Page 12 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘Ever been in one of these things?’
‘No.’
‘Then you can’t possibly know.’
A silence hangs across the table, and I look at my empty glass again longingly.
‘You want another?’ Jack asks, nodding at it.
‘Oh no, you’re all right, I can get it.’ I begin to stand up, and then I think better of it and sit purposefully back down again. ‘Yes, please, I would,’ I say, sliding the glass across the table towards him. ‘Make it a Diet Coke this time though.’
Jack looks at the glass, and then he nods approvingly at me. ‘Diet Coke coming right up!’
‘So,’ I ask, as we sit at the table together again, this time on the same side so we can both watch the beautiful sunset that’s beginning to form across the harbour in the evening sky. ‘What made you want to open a shop here?’
Since Jack had come back with my drink we’d sat and chatted politely for the last ten minutes or so, mostly about St Felix and what it was like owning a business here, and I’d discovered that this was Jack’s first time owning a shop.
‘So why open one now?’ I ask, even though the questionWhy are you opening a shop when you’re in a wheelchair?wasn’t too far from my lips, but I was far too polite (or is that cowardly?) to ask him that directly, even though that’s what I really wanted to know.
‘Why do I want to open a shop when I’m in a wheelchair, you mean?’ Jack says, making me blush.
I nod.
‘I guess I like a challenge.’
‘There must be more to it than that?’
‘Maybe there is.’ Jack doesn’t enlighten me as to what.
‘Such as—?’ I ask with sudden bravery. ‘What?’ I ask, when Jack turns to look at me. ‘You can’t have it both ways, you know? I’m simply being honest with you.’
‘And I appreciate that, Kate, really I do. I’d just prefer not to talk about it right now if that’s okay with you?’
‘Sure. Of course.’ I nod. I’ve pushed it too far.
‘Don’t look so worried,’ Jack says, putting his hand over mine where it rests on the table. ‘I like the fact you’re being direct with me. I wish more people were.’
I glance down at his hand and notice the beginning of a tattoo peeking out from under the rolled-up sleeve of his white shirt.
Jack stares with alarm at his hand over mine. ‘Oh God, sorry!’ he exclaims, pulling it away. ‘Now I’m the one overstepping the mark!’
I’m about to tell him not to be silly and it doesn’t matter when suddenly he slams down his almost empty pint glass on the table.
‘Gotta go!’ he says, looking at the place a watch should be on his wrist and then realising it’s not there. ‘Things to do, you know.’ He begins to wheel himself backwards away from the table.
I hurriedly stand up to let him out.
‘I’ll send you an invite to the shop opening!’
‘Sure …’ I say, still standing as I watch him spin himself expertly around and then head off back in the direction of both our shops. ‘That would be good …’
‘So how did it go?’ Molly asks excitedly as soon as I arrive back at the flat.
‘Yeah, all right, I think.’ I try to sound as indifferent as I can.
‘You think … Don’t you know?’
‘He seems like a nice enough chap. He’s not out to ruin us anyway – I’ve discovered that much.’
