Page 25 of The Little Cottage by the Cornish Sea

‘And today is a gorgeous day! There are so many plants and animals here! And I’ve just discovered a new nest of choughs, the Cornish bird.

If you look closely,’ I said, zooming into a patch of trees sheltering the window of the dining room, ‘you’ll just be able to glimpse the very reclusive specimen right…

there! I can’t zoom in anymore, I’m afraid, but I think he might be having his lunch.

We all know that he likes his privacy and I’ve been hoping for him to make an appearance.

’ I prattled on, thrilled at the idea of my own baby seeing this one day and calling me a bird nerd.

‘It’s very rare to see them so I guess that today is our lucky day!

I just wanted you to know that from now on, I will share these gems with you, because my time at Rosestones Manor is not forever, especially when I get caught dilly-dallying out here instead of working away in my office as I should be.

Jokes aside, my boss is a lovely person.

He has a heart the size of this manor. So will you, one day, even if right now you’re only as big as a bean – or a baby chough, even, a little creature that can’t help himself from… ’

I stopped, feeling a lump rising in my throat.

Gosh, what a time to get emotional in front of your unborn baby!

Really! So I took a deep breath and collected myself.

‘But I will protect you and love you. Because I already love you so, so much…’ And then, because I felt my eyes moistening, I decided I wasn’t reporting material right now so it was probably best to call it a day.

I wanted her to see me as happy as possible.

I wanted her to know that I was so looking forward to meeting her in person. Besides, I had to get back to work.

*

Noah’s renovations were taking far longer than expected.

The intital three weeks had somehow expanded into three months, with new problems seeming to crop up every time an old one was fixed.

Sometimes I wondered if Noah was just looking for excuses to stick around so he could drag me to that dinner.

Every once in a while, Robert would come over while Noah was working just to check on the progress.

He seemed happy enough with it, and for a moment, I hoped that the veiled animosity between them could come to an end.

It had almost become like a game, this sparring, with Noah fending off Robert’s questions and demands with a courteous demeanour.

It was hard not to like Noah. He was always cheerful and always had a kind word for everyone, despite the fact that he was an outsider.

Perhaps that was why we felt we had something in common as I, too, was an outsider, but thanks to the girls I’d made it to the Inner Circle of Respected Villager.

As far as dinner with Noah… it felt wrong.

He had a girlfriend and even though he meant nothing by his invitations, I knew it would be wrong to accept.

The last thing I needed was to lose a new friend over a silly misunderstanding.

On Friday evening, after a long, hard day, I found Noah waiting for me at the cottage to show me his progress.

The piping had been completed, and the electrics, plus all the plastering.

And while this was going on, I kept getting offers from Robert to put me up at the inn, which I’d refused.

It hadn’t been that disruptive; I’d actually enjoyed the company of having Noah around most days.

Plus, I needed to call this place my home from the beginning.

Next, Noah would be painting. It was a joy to see Tulip Cottage in such great shape!

Of course, it was still relatively devoid of furnishings because I was saving every penny for the nursery and things for Baby.

But the quality of the work was truly stunning.

‘Noah, I have to say, hats off to you. You are an amazing builder!’ I swooned.

He shoved his hands into his pockets and grinned. ‘Yeah, I know…’

And then we laughed. He would never lose that Aussie swagger.

‘Dr A said he wanted the best materials and stuff, so it was easy to do this little place justice. It’s like a hidden gem, isn’t it?’

‘It is; it’s my safe place,’ I agreed, then bit my lip. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee? Or tea?’

He shrugged. ‘Sure, if I’m not crowding you?’

‘I’m always glad of the company,’ I said as we stepped into the kitchen, where I filled the kettle.

‘Don’t you see a lot of people at the place you work?’ he asked. ‘I figured, all the staff and the owner…?’

I rolled my eyes. ‘Please. I’m alone most of the mornings, either going through orders, accounts, or on the phone with buyers. Not that my boss ignores me. He is actually very considerate. He usually has a coffee with me and sometimes even breakfast.’

Noah’s eyebrow went up. ‘Really?’

‘Yes. And just before I go, he comes to see if I need anything.’

‘Sounds like a real gent.’

‘I guess so. And it’s good money. It’s a shame I won’t be working there after my b—’ I took a deep breath. I had never acknowledged the pregnancy in front of Noah, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into the whole thing with him right now.

‘After what?’ he asked as I poured him a mug of coffee and set it down before him.

‘Oh, it was just a temporary job. I’m going to have to start looking for something else next year.’ This conversation was getting all too personal. I pushed the Hobnobs toward him. ‘Do you like these? I have other biscuits too, if you like?’

Noah took a sip of his coffee and snagged a couple. ‘Thanks. So, let me get this straight. You’ll be out of a job in a few months but you’re going to start looking next year. What are you, pregnant?’

I blinked. Busted . ‘Yes, Noah, I’m pregnant. Not that it’s anyone’s business, but I am.’

‘You’re acting like it’s a bad thing. Is it a bad thing?’ he asked softly.

‘It’s the best thing that could ever happen to me,’ I whispered.

He looked as if he wanted to say something, but changed his mind and instead said, ‘So I guess the second bedroom is going to become a nursery, right?’

‘Right.’

‘Cool.’

‘Great,’ I confirmed.

Anyone in my place would have told him before this, because I considered him on the way to being a good acquaintance, if not my friend. But my circumstances had dictated privacy. My future depended on it. If he only knew the rest…

‘Does that mean that you can’t eat?’ he asked with a grin.

‘Eh?’

‘Come to dinner with me already. You’ve got to eat, right? Why not with me? If you come, I promise you can have my dessert.’

I sighed. He was indeed good company. Plus, I needed to distract myself from thoughts of Mr Manor…

‘Oh, go on, then,’ I said with a grin.

*

Sunday, July 7th

On Sunday afternoon, I kept my promise and went back to see Mrs Nankivell at her cottage.

‘Well, there she is, my own little Florence Nightingale!’ she cooed, lifting her arms up to me from her position on the settee.

‘I’m so happy to see you,’ I gushed as I wrapped my arms around her.

It was so good to see she was doing well, with her usual rosy cheeks and the mischievous glint in her eye.

This woman still had so much to give. She couldn’t have died.

The entire coast of villages, from Little Kettering to Starry Cove, would have forbidden it.

‘Sit, sit,’ she urged, gesturing to the nearby armchair covered in delightful flowered material with blue piping. ‘I want to know everything you’ve been up to. Robert tells me that the cottage is coming along nicely and that you have a job?’

‘Oh, yes!’ I chimed. ‘It’s all going very well and the cottage looks amazing and I can’t wait ‘til Christmas!’

‘Marvellous, marvellous!’ She giggled. ‘I can’t wait to show you Christmas in Starry Cove!

It’s such a delight! The children running about the streets, or skating in the rink behind the church.

All the festive lights and the tallest Christmas trees dripping with decorations, and the carolling.

And the cakes! You wouldn’t believe the cakes!

And speaking of: Agnes!’ she called to the back of the house.

‘Would you bring in the cakes you baked for Sophie, please?’

I gasped. ‘For me?’

‘Just for you,’ she said, beaming as Agnes appeared from the kitchen with a pot of tea and a cake stand loaded with delights of all colours and sizes. I swear, once the baby was born, I would have a tough time returning back to my normal size.

‘She had me bakin’ all mornin’ and made sure it passed muster,’ Agnes said with a grin as she gently placed the ensemble on the coffee table.

‘Shall I be mother?’ she asked Mrs Nankivell, who waved her on while turning back to me.

‘I want to know everything. How is working at Rosestones? I bet that they’re positively thrilled to have you!

Maybe they’ll throw a grand Christmas party! ’

I laughed at her enthusiasm. I couldn’t remember the last time I was that happy about anything.

She was like a six-year-old on Christmas Eve.

It was still only the summer and way too early for Christmas, but it would indeed be nice to celebrate Christmas in Cornwall with all these lovely, warm people that had become my friends.

Agnes finished serving us our tea and cakes and discreetly left us to our banter.

‘So, tell me all. Who is it going to be, the hot builder, the handsome doctor or the hermit up at Rosestones?’

I blinked. ‘Sorry?’

‘Don’t give me any of that useless coyness, Sophie! You’ve got a decision to make! Time’s running out!’

I put my cup down. ‘I’m sorry, it’s not like that, Nan.’

‘Pshaw!’ she said. ‘Are you telling me you don’t fancy any of them?’

I laughed. ‘Really, Nan, I didn’t take you for such a gossip!’

‘Me? Can I help it if people come to talk to me?’

‘People come to talk to you—?’

‘And tell me their bits of news. It’s not my fault. I’m just an invalid sitting at home listening to the world going by!’

I giggled. ‘Oh, Nan, I’m afraid someone’s yanking your chain! First of all, one is my boss, the builder is nothing more a friend and Robert is also a friend. A very dear one. ’

But she shook her head. ‘What are you waiting for, luvvie? Time’s running out!’

‘What do you mean…?’ I said, but I was getting a distinct feeling she knew about the baby.

‘I mean that love is never to be wasted, nor is time! And that we all need to belong to someone.’

I sighed. ‘I don’t have any prospects right now, not with Robert nor my builder nor my boss.’ Unfortunately .

‘You have feelings for none of them?’ she insisted.

I shrugged. ‘They’re all amazing people, but really, none of them have expressed any interest in me.’ And as far as Piers was concerned, I was simply his employee. Nothing more. He’d told me so, no matter how it may have seemed at times.

As much as I wanted a companion, I couldn’t see any of them likely to become such. So after about another hour of denying the gossip and eating the cakes, I got to my feet and kissed the lovely yet batty Nan goodbye.

As I was leaving, Robert arrived and offered to walk me home. ‘But you just got here,’ I protested. ‘Your Nan was looking forward to your visit.’

‘I’ll be right back, Nan,’ he apologised to her.

She grinned from ear to ear. ‘Oh, by all means, you walk our lovely friend home. I’ll be here when you get back, love.’ And with that, she practically shooed us out the door, grinning like the Cheshire Cat as she waved us down the road.

On the way home, I told Robert that I might be away from the cottage at night from time to time in case he came calling.

Not that he’d come calling at night, of course, but I felt better if my landlord knew I hadn’t jumped ship.

It was lucky that I owned my own flat in London.

I had arranged to pay my bills online so no one would come looking for me.

He groaned. ‘I thought you were comfortable at the cottage.’

‘Oh, I am! Everything I own and love is at the cottage. But Mr. Henshaw—’

Robert sighed. ‘Is this about him?’

I frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Have you already fallen under his spell?’

I crossed my arms in front of my chest. ‘I haven’t fallen under anyone’s spell. I just want to do my job well. There will be some times when I’ll be required to deal with different times zones and work nights.’

‘All the while enjoying the perks of hobnobbing with the filthy rich.’

‘What the hell does that mean? And why are you being so unfair?’

He put his hands up. ‘Sorry. I just don’t like seeing women always falling at his feet, is all. Have a care you don’t fall in too deep so as you can’t find your way out.’

I sighed. ‘You know what, you’ve just managed to say a load of rubbish all in one breath.’

As soon as I said it, I was sorry. It wasn’t like me to be rude, and I had a feeling that Robert was disappointed in me. In any case, no one could tell me what to do or where to go. This was part of my job. End of.

‘So you’re not an item?’ he insisted.

‘We are not an item.’ Unfortunately . ‘And even if we were, I don’t see how it’s anyone’s business.’

He shrugged. ‘It’s your life. But after he’s reeled you in, used you and spat you out like everyone else, don’t come crying to me.’

‘Oh, I’ll remember not to, no worries,’ I retorted. Why was he so pent up about this?

‘Good,’ he said loftily as we reached my front door. ‘Now you have a lovely evening.’

‘Thank you. I will,’ I reassured him, and closed the door in his face.

Men .