Page 21 of Autumn at the Cornish Garden Café

‘I will. I promise.’

‘Brilliant.’

They stood gazing into each other’s eyes, the space between them charged with something as yet unsaid, the air filled with electricity. Warmth spread through Rosa’s chest. Her skin prickled with the awareness of his proximity and her fingers twitched as if they might reach for him. But then Johan came over again and tapped Henry’s arm, snapping them out of the trance they seemed to have fallen into. ‘Sir? Are you ready for another round?’

‘More bobbing for apples?’ Henry’s eyes widened as if he was trying to bring himself back to reality.

‘Yes. Best of three rounds, Pearl said.’

‘Cool.’ Henry flashed a grimace at Rosa, but then he turned and said to Johan, ‘Be there in a minute.’

‘Looks like you’re not out of the water yet,’ Rosa said and Henry snorted.

‘I see what you did there.’

‘I guess I’ll see you later then,’ she said.

‘I can’t wait,’ he whispered as she walked away, and the words sent a delightful shiver down her spine.

Something was happening here, and she wasn’t sure if it was real or just the magic of autumn in the air at The Cornish Garden Café. If only she could trust herself enough to find out…

Back with Christopher and Vinnie, she handed them their drinks, then sat next to Christopher. The temperature had dropped as the afternoon wore on and Christopher said, ‘Come under this rug a bit, dear. No sense being cold.’

‘Thanks.’ She slid it over her legs and cupped her mug between both hands.

‘What’s going on between you and Mr Teacher?’ Vinnie asked, making her splutter coffee.

‘I was going to ask the same thing.’ Christopher tilted his head.

She fumbled to set her mug down without spilling her coffee, avoiding their enquiring eyes. ‘What? Nothing.’

‘Doesn’t seem that way to me.’ Vinnie cocked a dark brow. ‘From where I’m sitting, it looked like there’s a spark between you.’

‘Same.’ Christopher nodded.

‘Behave yourselves.’ She tried not to smile. ‘We’re just friends.’

‘Sure and I’m actually John Travolta,’ Vinnie said, rolling his eyes. ‘Henry likes you and you like him. Why don’t you save yourselves some time and get on with it?’

‘Vinnie … it’s not that simple,’ she said and her cheeks flushed as Christopher and Vinnie stared at her. ‘Please don’t ask me to elaborate because I don’t want to talk about it right now. Just … things aren’t straightforward for me. I can’t be frivolous about love and lust and … all that stuff.’

Christopher reached out and rubbed her arm, and she smiled at him.

‘I’m OK. I just … I have reasons for not wanting to get involved with anyone again.’

‘One life though, Rosa. And you’re a catch, you know? I get that you’ve been hurt, but you get one life and you should live it, girl.’ Vinnie held her gaze with such intensity that her eyes burned. ‘I’m not dismissing what you’ve been through just saying that not all men are bad. Look at me and Christopher.’

Christopher laughed. ‘It’s true, Rosa. If you pick the right man, he will cherish you until the day he dies.’

‘Oh…’ Her vision blurred so she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. ‘Please don’t say such nice things.’

‘You deserve to be treasured, Rosa.’ Christopher took her hand and raised it, then pressed a gentle kiss to her skin. ‘I feel like you’re my adopted granddaughter and I would like to see you happy if it’s the last thing I do see.’

‘Stop now!’ A tear escaped her right eye and ran down her cheek and Christopher gently wiped it away with a gnarled finger.

‘Why don’t you invite him down to the line dancing at the beach later?’ Vinnie asked. ‘Give you a chance to get hot and sweaty with him without the risk of … you know… other pursuits that would also get you hot and sweaty.’

‘Vinnie!’ Rosa glanced at Christopher.

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