Christmas in the town: Dickensian evening with the town crier, the Christmas lights switched on at six o’clock. The main street is pedestrianized and shops are open until nine in the evening. There are some stalls set up along the pavements, and in the bookshop there are wine and nibbles for the regulars. El is busy serving customers, recommending books, pouring drinks, when Angus and Kate come in together, but she is able to spend a few moments with them before she is required to serve another customer.
‘This is fun,’ Angus says to Kate. ‘I like to see everyone getting the Christmas spirit. It’s a pity that Plum’s gone back to London. She would have enjoyed this.’
He still feels slightly guilty that he pre-empted Kate by telling Plum that Cass and Tom were downsizing and might like the cottage, but Kate has been very calm about it all.
‘I hated the thought that Plum knew that you and I were talking about her plans behind her back,’ she told him, ‘but in the end it worked out very well. She’s been very good about it and, to be honest, I think this is the best solution. After all, Ian won’t be ashore that often and they’ll spend his long leaves at their flat in London. I can’t see that they really need to rent anything, with you in that great big house on your own. And I think that it will be just the boost Cass and Tom need to make the crucial decision to sell. Anyway, they might find something to buy quite quickly and then the cottage will be up for grabs again, and if Plum still wants to rent it, she can have it then.’
Angus sips his wine reflectively. He supposes that his guilt springs from the fact that it seems he has got his own way and will be seeing more of his family. After her visit to Kate, Plum was much more cheerful than she’s been of late, more like her old positive self, and he was relieved though slightly puzzled. He expected her to be irritated by losing the opportunity of renting Kate’s cottage but she was unconcerned by it; other things seemed to be occupying her mind. He raises his glass to Kate, who grins at him. The other plus to the plan, of course, is that in the future Kate might stay with him when she comes up from St Meriadoc. That will definitely be a bonus.
He watches El dealing with a young mother with two excited small children in tow, and is glad that she’s managing so well. She’s clearly loving working here with Natasha and Simon, and he can see that she’s getting a lot of support from the customers who knew Martin. Mentally he raises his glass to his old friend and partner. Life – and death – is so random; so indifferent. Turning to the shelves behind him, Angus begins to read the titles of the books, to think about Christmas presents, deciding to ask El’s advice when it comes to choosing for his granddaughters, who are much the same age as she is. He thinks about his drinks party; his family at home with him on Christmas Day for the first time for three years. Reasons to be cheerful.
Kate watches his tall, stooping figure with affection. She’s very fond of Angus and is very glad to see him getting his own way. It will give him so much joy to have all his family visiting him, staying with him, even if those visits are random and therefore not necessarily all of them together. To be their base when the ship is in will please him immensely. And, if Kate’s honest, she admits it will be rather nice to stay with him occasionally, to go to the cinema at the Wharf with him, when she comes up from St Meriadoc. Somehow she can’t quite see herself sharing the only bathroom in the cottage with Tom, who has definitely become a very grumpy old man, fond though she is of him. The cottage will seem cramped enough as it is, after the Rectory, without adding guests to it.
She thinks about Plum. From childhood upwards there has been a sweetness of temperament, a generosity of spirit that has made her much beloved, and it seems hard that one small act has caused her so much pain. Kate can imagine that losing a child is devastating. Coping with your grief alone whilst your husband is at sea must be very hard, and Kate can’t bring herself to judge Plum or Martin for their brief moment of shared comfort. She wonders too about Issy and whether Plum’s guilt is magnifying her fear of her old friend. Watching Issy that morning in the Bedford, Kate could see that she might well be a bit of a loose cannon – someone who simply cannot help putting the cat amongst the pigeons for the sheer hell of it – but she wonders just how much of a threat Issy is and how much harm she might do. She suspects that Issy simply hoped to draw Plum closer to her: to bind her into a conspiracy rather than to expose her. Now, as Kate watches El, busy and happy, it seems inconceivable that she should hear about her father and Plum from a stranger. Briefly, Kate thinks about Martin walking on the beach with Julia. How well he kept his secrets, but what if El should discover them?
It’s with relief that Kate sees Ruth, her old friend and neighbour in Chapel Street, come into the shop with her little dog, Scrumpy. Kate waves and goes to greet her, glad to be distracted from her thoughts.
Finally Cass and Tom arrive. It’s become a tradition on the night that the Christmas lights are switched on to meet in the town, pop into Book Stop, and then go across to the Bedford for supper in the bar.
‘It’s such fun on Dickensian evening,’ says Cass, kissing Kate and giving El a hug. ‘On these occasions I can see how much easier it might be to live in the town and walk everywhere. Tom got the last space in the Bedford’s car park. It’s such a pity you can’t come and have supper with us, El, but I suppose you’ll be busy for a while yet.’
El explains that the shop will be open until nine o’clock and thanks Cass for the offer, but secretly she knows that by the time the shop closes she’ll be more than ready to drive home, have a shower, then listen to her music and read for a while. It’s been a long day and she’s very tired. Nevertheless it’s worth it. She’s loved the friendliness, the party atmosphere, this new sense of belonging. She’s tried to explain it to her mother, who clearly thinks it’s crazy to waste her talents in a small community on the edge of Dartmoor.
‘You could be working in publishing,’ she said, ‘or in a literary agency. Lucy has got a job with the BBC.’
El is sad that her mother is unable to enter into her feelings, to feel any pride in what El is trying to do. Even Freddie, who tries to understand but clearly would rather she sold the Pig Pen and embarked on a career more worthy of her qualifications, is unconvinced that any good can come of her endeavours. But she is determined to keep on with her plan, to try to make a go of things here. She’s grateful to her father’s friends who support her and praise her efforts. And to Will, an unexpected ally.
She rather wishes he could be here this evening, seeing her in her new environment, amongst her friends. Quickly she gets out her phone and sends him a text. Then a customer claims her attention and she puts her private life to the back of her mind and concentrates on the job in hand.