twisting when she thought of their recent encounter. ‘He told me that he didn’t shut down Gertie, despite Crystal Waters being named on the notice, then he kissed me and walked away.’
‘On the jetty, in the darkness. It sounds so romantic.’
‘Or overly dramatic, depending on how you look at it.’
‘And how do you look at it?’ Juliette asked. ‘You and Daniel have been so up and down since you got here, but I can tell you really like him. Though you’re being more cautious than you were when you met Stuart; understandably, because he turned out to be a total dickhead.’
‘And Daniel had dickhead form before I even met him.’
‘Hmmm.’ Juliette looked at the table. ‘Have you spoken to him at all since Saturday night? Any texts? Aubergine emojis?’
‘Nothing. I don’t know what to say. I mean, why was your business on there if you didn’t get my bus shut down, and what was that kiss about, and what fabric softener do you use because you smelt really great the other night doesn’t seem like a conversation you can have via text.’
‘So go and see him, then.’
Charlie let her head drop to the table, then lifted it up and rubbed her brow. ‘I will, but I can’t until I find out who was behind this. I will apologize to him if it’s all a big misunderstanding, but what if it isn’t? What if he’s making a fool of me? Again?’
‘Char, I don’t think he would be this cruel.’
‘I really hope you’re right.’ She didn’t know what she had with Daniel; she just knew that even the thought of him sent butterflies fluttering through her like she was some kind of hothouse. ‘As soon as I … oh, hello, is that the licensing department?’ she enquired as Electronic Ethel was replaced with a living, breathing human being.
‘This is waste and recycling. I can put you through to the licensing department. Please hold.’
‘Noooo,’ Charlie screamed at her phone. But it was too late. Electronic Ethel was back. Please stay on the line; your call is important to us. ‘Is it my arse,’ Charlie said, while Juliette tried very hard not to laugh.
By the time she stepped outside, into a warm day with a gusty breeze, she felt as though her ear was close to burning off. She had spoken, finally, to a young man in the licensing department. He wouldn’t tell her the name of the person who had challenged her consent, only repeated the information that had been written on the notice. But he had assured her that it was only temporary, and once she’d resubmitted the paperwork, answered their additional questions and had someone come to inspect the bus, unless anything untoward cropped up, she’d be back in business in roughly a week.
It was time-consuming and annoying, but she was prepared for that as long as it wasn’t fatal to the future of The Cornish Cream Tea Bus. She had gone online and resubmitted the paperwork electronically as soon as the call was over. Now all she had to do was wait.
It seemed that whoever had done this had simply wanted to make her life more complicated, perhaps send her some kind of warning. What it had done was fire her up. She was overflowing with determination; she felt like Superwoman.
Marmite bounded beside her as they headed to the beach. The water was choppy, the sand whipping up into miniature dust devils. The sun peeped out intermittently between clouds ranging from pure white to darkest grey, and Charlie watched as a couple of young women in wetsuits ran across the sand from a van parked in the car park, no hesitation before they plunged into the waves.
Charlie walked the length of the beach, past Gertie and up towards the car park. She craned her neck to see to the top of the cliff, where Crystal Waters sat, looking out over the village, sea and coastline to the south. She knew she should go and see Daniel, but without all the facts she felt completely unprepared.
She huffed in frustration and turned, retracing her steps across the sand, this time towards the other side of the cove. She had almost reached the jetty, her walk accompanied by the shouts of the women in the sea, when she heard her name being called. To her amazement, she saw Reenie approaching her, her slender frame clad in a flowery shirt and faded jeans, her long hair dancing in the wind.
‘Reenie, hi! What are you doing?’
‘Out of my cage, you mean?’
Charlie blustered, but the older woman grinned.
‘Recycling time again. I’ve dropped it off with Hugh, who’s usually happy to dispose of it for me. But I did want to see you, too.’
‘You did?’
Reenie narrowed her eyes. ‘I saw you and Daniel on the jetty on Saturday night. I couldn’t hear what was being said, but there was no missing the drama of the situation. I need details, especially after finding out what’s happened to your bus.’
‘You need details?’ Charlie laughed. ‘And what if I don’t want to give them to you?’
Reenie held out her hand. ‘Of course you do, girl. You might be in denial about it, but you need someone to make sense of it for you.’
Charlie hesitated, wondering if she was prepared to tell this woman everything. This woman who had a weather eye cast over the whole village and, Charlie knew, was close to Daniel.
‘If you do,’ Reenie continued, ‘then I might be able to offer a nugget or two of advice. Perhaps reveal my own secret.’
‘That you are, in fact, a mermaid?’
‘Don’t be so ludicrous. Come and have a cup of tea with me and explain why Daniel Harper kissed you and then left you alone two nights ago. And then I will tell you why I am absolutely, 100 per cent, not a mermaid.’
Charlie glanced at Marmite, who was in the process of digging a hole in the sand. ‘OK,’ she said, ‘but I draw my line about what I tell you.’
‘Of course. You are your own woman, after all.’
Charlie followed her, wondering why it didn’t feel like that was always the case.
Her line, it turned out, was very low.
With a too-milky tea on the concrete in front of her, Charlie told Reenie everything: about what had happened in the pub; about her first Cornish Cream Tea Tour, and how it had been so successful until Oliver had found her in a compromising position with Daniel. About the confrontation on the bus, and Daniel revealing Oliver’s true nature; about Josie – who was either a journalist, or from the council; about her outburst at Crystal Waters and their impassioned conversation that had ended with that kiss on the jetty.
‘None of it makes sense, Reenie. Did he shut me down, or not?’
Reenie stretched her legs out, her feet, now bare, dangling over the edge of the cliff. Charlie had thought, with it being particularly windy, she might be invited inside the house, but they were sitting in the same spot, on the edge of the world. Not that she minded; she could stare at this view all day, even if there was zero chance of seeing a mermaid.
‘Think of everything you know about him,’ Reenie said. ‘All the encounters you’ve had. All you have to do is weigh up the good and the bad and decide
