‘I am fond of you, Garren,’ she told him, blinking back tears as she stared at the stones. But was that enough?
‘To my mind that’s a good start,’ Garren replied.
But what did she want from life? It was the first time she’d thought about it since Kitto had died. Kitto, her heart almost stopped for a moment. She still loved him, but he wasn’t coming back, was he? He wouldn’t have expected her to stop living, she knew that. She was only eighteen, after all, and didn’t want to end up like Mara, remaining frozen in the past for the rest of her years.
Having her own home and family had always been her dream. Garren would make a good husband and father and, in return, she’d make sure she was a good wife and mother. Slowly, she turned back to face him.
‘Thank you, Garren, I would be proud to become your wife,’ she told him. His face lit up and, letting out a whoop of glee, he lifted her off the ground and swung her round and round in the air.
‘I hope this doesn’t count as dancing,’ she laughed.
✳
‘Father, we have some good news for you,’ Garren said, as they burst into the little upstairs living room where he was sitting.
‘It had better be good an’ all, rushing into the room like that. If a man can’t rest his eyes in peace in his own home, then it’s a poor show,’ the old man grumbled, although Colenso could tell he didn’t really mind at all.
‘Colenso has agreed to become my wife,’ Garren announced proudly.
‘Has she now?’ Mr Goss asked, eyeing her shrewdly. ‘Well, in that case we’d best break out that port I keep for special occasions. It’s in the dresser in my room.’ He waited until Garren had left then turned to Colenso.
‘And is this news good for you, my dear? Are you ready to move on? I wouldn’t want to see Garren hurt.’
‘I’d never do that, Mr Goss. I admire and respect him too much.’
‘I didn’t hear the word “love”,’ he murmured, just as Garren reappeared carrying a bottle. He went over to the sideboard and poured a small amount into three glasses before handing them round.
‘To you both,’ Mr Goss said, getting stiffly to his feet and raising his glass. ‘I hope you will be as happy as Meggie and I were,’ he added, his eyes looking suspiciously bright.
‘Thank you, Father. Colenso has made me the happiest man. To our future,’ he said, clinking his glass against hers.
‘To all our futures,’ Mr Goss said, settling himself back in his chair. ‘Sit down, dear,’ he added. ‘The good news seems to have relieved my son of his manners.’
‘I haven’t been up here before,’ Colenso said, taking a seat on the couch and staring round the bright, well-furnished room.
‘Used to be Meggie’s favourite room, this. Catches the afternoon sun. Still, you’ll be wanting it for yourselves now.’
‘Goodness, Mr Goss, I wouldn’t dream of sharing it with you,’ Colenso cried.
‘Nor would I ask you to,’ he assured her. ‘I have been thinking of removing myself to the gentlemen’s hotel. No, don’t argue,’ he went on as Garren opened his mouth to protest. ‘I have a little money saved and, to be honest, my legs can’t manage these stairs for much longer. The opportunity of having my meals cooked and laundry taken care of is too good to miss. Besides, I won’t be here to call on when you get a rush in the shop.’ His impish grin made him look like his son and Colenso couldn’t help smiling.
‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Garren said.
‘Oh, I am, son. I am. Have you set a date for the wedding?’ he asked.
‘Goodness, Garren only asked me a few hours ago,’ Colenso gasped, feeling everything was moving too fast.
‘Ah well, I dare say it will give you time to get this place as you want it.’
‘We shall visit the jewellers tomorrow and choose you a betrothal ring.’ Unbidden, the memory of Kitto and his garnet popped into her head.
‘I don’t need any fancy ring, Garren. A wedding band will suffice,’ she told him, turning away quickly when she saw his hurt look. ‘It’s only a token after all.’
‘Fair enough,’ he sighed.
Later, in her little room, she took the pentacle out of her basket but as she went to place it round her neck, the clasp came away in her hand.
✳
The rainbow lollipops proved so popular they added rainbow rock to their repertoire and Garren was busy all summer keeping up with demand as holidaymakers and day-trippers flooded to Penzance. Colenso was rushed off her feet from the moment the shop opened until it closed late in the evening, and sometimes it was nine o’clock by the time they sat down for supper.
Mr Goss, eager to put his plans into action, had arranged to remove to the quiet little guest house near to the Gardens and promenade, where he was able to come and go as he pleased. The landlady, a large, amiable woman, looked after her regulars as if they were family, clucking round them like a mother hen.
Once they’d helped him settle in with his personal belongings, and Garren had been satisfied his father had enough put by to live on, they were able to turn their attention to themselves. Instead of making more confections, Garren insisted they spent Sunday afternoons getting the upstairs rooms ready for when they were married.
‘As you can probably tell, we’ve not done anything up here since Mother died,’ he said, gesturing around the little living room. ‘Feel free to change things, move anything around, get the place how you want it before you move up here.’ He hesitated. ‘When I called in and saw Father today, he offered to take care of the shop so that we can have a honeymoon. I can only run to a couple of days but it will be a nice way to start our marriage, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, I do,’ she told him. ‘Have you anywhere in mind?’ He tapped the side of his nose with his finger.
‘Well, I hope it’s somewhere restful, we’ve been so busy,’ she told him, the idea of a holiday appealing.
‘Peaceful yes, but should a honeymoon be restful I ask myself?’ He gave her such an outrageous wink that she looked away in embarrassment. While he didn’t set her pulses racing, he was a good man and she was determined to make him a good wife.
‘We’ll need to sit down and fix a date,’ he told her. ‘However, much as I would like to spend more time with my lovely wife-to-be, duty calls. I really need to make another batch of that rainbow rock or we’ll have none to sell when we open in the morning.’
That night, for the first time in ages, her dreams were of Kitto.
The next morning, her head still spinning from dreaming of Kitto, Colenso let herself into the little shop. She polished the counter, replenished the jars and set about arranging fresh
