Page 15 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

She’d been there for almost an hour when a crowd of people entered the gazebo, clearly on a day trip, so she gave the little dog a hug and then stood up. She thanked Leanne and said she’d be in touch.

Walking away from Harvey was tough but she watched as he received a fuss from other people and knew he’d be OK. But her chest squeezed because she’d found the little chap adorable and could imagine them becoming good friends. First though, she had some things to sort, or it wouldn’t be fair on her or Harvey. Being a responsible adult was tough when part of you longed to act impulsively.

Needing to take a moment, she strolled over to the rail that separated the harbour from the drop to the water, leant her arms on it and gazed out at the water. The sea lapped gently at the harbour walls and at the boats, and it was so clear she could see the sandy bottom. Boats moved in and out of the harbour as trips arrived and left, and on the opposite side of the harbour, a fishing competition was being arranged. The contestants looked very serious as they set up their equipment and prepared for the off.

Her thoughts returned to Harvey and to what he’d been through then drifted to Thomas, and she realised that she felt connected to them both in some way. Sometimes in life you came across people and animals that had something in their eyes that echoed something inside you. Lena knew she had a connection to Thomas and to Harvey, even if she couldn’t fully articulate it. Similar experiences, a sense of abandonment, fear and anxiety… all these things affected people and animals alike. She knew then that she wanted to help Thomas and Harvey to find their happyever after. As long as they would let her. Having endured her own hardships, she believed no one should struggle if others could help them heal.

Hearing laughter, she looked up, and spotted Thomas. It was as if her thoughts about him had conjured him out of thin air. He was walking with a beautiful woman with long dark hair, and she had her arm threaded through his. At his side, holding his other arm because the hand was holding the cane, was a little girl who was the image of the woman. And the woman was quite clearly pregnant, her free hand resting on the full belly that was accentuated by her fitted white dress.

Lena’s heart sank. So Thomas was in a relationship, probably married, and he had a child and another on the way. What a fool she had been to assume he would be single. He was a handsome man, and he had a beautiful daughter and a beautiful wife, and now another child on the way.

She sucked in a deep breath, turned and walked towards the beach, needing time to get her head around this new discovery and needing to move away in case he spotted her. The last thing she wanted was for him to introduce her to his family and for her to become emotional. She could lay the blame for the resurgence of feelings she’d tried to suppress for a long time on this gorgeous location. With its sense of the merging of past and present, of the lives and loves that had played out here over the centuries. There was no denying that it was getting under her skin, wrapping itself around her heart and bringing her back to life. It was like she belonged here, and the village had simply been waiting for her return. Waiting with its harbour walls wide open, its beach laid out like a golden carpet and its beautiful village.

Waiting… to welcome her home.

10

THOMAS

Strolling through the village with Marnie and Winnie, Thomas felt at ease. When he was with his sister and her family, he felt safe and protected, loved and secure. It was like nothing could get to him if they were with him like they were his lucky charms. Bligh was on his way and would join them soon, but he’d had to take Wendy back home because she’d come out with two different shoes on. Bligh said he’d left her to get ready for two minutes while he’d put some bird food out, and then they’d all left the house together. However, for some reason, Wendy had ended up putting on one blue trainer and one pink trainer and when she’d realised, she’d started to cry. She’d said her day would be ruined so Bligh had picked her up and jogged home with her to rectify the problem before it escalated. Thomas was constantly impressed by how patient Bligh was and how he’d do anything for his family.

As they passed the harbour, Thomas glanced across the water and spotted a familiar figure. She was wearing a white baseball cap, but he was certain it was Lena from the set of her chin and the way she carried herself like she was trying to be confident but there was something wary about her. Her expression suggestedshe was lost in thought and he wondered what was on her mind. When she looked in his direction, he glanced away, suddenly shy and not knowing how to behave. Should he wave? Smile? Give her a thumbs up? None of them seemed right for the woman he’d found occupying his thoughts far more than he should have allowed. Because she had been on his mind. Try as he might to stop thinking about her, he found himself wondering if she liked ice cream or preferred sorbet, if she enjoyed swimming, walking or both, if she liked dogs or cats or would happily fill her home with any animals in need. For some reason, Lena had got to him and he didn’t know how to deal with his feelings.

‘Ooh…’ Marnie said as she rubbed her belly.

‘What is it?’ he asked. His sister had been experiencing more twinges over the past few weeks and while the midwife had said it was nothing to worry about, Thomas knew Bligh had been concerned.

‘Just a bit of burning as something else stretches I guess.’ Marnie stopped walking and took a deep breath. ‘Having gone almost to term with twins last time, my stomach muscles got very stretched. I know it’s been six years but I never quite got back to my pre-pregnancy fitness.’

‘You look great. You always have.’

Marnie laughed. ‘I wasn’t after a compliment. I just meant that my pelvic floor isn’t quite the same and my hips ache more with this pregnancy.’

‘OK, a bit too much information there, Marnie. About the pelvic floor I mean.’

‘I never had you down as a snowflake.’

Thomas shrugged. ‘I am what I am.’ He grinned at her. ‘No, just teasing but yeah… I know from what I’ve read that pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body.’

‘From what you’ve read?’

‘I worry about you and wanted to be as informed as possible.’

‘Thomas Dryden you are the sweetest brother in the world.’

‘I don’t know about that.’ He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand.

‘Uncle Thomas can we go and see the doggies?’ Winnie tugged at his hand holding the cane and pointed at the gazebo for the rescue sanctuary.

‘Absolutely we can! Let’s just allow your mum to catch her breath.’ He held out his arm for Marnie again. ‘You want me to get you some water or something?’

‘Actually, I’m starving again but I’ll wait unit Bligh catches up with us and then send him to find food.’

‘Sounds like a plan.’ Thomas tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and they headed for the gazebo. He was concerned about Marnie but hoped she’d let him know if she was in any pain or discomfort so he could act accordingly. And by that he meant phone Bligh and tell him to get a move on because Thomas wasn’t a snowflake, but he did get a bit squeamish about some things, especially if they were happening to the people he loved.

Inside the gazebo, Thomas looked around. There was a stall with information about the sanctuary and several employees wearing the sanctuary T-shirts. People milled around, reading leaflets, talking to the employees and making a fuss of the dogs.

‘Hello there.’ A tall, slim woman with short grey hair smiled at them. ‘I’m Leanne and I manage the sanctuary. Do you have any questions?’

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