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26
Five minutes later, Lettie was sitting in Daisy’s car, breathing in lemon fumes from the air freshener stuck to the dashboard. Shelton Ford was in her rear-view mirror and she was heading for the coast.
She wasn’t looking forward to breaking the news to Claude but she felt inexplicably keen to get back to the village. There was something about the place that drew her to it – a peace and a quiet that she didn’t experience in busy London, a city that had never quite suited her.
For a moment, she let herself imagine living in the village and pursuing her dream of studying history. The countryside would soothe her far more than an urban landscape ever could, and it was easy to imagine being happy in this picturesque part of Devon.
She pulled over for a moment and, knowing it was pointless, googled part-time history courses in the area. There were a few possibilities, but she’d still need money to pay for her studies and support herself. It was merely a pipe dream and yet… Try to do what makes you happy in life. Esther’s words sounded in her head, like a clarion call as she put down her phone and drove off again. Esther, who had chosen duty over love, head over heart.
When she reached the very edge of Heaven’s Cove, Lettie pulled over and walked until she reached a park, set back from the road. Dahlias, pinks and hollyhocks were a profusion of colour in the beds that stretched through the park as far as Lettie could see. She could smell the sea here – it couldn’t be far away – and butterflies flitted through the heavy summer air.
Everyone fell in love with their holiday location and dreamed of moving there full-time. Lettie knew she was a walking cliché for feeling the same way. Hadn’t she wanted to up sticks and move immediately after visiting French chateaux, the Italian Alps, and Greek islands? They’d offered a vision of change, of total reinvention.
But Heaven’s Cove was different. She could live here as herself and she had the family connection which made her feel, in some small part, as if she belonged already. Iris would probably haunt her for not finding out what Cornelius had meant in his letter, but Lettie instinctively felt she’d be happy for her great-niece to live in this village.
It was a lovely dream – but a dream nonetheless. Lettie might not have a job as yet, but she had family in London to get back to – a family who needed her. And some of the locals round here would be glad to see the back of her, anyway.
She pushed down the thought of Corey’s disappointed face as she walked back to the car. And when she drove past the steep road that led to his cottage, she resisted the urge to call in and explain why she’d told Simon that Florence wasn’t well. What was the point when she’d soon be far away from here?
And what was the point in breaking Claude’s heart all over again? That was her next task and one she was dreading. But it had to be done. He’d trusted her with the search for Esther and he would expect her to tell him the truth.
Lettie parked closeto the quay and walked the rest of the way to Claude’s cottage. Part of her hoped that he wouldn’t be home, but the front door was pulled open a few seconds after she’d knocked.
‘You’re back!’ Claude, in a grey T-shirt marked with what looked like ketchup stains, stood aside for Lettie to come inside. ‘Do you have news?’ he asked impatiently.
‘I do,’ said Lettie, her heart hurting when she saw hope flare in his eyes. ‘I do, but it’s not all good news, I’m afraid.’
‘I see.’ He bent and stroked Buster’s head. ‘Well, you’d best come in and tell me it anyway.’
Lettie followed him into the front room and took a seat on the sofa which was covered, once more, in dog hair. Claude sat opposite her, on the hardback chair by the window, with his hands in his lap.
‘You said it’s not all good news so there must be something positive to tell me.’
‘The good news is that I found Esther.’
Claude bowed his head for a moment as though he was praying.
‘She’s widowed now and back living in Devon.’
‘She’s living back round here?’ Claude’s head shot up. ‘Is she well?’
‘She looks very well.’
‘Did you see her?’
‘I did,’ said Lettie, feeling awful. She’d seen Esther, the woman he loved, but he never would again.
‘That’s wonderful,’ said Claude, his grizzled face lighting up. ‘And does she remember me?’
Lettie could have cried at the longing in his voice. ‘Of course she remembers you. She said she’s often thought about you over the years.’
‘Is that right?’ Claude looked at the photo of Esther, taken so long ago, and smiled. ‘That’s good to know.’
‘But I’m afraid…’ Lettie hesitated. How could she say this without breaking his heart all over again? ‘Esther was so glad to hear that you’re well and still in Heaven’s Cove, but she thinks it’s best if the two of you don’t renew your friendship. I think she’s worried that too much has changed over the years and she doesn’t want to… disappoint you.’
‘She could never disappoint me,’ said Claude gruffly.
‘That’s what I told her, but she was quite adamant that things should stay as they are. She thinks it’s best if you don’t meet.’
