Sophie placed the bowls on the table and sat down. ‘He’s doing great. He’s always so happy, and there are splodges of colour in his cheeks.’
‘He certainly looks heaps better than he did when he first arrived.’
‘If I walked all the way from London to Cornwall, I reckon I would have looked worse.’
Ginny brought some beef to her lips and blew. ‘I’m so glad Matt found us.’
Sophie smiled a smile that seemed to be just for her. ‘Me too.’
‘Aww, look at you all loved up.’
‘Oh, hush. But I so am. It feels good to be in a relationship where it just works.’
If only Ginny knew what that felt like. She was sure she’d never find such happiness.
Sophie glanced up and, as though reading her mind, changed the subject. ‘How’s it going next door with all the noise?’
‘I’m at work when all the crash, bang, wallop goes on, so all good for me, so far. Lottie did say the renovations should be finished in a few weeks, then it’s just decorating and stuff.’
‘She’ll have the biggest harbour house up Berry Hill now she’s joining two homes.’
‘Yeah, I guess it might look odd for a while seeing a double front. Ooh, speaking of which, brainstorm with me.’
‘About?’
Ginny quickly chewed a piece of potato. ‘I have an idea for the café. It won’t be anything I do straight away, as I want to wait till Mum is in a home, then I’ll have more time to myself.’
‘Sounds intriguing. Spit it out, Gin.’
‘I was thinking of pinching a bit of the café to turn into a tearoom. You know how much I want one, and there’s no way I can get rid of the café. The locals would make me walk the plank.’
Sophie laughed. ‘True.’
‘So, I was wondering, as you’re a local, what would you think?’
‘Erm, well, elaborate.’
Ginny put down her fork and rested her elbows on the table. ‘The café has a lot of space, double front and all that, so what about if I shave a quarter off one side? Put up some sort of partition wall? The café would still be big, and it’s only a small section I’d be changing, and . . .’ Ginny groaned, slapping a hand to her face. ‘Don’t say it. I know. The pitchforks will come out, won’t they?’
Sophie looked sympathetic. ‘It’s hard to say. Look, it’s been your café for seven years now. You can do what you like with it, but it has been around since the dawn of time, so—’
‘Yeah, I know, the locals would come in for a T-Rex burger, it’s that old.’
Sophie smiled. ‘I guess if you made the tearoom an extension of the place it might be okay. You know, keep the nautical theme, maybe call it something like Harbour Light Tearoom. I don’t know, I’m just a fishmonger. Sea Shanty Shack was named by my grandparents. If it was left to me, not sure what name it would have.’
‘I like Sea Shanty Shack.’
‘But do you like Harbour Light?’
‘The previous owners did get away with adding Café on the end, so there’s hope for me yet.’
Sophie shrugged. ‘It’s something to mull over. Harbour Tearoom sounds nice. Not so much of a mouthful.’
‘My cakes would be a mouthful. I wouldn’t do those skimpy slices.’ Ginny sighed as she scooped up some more food. ‘I really want a tearoom, Soph, but I can’t sell the café. It’s such a great business, and there’s nothing else available along the front, and I don’t want a shop somewhere else.’
‘Then pop up to Lottie’s during the day, ask Shaun to take a look at the café, and see what he says can be done. Get a quote at least. Like you said, there’s no rush. You probably wouldn’t want it open till spring anyway.’
‘Yes, ready for tourist season. Although Christmas in the tearoom could be nice.’
