. ‘Sarah And Evelyn told me it was a mess. That they were grateful when you moved in.’
‘Ha! I bet they didn’t tell you how much they helped. It needed structural repairs, so by the time I got to the interior, money was running tight. They realised what was happening.’ She laughed. ‘My glum face every time a tradesman gave me a quote probably tipped them off. Sarah’s a DIY queen and it was still off-season, so she helped with shelving and what have you. I don’t know what I’d have done without her.’
Jason smiled. ‘I think the businesses complement each other – both are places to browse, to relax, to not be rushed.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Talking of which, I should go. Millie might be home soon.’
‘Give her my love.’ Picking up Pudding, Claudia followed Jason to the door.
Her necklace glinted in the soft light, and he’d lifted it to get a closer look before it occurred to him that that would mean brief contact with the soft skin at her throat. He examined the silver pendant – a full moon, with a waxing crescent moon on one side and a waning one on the other.
‘Is this a Wiccan symbol?’
She arched an eyebrow. ‘Yes, it is. Clever you.’
‘I thought you said you aren’t a Wiccan?’
‘I’m not. Tanya bought me this. It represents the three phases of woman – maiden, mother and crone.’ When he let it drop back against her throat, she gave him a wry smile. ‘Not that I fit any of those at the moment.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I wouldn’t dare claim myself as a maiden any more. I’m not a mother. And I’m not quite ready to identify with crone. Although the word crone conjures up the wrong image – it only means an older, wiser woman. I might grow gracefully into that one.’
Jason touched a finger to the necklace again. ‘Not yet. Not for a long time yet.’ Trying to unscramble his brain, he muttered, ‘I should go.’
She kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thank you, Jason.’ She waved a hand at the coffee table where the fire-bowl had been. ‘For caring.’
Pudding, curled comfortably in her arms, gave him a smug smile as if to say, ‘Bet you’d like to be in my place right now’.
Jason went down the steps, his skin humming where Claudia’s lips had touched, shaking his head.
Jealous of a cat, for pity’s sake! There is no hope.
Walking back towards the harbour, he wondered how many psychiatrists practised in the vicinity of Porthsteren.
And then he grinned. He’d been taking himself way too seriously lately. Claudia was a good influence on him. Lighter and dafter thoughts could only mean that better things were around the corner.
Chapter Thirteen
Claudia was run off her feet all Saturday. Locals enjoyed being out and about, catching up with friends over coffee and browsing the shops, but weekend visitors were increasing, from regular second-homers to one-off B&Bers taking advantage of the good weather. Claudia wouldn’t have eaten if Evelyn hadn’t brought her a falafel and salad wrap. She hoped the gesture meant that all was forgiven between them.
‘Phew!’ Evelyn mopped her face as the three of them collapsed outside the Page Turner at the end of the day, iced elderflower cordials in front of them. ‘What a day!’
‘A relief, though.’ Claudia blew a curl off her face, grateful that any ill feeling seemed to have blown over. ‘I was worried last weekend – barely a customer, what with Hester’s Cauldron opening. But today was a good, solid Saturday.’ She wiggled her toes. ‘I’ll get varicose veins at this rate.’
Sarah shot her a sympathetic smile. ‘At least there’s two of us to cope at ours.’
‘So there should be. You run a bookshop and café.’
‘And we have Kathy on a Saturday,’ Evelyn said. ‘I don’t know what we’d do without her.’
‘Could you lend her to me?’
‘Not on your very sweet life, honey,’ Sarah said. ‘Couldn’t you hire someone for summer Saturdays?’
‘I’m thinking about asking Millie.’
Evelyn opened half-closed, sun-drowsy eyes. ‘Isn’t she too young?’
‘Fourteen. There’s a legal limit to how many hours she could do, but that suits me.’
Sarah gave Claudia a knowing look. ‘You think it’ll be good for her.’
‘Yes, but I could do with the help too. She made soap with me this week, and she takes a real interest in the shop’s stock.’
‘It’ll help her get to know the locals better,’ Evelyn said. ‘And you get quite a few school kids coming in.’
‘Hmmph. They browse more than spend, bless them, especially on drizzly days – although they’ve been scarcer since Hester’s Cauldron opened. Before that, I was the only “alternative” shop in Porthsteren for them.’
‘Evie and I closed early yesterday and went for a look-see.’ Sarah made a face. ‘Let them have the teenagers. Like you said, teens don’t spend much.’
‘A few fivers are better than no fivers, Sarah.’
‘We don’t get many teens in our place nowadays,’ Evelyn said. ‘They prefer their screens. Millie’s been in a few times, though. I think she’d enjoy working in Healing Waves.’
Claudia nodded. ‘There’s only one problem.’
‘Her father?’ Sarah guessed. ‘He’s been okay lately, hasn’t he?’
‘He’s been better,’ Claudia conceded. ‘But Millie working at Healing Waves might be a step too far for him… although I might be helped by Hester’s Cauldron in that regard.’
Evelyn’s eyes widened. ‘Helped? By Hester’s Cauldron? How?’
‘Because Jason hates that place. He thinks it’s a bad influence.’
‘That’s what he said about you at first.’
‘Ah, but I am now a paragon of virtue in comparison to the Hester’s Cauldron gang.’
They laughed, and then Evelyn dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘I found out more about those Hester’s girls.’
‘Wait.’ Sarah held up a hand, walked to the edge of the terrace, peered over the wall, then reported, ‘Just two teenagers gossiping about boyfriends on the way back to the harbour.’ She looked at Claudia. ‘You were right. We should be more careful.’
‘Let’s go inside,’ Evelyn mumbled. ‘Safer that way.’
Claudia followed them in, hating that they felt the need to skulk around like this.
‘They are young – early twenties,’ Evelyn told her. ‘From London, but their parents own second homes near St Ives. And when I say second homes, I’m talking villas with a view, if you get my drift. Serious money. Rumour has it that one of the girls dropped out of university under a cloud. Cheating, maybe? But I don’t know for sure, so I wouldn’t care to speculate.’
Claudia and Sarah grinned at each other. Lack of facts had never stopped Evelyn from speculating before.
‘They could afford to set up Hester’s because they’re backed by their daddies’ money.’ Evelyn sniffed. ‘Spoiled little rich kids, if you ask me.’
‘And you seem to have forgotten that he demanded it back less than a year later when he realised we weren’t just friends!’ Evelyn shot back.
Claudia’s eyes widened. ‘Really?’
Sarah chuckled. ‘He turned up at the cottage unexpectedly – the first time he’d visited since Evie’s great-aunt left it to her. Took himself on a tour, saw the one bedroom with a double bed and the second bedroom which we’d turned into a study. Asked where the other bedroom was. We were caught on the hop. He twigged, we were in disgrace, and he wanted his money back.’ She shrugged. ‘It was the mid-eighties, bear in mind, and he was of a different generation.’
‘That was a hard year,’ Evelyn grumbled. ‘We had to live off lentil broth and Sarah’s economy stew.’
‘Economy stew?’
‘Swede and carrots, mainly.’
‘Evie’s had a thing against swede ever since.’ Sarah smiled. ‘Good thing the cottage was left to her and not her dad, or we’d’ve been sleeping on the beach! But the point is, we had help, however briefly.’
‘There’s a difference, though,’ Evelyn insisted. ‘We’ve made our home here. We’ve invested time and money and energy into Porthsteren. All year round. Just like Claudia has. Those girls only want to cash in on the tourist trade and run.’
Claudia shrugged. ‘Locations like ours are seasonal, Evelyn. It’s just the way it is. Not everyone can make it work all year round. It depends on the type of business, doesn’t it? I guess we’re lucky that we make enough in the summer to see us through the quieter months.’
Claudia reminded herself of that as she hauled her tired body up the stairs to her flat for a long shower. But as she allowed the warm water to run over her skin and the steam to envelop her senses, she could confess to herself, at least, that she didn’t feel lucky right now.
The Little Shop in Cornwall: A heartwarming and feel good beach read Page 16
