‘I’ve said he can move in with me while he gets himself sorted,’ he told her when she came back.
‘I haven’t heard him say he’s definitely moving up this way, but I think we’re almost there.’ She crossed the fingers on both hands. ‘He’s agreed to get his house valued, which is a step in the right direction. I’m sure he’ll be surprised how much property prices have gone up and if he’s downsizing, he’ll be able to choose something special here in the Cove. Both of you here with me – it’ll be wonderful.’ Linc didn’t miss the tear in the corner of her eye. ‘Mind you, I rejected his idea I sell my flat and move in with him if this plan does ahead. I think that may be a step too far and he’d hate me bossing him about all the time. Besides, I’m not past it yet, I can tackle the stairs up to my flat and they keep me fit.’
‘Good for you, you keep your independence. It’ll do Dad good to do the same. Independence but with plenty of people around, that’s the key.’ He nodded at her offer of a coffee.
Patricia bundled in through the front door. ‘Cavalry’s arrived,’ she announced chirpily and grinning from ear to ear, no doubt thinking about the wedding later. ‘Break time, Etna, I’ll take over for twenty minutes.’
Etna didn’t protest – which had to be a first. She merely made a coffee for Linc, a cup of tea for herself and came to sit with her nephew at the table by the window. ‘I don’t argue with her when she tells me to take a break but I honestly don’t need one. In fact, I’ve told Patricia and your dad that after today I’m allowed to dictate my own break times.’
Linc savoured the bold, earthy flavour of his americano coffee and let it filter through him. ‘That’s good. Don’t ever get rid of your machine.’
‘Never,’ she grinned. ‘Tell me, are you looking forward to the wedding later? It’s confusing this year – I don’t know whether to call it a wedding or a wedding dress ball.’
‘I am looking forward to it.’ At least he had been before a certain Italian had shown up in the Cove. But instead of looking forward to seeing Jade – not that he’d mind seeing her, of course – he was excited about being introduced to more people in the village, to really start trying to settle in with a sense of permanency rather than the constant nagging thought of where he’d move on to next.
Etna thanked Patricia for bringing over a couple of shortbread fingers for each of them. ‘Do you have your outfit sorted?’
‘I have a tux.’
‘I shall look forward to seeing you in that, I don’t think I see you smart very often.’
‘And what about you, are you wearing a dress? I understand the tradition is that if you were once married, you wear the dress you wore down the aisle.’
‘Indeed it is. And I did wear my wedding dress for many years but it was time for a change so I found something new…and my dress was beginning to get somewhat snug. I’m not in the best profession for staying trim and with a bakery as well as this place and the waffle shack all in the vicinity, I don’t really want to,’ she grinned.
‘You look beautiful, you always did.’
‘Luckily my job keeps me active. I’m not slowing down yet despite people trying to make me.’ She’d said the latter for the benefit of Patricia, who threw Linc a glance that told him she knew it. ‘But flattery will get you everywhere, young man.’ She described the replacement dress she’d found at a shop by the seaside, floaty and chic, a champagne colour rather than white. ‘It’s much better for a woman of my age, and besides, a new dress is always a boost.’
‘Who knows, if you get married again, maybe you could upgrade.’
‘Drink your coffee,’ she said, avoiding anything he might be hinting at, and then told him how she intended to dance this evening and keep up with the rest of them.
‘Don’t ever change,’ he told her, setting down his empty mug.
‘I’ll try not to,’ she laughed.
They talked some more about Melissa’s cottage and Etna went into detail about the woodland walks he could access beyond there. ‘In spring,’ she told him, ‘you can see the most gorgeous carpet of bluebells only minutes away from the cottage.’
He was about to be on his way when the bell above the door tinkled and Jade was the next customer to appear. Etna smiled her a hello but Linc was doing his best to surreptitiously look around to see if she’d brought anyone in with her. She hadn’t.
Jade ordered two coffees, Etna waved Patricia away telling her she’d taken enough of a break as she headed for the coffee machine herself, and as she began on the first cup, she called out to Jade, ‘I saw you with a handsome stranger earlier.’ Trust Etna to get right to the point.
Jade briefly looked over at Linc, her credit card poised in her hand to make the necessary transaction and get out of here. ‘An old friend,’ was all she said by way of explanation. She wasn’t giving much away, even when Etna brought out the coffees and hovered expectantly.
‘He’s not from around here,’ Etna persisted, but Jade had already scooped up both coffee cups after tapping her card on the machine.
‘He’s visiting from Italy,’ was all she said before she scarpered.
‘What are you grinning at?’ Etna came back to the table.
‘You, being nosy.’
‘I like to keep abreast of what’s going on,’ she said, although not defensively, before adding, ‘especially where Jade’s concerned.’
‘Why?’
‘You know why.’
