Page 56 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘It might be nice to see Chesney for a little longer than the few seconds when he collects you,’ I try. ‘Would he like to come for tea one day?’
Molly grimaces. ‘Mum!That would be so uncool. Chesney doesn’t do tea!’
What does he do other than hang around street corners trying to look intimidating?I wonder.Because that’s the only thing I’ve seen him do so far.‘Okay, I only asked. If you change your mind though, let me know. I’d like to get to know the boy my daughter is so smitten with.’
‘Do you think Sebastian will be back by the time I leave?’ Molly asks, deliberately ending this line of questioning. ‘I don’t want to keep Chesney waiting.’
‘Probably, but he won’t be long even if he’s not. He’s only getting a filling after his check-up the other day.’
‘Ony ge-ing a fewilling?’ a woeful voice says at the door. ‘I cawn aqu-ally spea!’
I smile at Molly. ‘A bit numb, are you?’ I ask Sebastian as he comes through the door looking wretched.
Sebastian nods, and cups his cheek in his hand.
‘I be alwry tho,’ he tries to insist.
‘Perhaps you’d better spend some time out back until your numbness wears off,’ I suggest. ‘Have you taken some painkillers for when it does?’
Sebastian nods. ‘Eh den-ist sa I shou be too ba tho.’
‘Good. I’d tell you to go home but Anita has her daughter staying this weekend, and Molly and Chesney are going to some festival?’
‘It’s not a festival,’ Molly says, ‘It’s a few local bands playing in Penzance, that’s all.’
‘That sounds like a festival to me,’ I begin, but someone comes through the door carrying a huge bunch of flowers disguising their face. It’s definitely not Poppy or Amber this time as the bouquet is clearly being carried by a man.
‘Uh-oh,’ Sebastian says. ‘Es yo sequet amirer aguain.’
Molly watches eagerly as the man reveals himself.
‘Good afternoon, ladies,’ he says to Molly and me, as we both look equally as appalled at what the flowers have revealed. The man nods at Sebastian. ‘I’m not quite sure what you just said, young man, but I am equally as pleased to make your acquaintance too.’ He turns back towards me. ‘It is I, Julian James at your service again, my dearest Kate.’
He thrusts the flowers towards me.
‘Er … thank you, Julian,’ I say, stepping forward to take them from him. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I told you I’d be back in St Felix soon,’ he explains, looking puzzled that I seem surprised he’s here, ‘in my last bouquet?’
‘Yousent Mum the flowers?’ Molly asks with dismay. ‘But I thought—’
‘I did indeed, my dear child. Did you not get a card with them?’ he asks, looking at me.
‘I did, but it was only signedJ. I had no idea it was you.’
Julian seems perplexed by this, as though it could never have been possible that I might know someone else with this initial.
‘Ah, a quandary for you indeed … but I am here now!’
‘Woo isth thi?’ Sebastian asks Molly.
‘This is Julian James. His father’s paintings are being exhibited at the Lyle Gallery at the moment. We met him at the opening of the exhibition.’
‘You did indeed!’ Julian says, as though it was an honour for us. ‘A fine evening was had by all, I imagine.’
‘I still don’t understand what you’re doing here, Julian?’ I say. ‘Or why you have been sending me flowers?’
Again, Julian looks surprised by this. ‘I don’t believe you’ve managed to get in touch with me since that night, have you?’
