Effie swallowed the compliment. ‘Thanks, I thought Jake was a good one too. I don’t know if they’re back together. They were, or are, on a break. He said it’s just a job that they’re both contracted to do. But . . . they were together for a long time and they’re spending two weeks together. She’s so glamourous and I’m . . .’ She signalled to her swimwear.
‘Stop right there, young lady! It’s got nothing to do with looks, it’s what’s inside that counts. And you are utterly gorgeous inside and out, never doubt that! If they split up, they would’ve split for a reason. Jake seems a sensible lad, I doubt he’ll go rushing back to her, even if she does try it on. Which I’m sure she will.’ Lola slapped a hand over her mouth.
The flapjack was suddenly dry in Effie’s mouth. ‘Thanks, just what I needed to hear. Anyway, he told me he’s not ready for a relationship.’
‘Oh, honey, I’m sorry, what a shitty thing to say! Men, sometimes, honestly, they don’t know a good thing when it hits them round the head.’ Lola pulled out the chair opposite Effie and sat down. ‘Now, you have to decide what you’re going to do. He’s away for two weeks, how are you going to spend the time? Pining? Wallowing? Or just getting on with keeping the bookshop going? Jake likes you because you get stuck in. Don’t let that feisty girl vanish because he’s gone off with some fake-tanned ex, OK?’
Effie stared at Lola, slightly terrified but also slightly empowered by her speech. ‘Okay, I promise won’t,’ was all she managed.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Trying to put whatever Jake was up to with Tara out of her mind, Effie refocused her attention on the reason she was in Polcarrow: The Bookshop.
Now that it had been open a few weeks Effie had settled into the rhythm of the shop. Saturdays were always the busiest and Mondays the slowest, which she used to make sure the shelves were stocked, that everything was clean and tidy and the window display updated. Changing it every week had given the customers something new to look forward to, with some even trying to guess what the next theme would be.
As the days stretched towards summer, Effie knew she’d have to ask Clive for some help, even just so that she could have a proper lunch break. She fired off an email to him, asking to meet to discuss the shop moving forward. His out-of-office bounced back. It seemed that everyone except Effie was jetting off to warmer climes.
As she stepped back from arranging the latest window display, which was fairy-tale themed, Effie reflected on how far she’d come. When Clive had given her the opportunity to open the new shop, she’d been daunted, worried she’d never be able to move away from home and do it all alone. Of course, in the end she hadn’t done it all alone, Polcarrow had swept her up in its warm, slightly nosey embrace, and carried her along. She knew she would’ve collapsed at the first hurdle if Jake hadn’t shown up wielding paintbrushes.
Jake felt as intrinsic to the shop as the yellow chairs and the cosy kids’ corner. He’d been by her side every step of the way, white paint, hot chocolates and afternoon teas. Jake had held her hand and intuitively known exactly when to step back to allow her to shine. Effie knew he’d given her a much-needed push to step into her own light. Every morning she looked forward to unlocking the shop, greeting customers, chatting books and seeing the locals swing by. Effie had made a whole life in Polcarrow without even realising it.
As full as her days were with the shop, Lola bustling in with a new cake to try or Alf stopping by so that Effie could give Scruff a fuss, she missed Jake. Even if it had only been a few days. She missed his sparkling blue eyes, the way he made her feel grounded, she missed the feel of his reassuring presence around her and mostly she missed the possibility of the future she’d become wrapped up in. Yet she also knew she couldn’t pine for a man who was still making his mind up about what he wanted his own future to look like. Effie’s future now felt firmly rooted in Polcarrow, and she knew she’d thrive even without Jake.
‘You have to keep hold of that future,’ Lola had told her one morning, ‘you have to trust him. The cards never lie. You’re meant to be!’
‘Thanks, Lola,’ Effie had sighed, appreciating Lola’s sunny positivity but unable to quite believe it for herself.
Effie lasted about four days before she cracked and searched for Jake on social media. The last photo on his page was still of the Cornish waves, which made Effie’s heart race with suspicion. It made her feel like he’d vanished. He was meant to be working, where were the tropical paradise photos?
Knowing she shouldn’t, but unable to resist, Effie typed in Tara’s handle and crumpled as she took in the photos. Tara in a stunning white bikini draped over a sun lounger, sipping sunset cocktails and snorkelling in crystal-clear water. However, it was the final photo Effie saw that twisted the knife; Jake emerging from the sea, Tara in his arms like he’d rescued her. The complete contrast to the morning he’d swum with Effie stung. The post had the most likes, the comments were insane. There was no mention in the caption of the break-up, in fact, they looked happily reconciled.
Just about remembering to lock the door behind her, Effie darted out of the shop and round into the café, where Lola and Freya were behind the counter, restocking the scones.
‘Effie, what’s up?’ Lola asked.
Effie held the phone out to them. ‘This.’
Lola and Freya peered at the photo. Lola pursed her lips as if trying to hold in whatever was going through her mind. Freya reached out and scrolled through the comments.
‘I know he said he wasn’t ready for a relationship, but he said they were on a break, that it was complicated.’ Effie hated the way her voice sounded, the way she felt she was clinging on to Jake.
Throwing a look at Freya, Lola came round from behind the counter and ushered Effie over to the window table. The next thing Effie knew, Freya was setting down a tray of tea and three slices of lemon sponge.
Effie couldn’t help but laugh as she wiped away a tear that was threatening to spill. ‘Tea and cake?’
‘Solves everything,’ Lola said, ‘or at least, takes the sting away.’
Effie took a bite of cake, the contrast of the sharp lemon and the sweetness of the cake dancing on her tongue. ‘I think you might be right.’ She took another bite. ‘What should I do? I’m not very experienced with dating. Jake’s the first person I’ve ever really liked, the first who I thought was serious about me too. Have I got it all wrong?’
Lola shook her head. ‘No, that boy was smitten, honestly, he was. He’ll be back. These photos, they aren’t all they seem,’ she said cryptically.
Effie glanced at her warily.
‘If it helps, Angelo did a runner just after we got together,’ Freya explained, ‘and look at us now, happily ever after. Or something like that.’ She picked up the teapot and began to pour out the tea.
‘Stop looking at his or her social media, there’s no need to torture yourself. You have to trust him,’ Lola said gently. ‘You also have to accept that they do have history, but that’s what it is, history. I feel it in my bones, Effie. You have to let him figure out what he wants. Do you want their past to ruin your future?’
Effie studied Lola. ‘But there is no Jake and me. It never really got off the ground.’
