A Perfect Cornish Escape

‘You think so? It was a free sample from one of the companies I visited near Truro. They actually grow it here – can you believe it? They gave me a taster pack and I have to admit, it’s delicious. There are some perks to the job. Hmm, maybe I can wangle some more for the auction.’

‘Great,’ Marina replied. She and Tiff continued to chat about her ‘duties’ at the fundraiser, but, however much she tried to concentrate on the tombola and bric-a-brac stalls, she couldn’t help wondering if Lachlan would actually put in an appearance.

Marina didn’t have to wonder when she might see Lachlan again for long. She finished work early on the Wednesday and had been to post some documents back to her solicitor when she saw him with Aaron and Evie Carman outside the newsagents on the harbourside.

Evie beckoned her over and Marina needed no extra encouragement. It was a fine afternoon, with a gentle breeze blowing. Both the guys were in shorts and T-shirts, and Marina couldn’t help discreetly admiring Lachlan’s physique.

‘Afternoon, Evie,’ Marina said cheerfully, adding a friendly, ‘Hello,’ for the boys.

Evie kissed her cheek. ‘Afternoon, sweetheart.’ She turned to Lachlan. ‘I expect you two know each other?’

‘We’ve met a couple of times.’ Lachlan shared a look with Marina as if he wanted their encounter in the cove and station kept between them. Evie was lovely and a stalwart of the village but perhaps a full-on introduction to the centre of village life wasn’t what he needed when he was new and obviously liked to keep himself to himself. Marina felt a bit sorry for him.

Evie rolled her eyes. ‘I should hope so when you two live virtually next door. Be getting to know one another a lot more from now on too.’

‘Mum!’ Spotting Aaron cringing behind his mum’s back, Marina smiled broadly. Evie was known for her good-natured matchmaking.

‘I’m sure we will,’ she said.

‘Now that Lachlan’s joined Aaron in his security business, they’ll make a great pair. He needs the help because he’ll be busy now that there’s a little Aaron on the way.’ Tiny Evie puffed with pride. ‘Have you heard that Ellie’s expecting?’

‘No … no, wow … congratulations to you both!’ she said to Aaron. The news that Aaron’s partner, Ellie Latham, was pregnant came as a surprise.

‘It’s early days. She’s only twelve weeks,’ Aaron said. ‘So, we haven’t told many people, have we, Mum?’

Evie patted her son’s arm. ‘She’ll be fine.’

‘I won’t share the news, if you don’t want me to,’ Marina said, delighted for Ellie and Aaron, who seemed madly in love. Yet there was a corner of her heart that was thinking ‘what if …’ She definitely wanted children of her own one day.

‘It’s OK. Everyone will know, sooner or later.’ Aaron shook his head and put his arm around his mum. ‘And it is wonderful news.’

Marina could see him swell with pride himself, and he was a huge man to start with. Lachlan stood quietly by, a half smile on his face.

‘You’ll come to the fundraiser, Lachlan?’ Evie said brightly. ‘Everyone will be there.’

Lachlan’s lips parted. Marina could tell he wasn’t sure and wondered if it might be a step too far to expect Lachlan to join a big community event so soon.

Aaron stepped in to rescue him. ‘It might not be Lachlan’s kind of thing, Mum. Give him a break, he’s only been here a couple of weeks.’

‘Long enough,’ Evie said. ‘It’ll help you settle in. I’ll introduce you to everyone. They’ll all be at the fundraiser.’

‘Mum,’ Aaron pleaded.

‘It’s fine, Aaron,’ Lachlan said. ‘Thanks for the invitation, Mrs Carman. I’ll try to drop by if I possibly can,’ he said, sharing a glance with Marina.

‘Great. I knew you’d want to join in! And do call me Evie, for goodness’ sake, Mrs Carman makes me feel so bloomin’ ancient! I can’t believe I’m mum to this strapping fella.’ She hung onto Aaron’s arm and he smiled sheepishly before kissing her cheek. ‘He’s my big handsome boy and now I’m going to be a nanna again.’

Aaron grimaced but it was clear he adored his mum.

Marina laughed and caught the eye of Lachlan who had a smile tugging his own lips. It suited him, making his eyes crinkle as he exchanged a glance with her. He was obviously as amused – and perhaps touched – as Marina was by Evie’s love of Aaron and his embarrassment.

‘Come on, Mum. We’ll be late for Gem’s tea party,’ Aaron said, adding, ‘It’s my niece’s birthday.’

‘Say hello to Gemma from me,’ Marina said, knowing Aaron’s sister from her school days.

‘And you must come round for one of my shrimp creoles soon,’ Evie said, finally releasing Aaron.

‘I’d like that,’ said Lachlan, and Marina wasn’t sure whether he was only being polite or not.

Evie turned to her. ‘That goes for you too, Marina. We haven’t had chance to catch up for ages. It’s about time we had a good old get together.’

‘Thanks, Evie,’ Marina replied, feeling a little awkward that she’d been included in the invitation. It was a vague offer, however, so it might not happen.

Evie went off, on Aaron’s arm, leaving Marina and Lachlan alone together.

‘Evie is lovely. She and Troy are both wonderful people who do so much for the town,’ she said.

‘So I hear.’ He smiled. ‘Evie loves her boy.’

‘Yes. His face was priceless when she called him handsome.’

He laughed. ‘Aye. He knows I’ll not let him forget that when we’re back in the office together.’

Marina smiled, heartened by his sense of humour. ‘I can imagine … so, will you come to the fundraiser?’ she ventured.

He shrugged. ‘I hope so. I’ll see how busy I am.’

A little deflated by his response, she pushed on anyway. She’d grown used to not taking no for an answer since she’d had to find funds for the Wave Watchers. ‘I’ll be looking after a stall and helping with the auction. Evie’s our auctioneer, you know, and believe me, you do not want to miss that,’ she said.

He smiled again, so she pressed further. ‘You could drop by quietly on your own, you know? A small place like Porthmellow can be a bit much if you’re new and everyone knows each other and their business. I can see it might not be the most attractive proposition but the fundraiser might be a way of getting the introductions over with in one go.’

‘You mean like a baptism of fire?’ he asked.

He did that thing again. Looking at her intently and listening as if it was a technique to make the other person say more than they wanted or needed to. She gambled on him being unable to resist her throwing down the gauntlet. ‘I mean, yes, it probably would be a baptism of fire, but if you’re up for the challenge, why not?’

‘OK, you’ve persuaded me.’ He smiled, with a piercing look that went straight to her core. ‘I never shy away from a challenge.’