‘It’s old stock. “White XL” isn’t a judgement, it’s the only size left.’ He squeezes my shoulder and glances at a very sleek wristwatch. ‘I’m Kit, by the way – that was a perfect catch you made there. If we’re all done here, someone is waiting for me in Penzance, and I have a long drive home after that.’
I’m hugging the T-shirt to me, aware that he’s backing away. ‘We couldn’t have done it without you, Kit.’ I’m also aware how much I’d like to stop him from leaving, which is completely ridiculous. I’m pointing at his legs. ‘Your trousers are covered in mud. Charlie will have some to lend you if you have time to drive to the village?’
He raises an eyebrow. ‘I have three more clean pairs in the car, I can soon change.’ His eyes widen as he reads my face. ‘Being impeccable is part of my job description.’
I block the image of him stripping off on the verge – or hotter still, struggling into a new pair in the passenger seat – and force my mind onto the task in hand. ‘If you could give me your deets, I know Clemmie will want to thank you herself. If you’re going to help deliver anyone’s baby a cake maker is a good choice. You’re pretty much guaranteed a lifetime supply of Little Cornish Kitchen chocolate brownies. Iwill notbe holding back on mine!’
I’m hearing myself going full-on with the confectionery bribery.Who is operating my mouth here?
I should simply ask what his aftershave is, so I know to avoid it in future, and shut the eff up.
There’s a beat of silence. ‘Is homefar away?’ I can’t believe I was the one who said that too, but now I have I may as well sort out if I know him. ‘You’renot from round here?’
He hesitates and turns, with a perplexed expression. ‘Home is a little fluid right now, but I’m definitely not local. Not yet, anyway.’ He’s almost back at his car. A few minutes more and he’ll reverse away and be gone.
‘And your number?’
‘I’m really not expecting thanks.’ As he opens the car door, I have a sense he may be testing me. Or teasing me. Then he gives in. ‘Nice to meet you both, anyway. If you want to get in touch, it’s all on the merchandise.’ His face breaks into a smile for a moment as he waves. Then his engine turns over, and he’s gone.
I push my arms into the T-shirt sleeves, look down to straighten it, and when I read the words printed on the fabric my heart turns to stone.
tOgether fOrever
www.KitAshton@Love2LoveAtelier
Covent Garden
Of course! He’s from my London past, not here!
If anyone can understand someone looking totally different a few years on it should be me. What’s unexpected is that losing the man bun and being so much more lean and wasted has made him so sexy. What’s more, his ‘together’ promises are total bollocks! He’s the metallurgist who made the wedding rings Dillon and I never got to use, and we had the very same T-shirts in the right sizes. ‘Forever apart’ would have been a better epitaph for us.
I whip my arms out of the sleeves and spin the T-shirt round so I don’t have to see the words, but when I look down this time there’s that calligraphy that was everywhere fouryears ago.
ALL YOU NEED IS
LoVE
Looking at that I actually get a bit of sick in my mouth.
As I stare out and watch the parallel lines of surf etched across the blue of the bay, I thank my lucky stars that Mr Forever-Together is already a dot on the horizon. I’d just hate anyone here to know that Dillon and I ever went down that road.
I sniff and stamp my foot, wanting to shout at the wind because I’ve had it up to here with couples and love. ‘Some of us are committed to futures alone – there’s nothing wrong with that!’ I mutter to myself.
As I hurry back to Clemmie, and the start of my brand-new solo life in St Aidan, I’m hoping this will be as exciting as it gets.
But obviously, having bought a beach hut without seeing it first, there is plenty of potential for more surprises.
2
The beach hut, St Aidan, Cornwall
Orange boxes and a view from space
Tuesday
‘So where did the new hotel next door spring from?’
It’s almost two weeks later by the time Clemmie, Nell and the gang come to call on Shadow and me, and once they’ve had their tour of the hut, and are clustered onto the veranda, that’s my most pressing question.
