Page 83 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘I am never shifty!’ he protests. ‘You’re imagining things. That’s your mother’s influence. She was always seeing things that weren’t there – usually things that put me in a bad light!’
Ben holds up his hands in surrender. ‘Easy, man! I’m not Mum. Let’s not start a fight about nothing.’
‘Sorry,’ Jack says, patting Ben on the shoulder. ‘One mention of Georgia and the touch paper is lit! Ah, is this our food coming now … great!’
As we tuck into our pub meals the atmosphere returns to its previous jovial level. I notice Molly doesn’t eat much, and keeps stealing glances in Ben’s direction when she thinks no one is looking.
‘So what will you do now school is out?’ Ben asks Molly when we’ve finished eating. ‘Same as me, work in your parent’s shop?’
Molly’s cheeks immediately redden. ‘Er … yes, probably. Mum lets me do some shifts in the school holidays.’
‘I think it’s important that Molly concentrates on her schoolwork during term time,’ I reply, ‘especially now she wants to go intomedicine.’
I smile at Jack, and he grins knowingly back at me.
‘If it’s really what you want to do I can give you some help if you like?’ Ben offers. ‘You know, what subjects to concentrate on and stuff.’
‘That would be wonderful, Ben, thank you,’ Molly gushes.
‘But I’d want something in return.’
‘Anything.’
‘Could you show me around St Felix? You know, introduce me to a few people? Much as I love Dad, I don’t want to spend my whole summer in his shop. Where are the best places to hang out? I wouldn’t mind learning to surf while I’m here.’
‘My friend’s brother teaches surfing,’ Molly says excitedly. ‘I’m sure I could introduce you.’
‘Cool, thanks.’
‘Well, it looks likeeveryoneis happy with their summer plans,’ Jack says, raising his glass. ‘Here’s to the rest of the summer in St Felix. May it bring much sunshine, good friendships and new experiences for all!’
He taps his glass with mine.
‘Including for you and me,’ he mouths quickly while Ben and Molly are clinking their own glasses.
‘Especially you and me,’ I whisper back.
Twenty-seven
St Felix ~ August 1957
‘Which way again?’ Arty asks Maggie as he pushes her chair down towards the beach.
‘Down here,’ Maggie says, pointing to a row of fisherman’s cottages. ‘It’s the one with the black stable door. That’s it, this one right here.’
Arty looks at the narrow whitewashed cottage in front of them. Both the windows and doors are painted black, and the upper half of the door is already open waiting for them.
Maggie climbs out of her chair eagerly.
‘Careful, Maggie,’ Arty warns.
‘Stop worrying, Arty. I’m much stronger now. Even stronger than Mummy knows.’ Maggie knocks hard on the bottom of the door. ‘Is it okay if we come in, Freddie?’ she calls. ‘I’ve brought a friend to meet you today.’
‘In ye come, young Maggie,’ a gentle voice calls back. ‘I’m just through here.’
Arty follows Maggie into the tiny cottage, where they immediately find themselves in what is supposed to be a kitchen but what looks to Arty more like a painting studio. There are pots of paint and clean and dirty paintbrushes in jars on the worktops, with both finished pictures, random bits of wood and also metal stacked up against the walls. In the middle of all this sits an old man with white hair. He’s wearing rough trousers and a simple collarless white shirt, and is currently hunched over a table painting on a small piece of broken wood that looks like it’s come from a boat’s hull.
The man looks up as they enter.
