Natalie turned the engine on. There would be no ice creams sold today. She wasn’t going to open the shop. Maybe she’d keep the shop closed all week.
Kate kept coming back and she’d keep coming back. Something had to be done and it couldn’t wait. She grabbed her phone and pressed Cody’s number. ‘’Right, Cody.’
‘What’s up?’
‘What’s up is that I went to visit your dad last night.’
‘I told you he were getting bad.’
‘I’m sorry. I hope me and Laura managed to cheer him up for a bit. He said something a bit odd.’
‘He says a lot that’s odd these days.’
‘But this, Cody, it sent shivers down me. I need to talk to you in person. Maybe I can come by your place later. Or, maybe we could meet at the Smuggler for a pint.’
‘What is it, Natalie? Just say it.’
Natalie swallowed. ‘It’s about the baby. Jessica.’
Cody went quiet. ‘It’s Kate, isn’t it? She’s got to you and she thinks that we had something to do with her sister’s drowning. When will she accept it was an accident?’
Natalie had to flush out more. ‘Was it though?’
‘What are you trying to say?’
‘Nothing. I’m not trying to upset you. You know I think a lot of Archie. He’s a good man but since his accident, he had those problems, dissociation something.’
‘Yes, and he saved that kiddy in the other car. That’s what he gets mixed up with. He pulled a baby from a car and he didn’t have anything to do with a baby that drowned. Look, if you think my dad had something to do with all that, you can stick your drink at the pub and stay away. Oh, and Kyle knows about your Alan having his end away with his wife, so it’s best you don’t go in the Smuggler for a bit. It’s all too raw. That man was absolutely gutted when I saw him.’
Laura had told her that Kyle knew about the affair, so why was he so upset now? She wondered if Mary had finally confessed all to her husband. Natalie had read the messages where Alan was begging Mary to leave Kyle and Alan was going to leave her. She swallowed down her upset. If Kyle had seen those, it would have been a shock. An affair that went on that long was more than a fling. Alan and Mary had lived another life.
‘Stay away from my dad.’
‘Cody, I didn’t mean—’
It was too late. Cody had hung up on her. Today couldn’t get any worse. Cody wasn’t happy with her, Laura was upset that Natalie wouldn’t tell her who she’d seen that night and Kyle was upset. If only she could leave Looe and never come back.
She whacked the steering wheel over and over until her wrists ached. None of this was her doing. It was everyone else.
Why did it still feel as though she knew so little? She shook her head. She did know one thing for certain and maybe it was time for everything to come out. Then there was that one message, the one that sent Natalie’s head in a spin. Did Kyle know about Rachel?
As she checked her rear-view mirror before backing out, she saw Kate’s car trundling through the narrow roads. The woman stopped to let a group of tourists cross the road. Did Natalie want to help Kate or did she want to protect the people she knew and loved? She thought about that question for a few seconds and she had her answer. The whole town had probably known about Mary and Alan and no one had thought to tell her. Humiliation burned her face as she let the handbrake off.
TWENTY-THREE
KATE
The sun has been replaced by some miserable-looking clouds that threatened to turn angry at any moment. I pull into the half-packed Crumplehorn car park and hurry over to the machine. Several cars follow me in, all trying to find a decent space to park in. After grimacing at the price, I fish for all the coins I have in my purse and bag and push them into the slot, buying myself the afternoon to explore Polperro. A tinge of sadness comes over me as I think of the girls and how much I wish they were here. They would love to walk around a quaint historical seaside town with me. I miss Damien and the reassurance he gives me. I’m alone and it feels like it.
With thoughts of him running through my mind, I have to call him. I know I thought some space would help but I’ve pushed him too far. I can’t let him go on thinking that I met up with some man. I press his number and he answers. ‘Damien?’
‘What?’ I hear Millie playfully screaming in the background.
‘It’s not what you think.’
‘Really? I saw that message. Don’t treat me like I’m stupid.’
‘I would never do that.’
