Page 3 of Just the Beginning

A few doors down, the sleek black paintwork and shining brass fixtures of one of the top-rated restaurants in the county provided an even starker contrast to the poor state of the other buildings, including a boarded-up shop next to it. Anya had vague memories of it being an old-fashioned dress shop, inevery sense of the meaning. She’d never been in there, the dowdy frocks draped listlessly on headless display dummies enough to put off the trend-chasing teens she, Chloe and their friend Issy had once been. Thinking about Issy immediately drew her attention across the road to where her friend’s pretty café stood. Like the restaurant, the outside was well-maintained, the collection of tables and chairs out front looking cheerful and welcoming with their little pots of sunny flowers that matched a pair of planters framing the door. A shiny black and white sign declared the extension next to the café as the home of the Halfmoon Quay Community Hub. There’d been talk of it the last time Anya had been down for a visit – goodness, was that really nearly three years ago? She was glad to see Issy and Rick had managed to get it off the ground. Promising herself she’d pop in and catch up with her friend soon, Anya walked to the end of the road and turned left onto the narrow street of old fishermen’s cottages where Ma and Pa lived.

She’d barely lifted her finger off the bell when the front door opened and Ron Penrose greeted her with his familiar broad smile. ‘Well, well, look what the cat dragged in.’

Anya grinned, no offence taken at the greeting, which was part of Pa’s collection of quirky phrases. Leaning forward, she pecked a kiss on his wrinkled cheek. ‘Hello, Pa, how are you?’

‘I’ve got two knackered knees, an acid reflux problem that means my belly’s a volcano. All the hair that used to be on my head has migrated to my nose and ears and my wife says I snore like the brass section of an orchestra. Apart from that, everything’s fine and dandy.’

Anya mock-winced. ‘I’m sorry I asked!’

Ron gave her a cheeky grin before his expression grew serious. ‘I won’t ask how you are, because I already know theanswer. If that little shit wasn’t already dead and buried I’d string him up by his guts and let the seagulls feast on him for what he’s put you through.’

For all his once-strong frame was shrunken now, there was a fierce glint in Ron’s eye that told Anya he was deadly serious. Such a bloodthirsty threat probably shouldn’t be so comforting, but Ron had always been blunt and Anya appreciated he hadn’t danced around the topic. ‘God knows he deserved that and more, Pa, but it wouldn’t have been worth the time. He’s gone now and that’s all that matters.’ She placed a hand on his arm. ‘I know everyone is angry about what Drew did but please, don’t say anything in front of Freya, okay? She’s been through enough and she’s too little to understand anything other than the fact her daddy is gone.’

Ron held her gaze for a long moment before nodding once. ‘I’ll not say another word about him.’ He stepped back and gestured. ‘Come on in, girly girl, and have a cuppa. Freya’s in the kitchen with Amy; they’ve been baking.’

‘How has she been?’ Anya asked, keeping her voice low as they headed down the narrow hall to the back of the cottage.

‘As good as gold. It’s been lovely having a little one about the place again, makes me feel less like an old codger. Six grandchildren and not one of them showing so much as a hint of giving us any great-grandchildren to fuss over. Don’t know what they’ve all been wasting their time with.’ Ron shook his head but his wry grin was filled with pride. ‘Any time you want us to look after Freya while you get straight, just say the word.’

‘I appreciate that, Pa, but I’m sure I’ll manage.’ It was kind of him to offer, but she wasn’t about to start abusing their good nature.

Ron stopped in his tracks and frowned at her. ‘Don’t cutyour nose off to spite your face, Annie. We wouldn’t offer if we didn’t want to help.’

Anya raised a hand to touch the heated blush on her cheek. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. Everyone’s being so helpful and I don’t want to take advantage.’

Ron pulled her into a hug that still carried the strength of a man who’d worked hard all his life. ‘Nonsense. You’re family – well, as good as.’

He was right. She needed to not let her pride, and her guilt, make life harder than it already was. Anya swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat. ‘Thanks, Pa, that means a lot. I’m going to be busy job hunting, so if I can drop Freya off for an hour or two over the coming days, that would help me out a lot.’

‘Whatever you need,’ Ron assured her as he led her into the kitchen.

The back of the cottage had been extended years ago to create a bright airy kitchen-diner with bifold doors onto the narrow patch of the original cobbled yard that was filled with plant pots. The doors stood open, letting in a soft breeze and easing the heat created by the oven. Wire racks full of rock cakes, butterfly cakes and a square pan of what looked like Anya’s favourite flapjack covered the round dining table, a testament to the morning’s labours. Freya stood on a square red plastic stool that had been drawn up against the kitchen counter, stirring something in a large beige mixing bowl Amy was holding tightly in both hands. The moment she spotted Anya, Freya jumped down from the stool and ran over, still clutching the wooden spoon covered in cake mixture in one little hand. ‘Mummy! Mummy! We’re caking!’

Bending down, Anya scooped her up and propped her on one hip, doing her best to avoid the sticky spoon as she presseda kiss to Freya’s flour-covered cheek. ‘So I see, darling. Have you had a good time?’

Freya nodded. ‘Ma and Pa are fun! Pa said he’ll take me to the beach tomorrow. Can I go, Mummy?’

Anya nodded. ‘If you like, but you’ll have to promise to be a good girl and listen to exactly what Ma and Pa say, okay?’

‘Okay!’ Freya flung her arms around Anya’s neck. The urge to clutch her little girl tight was overwhelming for a second, but Anya made herself give Freya a quick hug before setting her back down. ‘Come on then, show me what you’ve been making.’

They joined Amy back over by the counter while Ron made himself busy filling the kettle.

‘Hello, love.’ Amy leaned over and kissed Anya on the cheek before turning her attention to Freya. ‘I think we’re ready to spoon this mixture out, don’t you?’

Anya leaned back against the counter, content to watch the pair of them fill the little paper cupcake liners. Freya got more on herself than in the cups, but Amy showed remarkable patience, rescuing the mess with a pallet knife and deftly filling the liners, all the while keeping up a merry stream of encouragement and praise. By the time they’d finished and Freya was over at the sink where Ron helped her to wash her hands, the little girl was glowing with happiness.

A soft touch on her hand drew Anya’s gaze from her daughter to Amy’s kind, concerned smile.

‘Everything all right?’

Not sure she could go through it all again, Anya wrinkled her nose.

Amy patted her hand. ‘You’ll get there.’

Standing up straighter, Anya nodded. ‘I will. I’m going to start job hunting tomorrow. Ron said the two of you wouldn’t mind watching Freya for me?’

‘Of course we don’t mind, she’s an absolute delight. We’ll have her any time you like. In fact, why don’t we have her every morning for the whole week?’ she offered. ‘It’ll be better for Freya to have a routine and it’d also give you a decent bit of time to settle in and look around for something.’

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