back along the beach. How could the day that had seen her deepest dream come true end like this? Because you made a promise to a good and kind man, she told herself. A good, kind man who looked out for you in your hour of need and you will not renege on your promise to him.
By the time she got back to the shop, it was lunchtime. Garren took one look at her face and ushered her straight through to the workshop.
‘You need tea,’ he said, pushing her gently into a chair and pouring hot water into the pot. Unusually, there were no sweets set out on the cooling tables and she realized he must have spent the whole morning serving customers.
‘The shop’s been busy then?’ she said.
‘Yes, thank heavens. Nothing like keeping occupied to stop you from thinking,’ he muttered, his hands shaking as he set down a mug in front of her. ‘You were obviously delighted to see Kitto. So, what happens now?’
‘You saw us earlier then?’
‘Hard to miss with you all over each other.’
‘It was a wonderful surprise to find he was still alive, and naturally I was pleased to see him,’ she admitted.
‘Was?’ he asked, staring at her in disbelief. She nodded and took a quick gulp of her tea, hardly noticing that it burnt her mouth. ‘I will release you from your promise if you want, you know.’
‘Thank you, but my word is my bond, Garren,’ she told him, staring him straight in the eye then looking quickly away when she saw the hurt there. ‘When I was getting ready to open this morning, I noticed we’re almost out of cones. As I had the devil’s own job getting you to agree to them in the first place I’d better get on and make some more. Thank you for the tea,’ she said, her voice cracking as she took herself back to the shop.
‘You’ve hardly drunk any …’ he began but, needing time to compose herself, she ignored him. While her hands automatically formed the paper into the cones that had become so popular, her thoughts span wildly around in her head.
Seeing Kitto again had been a shock. One that had only served to prove her strength of feelings for him. She loved him with all her heart, of that she had no doubt. But she was fond of Garren and wouldn’t let him down. And yet could she really marry him now she knew Kitto was alive? Yet she’d have to, for hadn’t she just assured Garren that she wouldn’t break her word? Round and round her thoughts went. It was like being on the dobbies at the fair, she thought, pressing her hand to her throbbing head.
She didn’t see Garren for the rest of the afternoon and assumed he was busy in the workshop making up for the time he lost this morning. The shop was busy, the incessant tinkling of the little bell making her headache worse. For the first time ever, she cursed her bright ideas of the rainbow window that constantly drew in the excited customers.
Her brain never stopped processing the events of the morning, and by the time she was able to close the shop she was certain her decision was right and honourable. She was just turning the sign to closed when Mr Goss appeared.
‘Oh, I was just shutting,’ she explained.
‘Thought you would be,’ he said abruptly. There was no trace of his usual smile as he made his way through to the workshop. ‘I hear Kitto’s turned up,’ he said without any preamble. ‘I’m pleased for him, of course, but need to know what that means for my son.’
‘Nothing has changed, Mr Goss. I still intend honouring my promise to marry Garren.’
‘Honour, promise, piffle,’ he replied, snapping his fingers after each word. ‘I don’t want my son cheated, Colenso.’
‘But I wouldn’t ever do that. I will remain faithful to Garren both before and after our wedding.’
‘Honourable words,’ he agreed, then his tone softened. ‘You are young, Colenso, and have the idealism of youth. However, I have lived life, and with age comes realism. Believe me when I say that whatever you might think, you will be cheating on him if you marry him when you love another. He deserves better than that, so please, I urge you, think carefully about your decision.’
All night, Colenso tossed and turned. Yet no matter how much she thought, it still came back to the fact that whilst she loved Kitto, she owed it to Garren to honour her promise. Whilst Mr Goss had a point, the fact remained that Garren had been good to her and there was no way she could let him down.
As the grey of morning filtered through the tiny window, Colenso dressed ready for another day in the shop. On impulse, she took her necklace from her basket and held it tightly in her hands.
‘This is the right thing to do, isn’t it?’ she asked. But the pentacle remained cold and lifeless. ‘Oh, you’re no help,’ she cried, throwing it back in despair.
To her surprise, Garren followed her through to the shop. He seemed on edge as he coughed and cleared his throat.
‘Colenso, I have spent all night deliberating and …’ He paused and cleared his throat again. ‘I have decided it wouldn’t be fair to hold you to your promise.’
‘But …’
‘Go to Kitto, Colenso. When I saw the way you were gazing at him yesterday, the love shining from your eyes like diamonds, well, I admit I was hurt. You’ve never looked at me that way and sadly, I know you never will.’
‘But I am fond of you and …’ she began but he held up his hand to silence her.
‘Fond isn’t love, though, is it? Like I said, Colenso, go to Kitto and be happy.’ She stared at him sadly, knowing what he said was true.
‘Thank you, Garren, for everything,’ she whispered, wondering how it was possible to feel so sad and elated at the same time.
Cadgwith, The Lizard, Cornwall
Samhain, the ending of one year – the beginning of the next
On a late autumn day, as the last red rays of setting sun cast their magic over Mammwynn’s little garden, Colenso and Kitto, silver ribbons binding their hands, exchanged vows of love in front of family and friends. Dressed in a red dress that matched her shoes, a circlet of wild flowers and herbs bound with myrtle adorning her flowing tresses, Colenso had never felt happier.
‘Marjoram for love, rosemary to stimulate the heart and parsley for lust,’ Mammwynn whispered in her ear.
‘Myrtle for good luck, love and prosperity in marriage,’ Mara added.
Colenso smiled, content to know the two women who’d meant so much to her were here together on this special occasion. She’d chosen to hold their handfasting on the day when the veil between the two worlds was at its thinnest. Her hand stroked the pentacle that Kitto had mended and, feeling its warmth, she knew all was well.
As the sun disappeared behind the horizon, leaving them bathed in the light of the flickering candles, Kitto leaned forward and kissed her passionately on the lips. He looked so handsome in the new jacket Emily had insisted on making him, a sprig of heather pinned to his lapel, but it was the love shining from his eyes that made Colenso’s pulse
