‘Thanks.’ Star’s voice was feeble. ‘Kar, when will I be good enough for somebody to want me, like properly want me?’
‘Mate! It’s not you, beautiful you. Don’t ever lose sight of that or who you are. These men, they don’t deserve you. It’s their loss – and what do you always say to me? “The universe will work its magic when the time is right.” And let’s not forget, it’s Christmas next week.’
‘Whoopee do,’ Star replied flatly.
‘And … Pearl and Dad have said that you, your mum, Skye and Auntie Flo are welcome at Bee Cottage, if you fancy it. Dad said he couldn’t think of anything out of the ordinary to do to propose, so decided that Christmas Day will be The Day. Pearl is going to expect it on her Christmas Eve birthday, but he wants to do it when there are lots of people around, including her sister, brother-in-law and the two kids so that we can all party on into Boxing Day.’
‘I thought you said Pearl hated a fuss?’
‘Ah, that’s what she says, but she’s one of those people who say it and don’t really mean it.’
Star laughed. ‘I love Pearl.’
‘So do I. She’s the mother I never had.’
‘See? We don’t have to share the same blood to love somebody. Thanks for the invitation: I’ll ask the Bligh-Sibley contingent later and see what they say. But for now, I’d better get on. I’ve just had an email in for a last-minute bespoke request for a necklace. The customer has a good budget, and it will keep me busy.’
‘You are creative and clever AND beautiful and if it counts, I love you very much.’
Star smiled. ‘That counts for everything.’
‘And I’m holding on to Auntie Flo’s words that she said the other day: “Everything will be all right in the end. If it’s not all right, it is not yet the end.” I love that!’
‘She got that from a film, what is it? Oh yeah,The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.’
‘Oh, and there was me thinking she’d got it from the Bible. She’s such a character, that auntie of mine. She comes out with all sorts.’
Kara laughed. ‘I hate to say this, Star, but I also think that John Lennon said something very much like it – argh, which makes me think of Jago – nightmare! Aw, I love Flo and she really is one of a kind. Right. I’d better get going.’ Kara reached for her handbag. ‘I’m having dinner at Dad’s so will sneak him the ring then. Exciting.’
Star opened her laptop to see the screensaver of the Blaise Pascal quote she had put up straight after meeting Jack. ‘Fuck you, Jack Murray!’ she snarled at it. If his heart had decided on a violent, jealous woman rather than a genuine and friendly person like herself, then that was his bad judgement. Searching for a photo of her and Skye at Penrigan beach last summer, she swiftly changed the screensaver.Then, going to all the unanswered sent emails to Jack, she firmly pressed delete. She cupped her bump through her dress. A new start was needed. No men required. She had managed before, she would manage again, and now that Estelle was hopefully on the road to sobriety, her mum could be a support to her now, rather than the other way around.
She opened up the email entitledVERYURGENT Christmas Orderand reread it:
Hello, I got your details from your website and I love the idea of you picking a relevant crystal with meaning to put in a bespoke necklace. Sorry it’s SO close to Christmas, but I need it for23December if at all possible. I realise this could be a big ask, however I am willing to pay whatever it takes for your time and creativity.
My partner is just the most beautiful woman I have ever met, so she deserves an equally special necklace. Her eyes are the colour of the ocean, her heart the colour of kindness. She doesn’t really believe in herself, so I guess the message I want to convey is that she should. I also want to be able to tell her that this crystal will offer her peace and calm, and will protect her forever from negative emotions. I don’t have much of a clue about design so I would like you to create something that you yourself would love to own, then I think we are in with a chance of her loving it too! Her birthday is in March and I see you make birthstone jewellery. I will leave all that malarky up to you.
We have both finished work for Christmas now, so email is the best way to contact me as I don’t want her to get one whiff of the surprise. I am happy to payupfront directly into your bank account. Anything up to £500is fine. If you could let me know as soon as possible whether you can do this, I would be most grateful.
Best regards and thank you, from
Sid
Star went to her book of birthstones and turned to March. ‘Perfect!’ she said aloud, already having had aquamarine, the birthstone for March, in mind before Sid had even mentioned when his beloved’s birthday was. Auntie Flo had, in fact, bought some earrings for her thirtieth birthday with that very stone in.
Reading down the meanings and energies of the stone, she thought it couldn’t be more perfect.Hold the aquamarine in your hand and as you enter a state of meditation you will visualise your worries and tension washing away into brilliant turquoise tides against the inner beach, she read. She then automatically moved down to the ‘Love and Relationships’ section, and it was there that she found what she needed for herself:
Aquamarine works to enhance clear, constructive communication because of its power to cleanse and energise the throat and heart chakras.
The energies of aquamarine will help you become more sensitive to the needs and feelings of your partner. It will help you tune into their emotions, and they don’t even have to say a word for you to know how they are feeling.
Bless Sid, there were still some good men in the world.She started to type.
Dear Sid
Thank you so much for your order. I would love to take it on. I can design a timeless but unusual silver and aquamarine (your partner’s birthstone) design for half of your budget. I will invoice you now and if you could send payment online today, I will begin work as soon as possible. Please let me know if you would like to see the designs before I go ahead and also where you would like the finished necklace sent. With postal deliveries being unreliable this close to Christmas, I am happy to deliver within a ten-mile radius of Hartmouth.
Star Bligh
The reply was immediate.
Dear Ms Bligh
Thank you so much. I trust you with the design. I will get the money transferred to you right away. And I will let you know in due course the best place for delivery.
Yours gratefully,
Sid
Star connected her phone to her Bose speaker and, putting the haunting melody of Enya’s ‘If ICould Be Where You Are’ on repeat, she checked to see if she had a suitably sized piece of aquamarine and began to sketch out some designs.
