Page 49 of The Winter of Second Chances
‘As friends,’ said Annie.
‘Didn’t float your boat?’ asked Sally.
‘Let’s just say I’d have been better off using my initiative,’ said Annie.
‘Dildos!’ said Maeve loudly over their laughter. ‘Dildos are the way forward. Mark my words! Mine’s called Fernando. A good strong name; exotic.’
‘For Christ’s sake, Maeve!’ Gemma spluttered.
‘You named your dildo?’ asked Sally.
‘Can we stop saying the word dildo?’ asked Gemma.
Maeve ignored her. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Technically this is Fernando Mark Three.’
‘Blimey,’ said Annie. ‘You get through them.’
‘There’s never been anyone since my husband and he died over thirty years ago.’
‘You haven’t had sex in over thirty years?’ Sally looked faint.
‘Never had the time to find a man and I doubt I’d find one as reliable as Fernando.’
‘Mark Three,’ added Annie.
‘Quite,’ said Maeve. ‘I upgraded on the last one.’ Maeve wiggled her little finger and winked.
Annie was surprised at how easily her laughter came; she couldn’t remember when she’d felt so light in her heart. Being here with these women, so different to her and yet each of them relatable to her in their own way, she felt bolstered by their camaraderie. She was having fun, pure enjoyment for the sake of it. Annie was still on a high when she flicked off the lamps and headed up to bed. Who would have thought a book club could be so life-affirming!
Annie had begun to think there might be more business at Saltwater Nook during the winter months than Mari had presumed, and she found herself increasingly drawn to the idea of reopening the tea room; these days even the quietest villages expected to be able to enjoy a proper barista-made coffee. She recalled Alex’s horror at not being able to get a decent coffee when he visited. Perhaps an artisan cafe was just the thing Willow Bay needed. Maybe wintry day-trippers would be attracted by the prospect of a little city luxury in the sticks.
The morning after the book club, she decided to talk it over with Mari. It could be financially positive for both of them: Mari would gain a steady income from the rent on a previously dormant space and Annie could try her hand at building a new business. Of course, Mari would be back in the spring and Annie would have to find somewhere else to live but she was sure she could find somewhere locally to rent. She knew all these grand ideas would come to nothing if the dreaded nephew convinced Mari to sell. And yet, she couldn’t make her mind be quiet. Her phone rang, making her jump.
‘Hello, my dear.’ It was Mari. ‘I’m just checking in to make sure everything is okay.’
‘Hi, Mari, it’s lovely to hear from you. I was just thinking about you. How are you enjoying Cornwall?’
‘I may be a little bit in love with it. But don’t tell the Nook.’ Mari whispered this last part and Annie laughed. ‘We’re close by the sea and a two-minute walk to the shops. I won’t lie to you, I haven’t missed that hill.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ said Annie. ‘Whereabouts in Cornwall are you?’
‘A little place called Mousehole. Isn’t that an adorable name? My friend’s house is too large for one person really but just about perfect for two. I have my own room with an en-suite and we meet every morning in the sun room for a pot of tea and some toast.’
‘It sounds wonderful,’ said Annie.
‘And what about you, my dear? How is Saltwater Nook treating you?’
‘Very well,’ said Annie. ‘I hardly remember what it felt like to live anywhere else.’
‘Ah, I knew the sea would settle in your bones. It takes a special kind of person to live there, not everyone is cut out for it.’
Annie laughed. ‘Well, I haven’t done the winter yet,’ she said. ‘It might still beat me. But I’ve been opening the kiosk nearly every day,’ she went on. ‘It’s very popular. And I was wondering...’
‘Yes?’ Mari said in that way people do when they already know what you’re going to ask.
‘Well, I was wondering how you would feel about me doing a trial opening of the tea room? Obviously I would buy all the stock and register it correctly; it would all be above board. I’ve run my own restaurant so I know all the red-tape stuff, and I’m fully insured but I’ll take out an extra insurance for the tea room. And I was thinking that I could give you twenty per cent of anything I make, or I could rent the space from you? Whichever you’d prefer. Have a think about it. You don’t need to answer right away—’
‘Child, child!’ Mari trilled. ‘Calm yourself.’
