Chapter5
‘Look at you two rocking around the clock tonight.’ Kara laughed at her dad Joe and his girlfriend Pearl, who were attempting to jive to the music that was blaring out from Frank’s speakers on the quayside.
‘I love all the old tunes that Big Frank plays.’ Pearl launched her wide and perfect smile. ‘Makes us feel young again.’
‘Plus,’ Joe Moon added, ‘it’s helping us not to freeze to death from the cold easterly that’s blowing in. It’ll be a rum old crossing tomorrow, I reckon.’
‘Are you working all through the winter then, Dad? I thought you were going to see if Daz could take some more crossings from you.’
Pearl dug her partner in the ribs. ‘Go on, Joe, tell Kara what we’re thinking of doing.’
‘That sounds interesting.’ Kara pulled her scarf tightly around her neck and stamped her feet on the concrete in an attempt to warm up.
‘Yes, well, I do want to take some time out,’ her dad told her. ‘Look, why don’t you and Billy come round for Sunday dinner and we can tell you more about it.’
‘This’ll warm you up.’ Billy appeared from the cafe carrying two polystyrene cups. ‘Hot blackcurrant, so the big man informs me.’ Seeing that Joe and Pearl had joined them, he gave one to Pearl and one to Kara, who took a sip and grimaced.
‘Wow. How much gin is in here?’
‘Get it down you, girl. You deserve a drink after all that furniture moving.’
‘Dad and Pearl have invited us to Sunday roast at Bee Cottage. Is that all right with you?’
Billy put his hand to his stomach. ‘Only if Pearl promises to make one of her world-famous morello cherry pies.’
The big lady pretended to be serious. ‘Mmm. I usually only take menu requests on a Tuesday, but I’ll see what I can do.’ She lifted Joe Moon’s gloved hand and kissed it, ‘Thanks for the drink, Billy. Come on, my Joey. Let’s go inside the cafe and warm through.’
Kara took a tentative sip of her hot cocktail. ‘Do you think the shop flat is good enough for Frank’s nephew? I mean, it needs decorating and—’
‘He’s a bloke,’ Billy interrupted. ‘He’s got a double bed and a big sofa, a fridge for beers and a power shower, all paid for by Big Frank. I mean, what more could he ask for? In fact, I might move in with him myself.’
Kara mock-swiped her beau. ‘Oi! But you’re right. I’ve done it at mate’s rates too. I thought we could use the money for a holiday this year?’
The handsome ferryman kissed his girl. ‘Let’s make that holidaysshall we? A couple of weekends away and maybe a week somewhere hot.’
‘I can’t wait.’ Kara squeezed his hand, then checked her phone and reported, ‘Star’s decided to stay and have fish and chips with her auntie. I was just saying it’s time she got out more, and this party would be a perfect opportunity.’
‘Maybe she will come down later. Don’t push her. She can be so fragile at times.’
‘You’re right.’ Kara inwardly swooned at hertwenty-six-year-old boyfriend’s emotional maturity. ‘It looks like half of Hartmouth are down here tonight.’
‘Probably for Frank’s punch and the hot dogs as the fireworks are usually touch and go.’
Kara laughed. ‘Yes, Frank doesn’t know the meaning of the words “health and safety”. I’m sure it’s because he gets them from off the back of a lorry.’
‘The fact that the hooch is free all night means nobody will be complaining. Just get ready to duck when the main man sets the rockets off.’
‘Is that my big Irish ears I can feel burning?’ The cafe-owner came up behind them and put a huge hand on both of their shoulders. ‘Word has it that my charming nephew is on his way. He’ll be getting a full-on Cornish welcome, so he will. He loves a good craic.’
‘The flat’s kind of set up now,’ Kara said. ‘I was going to say that I’ve left a key under the mat so he can dump his things, then come down to join us if he wants to. You said he was getting a taxi from Penrigan station, right?’
‘Yes. That’s so thoughtful. Thanks, Kar. I’ll drop him a quick text now.’
Star parked her little Smart car up behind her shop. She had enjoyed spending time with her aunt, as Florrie had been on particularly good form this evening. The thrills and spills of the fireworks display down at the bottom of the hill lit up the sky, reflecting darts of coloured light across the dark sea. A variety ofoohsandaahsfrom the crowd that had amassed down there were carried on the biting wind.Star wasn’t dressed for such a cold night and, despite Kara’s pleas, couldn’t be bothered to go in, get changed and head out again. Especially now that Skye had texted to say she was having a rare night in and had put a couple of logs in the log burner ready for her return.
As she opened her car door, the security light at the back of the flat next door switched on to reveal a figure in a black hooded Puffa jacket appearing out of Kara’s empty upstairs flat and running down the stairs. It was far too tall to be Billy and far too late for a courier. She froze, thinking it must be a burglar. From the safety of her now locked car, she slid down in the seat and bravely shouted out of a crack in the window into the darkness: ‘It’s too late, I’ve seen you. And I’m calling the police.’ Trying Kara, then Billy to no avail, she quickly dialled999. The lone figure was by now running at speed down Ferry Lane. ‘Yes, looked like he was heading down to the quay. Yes, yes. Six foot, I reckon. Black jacket, blue or black jeans. Stripy scarf. Nike trainers, I think.’
Her heart still racing, Star opened the door to her flat, hurried in and quickly double locked it behind her. ‘Skye, I’m home,’ she called, directing her voice down the corridor towards her daughter’s bedroom, and was surprised at no reply. On walking into the lounge, she saw why. There was her beautiful light-haired girl, earbuds in, phone to her side, sound asleep on the cream rug in front of the log burner. She was also happy to notice that she was wearing the silver swan-shaped earrings with tiny pieces of amber for eyes. Crafted with love and care for her daughter’s seventeenth, using the gift of creativity that had kept her sane during the sometimes lonely periods of bringing up an only child with little support.
