Page 120 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
Jack looks at me and nods.
‘Maggie,’ I say quietly but firmly, taking in the images in front of us. ‘If you lend us these photos for a little while,andthe Wilfred Jones original I noticed hanging in the hall when we came in, then I think we might not only be able to recoverallof Freddie’s paintings but we’ll at last also be able to give him the recognition he truly deserves.’
Thirty-six
One month later …
I watch the bride and groom spin around on the dancefloor looking lovingly into each other’s eyes and I smile.
Weddings are always such a joyful time full of thoughts and expectations for the future, and tonight was no exception.
Amber from the flower shop and Woody our local policeman had been married earlier today in St Felix, and along with their guests that joined them inside our local church, a second congregation had stood outside and waited for the happy couple to emerge so they could wish them well.
Woody was a very popular figure in St Felix – a relaxed friendly chap who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, and Amber was well known not only in the town but far beyond for the special bouquets of flowers that she created alongside Poppy.
I, along with Molly, Anita and Sebastian, have been invited to their evening reception which is being held in one of the larger local hotels. It’s here some of us sit at a table alongside Jack, who I had brought as my plus one, watching the married couple take their first dance together.
‘Cute pair,’ Jack says, as we watch Amber and Woody sway from side to side with their arms around each other.
‘Yes, they are,’ I reply, turning my gaze to Jack instead. ‘It sounds like it was a lovely wedding from what I’ve heard. They had a wonderful day for it.’ The weather had behaved itself with the sun shining down on all concerned, allowing their day to be bathed in light as well as love.
Jack takes hold of my hand. ‘Thanks for inviting me. Weddings aren’t usually my thing, but I’ve enjoyed being here tonight with your friends – they’re a good bunch.’
‘They are, aren’t they?’ I reply, smiling at them. ‘I’m very lucky to have all of you in my life.’
Jack squeezes my hand. ‘I’m sure we all feel the same way about you.’
I lean across and kiss him.
‘Steady on!’ I hear Sebastian call across the table, but I don’t care. Jack and I are in a proper relationship now, and I’ve never been happier.
‘Sorry to interrupt you two love birds,’ the familiar voice of Ben says above us, ‘but have you seen Molly lately?’
To my enormous relief Ben has been Molly’s plus one tonight. I am so pleased that Chesney isn’t in the picture any more. Even though I haven’t seen or heard much of him over the last few weeks I have the impression he is still hanging around Molly, and I fervently wish he’d just move on and let her go. I’d recently heard some bad things about him, and I was grateful that Molly had broken up with him when she had.
‘No, actually, I haven’t,’ I answer, looking around. ‘She said a while ago she was popping out for some air.’
‘Don’t worry,’ Ben says in his usual calm manner, ‘I’ll go look for her.’
‘Do you think I should go too?’ I ask Jack as he walks away.
Jack shakes his head. ‘No, Ben will find her. Don’t worry.’
I sit back in my chair doing exactly the opposite of that, but luckily after a minute or two of imagining all the bad things that might have happened another familiar voice distracts me from my anxious thoughts.
‘Kate?’
‘Julian! Hi! I didn’t know you were invited tonight?’
‘I’m not, I popped in because Molly said you were in here.’
‘You’ve seen her?’
Julian looks confused. ‘Er … yes, she was sitting on the wall outside the hotel with some other young people.’
‘Oh right,’Please don’t let it be Chesney, I pray.
‘I wondered if I could have a word?’ Julian says. ‘In private.’
