Page 7 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

‘A change?’

‘Yes.’

‘Have you burnt out?’ Ellie asked, her eyes filled with compassion.

‘I think so. I just got sick of being so busy and… see, I’m a journalist and…’ She paused to check if Ellie was judging her now, but the other woman simply waited for her to continue. ‘And I don’t want to do the job anymore.’

There was more to it, of course, but Lena wasn’t about to dump all that on someone she’d just met.

Ellie nodded. ‘I understand that. It’s fine to reinvent ourselves. We can do it as many times as we like. Why stay trapped in a job and a life you hate when you could reflect and move on to find the life you want?’

‘Exactly that.’ Lena swallowed the last of her coffee. ‘So, you said you fell in love here when you returned?’

Ellie’s smile broadened. ‘Love was the last thing I was looking for but then I met Jasper and well… The heart wants what it wants.’

‘Jasper is a local man?’

‘Yes. He has two young children and so we’ve been taking things at a pace that works for them too.’ Ellie sighed. ‘Jasper lost his wife a few years back and he’s been busy raising the children. It took a lot for him to trust me and for me to trust him, but we’ve come a long way and we’re really happy together. I never thought I’d love someone like this but it’s incredible.’

‘That’s wonderful to hear. And the children have accepted you?’

‘They’re very young and happy to accept anyone into their lives I think.’ Ellie laughed. ‘They’re absolutely adorable. It’s an adjustment for me dating someone with children but they are all worth the adjustment.’

Ellie was positively glowing with happiness and Lena couldn’t help but smile at seeing it.

‘So what’s good to do around here?’ Lena asked.

‘Well, at the café we hold yoga sessions, a book club, games evenings, cookery classes and more. There’s also lots going on in the village with it being summer. Seeing as how you’re here for a while, why don’t we swap numbers? You can give me a shout if you want to know anything or need any help at all?’

‘That would be awesome, thanks.’

The exchanged numbers then Ellie said, ‘We have sunrise yoga tomorrow morning if you fancy it.’

‘Oooh… that sounds interesting. I do like yoga but haven’t done a class in years. Time and money prevented me doing it,’ she said.

‘The classes at the café are free as Gran usually runs them. It’s part of her community effort to help with well-being and mental health. Why don’t you come tomorrow?’

‘I’ll be there. Sunrise, you say?’

‘Sunrise.’ Ellie smiled then stood up. ‘Right, I’d better get back to work. Have a wonderful day.’

‘You too.’ Lena watched as Ellie walked away then she returned her attention to the harbour. A yoga class would do her good, loosen some of the tension from her shoulders that she’d been lumping around and hopefully she’d meet some more locals there. It could provide inspiration for characters for her novel and it would be nice to get to know more people. Ellie seemed lovely, as did her gran, and she’d like to make some friends. Back in London, she had friends, but they were always so busy that it was difficult to find the time to get together. Weeks, months and years passed, and she’d realised she’d neglected her friends as they had neglected her. Of course, it had been hard for her seeingthem settle down and start families, especially in light of her own difficulties, but she had always been glad for them. She’d just wished she had what they had and didn’t feel quite so alone.

Her hand crept to her belly and settled there. The bloating was present like it often was, but her thoughts strayed to a time not so long ago when she’d thought something different was making her stomach swell. To a time when she’d felt a sense of hope, awe and wonder. How innocent she had been then and how wrong it had all gone.

Pushing the thoughts away, she stood up and dropped her rubbish into a bin then started the walk back to her cottage. She had a few chores to do and then she intended on plotting an outline for her next few chapters. She’d been listening to podcasts and reading blog posts, and she knew that it was important to have a writing routine. It would, she had read, enhance her productivity. Procrastination was so easy to indulge in, but it wouldn’t get this book written and, she reminded herself, the book was why she was here. She would write it one sentence, one paragraph and one page at a time and then, before she knew it, she’d have a novel.

She could do this, and she would give it her all. Taking breaks to enjoy things like yoga and beach walks and delicious baked goods, of course.

6

THOMAS

‘I’m not really sure about this, Bligh,’ Thomas said to his brother-in-law.

‘It’ll do you good.’ Bligh patted him on the shoulder. ‘Kind of like physio for the body and mind.’

Thomas took a deep breath as he tried to keep up with Bligh’s long strides. His sister’s husband was six-foot-six, six inches taller than Thomas, which meant Bligh’s legs had the advantage. Plus, of course, Thomas had the injuries to his left leg that always slowed him down. He pushed himself onwards though, aware that they needed to make it to the café before sunrise.

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