‘Good morning?’ he asked.
‘Actually yes. We probably won’t be opening on Sundays normally but since it’s Easter and people are on holiday I thought I’d take advantage of it.’
‘You are a shrewder businesswoman than Clive gives you credit for.’
Effie beamed at his praise. ‘How was your morning?’
Jake groaned. ‘I spent it being bossed around by Mum, sorting out stuff for the Easter egg hunt. Doing everything other than hiding the eggs. When I was a kid it was the other way round. Even though I wasn’t able to take part my brother and I were sent out at the crack of dawn to hide the eggs all over the village.’
‘That is so mean!’
‘Tell me about it! Imagine being seven and watching all your friends taking part, winning chocolate eggs, and you’re banned!’
‘And now?’
‘I think we’re probably meant to let the kids win. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try my hardest to find the most eggs.’ He grinned at Effie.
‘Ah, so you’re the competitive type?’
‘I had an older brother, so everything was a competition. How many roast potatoes we could eat, who could kick the ball the furthest. What about you?’
‘Roast potatoes?’ Effie asked.
‘No, siblings? But it you want to tell me about the roast potatoes . . .’
Effie laughed. ‘I’ve never counted. What was your best?’
‘Fourteen. I had indigestion for days afterwards though. Jason has never let me live it down.’
‘That is a lot of potatoes,’ she concluded before saying with a sigh, ‘I’m an only child, so no siblings to fight with or compete with or even play with. I never felt lonely though.’
‘Did you ever wish you had siblings?’
‘When I was really little, but as I got older the wish sort of vanished. I was happy by myself with my books. I didn’t think I was missing out on anything,’ she said contemplatively.
‘And now?’
Effie shrugged. ‘I still don’t think I’m missing out. I’m used to being by myself, filling my time with books or knitting, I enjoy my own company, but it doesn’t mean I want to be alone forever.’ She slid a glance up at him.
‘No boyfriends back in Penzance then?’
‘No,’ Effie said trying to smooth over the sadness in her voice, ‘I’m chronically single. Maybe I should just get a cat.’
‘Oh Eff, I think you’re too young to be a cat lady.’
She caught his gaze and tried to figure out the meaning swirling in his eyes as he looked back at her. ‘Cats are cute though!’
‘Hmm . . . most of the ones I’ve met are complete bastards. My nan’s cat absolutely hated me. Come on, I can hear Mum ringing the bell. These Easter eggs aren’t going to find themselves.’ With a gentle touch to her arm, he set off.
Effie watched him move away from her before picking up her pace. What she hadn’t shared with Jake was that she also had a secret competitive streak.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The people of Polcarrow took their Easter egg hunt more seriously than Effie had imagined possible. When they arrived at the church hall, tables were set up with registration forms on one side and on another someone was patiently waiting for the returners to come in and count their eggs.
‘They’re not real eggs,’ Jake explained as they lined up to register for the event, ‘just little wooden ones that have been kicking around for donkey’s years. The person who collects the most gets the prize. Mum’s had Dad up since the crack of dawn helping to hide them.’
They shuffled to the front of the queue. ‘So, you know all the best hiding places?’ Effie asked.
