Chapter62
Kara popped her head into Star’s as she made her way to Passion Flowers. ‘Busy, isn’t it?’ she said.
‘Morning. I know, but we mustn’t complain.’ Star stretched her aching back.
‘I won’t, and you know what? Your Skye is so efficient, bless her. She has got me totally organised. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her now. But how are you managing?’
‘I sent all my overseas orders out a while back, just got to deliver a local one at lunchtime to Penrigan. This guy is so funny. He’s called Sid, and I’m struggling to get a sense of his age. Anyway, he’s so precise about his instructions. His partner is at home in their house, so he asked if I minded meeting him at Penrigan Pier as he’s pretending to go for a walk on the beach. She has no idea of the gift he has in store for her.’
‘Hmm, that’s a bit odd,’ Kara said thoughtfully. ‘Why can’t he come here?’
‘He doesn’t drive and it’s fine, I said I’d take it to him. It’s such a lovely piece, though I say it myself, and I can’t wait to see his face. Tegan is working for me today and tomorrow, so she can cover for me later. He said he’ll be there for midday prompt.’
‘Ah, OK. Fair enough. Christmas Eve tomorrow, I can’t believe it. It’s lovely to have Billy by my side this year.’
‘I bet.’ Star’s expression was wistful.
‘Sorry, there I go with my big size nines again.’
‘It’s fine. I’m used to being man-less at Christmas.’ Star brushed it off. ‘And there is a party at Mum’s static home park tonight, where we will be going in and out of everyone’s homes. They light a massive bonfire in a pit, with someone guarding it to keep everyone safe. It will be lovely. Mum has made a massive effort cooking and offering free readings. And then of course we are all coming to your dad’s on Christmas Day, which will be fun.’
‘My dad’s exactly,’ Kara stated. ‘When the madness of Christmas is over, I’d like to talk so much more about all that business with you.’
‘We can start at the graveyard tomorrow. I thought we could go early, before the madness starts down here.’
An emotional Kara nodded. ‘I made a little Christmas wreath for him. No one need know who left it there.’
‘Aw, that’s nice.’ Star put her arm on her friend’s shoulder. ‘And we will be talking about it forever now or as long as we need to, don’t worry. OK, I’d better get on. So much to do before the customers start arriving,’ Star said.
‘Me too. I’ve got hotel flowers to deliver all over the place and I think we need to go and be nosy at Tasty Pasties tonight, don’t you?’
‘Hell, yeah!’ Star grinned mischievously.
‘Billy has been a bit weird about it. I’m sure he knows something, but won’t say.’
‘Well, we’ll all know later. I walked up there earlier and amongst the bashing about inside, behind the whited-out windows, there were some amazing cooking smells wafting out into the air.’
‘Yum! Right, I’m off. See you later.’ The wind chime signified Kara’s departure.
Star walked through to her workroom and switched on the local radio.‘It’s going to be a crisp, freezing cold but sunny day across the south-west coast today,’said the weatherman’s voice.‘Not looking like a white Christmas this year, I’m afraid, but hallelujah for no rain until the New Year, people.’
‘Yes, hallelujah,’ Star repeated sarcastically. As if ‘no rain’ was all she had to worry about. The enormity of bringing up a baby on her own had hit her again last night. She had lain awake for hours going over the reality of it all. Yes, she had been blasé about everything being all right, but she had a business to run and a crying, feeding, needy new baby to look after, a task that she knew would be all-consuming. Estelle could do her bit, but her mother was just finding her feet again, plus there was the big issue of who she could trust to run STAR Crystals & Jewellery for her. She could buy in some ready-made jewellery, but didn’t want the quality of her pieces to suffer. Tegan had said she’d love to help out in the holidays and could also cover market-day Saturdays, but Star knew she needed to get this all organised and in place before the baby came. There was so much to sort out.
Checking the calendar for the hundredth time this month, she felt slightly calmer. There was all of January and February to go, and she could get a lot done in two months. She was a grafter, always had been. Hard work didn’t scare her.
Convincing herself again that it would be OK, she lifted the beautiful aquamarine necklace she had made out of its pretty golden gift box and gave it a polish. Holding it up to herself, she admired the way it looked against her skin in the mirror.I would like you tocreate something that you yourself would love to own,Sid had requested. What a sweet and clever thing to say. It had made her put even more love and passion in than usual. The design was simple. The heart-shapedbluish-green stone sparkled as it hit the light. Star had encased the aquamarine within an elegant four-claw silver setting, which she had made into little hearts that sat around the stone, the pendant suspended from a delicate silver chain, which also glittered in certain lights. Aquamarine worked its powerful magic best when set right against the skin, so she had laid it flat just above her increasing cleavage to steal the effect before wrapping it.
The morning flew by in a flurry of customers collecting orders and other customers searching desperately for last-minute gifts on the racks of earrings, rings and necklaces on display around the cluttered shop. Tegan worked hard, wrapping gifts in the beautiful Christmas tissue paper that Star had ordered specially, and as an extra incentive, the pretty hand-painted star and moon gift boxes were offered free for any spend of ten pounds or over.
‘So, you’re all OK with everything whilst I pop this order over to Penrigan?’ Leaving the girl on her own for an hour at this busy time felt a bit unfair.
Tegan nodded enthusiastically. ‘Yes, I’m sure. I’ve sussed the till now properly and got the price list you gave me, so I’m all good.’
‘Call me anytime. I won’t be long.’
Star layered herself up with scarf, hat and gloves and made her way outside to her car, where the bright midday sunshine had defrosted the windscreen. As she drove to Penrigan along the winding coastal road, she began to think of all that had happened throughout this year. One dramahad followed another. Her emotions had been spun into a vortex like the famous Bermuda Triangle: down Hartmouth Head, along Penrigan Pier and fired right back out again.
As she sped round a corner and caught sight of the long sandy beach and the familiar iconic structure of the pier, she relaxed. The world was a beautiful place full of exquisite nature and lessons. She now needed to stop wasting her emotions on could-have-beens like Jack Murray. Conor wasn’t the love of her life but was now a great friend, which was always a bonus. She and Jack had been – in his words – ‘the best one-day stand’ he’d ever had. That still hurt, but she must forget him now. Her priority had to be the little being growing inside her, a brother or sister for her beloved daughter Skye. Whether it had been love between her and Jack Murray she would never know and would just have to deal with it in the best way she could. He was going to be marrying his jealous little actress next month anyway.
