‘Yes, potentially. Sorry, I meant to message you before and time ran away with me.’
‘That’s OK. It’s lovely to meet you. Star mentioned you may be needing a place for a while, not just a short stay.’
‘Well, if you consider three months a while, then yes. I’m staying up at Kevrinek Cottage at the moment. Just as a holiday let.’
‘Lucky you. You must be special to Isaac Benson then. Quite the recluse, he is.’
‘I’m hearing that a lot.’ Sabrina smiled.
‘It’s not easy to get a unit when it comes up and from what I’ve heard about the new market inspector, he’s not the most accommodating of characters, so you must have done something to impress him.’
‘Look at me feeling all special.’ Sabrina suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable in knowing why she had clearly been put at the top of the list.
‘Look at me, assuming. You may well be local to us for all I know; I just haven’t seen you down here.’
‘I’m from London.’
‘What brings you all the way to Hartmouth, then, to run a market stall on your own. That’s brave.’
‘It’s a long story.’ Sabrina’s emotions began to get the better of her acting skills. She gulped in anticipation of the next interrogatory question.
The intuitive Kara Dillon noticed and replied kindly. ‘Well, good for you, I say, girl. After a slow start, I became a much freer spirit and I’m open to anyone wanting to try a new venture, but be ready for a bit of backlash, I’m afraid. It’s like second-homers down here. It does get annoying when local homes are purchased and never lived in. It’s priced a lot of us out of the market.’
‘I hear you on that. Can’t be easy.’ Sabrina began to doubt if she had made the right decision. ‘So, about your place?’
‘Yes, I usually Airbnb it on a night-by-night basis, so for someone to take it for the full three months is music to my ears, especially with this precious cargo on board.’ She put her hand to her huge stomach. ‘I’m cooking twins and have another set not long out of the oven at home!’
‘Oh, my goodness.’ Sabrina’s eyes widened. ‘You must be exhausted.’
‘Oh, yes. I’m only here to be social for a little bit, then Billy– my husband– will do the second shift. It’s how we roll these days.’
‘Where exactly is the place you rent out?’
‘It’s literally just along the quay down there. Look.’ Sabrina followed Kara to the railings overlooking the estuary. The pregnant woman pointed over to the water facing apartment block to the left of Frank’s. ‘It’s nothing special inside, but it’s special to me. Two bedrooms, one bathroom and a view that’s worth a million of anything.’
‘Well, the location is perfect, that’s for sure.’
‘When were you thinking of moving out of where you are? I’ll need to work out a rate as it’ll be cheaper for you than doing it per night. And I want to get it occupied as soon as possible.’
‘Sure, I understand. To be honest, I hadn’t thought further about it until this minute. And I really do appreciate that on the cost.’
Billy Dillon appeared and kissed his wife on the cheek. ‘Kerry Anne, shall we dance?’
She kissed him back. ‘What are you doing here, husband? I thought we were tag teaming?’
‘Mum wasn’t up for socialising, bless her, and told me she was happy to babysit as we need to enjoy ourselves before the next Dillon duo arrives. Have you seen Dad?’
‘You probably just passed him, he was going back to join your mum– he won’t be expecting her to be with the kids.’ Kara put both her hands to her back and stretched.
‘Oh, hello.’ Billy gave Sabrina a weird look. ‘Don’t I know you from somewhere?’Oh no, here we go, Sabrina thought. ‘Erm…’ Out of anyone she didn’t expect a twenty-something ferryman to recognise her. He was quite clearly not the soap’s usual demographic. ‘Got it!’ He grinned. ‘You were stuffing down one of Frank’s finest full English breakfasts here the other day.’
A rush of relief. ‘That’s right. It’s your dad who has less filter than the bionic coffee shots you get at Monique’s.’
‘You’re learning fast, lady. Right, quick.’ He grabbed Kara’s hand. ‘I know you love this tune.’ And with a grin and a shout of ‘happy wifey, happy lifey’, Billy whisked– or rather waddled– Kara off to the dancefloor.
‘Bugger! Sabrina muttered after being told by the taxi company that of course they were fully booked due to a party in Hartmouth, and they weren’t aware anyone else was travelling out to Penrigan or she could have maybe hopped in with them. Why did she never learn! The party itself had been fantastic. It had given her the chance to see the kind of people she would be working alongside in the market. Real people, who said it how it was. She was under no illusion that running a market stall was going to be easy but she knew she was more than capable. Having worked on and off in her friend’s interior design shop between acting jobs, she had been accustomed to both stock managing and ordering and certainly wouldn’t be shy in dealing with customers. And with her dad’s added help on the business side, she would be sorted. Also, after tonight, she knew she’d be able to ask advice from the other stall holders, who seemed a lovely bunch, and the thought gave her heart and courage. And it wasn’t as if she needed the money– not right now, anyway; it was more the challenge and the distraction that she craved.
The party had been in full swing, the booze had flowed free, and the music was banging but without her alter ego, she had found it hard to go up to people and chat and although it was lovely to take in the view of the estuary by night, there was only so much small talk she could bear. It had made her wonder, under the grease paint and show tunes exactly who Sabrina Swift was. It also worried her that if people meeting Sabrina Swift, daughter, sister and friend, rather than Sabrina Swift, soap actress extraordinaire, would even like her. She batted the thought off, as her therapist of old had told her to do in moments such as these. Belle liked her, Isaac liked her. It was OK. She now knew both Frank and Monique. Plus, she had been introduced properly to the legendary Charlie Dillon, who had stayed for just one drink after telling her that he couldn’t be bothered with all the niceties and ‘would rather be having a couple of cans of Strongbow at home with the missus’. Billy and Kara seemed lovely, too. But despite all this, she had executed a stealthy French exit as she didn’t think anyone would care if she was there or not. Just as she was leaving, she had passed Star, who was just arriving arm in arm with a short, bearded man, whom Sabrina assumed must be her husband.
