Ross is straight in there. ‘My car’s here. If we leave straightaway I’ve got time to run you back down to town before surgery.’ He drops his arm around Walter’s shoulder. ‘I’ll get back to you about the other. We can do it together tomorrow or Saturday.’
‘Whatever suits you, lad.’ He leans against the wall, and pushes back his cap. ‘Today I’ve been given a gift I didn’t think I had. Believe me, when time’s running out, it makes a chap like me think very hard. That’s why I’d hate to see you throw away an opportunity.’
Joanie and Jen nodding like they understand makes me wish I did too.
Walter clears his throat. ‘So all I’ll say to you, son is – YOYO!’ He turns to the women. ‘That’s right, isn’t it?’
Jen smiles. ‘I think what you mean is YOLO, Walter – you only live once.’
‘Aye, that’s the one.’ Walter shuffles his weight from one foot to the other. ‘And if times are tough for you, Ross, all the more reason to have someone beside you to help you through. Take it from me: life is precious, don’t waste a second.’
I’m swallowing back a lump in my throat, hearing Walter being so profound.
Ross’s expression is grave. ‘I’ll certainly bear that in mind Walter.’
Joanie’s words come out in a rush. ‘Take itto heart, Ross, that’s a better place to put it.’
Walter nods. ‘Joanie’s right. She always is. She keeps me on the right track. That’s what we men need sometimes – a woman to sort us out.’
Ross says, ‘I remember you quoting Beyoncé at me not long ago. Something tells me you’re the one who should be putting rings on things, not me!’ He winks at Joanie. ‘Just saying.’
There’s an extra twinkle in Joanie’s eye as she smiles at me. ‘We single ladies in St Aidan can look out for ourselves, thanks all the same, Ross.’
Ross’s eyes open in surprise, then he grins at her. ‘I’m pleased to hear it. In that case, unless you’re planning to go down on one knee right now, Joanie, we’d better get a move on.’
Joanie tuts at Walter as we turn to leave. ‘And I thought you were bad.’
It’s only as we get to Ross’s car I realise that in the excitement there’s something else I’ve missed too. I pull open the back door to let Diesel jump in and look at Ross across the roof. ‘The care at Kittiwake Court that has made all the difference for Walter. Wehaveto get that money together, wehaveto save it so he can carry on living there.’
Ross pulls a face. ‘Even with grants, there’s still a long way to go. And time’s running out on that too.’
I’m gritting my teeth. ‘One last big push, then.’
I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but Ihaveto make this happen.
And that’s the last thing we say all the way back to the harbour.
39
On the deck at Plum’s gallery
Popping corks and cutting to the chase
Friday
‘Crusty Cobs’ strawberry tarts really are heaven in a box.’
This is Plum talking, a shower of pastry crumbs falling from her lips as she speaks.
And as I bite into the last of my own and the smooth vanilla custard merges with the fruit chunks on my tongue I have to agree. ‘As we’re celebrating me signing my cookery book contractIshouldhave baked them myself.’But this is one of those times when instant gratification trumps an hour or two in the kitchen. I grin at them across the table made from hewn oak sleepers, and glimpse the shimmering turquoise of the sea far below us. ‘We did chill our own champagne.’
It’s actually Friday afternoon before we get to celebrate. Somehow the slap-up fish and chip supper I’d promised Ross yesterday got swept aside due to a springer spaniel that got hit by a car. And as the girls were all enjoying a rare night in, I was happy to submerge myself in a hot, deep bath and leave the cork-popping until today. It might not have been a bad thing. From the heavy silence in the car on the way home from Walter’s, it wouldn’t exactly have been a lively evening with Ross. I’m not quite sure what went wrong up at Walter’s. One minute we were chatting openly and easily, then everything seized up, and Ross withdrew.
Left to me, I wouldn’t have made a big thing about the contract. When I had the offer first time round I didn’t do much more than ring Mum and Charlie. But as Plum needs to be at the gallery, it’s actually lovely to sit quietly in the sunshine on the deck perched way above the harbour, and have a catch-up with just the four of us.
Plum opens another bakery box and hands us all second helpings. ‘We never even started to explore tarts with your evenings, Cress.’
Nell’s giving me a hard stare over the rim of her flute. ‘Your Little Cornish Kitchen On Tour has the legs to run and run. You do know that, don’t you, Cress?’
