Page 39 of The Little Cottage by the Cornish Sea

The success of the musical gave me the confidence to get out there and help people when they asked for it rather than shying away and putting myself down. So when Faith told me her crew was busy on another property and would I help with staging a home, I jumped at the chance.

It was a beautiful coastal home high above the cliffs. A bloke called Dieter helped us unload all the stuff and after she briefed me on what the owner wanted, we got to work.

It was a very modern home, with lots of glass that made the most of the incredible views. I wondered about the lives of whoever was going to live here: whether they were happy or, if, just like Piers, money couldn’t buy their genuine happiness. I sincerely hoped they were.

When we were done, Faith disappeared into the kitchen to turn the kettle on and I sat back, exhausted, but satisfied.

The cottage was so beautiful. Faith had done an amazing job.

She had put in beautiful objects, but also things that made you feel at home.

I would have done anything for my home to look this beautiful. Maybe one day.

Faith returned with two steaming cups of tea and some biscuits and sat down on the settee next to me. We drank in companionable silence.

‘You know, Kate, there was a time when I dreamed of having a home of my own. Any home,’ she finally said.

‘I wanted it to be full of beautiful objects, but mostly, things that made me feel comfortable and settled. So when I was young, in one of our foster homes, I sewed myself a cushion that I could stick my arms through and hug. It was the shape of a house.’

‘Aw…’ I said. I could really relate to that. We had had different lives but Faith and I were very similar. Probably more similar than anyone else I’d met here, if I really thought about it.

‘I got lucky to be surrounded by people who make me feel at home. Kate, you’re in the right place here.’

‘I think so,’ I agreed.

*

‘Hmm, this was a great idea,’ I said to Rosie as we sipped mocktails at Books On The Barge, keeping an eye on the shop for Emmie. She was right to be proud of this place.

‘Lucky us, getting paid in cakes and booze!’

‘I think I’m going to be sick,’ I said, pushing away the last bite of my second slice of chocolate cake. ‘It turns out you actually can get enough of this stuff…’

Felicity began to whine in her cot, and I reached out to rock her. ‘I can’t believe that in a couple of weeks, I’ll have my own little bundle of joy.’ And at the thought of that, I burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry, Rosie. What a wet blanket I am. I’ll bet you’re happy we met…’

‘Why do you put yourself down so much, Kate?’ she asked, taking my hand.

‘You are such a lovely girl. So you’ve had a bit of a shit life so far.

But I am proof, and so are the others, that people love you.

You will come out of this, and it’s not going to be a man that saves you.

Because we can save ourselves nowadays, you know? ’

‘I know,’ I whispered. I would be fine on my own. But I wanted to be with Piers.

It was then that I decided I couldn’t stand it anymore.

Piers had to speak to me eventually, didn’t he?

It might as well have been now. And if he hadn’t returned home from wherever he was hiding, I had nothing left to lose.

So when Emmie returned, I trudged up the hill, noticing how much more difficult it had become in the space of only a few weeks.

Not that Justin ever left me to walk it, but the difference was noticeable.

So was the change in my figure. Now I was starting to really waddle.

When I got to the gates, I stood for a minute to catch my breath, surveying the famous grounds that had once been private and untapped by the screaming throng of fans.

There were still a few stragglers hanging around, but the majority of the fans and paparazzi had gotten bored when it became clear that Piers had fled the manor.

Even still, it had been a few weeks before the village had returned to its previous tranquillity.

Despite all that had happened over the last few months, it felt like only yesterday that I had come here for the very first time, when Patsy had sent me away, and Piers had apologised and fired her.

I wondered how long it would take him to hire someone else in my place.

Blowing out a last heavy breath, I pressed the intercom.

‘Yes?’ It was Justin’s voice.

‘Hello Justin, it’s Kate Miller. I realise that this is unexpected,’ hell if it was , ‘but could I please speak to Piers?’

‘Miss Kate!’ he chimed. ‘I’ll be out d’rectly!’

Meaning I couldn’t go in, of course. How quick was the descent of the humiliated!

The gate opened and he scurried out towards me, turning to check behind him every now and then. ‘It’s so good to see you, Miss!’

‘And you, Justin!’

‘I’m afraid Mr Henshaw isn’t, er, in at the moment,’ he said regretfully.

‘Oh. Okay. Thank you, Justin. Sorry for wasting your time. Please tell him I stopped by when he gets back.’

‘No worries. How are you, Miss?’

Bloody miserable without your boss , I wanted to cry. ‘I’m doing well, thank you.’

‘I’m glad to hear that. You look well, if I may say?’

‘Thank you. Justin… how is he?’

‘Not too well, Miss. I think he misses you terribly, but he won’t speak about it.’

‘Could you please tell him I miss—? Never mind. Thank you. It was good to see you.’

‘And you, Miss. Will you be needing a ride back?’

‘Oh, no, thank you.’

A loud sound made us jump and when he turned and pressed a button behind him, I realised it was the gate intercom. Piers? Had he changed his mind? Did he finally want to talk to me?

Justin huffed and glanced at me before speaking into the intercom. ‘Yes, Miss Patsy?’

‘Justin, who are you talking to out there?’ came a screech.

He swallowed in what I could only guess was fear. ‘A friend, Miss Patsy. I’ll be there d’rectly.’

‘Is that what’s her face, the pregnant one?’

‘It’s Miss Miller,’ he informed her, rolling his eyes at me apologetically. ‘I’m so sorry, Miss. This is highly inappropriate.’

‘Will you tell her,’ she continued, well aware that I could hear her, ‘that I am back, and that Piers doesn’t want to see her ever again? I swear, she’s the worst thing that ever happened to him.’

Well that was rich, coming from her! I couldn’t quite believe it – to turf me out like I meant nothing was one thing, but to replace me with Patsy? A look of horror took over Justin’s face, and he pressed a button to silence the intercom.

‘Are you sure I can’t drive you back home?’

I shook my head. ‘No, thank you, I’ll best be off…’

I turned and headed for the main path. No crying. Especially in my condition. I had to get over myself once and for all. But more importantly, I had to get over Piers.

*

When, huffing and puffing I got to the bottom of the hill, someone called my name. I whirled around to see Robert.

‘Oh! Hi!’ I cried.

‘You all right? You look… what’s wrong?’

‘It’s probably just the exercise,’ I said, swiping at a tear. ‘I’m not used to it anymore.’

‘You’re crying. Did you just hear about Patsy’s return? Don’t read anything into it; I’m sure he was in desperate need of help with the company after you left.’

‘How does everyone know about Patsy but me?’ I croaked.

Robert took my arm. ‘Kate, you’re too upset to be alone. Come back to my practice and keep me company for a while. I know the old dears in the waiting room will be thrilled to see you.’

A million things had happened since I’d helped Robert out at the clinic; it was almost a lifetime ago.

I had been under the impression that he wasn’t all that happy with me lately; his short sentences and lack of eye contact told me that he didn’t approve of any of my actions and he was right.

And yet, he was still courteous and considerate. That was the mark of a true gentleman.

‘Really, I’m okay…’

‘No, you’re not. Remember you have the responsibility of a baby. If you’re unhappy, she’s unhappy.’

I knew he had my best interest at heart. Unlike Mr Rockstar up the road. ‘Okay, then,’ I said miserably. ‘Thank you.’

‘Come then,’ he said, offering me his arm, which I appreciated as I was feeling rather ragged.

A combination of the steep hill and the huge disappointment at the top.

Well, who needed him? I was going to fly solo from now on.

My main priorities were staying hidden from Will and giving birth to my baby. End of.

We walked in silence into the village, greeting people here and there.

What respect he commanded, Dr Armitage. He was a good man, despite our initial misunderstanding.

He had a kind heart. I wondered if it was true that he was dating Dr Kelly Kernow, the local vet. They were well suited to each other.

‘Are you sleeping well?’ Robert asked as I climbed onto the examination table at the clinic. ‘Any more nightmares?’

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked up into Robert’s inquisitive face. ‘Erm, less than before. I’m okay, actually.’

‘Do you get tired around the house?’

‘I’m always tired. Sleepy.’

Except for when I was at Piers’s. How could I sleep when I wanted to spend as much time with him as I could? It was literally impossible. And now?

‘I’m not going to prescribe you anything beyond folic acid. I want you to eat as many colours as you can. Don’t forget your fibre. And cut down on the cakes.’

‘Well that’s not going to be much fun,’ I sighed.

‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘Life is full of great stuff outside of baked goods.’

I shrugged. ‘If you say so, Doc.’

But I had to know what was really going on. So when I got home with a clean bill of health, I typed a WhatsApp message to our Coastal Girls group:

Went up to Rosestones but never got past the door because of Patsy. She says that Piers never wants to see me again. Do you think that’s true???

To which each and every one of the girls answered:

Emmie: She’s just trying to rile you!

Nat: Piers would never say that!

Nina: WTF? Never!

Rosie: Why is she always so mean?

Faith: She’s just jealous!

If they seemed pretty confident that it wasn’t true, why couldn’t I be the same?

Amongst us all, I had been the one to win Piers’s heart.

I should be the one who had the most faith in him and not believe a single word of it all.

But they hadn’t seen the look on Piers’s face when he sent me packing.

They hadn’t seen his entire future crumbling in the bat of an eye.

That night, the girls came over with bags of comfort food and we draped ourselves around the furniture and on huge pillows on the floor to watch a boxset of Friends .

‘Patsy just wants to pretend that Piers is in love with her, you know,’ Nat said. ‘She’s always had a thing for him, and I don’t think she can take no for an answer. She’s just like Phoebe here, completely out of touch with reality.’

‘That’s not true,’ Rosie defended. ‘Phoebe can be more down to earth than the other two. She’s the street-wise one.’

‘True,’ Nina agreed. ‘She’s the grittiest and the gutsiest.’

‘I wish I was gritty and gutsy,’ I mumbled.

‘Oh, honey, you so are!’ Emmie assured me.

‘Absolutely!’ Faith chimed in. ‘The way you changed your life around, just like that? Patsy could never do that.’

‘She’s doing it now, isn’t she, if she’s back working with Piers…’

‘She’s not ,’ Faith said. ‘She just… thinks she is. It’ll only be temporary until he can get someone else in, I’m sure of it.’

‘Just like I said before,’ Nat said. ‘She’s just like Phoebe.’

‘Phoebe’s not out of touch with reality,’ Rosie said, putting her glass down. ‘Did I already say that, by any chance?’

‘Round and round we go,’ Nina sighed as she poured the girls some more wine while I reached for my mug of hot chocolate.

‘Do you want me to give Justin a ring and find out what’s really going on?’ Nina offered.

I shook my head. ‘No, thanks, I don’t want to look too needy…’

‘So what can we do?’ Emmie asked.

‘Nothing,’ I croaked as they all looked around at each other in silence.

‘Here,’ Rosie said helplessly, passing me a packet of Reese’s Pieces.