Page 83 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘Quite right,’ Mavis said. ‘Don’t want it blowing all over the beach. I’ll go and see.’
Eden watched her lean on Liam’s arm as she toddled away before going back to the van to continue their unloading. There was so much food she’d worried that they’d gone way overboard, despite reassurance from both Julia and Ralph, but looking at just how many people had turned up, their numbers swelling with new arrivals all the time, she wondered whether they’d have enough.
It had taken some extra canvassing for donations in the town – donations most were only too happy to give when she’d explained what the event was – plus some help from Ralph and a chunk of her own savings to put this on, but Eden didn’t mind. She didn’t even mind that her savings were dwindling faster than she’d anticipated. Money was important, but she hadn’t expected hers to last forever.
In the past, money had been everything, despite the fact she’d had more than enough. She’d always wanted more: more money, more things, more holidays, more security. It had been her downfall. But in the end, trying to become someone other than that person had saved her because it had brought her here. So if she struggled sometimes, it was all right. Her friends in the bay would have her back; they’d help her through, as they all helped each other. She looked at Livia and her family and saw that she didn’t need money to be happy. She wasn’t naive – of course people needed money to live, but having more than you needed didn’t always equate to a better life. Now that she’d made the decision to stay in Sea Glass Bay, it was something she was certain she’d work out along with everything else.
Livia followed her to the van. ‘I’ve just seen the owner of Four Winds walking along the promenade. At least, it looked like her. I haven’t seen her in ages, not since the house was sold. I wonder why she’s here.’
Eden’s gaze went to the stretch of road that followed the line of the beach. ‘Margery? I don’t see her.’
‘Must have gone into town. I wondered if she might be coming up to check on you, see if you’ve got everything you need.’
‘Maybe. It’s a shame she’s had a wasted journey if she’s been up there while I’ve been down here. She’ll message me if it’s important, and I suppose she has a key if she wants to go in and check around. I’ve got nothing to hide, so…’
‘Have you spoken to her about giving up the house early?’
Eden shook her head. ‘I don’t want to do that until I’ve found somewhere else. I’ve seen a couple of apartments for rent…I don’t suppose you’d like to come and view them with me? In fact, one has a spare room…the kids could come and stay whenever you and your mum needed a night off. And before you say I don’t need to do that and all the other rubbish, I’d love to have them over – they’re so much fun.’
Livia blinked. And then she grabbed Eden in a huge hug. ‘I can’t tell you how glad I am you’re staying in the bay!’
‘Me too,’ Eden replied, her grin so wide it threatened to break free of her face. ‘I think it’s going to be the best decision I’ve ever made.’
As they hugged, Eden felt something wrap around her legs and looked down to see Nancy clinging on to them both.
‘Group hug!’ Livia cried, breaking free to scoop up her niece and fold her back into the embrace.
‘Group hug!’ Nancy giggled.
Eden pulled her in. She couldn’t remember a hug in her entire life better than this one. If there hadn’t been so much else going on, she might have been tempted to stay in it all day.
‘Right.’ Livia was the first to break it up, kissing Nancy on the head and setting her down. ‘Come on – we’ve got lots to do, and it won’t get done while we’re being all soppy.’ She handed Nancy another box of cakes. ‘You know what to do.’
Eden was still smiling as she watched Nancy dash off with it. ‘You know, you’re an amazing not-quite-mum.’
‘I try,’ Livia said. ‘Sometimes I don’t mind admitting it’s hard, but then I think about my sister, and I realise I’m lucky.’
‘You gave up a lot; it’s bound to feel hard sometimes.’
‘I don’t think I gave up all that much, and if I did, I got back something that was worth far more.’
‘Nobody would blame you if you sometimes got angry. Losing your sister, then your dad, not getting Four Winds when it had been promised to you as an inheritance…’
Livia shook her head. ‘What’s the use in getting angry about any of that? I couldn’t change it, no matter how angry I got. As for Four Winds, if I had inherited it when my uncle died, I’d have been living in it and you wouldn’t have rented it. You might not even have come to the bay at all, so…’
Eden couldn’t quite believe that her friendship was worth so much to Livia, but if it was worth even a tiny fraction of that, she was happy.
‘I don’t let it worry me,’ Livia continued. ‘Everything works out eventually, doesn’t it? Even if we have to get round a few obstacles on the way.’
Eden was about to reply when she noticed a car parking up on a designated spot on the promenade, a few spaces away from where they’d set the van. Her heart stopped as she watched Caitlin and her father get out, her good mood suddenly evaporating to be replaced by anxiety, the likes of which she hadn’t known since her arrival in Sea Glass Bay. Things had been cordial enough on messages and phone calls, but seeing them in the flesh brought the whole awful time around her mother’s death bowling back at her.
‘Oh, God,’ she murmured.
Livia followed her gaze and must have guessed what was going through Eden’s mind. ‘It’ll be fine. I’ll leave you to it. Come and find me if you need to, OK?’
Eden nodded vaguely, not even noticing Livia go. Her gaze was fixed on the two people she’d left behind, the two people she’d most wronged in the world as they came towards her.
To her amazement, Caitlin broke into a run, throwing her arms around her.
