‘That sounds like a very good plan,’ Jake agreed.
‘You two should circulate, introduce yourselves to people, especially you, young lady. Everyone is really excited about the bookshop.’
Effie gave him a nervous smile. ‘That’s great, hopefully we’ll get lots of business.’ She knew she had to network, but glancing around the busy church hall, she knew she’d need a glass of fizz to take the edge off her nerves.
‘We better find somewhere to perch and eat this.’ Jake gestured to his plate. ‘See you later, Alf.’
Alf gave them both a salute and Effie followed Jake over to a couple of spare chairs. Jake waved at a woman with wild curly hair who was holding a chubby baby on her hip.
‘My mum,’ he explained. ‘And that’s Cara, my brother’s daughter. They’ve popped down from Newquay for the weekend. I stayed with them for a few weeks before coming back here. It was like I was building up to coming home.’
‘Where did you live before?’
‘Bristol. It’s where I went to uni. Where I met Tara, my ex, and where we planned to get married and grow old together,’ Jake explained with a hollow laugh.
‘Oh. What happened?’ Effie asked, alarm bells ringing but noticing he still referred to her as an ex. Maybe the phone call meant nothing. Anyway, it wasn’t like there was anything going on between her and Jake.
Jake sighed. ‘I don’t want to spoil today by getting into all that. It’s in the past. Or at least I’m trying to leave it there. I reckon everyone in here is dying to ask as well.’
Her mind swirling with questions she couldn’t ask, they finished their food in silence, Effie taking in the people of Polcarrow, her new neighbours. Effie knew she had to bite the bullet and get on with introducing herself to everyone.
‘Shall we get a drink and circulate?’ Effie asked.
‘Are you sure?’
Effie nodded. ‘Yes, I feel a better now I’m here.’
‘Sure, why not, sounds like a good idea.’ Jake took her empty plate, and they made their way over to the drinks table. ‘What do you fancy?’
Effie looked over the selection. Fizz was celebratory but always gave her a headache. There were soft drinks, beer and bottles of local cider. ‘Cider, please,’ she said to the man behind the table.
‘You must be the bookshop lady,’ he said as he passed her a bottle. ‘I’m Steve, pub landlord, not seen you in yet.’
‘Erm, sorry, no, I’ve been busy,’ Effie flustered as she took her drink from him. She wasn’t comfortable enough to go into pubs alone.
‘Any time, love, any time. How you doing? Not seen you for a while.’ Steve turned to Jake.
‘One of those beers, please. I’ve been away, just got back earlier this week. Been helping Effie with her shop.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Steve raised his eyebrows. ‘Well, off you go, enjoy yourselves, there’s plenty of food. I think Lola’s catered for the whole of Cornwall.’
Jake steered Effie away. ‘See that wasn’t so bad, was it? And we should definitely go to the pub. It’s got gorgeous views of the bay, especially at sunset. What do you think?’
‘Yes, that’d be nice,’ Effie said shyly, whilst trying to shush her brain for leaping to conclusions about it being anything other than a friendly drink. She always did this, fell for men who showed her the tiniest bits of kindness. She’d got it wrong before and was determined not to make the same error of judgement somewhere everyone knew everyone else’s business. Lola spotted them and waved them over.
‘How wonderful to see you, my lovelies,’ Lola cooed as she gave them both a kiss on the cheek. ‘I know it can be a lot to face the whole village, but this is the perfect opportunity for you to meet everyone in one go,’ she said to Effie before tugging on the arm of a handsome blond man, pulling him over to her side. ‘This is Tristan, local vicar and my fiancé.’ Lola shimmered with happiness as she glanced up at her beloved, who was beaming down at her as if she was the most precious thing on earth. ‘We’re getting married in May. So much to do!’
‘But you have it all in hand, don’t you, my dear,’ Tristan said before turning to Effie and Jake. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ Tristan shook Effie’s hand. ‘Lola has been telling me a lot about you.’
‘Has she?’ Effie wondered what it was that Lola had been saying.
‘You’re our swimmer, aren’t you? I’m not brave enough to take a dip this early in the year,’ Tristan winced. ‘So full respect to you.’
Effie laughed self-consciously. ‘Does everyone know?’
‘Nothing stays private in Polcarrow for long,’ Lola warned.
Jake let out a knowing laugh at this observation. ‘Too true.’
