“She’s Geoff’s wife, from yesterday?”
“Oh! Gosh…how is he? How is she?”
Connie points to a spot further down the counter, where I see a box of Quality Street and a cuddly teddy with a balloon tied to its paw. They scream ‘hospital gift shop’.
“He’s doing okay. Regained consciousness during the night, and apparently doesn’t remember much about it at all. She’s been warned it won’t be easy, but they’re hopeful he’ll recover. The docs there told her that without the immediate CPR and the defibrillator, he wouldn’t have made it. They were impressed apparently, at the level of first aid training the Cove Café has provided its waitresses! Anyway, she was hoping to see you, but she had to dash. She left those for you as a thank you, along with a card.”
I retrieve the card, which is addressed to ‘The waitress with blonde hair’, and peel it open. I am met with a picture of two sausage dogs, and the words ‘thank you for being a friend’. The writing inside it is scrawled, which is perfectly understandable, but I manage to decipher it and read out loud: “Thank you for everything you did yesterday. You saved Geoff’s life, and we will always remember you – you’re a hero. With love from Geoff, Evelyn and Lucas.”
Lucas has written his own name, and added a little drawing of a smiley face. It is unbearably sweet, and I tuck it away in my bag.
“So,” Connie says, her eyes mischievous, “you look very pleased with yourself this morning. Anything I need to know about?”
I could tell her about Miranda’s piles, or George’s mole, I suppose – but that would be rude. Instead, I decide George is right – you have to find the fun in life.
I glance around as though I am making sure nobody can hear us, lean across the counter, and whisper into her ear: “Jake and I made wild passionate love to each other on the beach last night!”
Her eyes pop open, and her mouth forms an astonished circle. She claps her hands in glee, launches herself off the stool, and jumps up and down on the spot, much to Larry’s confusion.
“Oh my God! I knew it, I knew it! What was it like, tell me everything…I want all the details!”
I am doing a countdown in my head, wondering how long it will take, and by the time I reach six she stops her happy dance, and frowns.
“Hang on a minute,” she says, looking at me suspiciously, “Jake’s away isn’t he? Not back until tomorrow?”
I wink at her as she finally realises she’s been had, and laugh at the expression of combined disappointment and delight on her face.
“You’re not a hero,” she says, throwing a tea-towel at me, “you’re evil! How could you mess with my mind like that? I was looking forward to getting some really first-rate gossip then as well! What a bloody let-down! Never mind, I suppose there’s always tonight…”
“What’s tonight?” I ask, not sure I want to know.
“It’s Friday isn’t it? Naked karaoke at the village hall, of course.”
ChapterFourteen
After that, Larry and I set off on one of our adventures, heading to a nearby beach called Eype. For some reason the name makes me laugh, and every time I say it in a high-pitched tone, Larry looks up at me like I’ve announced something of great importance. Maybe it’s his real name, who knows?
I do actually find a fossil today – hidden in some sand and tangled branches by the base of a baby-sized cliff, revealed when I poke it with my highly technical gadget: a big stick. It is broken in half, but I am delighted as I brush off the crusted sand and see perfectly curled circles in the stone. A consultation with Google tells me it is an ammonite, and once upon a time it was an ocean-dwelling mollusc.
I pocket my treasure, and head back to Starshine full of wonder, planning a whole new career for myself as a fossil-hunter. I could be just like Lara Croft, but without the cartoon boobs.
I plan to go out for dinner, thus avoiding the village hall, and any possible hint of naked karaoke – just in case. You can never be too sure with this lot.
As I park up, I see that Jake’s car is back in its usual spot, and hope everything is okay. Inside, I am greeted by Matt on the bar, and a new server I have never seen before but who seems to know who I am. I suppose my fame as a fossil-hunter has already spread.
“Everything all right?” I ask, lurking by the doorway that leads to the stairs. “I saw Jake’s car outside.”
“Oh, yeah, he’s fine,” Matt replies, as he pulls a pint of IPA, “he’s on the roof terrace. Go on up. He won’t mind, you’re a friend.”
“I’m more of a paying guest,” I point out.
“Nah. We have lots of paying guests, and Jake doesn’t spend anywhere near as much time with them as he does you. You’re a friend, whether you like it or not. In fact, can you do me a favour and take your friend some water? He walkied down for some earlier, said to bring it up when we were quiet. Except it’s never been quiet.”
I nod, and Matt pulls a bottle out of the fridge and passes it to me. He pauses, and gets another.
“For you and Larry,” he explains. “It’s just down the back, can’t miss it.”
I head down the corridor, bypassing my stairs, and reaching another doorway. I had no clue there was a roof terrace, or how to find it, but I follow the hallway to more steps, and at the top of them I reach a green door. I know we’re in the more modern extension at the side of the building, but beyond that I am completely lost.
