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I stand in the half-finished shop long after he’s gone, my heart still warm with the joy of his smile. My thoughts are on food recipes, on mending fences with neighbours, on the way he sat opposite me, his long legs akimbo in a casual untidy way.
Switching off lights, I climb the stairs up to my room, wash and get into bed.
Elodie, don’t be an idiot. You could do without an inconvenient crush on top of all your other problems. And this man is nothing but trouble.
As it turns out, the first hint of trouble is something so little, I don’t take it seriously. Not at first.
chapter Twenty-Three
Elodie
Saturday, early in the morning, before Pierre, Gabriel, and Hal turn up to paint the rest of the floor, I walk to the village for some much-needed shopping. Just as I’m coming out of the small supermarket, I run into Myles de la Cour.
“Six frozen pizzas, garlic baguettes, arancini balls.” He arches his eyebrows at my shopping bags. “Is there an Italian festival no one told me about?”
He’s very pleased when I explain about dinner for my helpers. “Keep the pizzas in your freezer,” he says. “You’re going need them this coming week, your first week of trading won’t leave you much time for cooking. I’ll bring you fish and chips, tonight.”
That sounds much better; and the village’s cider-battered haddock is to die for.
“What time do you want to eat?” he asks. “I’ll get extra in case anyone else turns up.”
“Myles?” I narrow my eyes at him. “Who else have you recruited to help me?”
He holds his hands up, palms out. “Not guilty. It was just someone from the Casemates.”
“The Casemates?”
“It’s La Canette Silks. They’re sending you the ribbons you wanted.”
Ribbons. Of course. Doris must have mentioned it to someone, who mentioned it to someone else, and now everyone in the English Channel knows.
“Okay, I’d better get some salad things.” I start walking towards the vegetable shop.
He falls into step with me and helps me find lettuce and tomatoes, then walks back to the square where I turn to go home, and I have to argue him out of carrying my shopping for me.
“Elodie,” he says. “You’ve left your previous life and moved here to help your grandfather. Why can’t you accept that others might want to help a little? Hedge has done so much for people on this island, they want to pay some of it back. It’s how things work here.”
“Sorry, I’m just not used to it, back in Manchester, I was… I’ve always been self-reliant.”
“I can tell.” Myles gives me the vegetable bag. “Okay, you can carry your bags. Now tell me how many people you’re expecting for fish and chips tonight.”
I start to count everyone including Grandad and Doris, but when I mention Hal, Myles’ expression changes.
“Hemingway? What’s he doing in your house?”
When I explain about all the work Hal’s done, Myles looks decidedly put-out. “And he’s coming again today?” he asks. “And Hedge is all right with this?”
The question takes me by surprise. “Why would Grandad mind?”
Myles opens his mouth to say something, pauses, then asks, “So, what time do you want to break for dinner?”
Whatever it is that’s bothered him, he’s not going to explain.
“About six-thirty. Then we can all relax, and chat, and I can introduce you to everyone.”
He gives me a distracted smile. “I already know everyone.”
“Duh.” I laugh as I pick up the other bags. “Of course, you do. But come and join us anyway.” And I turn to go.
