and Charlie smiled, even though her eyes were swimming.
Could she really leave this – all these wonderful people – behind, and go back to Bea and Ross-on-Wye?
‘It hasn’t just been me,’ she said, finding her voice. ‘It couldn’t have happened without you – without all of your support. That first meeting wasn’t … well, it wasn’t quite as unanimous as this one,’ she added, laughing, ‘but I still felt encouraged to give it a go.’
She realized then that both she and Daniel had been right. She had needed to show everyone that it could work; that she could turn the empty beach into a thriving hub of activity, but she would never have had the courage to try if everyone had been against it from the start.
‘You were brave,’ Reenie said. ‘You put yourself out there, even though you knew it was a risk.’
Charlie nodded. ‘I did, but—’
‘It’s about time I was brave, too. Let everyone in on my little secret. As you’re all here, now seems like the perfect time.’
‘Reenie,’ Charlie started, ‘you don’t have—’
‘The mermaid thing!’ Jonah jumped out of his chair. ‘You’re going to announce that you’re a mermaid, and bring all your mermaid friends up from the sea to say hello.’
‘Holy mother o’ God,’ Myrtle murmured.
Hugh’s usually pale face went red, and Amanda and Paul couldn’t have looked more embarrassed if Jonah had swept their table clear and climbed on top of it to dance the Macarena.
‘Darling boy,’ Reenie said, ‘if you continue to perpetuate this mermaid myth, then your younger sisters are going to grow up to be very confused individuals.’
‘So … you’re not a mermaid, then?’ Jonah looked genuinely confused, and Charlie’s heart went out to him.
‘No, my love. I am not. But I do have something I can contribute to this bank holiday market.’
‘Unicorns are real, though,’ Flora interjected.
‘That, young lady, is a discussion for another day. No, my contribution is twenty thousand Instagram followers, and my willingness to promote this event on my account in any way you so desire.’
‘What on earth?’ Myrtle asked.
‘What did you just say, Reenie?’ Stella took another piece of lemon cake.
‘Twenty thousand Instagram followers,’ Hugh said. ‘That’s no mean feat.’
‘I have one hundred and four,’ Jonah declared proudly.
‘You’re too young to be on Instagram,’ Reenie said, and shook her head at Paul and Amanda, who had begun to look as if hiding under the table might be their only option.
As Reenie explained about the Porthgolow Hideaway account, everyone got their phones out to see for themselves, as if somehow by viewing it with this new knowledge, they would be able to find a previously hidden selfie of Reenie standing in front of her cottage for all the world to see.
Charlie got milk out of the fridge, desperate for a cappuccino even though it was gone seven in the evening. She hadn’t thought to bring wine, though it would have been perfectly acceptable in this private gathering. She barely noticed the chatter stop, and almost missed Juliette’s sharp intake of breath, but then a slender hand clutched her arm, and Charlie turned to her friend and then followed her gaze to the doorway.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ Daniel said, glancing at Lauren. ‘I got held up.’
Charlie took in his dark jeans and navy hoodie, the way his hair had clearly fought a battle with the wind. It was the first time she’d seen him since their encounter at the jetty.
‘Oh Daniel,’ Reenie said, rising and holding her arms out. He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Reenie’s face was flushed with pleasure, and Charlie could see how close they were; perhaps Daniel had partly replaced her distant son, whom she saw only via computer screen. ‘Better late than never, though this is a rather important meeting for you to be rocking up so late.’
Charlie hid her smile, inexplicably happy that he didn’t escape Reenie’s gentle chiding.
‘I know, and I’m really sorry. How did our plan go down? What do you think about a bank holiday food market, Charlie?’
Charlie could tell that he wasn’t as relaxed as usual; there was a nervous energy about him she wasn’t used to. ‘I think it’s a great plan,’ she said. ‘A perfect way to end the summer.’
‘Good.’ He leaned against the back of the bench Reenie was sitting on, his arms folded over his chest, and listened to Myrtle – and Hugh, Amanda, Stella and Jonah – recap what he’d missed, even though, from the sound of it, he’d been in on the idea from the beginning. He showed genuine surprise – and amusement – that Reenie was responsible for the Porthgolow Hideaway account.
Charlie allowed her gaze to drift over his arms, taking in the definition of his biceps, visible despite the hoodie, the length of his legs, his blue Converse, the way an unruly wave of his hair had fallen over his left eye and he’d left it there. She felt the churning, low in her stomach, that appeared whenever she thought of Daniel, ten times stronger now that she was in his presence.
‘OK?’ Juliette whispered. ‘Only the milk’s about to overflow.’
‘Oh fuck,’ Charlie shouted, as the boiling milk she’d been absent-mindedly frothing bubbled to the lip of the jug and cascaded over her fingers.
Juliette took the jug away, turned on the cold tap and pulled Charlie’s hand under it.
‘Is our fearless leader OK?’ Reenie asked.
‘I’m fine,’ Charlie called, glad that she could stand next to the sink and hide her flaming cheeks.
‘A minor milk scald, nothing more,’ Juliette confirmed. ‘So everything’s settled, then? We’re all on board for the bank holiday weekend? Three whole days of eventing! Porthgolow won’t know what’s hit it.’
There were murmurs of assent, whoops and cheers and general jubilation. Daniel stood up and ran his hand through his hair. ‘Lauren,’ he said. ‘Could I have a word with you, outside?’
He’d spoken quietly, but it wasn’t the ideal place to have a private conversation. The bus fell silent and everyone’s eyes swivelled in Lauren’s direction.
She sat up straighter, her gaze wary. ‘Shouldn’t we wait until the meeting’s finished?’
‘Just a quick word,’ Daniel said. ‘It won’t take long.’
Lauren relaxed into her seat, but her hands were fidgeting on the table. ‘I think we should finish up here first. If this three-day market is really going to happen, then we need to know all the facts so we can manage its impact on the hotel. We don’t want to miss anything important.’
‘We won’t,’ Daniel said. ‘But I do need to talk to you, quite urgently.’
