Page 42 of The Little Cottage by the Cornish Sea

The next morning was the twenty-third of December.

The girls and I were all invited to Faith and Henry’s home above St Ives for Christmas Eve, so I’d already packed all my presents, written all my cards and made a Christmas pudding the size of a wheel.

Once I finished my breakfast, I’d go out and get a few more bits for Baby.

As Trixie and I were sitting having my delicious breakfast of toasted bread with jam and butter and a decaf tea, the doorbell rang. I wondered whether it was Mrs Nan, since she’d said she’d come to see me again. But when I peered through the peephole, I got a surprise and I flung the door open.

‘Noah!’

‘Hi… Kate,’ he said, trying my name on for the first time while shoving a huge bunch of flowers under my nose. He was telling me he was okay with it all.

‘Oh, they’re beautiful! Come on in. Can I get you a cup of coffee, and not any of this decaf rubbish?’ I offered as he stepped into the living room, whistling.

‘Gosh, this place has changed, hasn’t it?’

I stepped into the kitchen and turned the kettle on, smiling. ‘‘My girlfriends surprised me.’

‘Wow,’ he said as he sat down. ‘So how are you? I wanted to come earlier but I figured you were a bit overwhelmed,’ he said as I poured his coffee, waddling over to him.

I eased myself into my armchair. ‘I’m okay. I could be better, but we can’t have everything.’

‘I heard about you and Piers. I’m sorry. I want you to be happy, Kate.’

I smiled at him as I sipped my tea. ‘Thanks, but I’m a big girl.’

‘If you ever need me, for anything – babysitting, a leaking tap, dinner – I’m here for you.’

That last one was said with a wink, and I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t help smiling at him. I put down my cup. ‘That’s very sweet of you, thank you.’

Noah was such a fine bloke. There was nothing he couldn’t do. He was a skilled builder, a loyal friend and a good shoulder to cry on. But I was done crying.

He drained his mug and got up. ‘Well, cheers for the tea, but I gotta go. I only stopped by to say hey. Remember what I said, though. I’m here for you.’I reached up to hug him and he patted my back. ‘Take care of yourself’ he said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

‘Come by often, whenever you feel like it. I mean it. I’ll always have time for you.’

‘I will,’ he agreed as he backed away from me toward the door. ‘I will. Merry Christmas, Kate.’

‘Merry Christmas, Noah.’

When he closed the door behind him, I felt an unexpected sadness. I had gotten used to having company all the time.

I must have dozed off, because when I opened my eyes it was getting dark outside. I had planned to run a few errands. I looked at the time. If I hurried, I’d just about make it to Jago’s Bend Or Bump bazaar before he closed for Christmas.

*

‘Hey…’ Jago said, kissing me on both cheeks after I’d squeezed my huge frame through the door. ‘I was about to close up. What are you doing here on this beastly night?’

‘Oh, I just needed some more stuff for Baby.’

‘I got you covered,’ he said as he took my elbow and guided me to the back where I’d never been before. ‘This is where I keep the good stuff!’

‘You sly dog,’ I laughed as my hands caressed a beautiful vintage maple rocking chair.

‘It’s Edwardian,’ he said. ‘At least that’s what Faith says.’

‘It’s just gorgeous. How much?’

‘For you, thirty quid.’

‘Are you kidding me?’ I said, reaching for the price tag. ‘It says two hundred here.’

‘Ah, but those are DFL prices,’ he explained to me with a wink.

‘But I am a DFL,’ I protested with a laugh.

‘Not anymore, you’re not.’

‘Jago, what am I going to do with all of you guys?’

He chuckled. ‘It’s been re-upholstered recently with a brand-new pattern that Faith chose. You like?’

I caressed the durable yet delicate material, smiling at the Beatrix Potter theme. ‘I love ,’ I sighed. ‘Go on, then.’

‘Okay, then. I’ll deliver it to you ASAP,’ he said.

I pointed at him. ‘Before the baby is born?’

Ha laughed. ‘Before the baby is born, I promise!’

‘You got yourself a deal, my friend!’

‘Do you want me to drive you home?’ he offered as he opened the door and we looked out into the dark night. ‘It’s absolutely filthy out there.’

‘I’m okay, I’ve got my car.’

‘You sure? Emmie would have my head if anything happened to you.’

‘Nothing’s going to happen to me, Jago,’ I assured him. Not with this precious cargo inside me. I’d drive at a snail’s pace just to keep her safe.

‘All right, then. But drive carefully,’ he said.

‘I will. See you tomorrow night.’

‘Right!’

Jago was right. It was a filthy night, with snow beating down against the windshield faster than the wipers could get rid of it. The road was very slippery but I went slowly.

Shivering, I burst through the front door and rushed to start a fire in the hearth.

Immediately, the flames began to lick at the logs I had placed; I watched the flames as I pulled the throw over me and I settled myself onto the settee for the evening.

It was almost Christmas. My due date. Not much longer to go.

I couldn’t wait to look into my daughter’s eyes.

I must have dozed off, because when I woke up on the settee, it was completely dark. The fire had died and the room was chilly. I reached for the poker and blew the fire back into life, getting soot all over my hands.

Time for dinner, I guess . Not that I was hungry; I’d slept most of the day and evening.

I checked my phone. There were a few messages from the girls and one from Robert asking me how I was doing.

I texted them all back and then I had absolutely nothing to do except for fix myself a light supper and look forward to a quiet, boring evening in front of the telly.

I perused through the cupboards and in the end opted for baked beans on toast. Simple, reasonably nutritious and perfect for a lazy evening.

Ah. Can’t forget dessert. There was a bit of Jack’s amazing apple crumble left.

Just enough for two servings. I dished myself one and was about to put the plate back into the fridge but then thought, Who am I kidding?

and scooped it all onto a dessert plate.

Might as well make the most of eating for two while I still could.

And that’s when I noticed something on the outside of the windowsill.

It was a box. I drew the throw over my head and opened the door to retrieve it.

It was made of sturdy cardboard but light enough to carry without too much effort.

Probably one of Nan’s cakes or a hoard of peanut butter by Robert.

It certainly wasn’t love letters from Piers; I knew that much.

I carried it to the coffee table and opened it.

A chill ran up my spine as my knees began to buckle under me.

It contained case file folders marked CONFIDENTIAL in red block letters.

I recognised them immediately as the ones Will had stolen and stashed under his bed.

He was here in Starry Cove! He had found me!

And then, over the howling wind, I heard a loud banging on the window behind me.