Jake regarded the rolling waves thoughtfully. ‘I’ve been all over the world but since I’ve come back to Polcarrow I’ve realised home is actually a lot more beautiful, with a lot more to discover than I originally thought. It’s making it hard to decide what to do next.’ Before Effie could ask him about this, he changed the subject back to her. ‘I’m sorry university wasn’t a good experience. I think there’s way too much pressure put on it being the best time of our lives. How do you feel about it now, looking back?’
‘Still not good.’ Effie turned to him. ‘I try really hard to put it to the back of my mind. Really hard. But I feel like that failure is tied up in who I am today, like it’s shaped me.’
‘Do you still feel like a failure?’
Effie cast her mind back to the moments in her flat before Jake knocked on the door, the desperation to cancel. She knew if she had done so then she would’ve felt like she’d let everyone down. Most importantly, she’d have let herself down.
‘Not right now I don’t,’ she admitted, giving him a shy smile.
‘Good.’ He patted her hand. ‘I think we better get going. We’re way past three o’clock.’
If going to a party was hard enough, the thought of walking into one late was even worse. Effie allowed Jake to lead her away from the seafront and up the narrow streets that closed around them like a secret, towards the church and its hall. Effie could hear music and there were balloons swaying in the breeze. She batted one away, giggling as it swung back towards her. When she caught Jake’s eye, she realised he was watching her as if he’d never seen anything quite like her before.
‘What? I like balloons,’ She explained with a shrug. ‘They’re so joyful and remind me of being a child.’
‘I’ll see if I can get you one to take home.’
‘Oi! Don’t laugh at me!’ Effie was giggling herself.
‘I’m not. It’s adorable,’ Jake managed as he reached for the door handle, pushing it open slightly. ‘Shall we?’
Effie froze. This was it. Her eyes skittered over the door before resting on him. Jake waited patiently for her cue. Effie took a deep breath, plastered a fake-it-until-you-make-it smile across her face and nodded.
‘You first.’ Her stomach clenched slightly as she watched Jake confidently step into the hall. Taking a deep breath, eyes half closed, she followed him in.
Chapter Fourteen
Effie had expected everyone to turn and stare, especially as they were thirty minutes late, however, to her relief, everyone just carried on with what they were doing. Children kicked balloons like they were footballs, adults stood in huddles, glasses of fizz in hand, chatting. Effie took in the beautifully decorated hall. Bunting hung from the rafters, photographs of Alf at various stages of his life were dotted around the hall and a sea shanty band was putting their own twist on hits from the past sixty years. A group of women was enjoying themselves dancing and even Effie found herself tapping her feet to the beat.
‘See, not so bad,’ Jake whispered as they made their way over to where generous platters of food had been laid out.
Effie followed him, taking the paper plate he handed her. ‘No, not so bad.’ She turned to him. ‘Thank you, Jake. If you hadn’t shown up, I would probably still be sitting in my flat.’
Jake piled some sandwiches onto his plate. ‘It’s nothing, Effie, honestly, and if you really hadn’t wanted to come, I wouldn’t have forced you.’
‘Really?’
‘Of course not. Not everyone enjoys socialising. Especially if it means meeting a whole village. I know what this village is like.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re definitely stronger than you give yourself credit for.’
Effie watched as Jake made his way along the buffet table, loading his plate with sandwiches, sausage rolls and crudités. Effie selected a couple of egg and cress sandwiches and followed him. ‘Usually, people see me not wanting to go somewhere as a negotiation point.’
‘That’s not right. If you don’t fancy something, then a no should be a no,’ Jake said with a shrug, as if it were a no-brainer.
Effie hadn’t thought it was possible, but she swooned a little more. What on earth was happening to her? This was Jake, the annoying man who’d taken some dodgy photos of her swimming. A man who called her a mermaid, then a seal. It must’ve been her desperation to get the shop painted that had addled her brain. There was no other explanation for it. Her inconvenient crush was down to him being attractive, kind, helpful. Oh gosh, Maddie had been right, shewasdeveloping a crush.
Grabbing some potato wedges, Effie tried to put having a crush on Jake out of her mind, but her eyes homed in on him, as if she was attuned to his every movement. He was waiting for her at the end of the savoury section. She grabbed a mini quiche and followed him over to where Alf was sitting on a large chair that looked like a throne, Scruff at his feet.
‘You came!’ Alf beamed at them.
Jake broke a potato wedge in half and snuck it to Scruff.
‘Oi, he’s been spoiled today, thinks it’shisbirthday.’
‘Happy birthday.’ Jake seized Alf’s hand and gave it a shake, before leaning in for a quick hug.
Not quite as at ease with physical affection towards people she didn’t know well, Effie waved awkwardly. ‘Happy birthday, I hope you’re enjoying your day.’
‘I am! I can’t wait to see what Lola has whipped up for the cake. I asked for three tiers. Lemon, chocolate and Victoria sponge. I’m going to have a slice of each.’
