Welcome to Cornwall
Kernow A’Gas Dynergh
Welcome to Cornwall ... in English and in Cornish.
Cam took a selfie for social media, had some energy drinks and bananas, then got back on his bike. What he’d learned over the past fortnight was that what went down must go up. With gritted teeth, he looked up at the hairpin bend leading out of the valley.
A couple of hours later, threatening clouds loomed over the Jamaica Inn. As Cam rode past the old pub that was the setting for Daphne du Maurier’s story of doom and murder, he felt it was appropriate for his mood. However, he could see the Atlantic on the north Cornish coast, which meant that in about seventy-eight miles, he was finally going to meet Jenna.
Even if he kidded himself he’d done it for all sorts of altruistic reasons, he knew deep down that he’d done it for her – and he would finish it if it was the last thing he ever did.
Chapter Thirteen
Jenna
15 miles to go
Jenna!’
Kerry burst into Jenna’s office while she was on a video call with Carly DiLuca, who had been staying overnight at the same luxury spa hotel where Jenna and Nate were meant to be getting married. It was late afternoon and Carly was briefing Jenna on the final arrangements for Cam’s arrival.
‘Oh, God, sorry.’ Kerry waved at the screen. ‘Hello, Carly! I’m a huge fan.’
Carly smiled and waved. ‘Hi there.’
‘Erm. Can I do anything for you, Kerry?’ Jenna asked politely, but firmly.
‘No. But – you need to hear this. You both do. It’s – well, it’s Cam. His team just called. There’s been an accident. Cam’s been rushed to Penzance hospital.’
Jenna ran up the path and into her cottage. Her heart was pounding.
She’d left her handbag and phone at home that morning after a sleepless night worrying about Cam and Nathan. She and Nate were hardly speaking and he’d accused her of ‘making a fool of herself” by being obsessed with Cam’s challenge. He’d slept in his own flat for the past few nights, telling her she ‘should take a long hard look at herself’.
It had been horrible. Jenna was torn between guilt at upsetting Nate and anger at the way he was bullying her into making life-changing decisions she didn’t agree with, or want. She felt like she was teetering on a precipice and whichever way she jumped, it would end in her crashing down to earth in the most painful way.
Jenna’s heart had almost stopped beating when Kerry delivered the news about Cam. While Carly had gasped in shock, Jenna had had to clutch the arms of her chair for support. Five minutes later, she’d been on her way back to the cottage, to then head straight to the hospital. In the summer, with roads packed with tourists honking their horns behind farm vehicles, it was a half-hour drive at least.
Apparently, Cam had fallen off his bike and into a ditch, somewhere near the coastal village of Marazion, famous for the island castle of St Michael’s Mount.
Jenna grabbed her bag from the kitchen counter and came face to face with Nate. Her heart sank, and in that moment she knew that no woman should feel despair and disappointment when the man she was about to marry walked in the door.
‘Jenna.’
‘Nate.’
He frowned. ‘You’re home early – or were you just going out again?’
‘I was on my way out.’
‘Before you go, I’d like a word.’
Her pulse rate shot up. ‘Nate, I don’t have time for this.’
He blocked the doorway. ‘I can’t imagine you have somewhere better to be,’ he sneered. ‘We need to talk. What could be more important than trying to save our relationship?’
‘I – I – you’re right. Nothing should be more important and yet – and yet, Nate.’ She spoke gently, even though she was screaming to be gone. ‘This isn’t fair to you, to either of us. I’ve lain awake so many nights for weeks now, asking myself what’s gone wrong. What we could do to save it, and I’m sorry – I’m so very sorry—’ She crushed down a sob, because even though she knew this was right, she had loved Nate. Really loved him. She just couldn’t remember why anymore ...
‘Sorry?’ He folded his arms. ‘If you were sorry, you’d stay here and give us the time we deserve. Everything’s in place now: the wedding. We can’t just walk away from it. I won’t let you.’
