Page 65 of Kate and Clara's Curious Cornish Craft Shop
‘Julian – definitely not. He really is only an acquaintance. I like to call him “friend” because I don’t think he has many of his own, and that’s why I’m seeing him – to help him make some around here.’
‘What about Jack?’ Molly asks now. ‘You like him, don’t you?’
I nod. ‘Jack is … complicated.’ I hesitate. There are …thingsgoing on between us I can’t explain that are bringing us closer, but then there are other things that seem to be pushing us apart.’
That thing was Julian. I hadn’t seen or heard from Jack since the night in the pub nearly a week ago, apart from his text this morning after we’d both discovered new pieces of art in our shops.
However, I wasn’t going to stop trying to help Julian because Jack might be … it seemed daft even thinking it … but it felt like Jack might be jealous.
‘Relationships are hard,’ Molly says knowingly.
I look at her. Really, she knew this already at fifteen?
‘Everything all right with Chesney and you?’ Sebastian enquires.
Molly shrugs. ‘Yeah, I guess.’
Sebastian looks at me, but I shrug too.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ he adds.
‘Nah,’ Molly says. ‘Not really. I’ll sort it out.’
‘Right then, I think a group hug is in order!’ Sebastian announces. ‘Come, come,’ he says, beckoning us towards him.
Reluctantly, I follow Molly into Sebastian’s long, skinny arms, and I put my own arms around Molly and him.
‘Here’s to relationships,’ he announces.
‘I don’t think group hugs usually have toasts,’ I suggest.
‘Well, this one does. Here’s to relationships!’ Sebastian tries again. ‘Healing for those who are in difficulties.’ He pats Molly and me on the back. ‘And hope for those of us who are not in one right now.’
We both pat Sebastian.
‘May we all find the right man for us in the very near future …’ He pauses dramatically. ‘But for now, let us all have fun trying!’
St Felix ~ August 1957
Clara glances out of her shop window.
Arthur is still there, painting away behind his canvas. How long did he need to be sat outside her shop – it felt like he’d been there days already.
‘It must be very exciting to be the subject of a painting,’ Mrs Harrington says, as she pulls her purse from her handbag to pay Clara for the dress she’s collecting. ‘I’d want to be out there all the time looking over his shoulder.’
‘Oh, it’s not me he’s painting,’ Clara says, taking the note from her customer and finding her some change in the little wooden drawer she kept all her takings in. ‘It’s the shop. Actually, it’s all the street really. The town council has commissioned several paintings of St Felix.’
‘Yes, I know. Jonathan, my husband, is on the council so he was at the meeting when it was decided. I think it’s a wonderful idea to commemorate the town as it is today. It’s changed such a lot over the last few years. We’ve grown from a small fishing community to a vibrant holiday destination. With the war years firmly behind us and rationing now finally over we should celebrate in any way we can.’
‘Of course. I’d forgotten your husband is on the council.’
‘Yes, he has been for some time now. Very proud he is of this community.’
‘He has every right to be. St Felix is a wonderful place to live in and to visit.’
‘Forgive me if I’m prying …’ Mrs Harrington says in a low voice, leaning over the glass cabinet towards Clara, ‘but was it the war that took your husband from you?’ She glances down at the narrow gold band on the third finger of Clara’s left hand.
Clara hesitates. She always hated it when someone asked this for, as much as she detested telling lies, the thought of telling someone the truth petrified her even more.
