‘Yes, well, Clive should’ve done that, don’t you think?’ Effie deflected.
‘Maybe, but that would be far less romantic,’ Maddie pointed out as she hauled herself out of the chair and started to peruse the shelves, even though the shop stocked exactly the same books as the one in Penzance.
Effie said nothing and instead concentrated very hard on making sure the postcards were perfectly lined up in their holders. She could feel Maddie’s eyes on her.
‘Sorry, Eff, you know me, I get carried away. I just want you to have some real-life romance, not just the stuff you get in books, but a man who can properly look after you.’
‘I know,’ Effie said. ‘But I need Jake as a friend right now. He’s not sure if he’s staying permanently. He broke up with his fiancée before coming here. Or they’re on a break or something.’ She shrugged as if to pretend she didn’t care, when in reality she’d done nothing other than turn Jake’s revelation over in her head since the Easter egg hunt. What on earth did being on a break actually mean though?
Maddie rolled her eyes. ‘In that case, keep it casual, have some fun. And don’t look so shocked!’
‘Maddie! You know I’m a relationship girl.’ The fact that Effie had been chronically single hung between them. ‘Anyway, she’s an influencer. So probably super glamourous.’
Pulling her phone from her pocket, Maddie asked, ‘What’s her name?’
‘Oh Maddie, no, I don’t want to know.’
‘Are you not curious?’
Effie dropped onto the space beside her. ‘Well, of course I am, a bit, but I don’t want to go snooping.’
‘Pah! It’s research. Checking out the competition.’
Effie stared at Maddie’s phone, which was open on Instagram. ‘Her name is Tara, that’s all I know.’
‘Hmm, there’ll be hundreds of them. What’s Jake’s surname?’
Effie paused, not sure that she really wanted to go snooping, but Maddie fixed her with a look that dissolved her. ‘Jake Penwith.’
Maddie typed ‘Jake Penwith’ into the Instagram search. Effie leaned over her shoulder as Maddie scrolled through the results until she could identify the profile photo. Effie clicked on it. The first few posts were shots of the Cornish coast, all dreamy sunsets and bright, bursting dawns. Effie held her breath as Maddie scrolled down.
‘Phwoar.’ Maddie fanned herself as she opened one of the posts showing a shirtless Jake emerging from some tropical waves like a god.
Effie’s face flushed. ‘Maddie,’ she hissed, ‘stop it, what if you accidently like something?’
‘So, I’ll unlike it.’ She shrugged. ‘Right, here we go.’ She opened up a photo that showed Jake with a stunning dark-haired girl almost wrapped around him. ‘Found her!’
Effie watched as Maddie clicked on Tara’s Travels handle. ‘Bingo!’ Maddie held the phone up to Effie. The pinned post was one of Tara and Jake. Tara, all flawless makeup and expertly styled long dark hair, was showing off a flashy engagement ring. Effie skimmed through a few other photos, until she’d had enough of eyeing up ‘the competition’.
‘I really didn’t need to see that,’ she grumbled as she turned away from Maddie. Tara’s profile made it seem that she and Jake were very much still together. Confused as to what was really going on between Jake and Tara, Effie stood up and distracted herself by straightening some already very straight books.
‘So, how are you getting on down here, really? It’s lovely but very quiet.’ Maddie broke the silence.
Effie, relieved by the change in conversation, replied, ‘I like it. I’ve been so busy I’ve not had much time to miss Mum and Dad. Plus, they’ve popped down a couple of times. Everyone has been so friendly. I’ve started swimming again. I feel content.’ When she glanced up she saw Maddie studying her.
‘You do look a bit different. More confident. No – don’t get me wrong, you are more confident than you think you are, but this place suits you. I think you were a bit lost in the old shop with Clive always on at us, or Zach coming in and shifting things around.’
Effie made a disgusted face at Zach’s name. ‘Is he still away?’
‘Yes, as far as I know.’ Maddie picked a map up off the shelf, leafed through it and replaced it. ‘I don’t think he’ll be bothering you for a while. So, Clive was telling us you’re full of ideas. What’s going on?’
‘I’m going to do a book club. Not just any book club, I’m going to allow people to come along and talk about the books they’ve enjoyed. Sue, she’s in charge of the village committee and a force to be reckoned with, has wanted to set one up for ages, so we’ll be doing it together. I’ll also be doing kids story time once a week.’
‘Story time? That’s brave! Fantastic ideas though.’
‘I think I’ve forgotten the shop isn’t actually mine,’ Effie admitted. ‘It’s nice to pretend it is though.’
‘Polcarrow suits you, Effie,’ Maddie said as her stomach let out a rumble. ‘Ooh that’s the cream tea alarm. Can we take a break?’
