Hearing his rumbling laugh at the bar, Tammy’s skin prickled. Sean had been hurt and angry when she’d told him she wasn’t ready or looking for a that kind of commitment yet – possibly ever – and they’d split up. He hadn’t got over it.
Back at the table, Lola got on one side of her while the others were chatting to each other and ordering drinks. ‘Is that Sean?’
‘Yeah. Unfortunately.’
Lola rolled her eyes. ‘Ignore him. You moved on long ago and he ought to realise that. You’ve got your own future to think about, not his past. While we’re on that, I’ve been meaning to ask if you’d heard anything from the OceanFest people?’
Tammy was grateful for her friend switching the focus from her past to her – possible – future. ‘No. Not yet.’ She sighed. ‘I’ve given up hope, to be honest.’
Lola smiled encouragingly. ‘You never know. There’s still time.’
‘I think I’d have been notified by now – others have. But I can’t deny it would have been amazing and not onlybecause of the fee. The exposure could have led to so many commissions.’
OceanFest was a three-day festival of music and arts on Perranporth beach and the biggest event of its kind in the south-west by far. Beach art including sand sculptures and sand drawings were a key part of the festival.
Tammy’s work had been spotted by one of the organisers but she’d been too late to apply. However, her contact had been in touch a couple of days previously to say there might be a slot for her after all, since one of the other artists had pulled out for family reasons. She was waiting for the director of the festival to look at her portfolio and give the final say-so, but the director had been off sick.
‘I wish I knew for certain that they do or don’t need me because I’ve cleared my diary for those dates and turned down a commission already. And if, by some miracle, it does happen, I need to practise my designs.’
‘Well, I hope youdohear from them because you’d ace it,’ Lola said. ‘You deserve it more than anyone. And thanks for coming tonight. I know it’s a difficult day for you.’
‘I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and, actually, having something to look forward to has been a good distraction.’
Lola gave her a hug. ‘I heard about your tribute to him on the beach. Sorry I couldn’t leave work, but some of the gang shared photos on WhatsApp. It was beautiful and your dad would have been proud. Were you OK?’
‘Fine. Honestly. And I made twenty quid for the Community Fund shop from tourists.’
‘Always a bonus.’ Lola hesitated. ‘Could the need to avoid Sean have anything to do with that bloke you were sharing an ice cream with on the sea wall afterwards?’
Tammy gave a gasp of mock horror. ‘Don’t say there were photos shared of that too?’
Lola giggled. ‘Not exactly, though I heard it wasn’t too much of a hardship to look at him. Do you know him?’
Tammy’s stomach fluttered, wondering if she dared admit she’d taken a stranger back to her flat, however innocuous the reason. Yet Lola was a good friend and wouldn’t judge her.
‘To be honest, I don’t know him at all. Or didn’t. He was admiring my design.’
Lola let out a squeal. ‘That’s a new way of saying it!’
‘Yeah. Sounds really dodgy, doesn’t it? But I think he genuinely was interested in my art. He was in town for a legal appointment. He’s a solicitor in Penzance – works for Gaverne’s.’
Lola’s eyebrows lifted. ‘Wow. Swanky. They charge a fortune. They represent our lot,’ she said, referring to the firm of accountants she worked for. ‘He looks different from your usual type, though.’
‘In what way?’
‘Professional. Conventional.’
‘I suppose …’ Tammy said, wondering what her best friend saw as her type. Did she mean Sean with his carefully cultivated ‘Real Cornishman’ image? ‘He was only in a suit because of work. He dropped the ice cream down his shirt, so I said he could have my dad’s old one.’
Lola’s eyes widened. ‘You gave him your dad’s shirt?’
‘Yes. It’s no use to me and Ruan had a meeting with a bereaved client. He came back to the flat and tried on the shirt – and then he left,’ Tammy added hastily before her friend could make a comment.
Lola let out a breath. ‘OK. In your flat, eh? This Ruan sounds like a fast mover.’
‘No, he isn’t. The opposite. He’s quiet and nerdy and I invitedhimto the flat. He wasn’t sure about it.’
‘I’ve no doubt. I just worry about you … I don’t want you to be hurt again, lovely.’
