Previously…

After saying goodbye to Abby, I strode back to my cottage to change. Glancing back, I could see her standing framed in the doorway; I gave her a wave and she waved back before going back inside.

She had seemed sad to see me go and I was caught up in a whirlpool of emotions. I was in the middle of a messy divorce–well the beginning really. My life was complicated. The love I had for Olivia died the instant I saw her having sex with another man. Nothing had changed my mind there. Deep in my heart, I knew–even before that awful day–that our marriage was dead and I had been deluding myself for ages that she loved me and I loved her.

Yes, my life with Olivia was over.

But, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to hurt anyone and I was aware of stories about love on the rebound. Also, I don’t know how Abby felt about me or whether she was seeing anyone.

‘How can you be like this after seeing her just once?’

You see, I had fallen in love.

And now the story continues…

After a quick change into a pale blue smock top and long, dark blue gypsy skirt, I made my way to the Toad and Tart. It had clouded over slightly, bringing a bit of a relief from the suns hot rays, beating down on my head. Also the breeze off the sea helps to cool things a little.

Note to self: get nice wide-brimmed sun hat.

As I entered the pub, several of the people looked at me and either nodded or said, ‘Hello.’ One old timer even said, ‘Good on yer, gel.’

Thinking that he must be drunk or something, I just smiled at him and hurriedly made my way upstairs to the bar where I had agreed to meet Katie.

I reachedthe top of the stairs and heard, ‘Cooee,’ coming from the balcony; Katie was waving and I smiled when I espied Jocasta and my estate agent friend, Millie, sitting with her.

‘Hi, girls,’ I said as I joined them. ‘Who’s having what?’

They were okay for drinks so I just got myself a gin and tonic–without the gin–but with lots of ice and a twist of lemon, then returned to my friends.

‘Let me look at you,’ Jocasta said with a frown.

‘What?’ I said.

‘Nope, no blood, so what d’you think, girls, any internal injuries?’

‘Possibly,’ said Millie. ‘Tricky things internal injuries.’

‘She might be one of those strong, silent types who suffer pain stoically,’ Katie remarked.

‘What are you loonies talking about?’ I asked, and they all burst out laughing.

‘Candice, of course,’ Jocasta replied. ‘She normally eats up meek and mild people and spits them out. I reckon she caught a tigress by the tail when she messed with you, Sam.’

‘I wish I’d been there,’ laughed Katie. ‘The whole village is talking about it and, according to the jungle drums, Candice has taken a few days off for some reason.’

‘I think we all know what that reason is,’ smirked Millie.

‘Well, she shouldn’t have had a go at me. What with all I’ve been going through lately with Olivia and her frightful father, it’s not surprising that I’m a bit tetchy occasionally.’

‘A BIT tetchy?’ Millie chuckled, ‘Remind me not to be near you when you’re more than a bit tetchy.’

We all laughed at that and then after some more good-natured leg pulling, our conversation moved onto other things.

‘How did you get on with Abby and her cats?’ Jocasta asked.

I bit my tongue as I nearly replied, ‘wonderful.’

‘She’s a delightful person and I adore her cats.’ I replied as non-comittedly as I could.

Jo frowned at me; it seemed as if she was about to say something and then changed her mind.

Our conversation moved on to other things and we ordered a basket meal–chicken and chips. It was a long time since I had chicken in a basket, it seemed to have gone out of fashion in most pubs for a while now. However, this being Penmarris, and the whole place being in a time warp, nothing surprised me. What was surprising was how quickly the time flew and, before we realised it, it was time for us to go our separate ways. After saying goodbye with the obligatory hugs all round, Katie and Millie went back to work, leaving Jo and I to finish our drinks as we gazed over the cove down below.

‘Okay, out with it, girl.’

I looked at her, puzzled.

‘Sorry?’

‘You’re hiding something.’

‘No, I’m NOT,’ I protested.

‘It’s about Abby, isn’t it.’

‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Hmm. Well, will you promise to tell me when you’re ready?’

‘Heavens, is that the time?’ I exclaimed, glancing at my watch. ‘I have to get going now.’ And before she had time to say anything that might induce me to reveal my secret, I gave her a quick hug and exited stage right.

Arriving at home, I fired up my computer. I had to get some art supplies for my studio, and after searching several websites, I found one that could fulfill most of my needs and would deliver at a reasonable cost. Mind you, after seeing the total of the items in the basket, I thought that free delivery should have been given.

It would be fantastic to be painting again. I had missed it so much, it had been like an ache, or an itch, maybe, that had needed scratching for longer than I cared to remember.

The materials would be arriving sometime tomorrow afternoon so I would have to make sure that I was at home. After making myself a cup of tea, I went up to my studio–gosh, that sounded soooo good–and picked up a sketch book and my pencils. I sat at the table in good light and sketched from memory. First through outline and then I adding more detail, remembering every facet from the vivid image in my mind’s eye. As usual, I zoned out and my hand did it’s magic.

It’s surprising that, when you are totally absorbed in something you are passionate about, time goes by so quickly. I was pleased with the result when I finally put my pencils down. It was a relief that I hadn’t lost my touch. Where my art is concerned, I am my own most severe critic.

Looking at the drawing, I knew that I would never be satisfied until I painted the subject on canvas, but until then, I would keep the drawing of Abby in a prominent position in my bedroom.

That reminded me that I would have to find out if Katie had found someone to go to my old house and pick up my belongings–including my canvases, paints and other tools of my trade.

My idea was that I wanted to be able to paint for a living. Although I had some money behind me and if all went well with the divorce, more might come my way, I did not want to rely on it. Maybe I would find somewhere to open as a small gallery and show my own works and perhaps other artists. However, all that was for the future but was definitely worth thinking about.

I had been so absorbed in my sketch that I hadn’t noticed the time, so I was surprised when I discovered it was early evening. I wasn’t all that hungry, so I made myself a quick sandwich and then picking up my cardigan, I went for a walk.

The clouds had disappeared and it was still quite warm. As I made my way up the steep lane, though the turnstile and onto the West Coast walk, I considered all that had happened in an incredibly short time.

Was everything going too fast and was I riding for a fall? All the nice things that had happened to me since that fateful day when my world had crashed around me in ruins, had almost seemed like it was all a dream.

Finding Penmarris and its wonderful people–apart from Cantankerous Candice, of course–my fabulous cottage, the friends I had made, the fact that I could still paint and, of course, not forgetting the cats and…Abby, made me wonder at how lucky a girl could be.

I reached the top and turned away from the cove along a stretch of the path that hadn’t explored before. It was achingly beautiful here. Below me was yet another sandy cove, but the cliffs here were far too steep to support any paths or roads, so it looked as if the only way to reach it would be by boat. I wondered if I could learn to sail or if that was too strenuous or difficult for me, perhaps I could get a boat with an engine?

There was a seat to the side of the path; like the one I sat on the other day, it had a little brass plaque. On the plaque it simply said, Margaret’s Seat, bide a while and wonder at the view.

I did wonder at the view; it was superb. There were pretty pink, blue and yellow flowers all around me, with purple heather and lush green grass at my feet and that was wonderful enough. But as the sun set, the golden fiery globe kissed the water, reflecting on the gentle waves as they washed up on the shore and I felt happy and at peace. The sound of the waves breaking on the beach below reaching up to me here as I sat on Margaret’s Seat together with the birds calling, all added to my feelings of well-being. Shadows grew longer and along the path I could see a few rabbits playing in the undergrowth, oblivious to my presence.

Thinking about it, I knew that storms lay ahead, especially regarding Olivia and Nigel and I had to make a decision whether I should speak to Abby about my feelings for her, but just for now, I was content.