Page 19 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

‘I’m sure you’ve plenty more to say too.’ Ellie’s eyes scanned Lena’s face. ‘But you’re not ready to let it out yet. I’ll be here when you are. My gran, Pearl, is great to talk to as well. She’s very wise and has a way of making things seem more straightforward. Now, I do have to get on because it’ll be busy today at the café but don’t forget that I’m here for you. We can share a bottle of wine sometime if you fancy it, maybe bring it down here and have a good chat in the fresh air.’

‘You’re very kind. I’ll take you up on that.’

‘Do!’ Ellie winked at her then gave her arm one more pat before heading back up the beach to the harbour.

Knowing that she had a friend here was wonderful and Lena hugged herself as she turned back to gaze out to sea. Perhaps Ellie was right, and it was time to let go of everything that wasn’t serving her. What was the point in holding everything in when it was clearly impacting upon her ability to be happy?

She decided to take another wander around the village then to walk up to The Garden Café and get some lunch. It was tempting to return to the rescue sanctuary gazebo and make a fuss of Harvey again, but she didn’t know if she’d be able to walk away without completing an application for him. It would be better, she reasoned with herself, if she gave it a week and thought about it, then if he was still available, she could consider it again.

But as she strolled back towards the harbour, the dog’s cute little face filled her mind and her heart, and she knew that resisting the urge to see him again was going to be tough. Just like the urge to search the faces in the crowd for Thomas would be, because she also wanted to see him again and to find out if he was taken or single, to confirm to herself if the connection she felt to him was real or just a passing fancy that would soon drift away on the fresh sea breeze. Even if they were only destined to be friends that would be something, and she wanted to find out if it was possible.

12

LENA

At The Garden Café, Lena ordered a cloudy lemonade that she took outside. She sat on a picnic bench beneath a wooden pergola where the air was fragrant with pink and cream roses. She placed her glass on the table in front of her and closed her eyes for a moment. She could hear the gentle buzzing of bees as they settled on flowers collecting pollen, the bright song of a blackbird and the laughter of children as they played somewhere in the gardens. The scent of freshly cut grass surrounded her, along with the heady sweetness of honeysuckle.

Breathing deeply, she made an effort to lower her shoulders and to savour the warmth of the air. She kicked off her shoes and buried her toes in the grass, connecting with the earth and grounding herself. Moments of peace like this were precious and she let go of her worries and tension as she rooted herself firmly in the here and now.

‘Penny for them,’ a voice said nearby. She opened her eyes and found Pearl Draper smiling at her. ‘Mind if I sit down.’ Pearl gestured at the space on the bench opposite Lena.

‘Of course not.’ Lena returned the smile then sipped her lemonade. The bubbles tickled her nose, and the zesty lemonade made her tongue tingle. ‘I don’t know if my thoughts are worth a penny though. I was trying to clear them from my mind.’

‘It’s important to do that.’ Pearl placed her glass coffee mug on the table. ‘The mind needs a break now and then and clearing your thoughts is as beneficial as a nap.’

‘I do like a nap.’ Lena nodded. ‘I was in the village earlier, and I thought I’d walk up here and maybe get something to eat.’

‘How’s the fair?’

‘It’s lovely but very busy.’

‘Wait until high summer. It can be manic then. It’s why I’m glad the café is up here, slightly removed from the village.’

‘It’s in an incredible spot. We could be anywhere and yet I know we’re near the sea.’

‘The air is amazing, right?’

‘Awesome,’ Lena agreed. ‘I could live here quite happily.’ She blinked. It was true, she realised. She could quite happily move here now, and she didn’t even think she’d miss city life.

‘Well perhaps that’s what you need to do.’ Pearl picked up her mug and took a sip.

‘Is it that easy though?’ Lena looked at the older woman and knew what answer she wanted to hear.

‘You can do whatever you want to do. Even if it seems overwhelming at first, you can always find a way. This isn’t a rehearsal, remember. We get one life.’

‘That’s so true.’

‘How’s the lemonade?’ Pearl gestured at her glass.

‘Delicious.’

‘Ellie made it with organic lemons and a new juicer she persuaded me to buy. She said we need to invest to grow, and I can’t argue with that. Investments in time, energy and self-belief are important if we want to make progress.’

Lena smiled at Pearl because she suspected that Pearl’s words referred to more than making lemonade. ‘If life gives you lemons, right?’

‘Oh absolutely! Life gives us all lemons at some points but it’s what we do with them that’s important. We might suck on them and pull a few grimaces for a bit but add some sugar and water and even some elderflower cordial and we can make the juice far more palatable.’

‘Have you been through tough times, Pearl?’ Lena asked.

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