Not sure how she felt about Sue muscling her way in, Effie took the treat and popped it into her mouth. Fresh sharp raspberry burst alongside the creamy white chocolate. ‘Oh, that is divine.’
‘Look at it this way,’ Freya said as she leaned over the counter, ‘if Sue is in control, it’s one less thing for you to worry about.’
‘True—’ a smile of realisation spread across Effie’s face ‘—and I do get a bit nervous talking to crowds. I prefer the sitting and reading bit.’
‘Then Sue is your perfect co-host. She loves an audience,’ Freya said as she started to line up the teapots.
The three women spun around when the door opened and Alf shuffled in, Tristan behind him.
‘No Scruff?’ Freya asked.
‘Didn’t like the book, did he?’ Alf held up a copy with a chewed corner. ‘Left him at home. Effie, my dear, care to join me. I’d be really interested to hear your thoughts.’
‘Of course, but I’m meant to be running the discussion.’
‘Are you?’ He signalled over to where Sue was setting up. She’d even brought a microphone that she was in the process of testing. ‘I think you’ve been ousted. I wouldn’t want to fight her for control. Where’s your young man?’
Effie was about to say he was in Newquay and that she wasn’t expecting him, when the door opened and Jan walked in, Jake a few steps behind her. Effie’s heart skipped a beat as he ran his hand through his unruly blond hair and fixed her with a look that pinned her to the spot. A look full of relief at being reunited. A look that scrambled all her senses and made her relieved that Sue had decided to commandeer the first Polcarrow book club. Maybe next time Effie would manage to wrestle it back.
Chapter Thirty-One
‘So, you survived being Sue-d last night?’ Jake asked as he handed Effie her post-swim hot chocolate.
Laughing, Effie lifted the lid and gave the marshmallows a little stir. ‘Just about. Actually, it took the pressure off me,’ she said, as she perched on the harbour wall, her dryrobe wrapped around her. The evening had been a huge success, everyone had loved the book and had queued up for Effie’s recommendations before leaving. She’d been buzzing too much to sleep properly, so the morning swim had helped clear her fuzzy head.
After a few grey mornings, the sun was starting to peek out from behind the clouds, like a promise of the season to come. Effie took a sip. ‘Ah, it doesn’t get much better than this.’ She glanced at Jake. ‘Well, I guess you’ve seen some better sights.’
Jake paused for a moment. ‘Yeah, I guess I have. Ticked off a lot of the bucket list ones, but I was still sort of on a big, long holiday. Being able to live with this view every day, well, yeah, that is something special.’
‘So, Cornwall is working its charms on you?’ Effie asked.
Jake gave her a look, his expression suddenly solemn. ‘The truth?’
The smile slid from her face. Bracing herself for his answer, Effie nodded.
‘It’s not just Cornwall working its charms,’ he said carefully, before taking a sip of his coffee. ‘I’m having a nice time. Between helping you and trying to set up the photography business it’s great, but I’m not sure if this is the best place for me, to say yes to Cornwall feels like a huge commitment. I’m sorry. But it’s more of a seventy–thirty split.’
‘What percentage has what?’
‘Seventy to stay. Dad said if the photography business doesn’t take off, I can help him. That would definitely mean staying here in Polcarrow though.’
‘Well, you are a dab hand with a paintbrush,’ Effie said, trying to hide her disappointment whilst trying to also convince herself that seventy per cent sure was pretty good going, whilst ignoring the mixed signals he kept sending. ‘I was impressed by those skills, but actually your photography is even better. How’s it going?’
Jake put his coffee cup down and pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped the screen. ‘What do you think?’ he asked, passing his phone to Effie.
Effie put her drink down and took his phone. ‘Is this your website?’
‘Yeah, Jason helped me set it up. He did one for his surf school.’
Effie scrolled through the photos. ‘I think it looks fabulous,’ she said, passing the phone back to him. There was a nice mix of local seascapes, far-flung landscapes and portraits.
Relief washed over Jake as he scrolled up and down the screen. ‘You really think it’s OK? You’re not just saying that, are you?’
‘As if I would! It looks great, Jake, really. If I was looking to hire a photographer to shoot my special occasion, I’d feel confident in what you’re showing there. Thanks for including the shop!’ Effie tapped on one of the photos from the opening to enlarge it.
‘I was running out of non-landscape things to share,’ he confessed as he clicked on another image. It was one of the ones he’d taken of Maddie and Effie in Lola’s café.
‘I can’t believe you made what I thought was a snapshot look like a professionally posed photo,’ Effie said, leaning over to take it in, her mind boggling at the composition, the lighting. ‘You really have a talent.’
