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‘What is it?’
‘A present.’ He grinned and passed it to her.
‘Really? Aw, thank you.’ Placing the bag on the closest table, Evie opened it and pulled out a thickly padded red coat. ‘Oh, wow, a new coat. Thanks.’
Running his fingers through his hair, Jack grinned. ‘I just thought you might need one now you’ve decided to stay in the bay. It’s waterproof rather than shower resistant, so it should actually keep you dry even in weather like this.’
‘Jack, I don’t know what to say.’ Shaking her head, Evie blinked back tears. ‘Actually, I do.’
‘You do what?’
‘I do know what to say.’
‘Oh, yes?’ He frowned.
Laying the coat on the table, she took Jack’s hands in hers and looked him in the eye. What was it that Elsie had said in the car on the way to the church? Not to waste time, to tell the person you care for how you feel? Swallowing, she took a deep breath. ‘I love you, Jack Timpson.’
‘I love you too, Evie Phillips. I really do.’
Evie grinned. It felt right. Real. How could her entire perception of love have changed so dramatically in such a short space of time? She shook her head and stepped towards him, allowing herself to be drawn into a hug. She supposed it didn’t really matter. The only thing that truly did was that it had, not how.
‘As lovely as this is and as much as I want to stay like this forever, we really should be getting a move on if you want to get to the viewing on time.’ Kissing her forehead, Jack picked up his coat and held it open as she shrugged into it.
‘That’s true.’
‘Evie, don’t forget this. It has all your questions written on the back.’ Diane picked up a sheet of paper from behind the bakery and waved it in the air.
‘Oh yes. Thank you.’ Taking the paper, Evie looked down and traced her index finger over the photograph of the cottage, the perfect little home for her to rent. It even had a small breakfast bar overlooking a little herb garden out the back, the ideal place for her to sit and write the business plan for her new venture. Folding it carefully, she tucked it into the pocket of her new coat, linked arms with Jack and stepped out onto the cobbles and into the rain.
––––––––
‘IT’S DECIDED THEN?’Jack closed the little metal gate at the end of the front garden to the cottage.
‘Definitely. I can really see myself living there.’ Evie grinned. It had been everything the photos had promised and more. ‘Plus, the estate agent seemed to think I could move in as soon as next week if my references came through quickly.’
‘I still can’t believe you’re moving here.’ Turning, he gently pulled up Evie’s hood.
‘Me neither.’ Evie frowned and nodded towards a woman in the bus shelter opposite. ‘Do you think she’s okay? I’m pretty sure there’s not another bus for at least an hour. I think I’ll go and see if she wants to wait inside the bakery rather than out here.’
Jack looked across the road towards the bus shelter. ‘Good idea.’ Holding out his hand, he waited until she’d slipped her hand into his and led the way across the road.
‘Hi, are you okay? I think you might have a bit of a wait until the next bus. Did you want to come and wait in the bakery down the hill? It’s warm inside and I can get you a coffee?’
‘The bakery?’ The woman peered from beneath a hood.
‘Yes, that’s right. We serve drinks too.’
‘The Cornish Bay Bakery?’
‘That’s the one. Do you know it?’ Evie smiled.
‘No. I mean, I know of it.’ The woman chewed her bottom lip and picked up her rucksack, seemingly thinking about something. Sighing, she nodded. ‘I’m supposed to be volunteering there, but now I’m not so sure. I’m a few days early and...’
‘Oh right. Well, why don’t you come down and see it, get warm and then decide from there?’ Evie frowned. The woman looked as though she’d been crying.
Slowly, the woman nodded. ‘I suppose so.’
‘Great. I’m Evie, by the way, and this is Jack.’
‘Hi, I’m Gabby Burton.’ Standing up, the woman pulled her hood further down as she stepped out from the protective shield of the shelter.
‘I can take that for you, if you like?’ Jack held his hand out and nodded at the rucksack.
‘Oh, thank you.’
