Page 42 of New Beginnings At Pencarrow Bay
‘He answers to Henri,’ Ted said, with a smile.
‘So solar panels power it?’ Liam asked, checking out the roof.
Ted nodded. ‘Cheap, efficientandenvironmentally friendly,’ he intoned.
It was painful watching them so restrained with each other, but it was better than hostility, Peggy thought, as she accepted the coffee Ted made for her.
A few minutes later, they were setting off for the beach. As they neared Lilac House, Peggy groaned inwardly as she saw Felix on the raised terrace, battling to unravel a grubby yellow garden hose. She had wondered when the family would be back from Paris. Now she dipped her head, quickening her pace. There were so many people on the road today, she was confident they’d get by unnoticed– he wasn’t paying any attention to the passers-by.
Then she heard her son, walking silently by her side, shout, ‘Felix Pearson? Is that really you?’
Felix turned at the sound of his name and put his handto his brow, squinting towards the road, his eyes clearly compromised by the sun. When he caught sight of Liam waving, he did a double-take. Then his face lit up with amazement as he hurried over to the wooden fence. ‘Christ, Liam! What the hell are you doing down here?’
‘Same as you, I imagine. Taking a break.’
There was an awkward pause, during which Felix noticed Peggy at Liam’s side and said, ‘Oh, hi, Peggy,’ as he clearly tried to work out what was going on. Then he turned to Liam again, adding, ‘I live here now.’
It was her son’s turn to look surprised. ‘Live here?No way. Since when?’
Felix shrugged, uncomfortable with the question. ‘A while. It’s Kim’s mum’s house.’
‘Right,’ Liam said slowly, moving his head sideways to check out the rather grand structure behind his friend. ‘This is my mum, by the way. You obviously know each other.’
Felix nodded and smiled at Peggy. ‘Listen, Liam, got to get on, but drop by anytime. Love to catch up.’ He turned away. Then obviously an idea struck him and he swung back. ‘Remember Fitz? He’s bringing his boat over from Falmouth tonight for his fortieth bash. Come along. Muster on the quay at six? I’m sure he’d love you to be there.’
‘Fitz is forty?’ Liam pulled a face and they laughed. ‘But, hey, I can’t just turn up if I’m not invited.’
‘The boat’s the size of a ferry– he’ll definitely want you to come. Give me your number.’ Felix tugged his mobile out of the back pocket of his shorts, unlocked it and handed it to Liam.
After they’d said goodbye to Felix, Peggy and Liam strolled along in silence until they reached the beach,unable to chat properly as the crowded street meant walking side by side was virtually impossible. She was dying to hear how her son knew Felix, what he knew about him, but realized she had to be careful with her questions. It was a tricky situation.
‘Can’t believe Fitz is forty,’ Liam mused, as they headed down the path to the beach. The tide was incoming, halfway up the sand, and a number of people were gingerly stepping into the water– which was obviously bracing, judging from their timid progress. Only the kids looked as if they were not fazed by the chilly waves.
‘How do you know Felix?’
‘We all used to hang out at a pub near Dad’s gallery. Felix and I played squash together quite often. He’s a great guy.’ He plonked the sports bag Peggy had lent him– one of Ted’s– on the concrete ledge by the sea wall. ‘Fuck, poor man.’
‘Yes, not a good situation. Obviously he’s got dire financial problems… although I’m not sure exactly what caused them.’
Liam looked at her, surprised. ‘He hasn’t told you?’
She shook her head. ‘I didn’t like to ask. I know something shady went on with manipulation of stocks at the bank where he worked.’
‘Who said that?’
Peggy shrugged noncommittally, not wanting to drop Ted in it– her son sounded so fierce.
‘He was shafted, Mum, if you want the truth. Fitz works there too, so he got the complete low-down. Felix’s boss set him up, so when the shit hit the fan, Felix got the blame. Bastard.’
‘So Felix didn’t do anything wrong?’
Liam snorted. ‘If not being as super-ruthless as everyone else isn’t a crime, then no. Love Felix. But he was totally duped, according to Fitz, who was steaming about the whole thing.’
‘Goodness, poor Felix indeed,’ Peggy said.Not what I heard, she thought.
‘Should be fun tonight. Fitz is a bit bonkers but he loves a party,’ Liam said, as he pulled his T-shirt over his head. ‘You don’t mind me going out, do you, Mum?’
‘Not at all,’ she said, her mind elsewhere.Would someone not ‘super-ruthless’ manage to manipulate a woman as clever as Lindy so easily?
