Page 6 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
Eden frowned. ‘Why not?’
The woman started to laugh too. She turned to Eden. ‘How long are you on holiday for?’
‘Actually, I sort of…well, I’m sort of on holiday, I suppose, but technically…I’m here for about six months. Does that count as a holiday?’
‘A decent one, as far as I can tell,’ the woman said. ‘Are you here with your family? Friends?’
‘On my own. I’m staying at the cottage up there…’ Eden pointed at the cliffs, and the woman’s eyes widened.
‘Four Winds?’
‘Yes, you know it?’
‘My great-uncle and aunt used to live there. This was years ago, mind…He died just before I got these two, and my aunt died not long after. They had once promised…’ She looked suddenly wistful but then seemed to shake it. ‘Never mind that. It’s a great spot, isn’t it?’
‘Lovely,’ Eden agreed. ‘I suppose you must know it well.’
‘I spent a lot of time there as a kid, of course, but haven’t been in since it was sold.’
‘Who bought it?’
‘Not a clue. Someone from outside the bay, I think.’
A sudden idea occurred to Eden. She’d wanted to be alone, but something about this woman suddenly made her feel more open. And this woman had a connection to the house, so surely she’d like to see it again after so many years of it being gone from her family? It was in her power to do a nice thing for someone, and wasn’t that part of the change she wanted for herself too?
‘Would you…? What I’m trying to say is, if you wanted to come and look around for old times’ sake, I’d be more than happy. I haven’t got much in the way of drinks or anything – just arrived today and not been shopping, but you’re welcome to snoop.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t want to…’
‘You wouldn’t be.’
‘Livia…’ The little girl tugged at the woman’s hand. ‘Where are we going?’
Eden smoothed away a frown. So this wasn’t their mum?
The woman – Livia – smiled at Eden. ‘It’s really lovely of you to offer, but maybe another time.’
‘Well, you know where I am,’ Eden said. ‘And I’m not just saying it – you’d be really welcome to pop in any time. And it’s not like I’m going anywhere soon.’
Livia looked at the twins. ‘Right, you two. I suppose we ought to be wrapping up this game anyway. Your gran will be expecting us for tea.’
There was a groan from both of them, and they were still complaining about cutting their game short as Eden watched them pack up. When the last thing was in a bag, Nancy came racing over to Eden. She held out a pink-and-biscuit seashell.
‘I found this.’
‘It’s lovely,’ Eden said.
Nancy put it on the sand next to her. ‘It’s for you.’
‘Thanks!’ Eden said, those strange and unwanted tears pushing up into her throat again. ‘Don’t you want to keep it?’
‘No, I have one. Livia says to only take one from the beach each time or the creatures will have nowhere to live.’
‘Perhaps I ought to leave this one for the creatures then? Because with your one and this one it’s two.’
Nancy shrugged, and before she could find a suitable reply, Livia called her from across the beach, and she raced back to her family. All three waved at Eden before making their way up the steps to the clifftop.
Eden watched them go with a faint smile. And then her attention was caught by the sight of a man walking the promenade in formal trousers and a shirt. At this distance, she couldn’t make out his face but there was something oddly familiar about him. In the next moment, he got into a car parked in one of the spaces overlooking the beach and started the engine, and Eden dismissed the incident almost as soon as he’d pulled out of the space.
