Page 22 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘Haven’t really got room at the moment,’ he says hurriedly. ‘I will do something with it … sometime. There’s no rule that says I have to put it on display, is there, just because I bought it from you?’ To my surprise he looks at Noah accusingly.
‘Er … no,’ Noah says awkwardly. ‘None at all.’ He drains his glass and pops it down on a nearby counter. ‘Well, I’d better be going.’ He glances at his watch. ‘Ana will probably be back by now with Daisy-Rose. Evening wedding,’ he explains, ‘down in Marazion.’
Dec and I both nod.
‘Great shop you’ve got here, Jack,’ Noah says, holding his hand out to him. ‘I hope it does well for you.’
‘Cheers, mate,’ Jack says, shaking it. ‘Sorry if I snapped at you before. It’s been a long night, you know.’
Noah nods. ‘See you guys around,’ he says in parting to Dec and me.
‘Bye, Noah.’
‘Is Daisy-Rose his … daughter?’ Jack asks, looking at Dec and me.
‘No.’ I smile. ‘Daisy-Rose is a little red camper van. Ana, his partner, rents it out for weddings and events.’
‘Ah, I see. So much to learn about everyone here.’
‘You’ll get there,’ Dec says. ‘It takes everyone a while to get to know us, but then there’s no turning back! Once you’re in the St Felix gang, it’s difficult to escape, isn’t it, Kate?’ He turns to me and offers me a high five, which I gladly return.
‘He’s right, but that’s mainly because you don’t want to leave,’ I say happily. ‘This place can be a little tight-knit, and odd things often happen here you can’t always explain.’ I think of my sewing machine again. ‘But we’re a good bunch and St Felix is a lovely place to live.’
‘It is that,’ Dec agrees. ‘Some folk even call it enchanted. There are a few tall tales that are regularly told in The Merry Mermaid about things that have happened here in the past.’
‘Like what?’ Jack asks with interest.
‘Too many to tell you now,’ Dec says. ‘Pop in there sometime – you’ll always find someone keen to talk to you about it all. Now it’s my turn to depart. Where’s that big lump of a partner of mine?’
‘If you mean me,’ Ant says, appearing behind him, ‘I was just coming over to find you. Great event, Jack.Lovelyfood!’
‘It should be – you made it,’ Jack says, smiling at them.
‘We did indeed!’ Ant says beaming. ‘That would be why then!’
Ant and Dec depart, and I’m left with Jack.
‘I wonder where Sebastian has got to?’ I say, gazing around vaguely. ‘He was here a while ago. Everyone seems to be leaving all of a sudden.’
‘That might have something to do with me,’ Jack says, seeming a little uncomfortable. ‘I think I get people’s back up.’
‘Don’t be daft!’ I reply, looking at him. ‘Well, you can be a bit … abrasive, shall we say, at times.’
‘I don’t mean to be. Sometimes I say things I think are amusing, but others don’t seem to take it that way.’
‘Is that your army background?’ I ask kindly.
‘Possibly. Perhaps I’m just an awkward bugger!’
‘Maybe you are!’ I say, grinning at him. ‘But you were a bit odd with Noah when we mentioned the vintage art equipment. What was that about?’
‘Hmm…’ Jack says, considering something. ‘This is going to sound like a strange question, Kate, but has anything …unusualhappened since you’ve had your old sewing machine?’
‘How do you mean?’ I ask as casually as I can when really I’m bursting with curiosity. Why was Jack asking? Had something happened to him too?
‘I mean …’ Jack looks incredibly uncomfortable. ‘Has itdoneanything … something you can’t quite explain?’
I look hard at Jack. This wasn’t one of his jokes, was it? But he looks deadly serious.
