The Little Shop in Cornwall: A heartwarming and feel good beach read

by Helen Pollard

  When Jason called in at Healing Waves on his way home on Tuesday, Claudia said, ‘Ooh, I’m glad you’re here. I need to speak to you about Millie.’

  ‘Oh?’ What did Claudia have in mind now?

  ‘I’d like to offer her a few hours in the shop on Saturdays, just for the summer. There are rules and regs because of her age, so maybe ten till three. And maybe the occasional evening helping me make soap, restock, that kind of thing. What do you think?’

  Up until recently, Jason’s reaction would have been, ‘You must be joking!’ But he didn’t feel that way about Healing Waves any more. His healthy scepticism was still in place, but it had softened around the edges.

  ‘I’ve been thinking about getting help for a while now,’ Claudia went on. ‘It might give Millie confidence. Regulars would get used to seeing her here, and I get a lot of her age group in at the weekends.’

  ‘Okay.’ It was out of his mouth before he knew it. What she’d said was persuasive, and any objections would seem petty.

  ‘You’re sure?’

  He smiled at her worried expression. ‘I’m not out to make Millie’s life a misery just for the sake of it, Claudia. If it doesn’t interfere with homework or building up a social life, it’s fine by me. I appreciate you checking with me before asking her, though.’ He dug into his pocket for a memory stick. ‘The photos you asked for.’

  ‘Thank you. I’m sorry I didn’t think about how hard it would be for you to look through all of these.’

  ‘That’s okay. Actually, it was therapeutic. Reminded me of the good times. And it reminded me that Millie had her mum for those years, at least. That Gemma was a good mother, no matter what happened between us as a couple.’

  Night after night this past week, studying the photos on his laptop, Jason had been reminded of that. And whatever Claudia was plotting to do with the photos would remind Millie, too.

  He sighed at that thought. Millie already idolised her mother. It was him she had the problem with, him she blamed for their impending divorce. But Millie didn’t know the full story… and she never would.

  At his sigh, Claudia laid a hand on his cheek, her warm eyes sympathetic. ‘So much sadness.’

  The gesture seemed to surprise her as much as him – she quickly pulled her hand away. ‘Okay. Well. You should ask Millie about Saturdays. Will you be at meditation tonight?’

  ‘I thought I’d just drive Millie here and back. Have some time to myself. The photos… I’m feeling out of sorts, and I don’t think meditation will do the trick.’

  Claudia nodded. ‘Good.’

  He looked at her in surprise. ‘You’re not going to try and persuade me that meditation would be better for me?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Claudia gave him an encouraging smile. ‘You’re beginning to listen to your inner voice. That’s good.’

  He smiled. ‘Well. See you some time.’

  Back in his car, Jason sat for a moment without starting the engine. When Claudia had touched his face, so full of empathy, he’d felt… what? Caring? Attraction? Desire?

  He could add irritation to that. Life was complicated enough. He didn’t need Claudia and her hypnotic eyes making it worse.

  Heavy showers on her Wednesday off would usually disappoint Claudia, but not today – it was a great excuse to get on with her project for Millie.

  Going through the photos was harder than she’d thought it would be. After all, she’d never known Gemma – but to see a happy woman holding her baby, playing with her toddler, walking hand in hand with her soon-to-be-teen with no idea of what lay ahead… It was so sad, knowing the outcome.

  It was fascinating to see how Millie had grown, yet painful to think that all these memories were for Millie to keep alive in her own head – no opportunity to chat with her mother over a coffee in years to come and say, ‘Do you remember when…?’

  It took Claudia all day and into the evening to choose the photos that best served her purpose, to think about the right words to match each image, then to put together her designs on her laptop. By the time she’d finished, Pudding was incandescent at the lack of attention, but he purred forgivingly when she carried him off to sleep at the bottom of the bed.

  Still hyped up by working so late, Claudia’s mind raced. Online printing options didn’t suit what she was trying to do. She would have to go to the printing shop in Penzance that she’d used in the past for promotional material. A custom job like this wouldn’t come cheap, but hopefully it would be worth it.

  Even though Pudding had stealthily sneaked up from the bottom of the bed (where he was allowed) to her side (where he wasn’t), it was a long while before his incessant purring and the feel of his soft fur against her arm lulled her to sleep.

  In the morning, unable to bear the idea of waiting a whole week until her next day off, Claudia pinned a notice on her shop door declaring that she would be opening late, texted Sarah and Evelyn to say she was running an errand, so they wouldn’t worry, and drove off to arrive at the printer’s the moment they opened.

  Recognising her, the owner took on her unusual project with assurances that it could be done. Beyond Claudia’s wildest hopes, he told her that they were quiet and he could have it done by Friday evening. Claudia beamed at the thought that she could give the gift to Millie on Saturday… and took a deep breath as she handed over her credit card.

  ‘I’m sure they’ll love them,’ the printer told her.

  ‘They?’

  He gestured to the uploaded images on his screen. ‘The mother and daughter.’

  Claudia didn’t have the heart to dash the happy look on his face. ‘I’m sure they will. Thank you.’

  As she drove back to Healing Waves, she hoped she hadn’t lost too many customers.

  On that subject, Sarah wagged a finger at her when she popped in with Claudia’s sandwich. ‘One of us could have opened up for you. Why didn’t you ask?

  ‘I didn’t decide till really late last night. I didn’t want to trouble you.’

  ‘It’s no trouble, and you know it. Must’ve been important, whatever it was, for you to risk losing custom like that.’

  ‘It was.’ Even so, Claudia’s shoulders sagged. She shouldn’t have put a gift for Millie before her livelihood. But if she’d waited till next week to take them in, then the following week to collect… She thought about the printer’s promise of Friday. It was obvious that Sarah was hurt about Claudia not asking for help. ‘I need to close early tomorrow evening, too. Just half an hour. Could you…?’

  ‘Consider it done.’

  ‘Thank you. You’re good neighbours.’

  When Sarah had gone, Claudia looked at her sandwich without interest. She hated that she was still second-guessing their friendship like this.

  Claudia tried her best to make sure that Millie’s first Saturday at Healing Waves was varied, but if nothing else, it had kept her out of Hester’s Cauldron.

  At three o’clock, Millie’s finishing time, Claudia asked, ‘Was today okay?’

  ‘It was great!’ Her enthusiasm reassured Claudia – she still regretted their awkward ending to the soap-making, when Millie had looked so disappointed with Claudia’s take on Amber and Raven.

  ‘You’re happy to do it every week?’

  ‘Yeah. Especially as it means extra pocket money. Granny Jennifer isn’t pleased about it, though.’

  ‘Oh? Why not?’

  ‘She said she thought the whole idea of us moving down here was so they’d see me more.’

  Claudia remembered Jason saying that his in-laws could be emotionally intense because Millie was their closest connection to their late daughter.

  ‘Do you want to see them more?’ she asked.

  ‘I suppose, but Gran wants me to go for whole weekends sometimes, and now I have this job, that scuppers it, so she’s mad with Dad for allowing it.’

  Poor Jason. He can’t win. Gives way to his daughter and ends up alienating his in-laws.

  ‘Well, you finish here a
t three, so on those weekends, your dad could drive you there straight after, then bring you back Sunday evening. Perhaps twenty-four hours is enough?’

  Millie thought about it. ‘You’re right. Gran and Grandad can be a bit much. Especially after… you know, after Mum.’

  Pleased – for once – that there were no customers in the shop, Claudia said, ‘Listen, Millie, before you go, I want to say I’m sorry if I annoyed you the other night about Hester’s Cauldron. I know it’s fun in there. I just didn’t want you buying…’ ‘Something you don’t understand’ is too patronising, Claudia. ‘…something that isn’t right for you. You know I like my customers to end up with the right thing.’

  ‘I know. I told Jessica and Phoebe what you said so they’d be careful, too.’

  Ah. Hmm. ‘So we’re good?’

  ‘We’re good.’

  ‘I’m glad, because I have a present for you. Come through for a second.’

  In the back room, Claudia handed her a purple velvet bag, its drawstring pulled tight.

  ‘Thank you!’ Loosening the drawstring, Millie reached inside. ‘Oracle cards? I love the design on the back.’ She traced a finger over the swirls of sea blues, a design that Claudia had created herself, then turned the cards over. At the sight of the first one, her lip quivered.

  Praying she’d done the right thing, Claudia kept an eye through to the shop, waiting silently as Millie studied each photograph and its message. By the time she’d finished, tears were openly falling, making a mess of her mascara.

  Claudia handed her a tissue. ‘I’m sorry I made you cry.’

  Millie shook her head. ‘These are amazing. I can’t believe you made them for me.’

  ‘Well, I designed them, but I had a printer make them.’

  ‘I can use them like ordinary oracle cards?’

  ‘That’s the idea. Maybe a card a day at first, each morning before you start your day or each evening before bed.’ Claudia felt a little tearful herself. ‘I wanted you to know that your mum didn’t leave you, Millie. She’s still with you. She always will be.’

  The tissues couldn’t keep up with Millie’s tears. She reached for another. ‘After Mum died, I tried looking at photos, but it was too hard. But maybe one a day… Thank you so much!’ She flung her arms around Claudia’s neck and clung tight. Claudia hugged her back, profound relief flooding her body that her gift had been well-received.

  Until Jason finds out…

  Claudia knew she should have spoken to him about her plans, but she couldn’t bear the thought of him pouring cold water on the idea.

  ‘I cleansed them for you,’ she told Millie. ‘But since I handled them to do that, you should do it again yourself, and then every so often.’

  Millie looked guilty. ‘I just stored the other set with the rose quartz.’

  Claudia smiled. ‘That’s okay. You can put them on your windowsill when there’s a full moon, too. Best not tell your dad about that one, though. Let me know how you get on with them.’

  ‘I will. Bye.’

  ‘Bye, Millie. See you next Saturday, if not before.’

  Claudia was buoyed by Millie’s reaction to the cards, but the rest of the afternoon’s lack of customers gave her too much time to brood.

  Would Jason be mad with her? That would be a shame, now they were getting on better.

  And then there was the small matter of Millie telling her friends what Claudia had said about Hester’s Cauldron. Had they said anything to anyone? She’d been as cautious as possible with Millie, but anything you said could be misconstrued around here.

  When Alice came through the door, Claudia suppressed a sigh. She could do with someone to uplift her, but Alice tended to have the opposite effect.

  ‘Hi, Claudia. I wanted to say thanks for the pen. It works fine. Writes nicely.’

  For a moment, Claudia couldn’t think what she meant. ‘Oh. Glad you like it. How’s the journal coming along?’

  Alice frowned. ‘The notes. I was writing up notes.’

  Come on, Claudia, think before you speak. ‘Sorry. I forgot. What can I do for you today?’

  ‘I wanted to return the favour.’ Alice looked more uncomfortable than usual, if that were possible. ‘I thought you should know that people are saying things about you.’

  Not this again. ‘What things?’

  ‘About how you don’t like the new shop. That you don’t like the women running it.’

  Nothing new, then. ‘That isn’t quite true. You know what Porthsteren’s like, Alice. Someone overheard something they shouldn’t have, and they took it out of context.’ Although not much. ‘Then it gets passed around like Chinese Whispers.’

  ‘You don’t hate Hester’s Cauldron?’

  ‘Hate’s a very strong word, so no, I don’t hate it.’ Claudia didn’t want to have to explain her views to Alice. That would only mean yet another person who knew what she thought. She switched the emphasis. ‘Have you been in there yet?’

  ‘You must be joking! George already hates me coming in here. He’d have a fit if he heard I’d been in a witch shop!’ Alice’s cheeks flushed. ‘No offence about Healing Waves, Claudia. You know I love it here.’

  ‘Don’t worry. George is like half the men in Porthsteren, I expect. Thanks for popping in, Alice.’ You’ve made my day, as usual.

  When Alice had left, Claudia let out a long sigh. That poor, unhappy woman. Claudia knew what it was like to not be your own person. Her heart went out to her.

  ‘Did you buy something yesterday?’ Jason asked when he went to Millie’s room to check she’d packed for school and caught her putting something back in a velvet pouch.

  ‘No. It’s a gift from Claudia.’

  She looked shifty, and for the thousandth time Jason regretted that his daughter felt she couldn’t talk to him any more. It had been like pulling teeth trying to find out if she’d enjoyed her first Saturday at Healing Waves the day before.

  He put on a positive tone. ‘Oh? What is it?’

  Millie hesitated. ‘Oracle cards. Personalised ones, just for me.’

  ‘Oracle cards?’ Suspicion crept into his voice.

  ‘Yes.’ Millie narrowed her eyes. ‘I thought Claudia explained all this to you?’

  ‘She did.’

  ‘So?’

  Jason tried to lighten things. ‘So, I could take you to a taxidermist and have him explain it to you, but I wouldn’t expect you to agree with what he does or sells.’

  ‘Really? You’re comparing Claudia to someone who stuffs dead animals now?’

  ‘Okay. Bad comparison. Especially for a vegetarian. You won’t tell her, will you?’

  Millie snorted out a laugh before she could stop herself.

  Pleased with this small achievement, Jason ventured, ‘Can I see them?’

  ‘You’re not supposed to handle them.’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose I can cleanse them again. But don’t pass on too many bad vibes, okay?’

  Jason grunted. That was an ask too far. Claudia may have talked him down on the evils of oracle cards, but she knew how he felt about them, so why had she given Millie a deck?

  He started to flick through them, slowing down when he realised what they were. Gemma cuddling her baby girl. Gemma and Millie laughing uproariously together. Shots to remind Millie of a particular day – the beach, the funfair, the garden. And on each, a short caption that fitted the photo and might act as a mantra for Millie’s day, from ‘Remember to smile’ to ‘You are always loved’ to ‘Laughter is the best medicine’. The reverse of the cards was a soothing swirl of blues, presumably designed by Claudia, and they were printed on high quality, glossy card.

  ‘Claudia designed them, then had them printed at a proper place,’ Millie said proudly. Trepidation crept into her voice. ‘Are you upset about them?’

  Jason shook his head, still in awe. How could he possibly be upset? It must have cost Claudia a fortune to have these individually printed. And he couldn’t imagine how many hours she’d spent de
signing them.

  Maybe he should embrace Claudia’s eccentricities more; see past them to the woman behind them. They were Claudia, and she was them. If you wanted her as a friend, you had to take the whole Claudia.

  Jason did want Claudia as a friend. And with a rush that crept from his toes to his head, he knew with unnerving certainty that he might want her as something more than that.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Feeling guilty that he’d skipped the previous week, Jason allowed Millie to drag him to meditation on Tuesday.

  ‘Any easier this time?’ Claudia asked him as they drank tea afterwards.

  ‘Yes, it was better.’ Jason had enjoyed the guided meditation she’d chosen – a walk through a cool forest to a ruined temple – and he felt relaxed. It was certainly better than a night at home ploughing through the surveyor’s report on his desk. ‘How did Millie get on, on Saturday?’

  ‘Really well. It helps that she’s so enthusiastic about the stock.’ Claudia’s mouth twitched when Jason winced at that. ‘She was polite with the customers, and we had a few kids her age coming in. Some of them with Hester’s Cauldron bags, but that can’t be helped. Anyway, Millie chatted with them all. I think it’s going to work out.’

  ‘Thank you for asking her.’

  ‘Thank you for letting her.’

  More importantly, Jason wanted to thank Claudia for Millie’s oracle cards, but he was scuppered by Libby butting in, then Millie tugging at his sleeve because she had to get back to finish her homework, so he had no option but to leave it for now, which would mean contacting Claudia some other time. Whether that was a good or a bad thing, he wasn’t sure.

  As they left, he glanced back to see Claudia walking over to Evelyn, leaving him with the vision of her hips swaying under the loose linen tunic over her cotton trousers. Tight clothes left little to the imagination. Those floaty things Claudia wore only tempted the imagination.