‘True. It’s also nice to get out of “that London”,’ Conor added.
‘I bet. It is so quiet down here, but I just love the sea and the open space. Makes me feel alive,’ Star said dreamily. ‘I get an energy from nature like nothing else.’
‘I hear you. I grew up in a beautiful setting in Irelandtoo, but life happens. London happened.’ Conor sighed. ‘But I’m here now and at least I have bagged myself a job already.’
‘Billy took you on, then?’
‘Yes, full-time too, even though he’d already sussed my seasickness. I’ve renamed the tug theHappy Hurl.’
Star couldn’t help laughing. ‘That is so funny, but the good news is the crossing is short so at least you can recover each time the car float is filling up again.’
‘It hasn’t physically happened yet, thank goodness. Not a good advert for the business if it does though, is it, a so-called ferryman heaving over the side?’
‘Holding a sapphire may help with the motion sickness. Or chew some ginger even.’
‘Already on the ginger, thanks to you.’
‘Ah yes, Darren is the same. Good! At least some people listen to me.’
‘I kind of get it about the natural stuff working, but do you really believe all that guff about crystals and healing or do you just kid people to make them feel better about themselves?’
‘Said the real-life charlatan to the crystal jeweller.’ Star took a sip of coffee. ‘And yes, Conor, I do believe in it.’
Conor looked up and out to sea. ‘OH … MY … GOD! Quick!’ Taking Star’s cup, he rested it on a rock, then dragged her by the hand towards the cliff’s edge where he stopped and pointed to the ocean below.
‘Look, look! Would you believe it?’
Star made a little shrieking noise. ‘A dolphin! In November too. Wow.’ She squeezed Conor’s hand.
‘Well, I told you I was here for a porpoise.’
‘Don’t you set me off again.’ Star stared down at the creature who appeared to look up at them, turn, thendisappear into the waves. ‘A Harbour Porpoise,’ she said. ‘Goodbye, little fella.’
‘Yes, also known as Phocoena phocoena.’
Star couldn’t stop giggling. ‘You’re making things up now.’
Conor reached to his pocket for his phone, then read aloud: ‘“The Harbour Porpoise, also known as Phocoena phocoena, is one of seven species of porpoise. It is one of the smallest marine mammals. As its name implies, it stays close to coastal areas or river estuaries.”’
‘Let me see.’ Star took his phone off him. ‘OK, OK, so you’re right, but what I can’t believe is that we’ve seen one today.’ She shivered.
‘When I attempted to draw that dolphin in the card, I thought it was such a long shot that this would happen, but it was the sole reason I brought you up here in this cold. Just in case.’
‘Really? That is so sweet.’ Star felt the defences around her heart crumble a little.
Conor moved his feet from side to side to try and warm himself. ‘Yes. I spoke to Billy and he said it was doubtful, but you did say yourself that they’d been spotted in the winter sometimes. It must be a sign, mustn’t it, my little magical one.’ He paused. ‘Now come here, you.’ He pulled Star’s petite frame into him. ‘I didn’t realise quite how short you were.’ He put his flat hand on top of her hat.
‘Five foot four is average for a woman. You’re just a giant.’ Star closed her eyes, put her head against the softness of his jacket, and for the first time in a long time she actually felt properly ‘held’.
It was only when sporadic spots of rain started falling that Conor broke free. The sky had quickly turned a slate grey. Seabirds were now making their complaint at theturning of the weather and were circling above the cliffs, ready to find shelter.
‘Oh, feck. I thought we’d miss the rain.’
‘The very essence of Cornish weather is uncertainty,’ Star informed him.
‘Witty as well as beautiful, eh? In that case, I guess we’d better head back down before we get soaked.’ Star shivered again. ‘Come here.’ Conor pulled her to him again and instinctively pressed his mouth against her now wet nose. Suddenly oblivious to the deluge of rain, he placed his full lips on Star’s delicate mouth and kissed her. A kiss so slow and precise that at that moment Star Bligh realised that, whatever this sensation was, whatever his lips brought to her, come rain or shine, she wanted more of it.
When they eventually broke free, she said breathlessly, ‘Conor Brady, what on earth do you think you’re doing?’
