Christmas Weddings

‘Well, if she hangs around long enough, he can. She’s staying with Old Davey for the time being. You know him, lives in the last bungalow before the cliff?’

Tessa nodded. ‘Yeah. He took us all out mackerel fishing years ago, when the kids were small. Forgotten he had family, though.’ She picked up a tea towel and began to dry the plates Millie had washed. ‘If you keep getting busy like this, you’re going to have to invest in a dishwasher, bab. And you haven’t got enough crockery to turn around quickly.’

Millie brushed back her fringe from a steamy face. ‘You could be right there. I’ll add it to the list of suggestions for Clare. It was her mum’s networking group that was in today.’ Returning to the subject, she added, ‘Think Ri’s parents moved to Wales years ago. If Ken wants to paint her, he’d better be quick. She doesn’t seem to stay in one place for long.’

‘I’ll tell him.’ Tessa once again looked through to the café. ‘She looks so free.’ She sighed the sigh of a woman with a husband and three demanding sons at home. ‘Must be great to flit about the world, without a care. And there’s something mesmerising about her, isn’t there?’

‘Agreed. She’s amazingly calm. Nothing seems to faze her. She’s a bit fey too.’ Millie wrinkled up her nose. ‘Think that’s the word.’ She rinsed a couple of plates. ‘Haven’t you heard the story? Rumour is, someone in her family long ago married a mermaid and made her live on the shore with him. Apparently all the female members of the family have that spectacular hair and pale eyes.’

Tessa turned around and stared at Millie, round-eyed. ‘No way! What a story. Oh Ken has to paint her now.’

‘He might have to pay. Think she’s strapped for cash at the moment.’ Millie bit her lip. ‘And she’s not alone.’

‘How’s the sale going?’

Millie winced. ‘Slowly. I’d hoped to exchange by now, but Clare’s parents are checking out yet more things. They’re having another survey done and a feasibility report on top.’

‘Do they want to buy this place or not?’

Millie sank against the prep table. Everything threatened to overwhelm her. ‘Suppose it’s only sensible to be cautious. It’s a big thing to take on. It’s just that, oh Tes, I only went travelling on the understanding the café was sold. And now I’m so broke I don’t know what to do.’

Tessa wrapped her in a hug. She knew there was more to this than just moving stress. ‘I’m sure it’ll all go through soon. You know what they say, solicitors love making everyone panic until the last minute and then it all goes through without a hitch. And once it’s sold, think of all the lovely lolly you’ll have. You’ll be able to do anything you want. Wherever you want. Just like Eleri. Maybe even get back in touch with that Italian bloke.’ Tessa tightened her hold. ‘Berecombe won’t be the same without a Millie Vanilla’s, though.’

Millie’s answer was muffled and unintelligible.

‘And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Jed’s job. Thought it was his news, really.’

‘Why has he gone and got a job with Blue Elephant?’ Millie wailed. ‘I just don’t understand, Tes. How could he do it to me again? It’s such a betrayal.’

‘I don’t know, bab. I just don’t know.’ Tessa held her until the sobs subsided.

‘And I want the café to do well for Clare.’ Millie sniffed. ‘Jed working for Blue Elephant is going to put a dent in the profits. I just know it.’

‘What are you going to do about it?’

Millie stepped away from her hold, wiped her face with her pinny and said bleakly, ‘Have it out with him. That’s if I can ever get hold of him. He seems to be working all the time.’

‘Avoiding you?’

‘Well, he won’t do that for long. Not in a town the size of Berecombe. He owes me an explanation. And he’s bloody well going to give it to me.’

Chapter 6 (#u895d7e17-68af-5f72-a532-78d43399b97b)

Eleri twisted over. The water caressed her wet-suited body like silk. Lying on her back and floating, she stared up at the moonless night. As she’d done as a child, she located the familiar shape of the Plough and then traced the route to Cassiopeia. It gave her satisfaction to see them still there. The stars were often the only constant in her ever-changing life.

The only sound was the quiet wash of the sea around her. The only colours black and silver. Closing her eyes, she surrendered herself to how alive her senses felt. She was more at home in the sea than anywhere. A tremor ran through her. She was getting cold. The sea temperature on a Devon November night didn’t compare to the tropical seas she was more used to. She needed to get moving again. Besides, if Davey found out she was swimming at night, alone, he’d be furious. Reluctantly, she twisted again and power-crawled to shore.

Chapter 7 (#ulink_796f9c03-b1b8-5087-a4be-d2ec7d7521c0)

Millie sat at the table in the window. A grey pall of fog hung over the promenade. It blanketed out the sea and all was peculiarly hushed. Ever since she’d returned from Thailand nothing had seemed to go right. Even the weather had been unremittingly grim. Usually she didn’t mind. In fact, she used to take pleasure in the quiet, out-of-season days when she had the place to herself. It was a time to catch your breath before everything revved up again.

She stirred her hot chocolate without interest and glared at her mobile, willing Jed to return her call. It remained stubbornly quiet. She’d rung him several times and he hadn’t bothered to get back to her. The one bright thing in this sea of grey was Ri. The girl floated in and out of the café, working without seeming to put any obvious effort in, getting things done and spreading a palpable calm in her wake. Millie couldn’t afford help, but she found she lacked the enthusiasm or the stamina to do everything herself any more. Not for the first time, she wished the café sale had gone through and she was free of it. It had become a burden she no longer wanted.

The bell on the café door had her looking up in the vain hope it was Jed.

‘Hello Millie,’ Alex said. ‘I wonder if I might have a word?’

Too disappointed to speak, Millie gestured to the empty chair beside her. Behind, she heard the sudden silence as Arthur and Biddy stopped bickering. Whatever Alex’s business, it would be all over Berecombe by tomorrow.

‘Hi bach, I’m Eleri. What can I get you?’ Ri appeared from nowhere, with order pad in hand. She smiled down at Alex.

‘Oh. Um. Ah.’

The tops of his ears turned pink. Millie took pity on him. Eleri had this alarming effect on most of her male customers. It was making for good repeat custom. ‘Why don’t you have one of Ri’s special hot chocolates?’ she suggested. ‘ Just the thing for a foggy day like today.’

‘Thank you. I will.’ Alex eyed Millie’s mug. ‘But without the marshmallows, if I may.’

Eleri made a face. ‘It’s not my special hot chocolate without them. See, I make them into little white chocolate and marshmallow flowers. They’re magic. Go on. Have the marshmallows. Live a little.’

‘Right.’ Alex gulped in the face of all her gorgeousness. ‘Okay. Whatever you say.’

‘Wonderful. Can I get you another, Millie?’

‘No, I’m fine, Ri. Thank you.’

Alex twisted to watch her as she made her way back to the kitchen. ‘My word.’ He unwound his scarf and unbuttoned his coat. ‘Eleri. What a pretty name.’

Millie smiled. ‘Welsh, apparently. And yes, it is pretty, but she prefers Ri.’

‘What a shame to abbreviate it. Eleri.’ He sounded it out with relish and shook his head. ‘Never encountered an Eleri before.’

‘I think she’s one in a million. Alex, it’s lovely to see you, but I can’t imagine you came to discuss my staff.’

‘Ah. No I didn’t.’ He took off his specs, de-misted them and popped them back on his nose, clearing his throat slightly as he did. ‘Bit awkward this. I’ve come to apologise, actually.’

‘Whatever for?’ Millie was taken aback.

‘For blurting out that Jed is working for Blue Elephant. I had no idea he hadn’t told you.’ Alex tugged at the collar of his crew-necked sweater. ‘I feel awful. I had no right. It was Jed’s news and I understand Blue Elephant has caused some, shall we say, friction between you.’

‘Just a little.’

‘I really thought he’d mentioned it.’

‘Strangely enough, Jed forgot to email me the news that he is working for my biggest rival.’

‘Ah yes.’ Alex paused to take off his coat. He folded it neatly, put it on a chair and then remained standing as Eleri returned with his chocolate. ‘Wonderful. Thank you.’ Pushing his glasses back up his nose, he added, ‘Marvellous.’

‘Just pop the flowers in the hot chocolate when you’re ready,’ she said, in her soft Welsh accent.