Jess carries on. ‘I take it you’re staying locally?’
I stop marvelling that he’s lost for words, and strain to hear his answer.
He finds his voice. ‘Only for one night. I was dropping off a boat for an earth-friendly refit.’
Jess stares at him. ‘Meaning?’
‘The yard uses recycled teak and avoids toxic glues.’
Jess snorts. ‘I’m querying your personal availability and whereabouts, Lando, not marine specifications.’
He bites back a smile. ‘I’ll be in the county for the duration of the job.’
Jess’s beam widens. ‘In which case, give Maeve your mobile number and she can let you know when she needs you.’
Lando frowns. ‘So Maeve works here too?’
Jess nods. ‘She’s our newly appointed fun consultant.’
Lando grins. ‘Great title. I can’t think of a better woman for the job.’
Tia’s frowning. ‘We only ever film dresses, so where exactly does Lando fit in?’
Jess tilts her head on one side. ‘If we’re changing up by moving into town, why not throw a groom into the mix too?’
Tia considers. ‘Great. Except it might get confusing, if I ever get to add my real-bride pictures with Thom.’
Jess tilts her head. ‘Has Thom accepted Poppy’s offer to use the farmhouse at Daisy Bank Farm for your wedding?’ This is breaking news, and sounds so good they need to seize it.
Tia pulls a face. ‘I have no idea why Thom hasn’t bitten Poppy’s hand off, but he’s still considering.’
Jess brushes an invisible mark off her pinstripe trousers. ‘Sorry, Tia, it wasn’t you and Thom I was thinking of. I meant Lando and Maeve! Even across the room they’re screaming “match made in heaven”.’ She must take in that every bit of blood has drained from my face, because she carries on. ‘Your colouring and height are complementary, Maeve; you’re both photogenic. Try it once, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll move on.’
Tia pulls a ‘what the eff?’ face at me, then beams round the room. ‘In which case, all we need now is to swap our details.’
Lando blinks, and when she hands him her phone, I give a silent phew it’s not mine, then allow myself a smile. Lando’s usually the one giving the orders. The novelty of seeing him as bemused as I am is my one comfort in this whole unfolding shitstorm of a morning.
Tia hands the phone to me. ‘Here you go, Maevey Waves.’ She takes in my confusion. ‘I had it to show Jess the footage.’
‘Of course you did.’ I steady my breath. It’s eleven small digits. There’s no reason for me to feel like a noose is tightening round my neck. I force myself to look straight at Lando and smile. ‘You’ll be hearing from us very soon.’
There’s a sardonic tone to his laugh as he strides towards the door. ‘Don’t wait ten years this time.’
Then he gives a wave, and the ting of the bell tells us he’s back out on the street.
I look at Jess and Tia. ‘I’d better run too.’
Tia squeezes me into a hug then opens the door for me. ‘We’ll start you in the shop next week. In the meantime, you’ve got plenty to play with on your phone.’
Out in the mews the seagulls are wheeling overhead, and the salty tang of the air wakes me up all over again. As I jump down the back alley steps to the safety of Climbing Rose Cottage, I have no idea how the hell I’m going to handle any of this.
4
Climbing Rose Cottage, St Aidan, Cornwall
Nomads, rescues and long washing lines
Saturday
