Page 63 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘Great,’ Jack says with what I know is a forced smile.
‘Julian is in the art business,’ I say diplomatically. ‘So you two have something in common. Jack owns a shop in St Felix selling art equipment,’ I explain to Julian.
‘Ah,’ they both say, and nod politely at each other.
‘Do you paint?’ Jack asks Julian.
Julian grins. ‘No, not me. My father did though.’ He gives me another conspiratorial glance, which Jack can’t help but notice.
‘Whatdoyou do then?’ Jack asks bluntly.
‘Ipromoteart,’ Julian replies carefully, ‘but after tonight I could be changing my career path.’ Again, he looks knowingly at me.
I wish he wouldn’t keep doing that. I know it’s annoying Jack, and I don’t want him to think there’s anything going on.
‘Well, you two obviously have a lot to talk about that doesn’t involve me,’ Jack says, wheeling himself back from the table. ‘I’ll leave you to it. Nice to meet you, Julian. See you around, Kate.’
He looks deliberately at me, before pushing himself away.
‘Nice chap,’ Julian says, apparently not noticing anything is wrong. ‘You said the people were friendly here.’
‘Yes,’ I say, watching Jack push himself out of the pub. ‘They are.’
‘I think Iwillstay on a while,’ Julian adds, gazing at me while I gaze at the door Jack’s just exited through. ‘I’d like to make somenewfriends, and get to know a few others much, much better …’
Twenty-two
Do you have another?
Jack’s text gets directly to the point.
I respond in an equally blunt manner:
Yes.
When should we compare them?
Are you free tonight?
I am.
7 OK?
Yes.
See you later then.
Nothing …
‘So, it’s like that now, is it, Jack?’ I murmur sighing.
‘What’s like what?’ Molly asks, wandering into the shop.
‘Oh, nothing,’ I say, looking up from my phone.
‘Someone giving you grief, Mum?’
‘No, don’t be silly.’
