Rose moved her few possessions from the guest house and into Cornish Magick on the Friday. Maddie had promised to collect a few more things from the cottage in Cambridge and bring them down when she visited. It was mizzling – the perfect description for the mix of mist and drizzle that clung to every surface – but she headed to the dig site anyway and spent a few hours working in the trenches alongside the students. They unearthed a few fragments of pottery but nothing exciting, yet she still enjoyed it. It was a joy simply to be able to do her job.
In the afternoon, she returned to the flat to write up her report but kept getting distracted by her new surroundings, especially as the sun had chased away the clouds and revealed the village in all its glory. The sunlit creek and chocolate-box scene demanded to be captured. She didn’t think it would ever grow old.
She pushed back the frame, and leaned out, holding her phone to get the best view. She scrolled through the pictures, ready to press the edit button to lighten them up or add a filter. It took less than thirty seconds to realise that no magic light wand or filter improved the scene. The natural light, sparkling on the water, the purple wisteria on the white cottage, the rich greens and earthy russet of the mudflats left by the retreating tide. None of it needed enhancing, but the sun had just come out fully.
She pushed the window to its limit, keen to get more of the yacht club with its marina full of masts into the shot. With one hand on the sill, she leaned as far as she dared, angling her phone when it suddenly slipped.
‘Arghh!’
‘Hey!’ she heard from below. A man looked up from the lane right beneath her. It was Finn Morvah, and judging by his furrowed brow, he was less than impressed.
‘Sorry!’ Rose called. ‘I hope that didn’t hit you.’
‘No. You’ve been lucky,’ he said, stepping back a little into the lane, presumably to get a better look at whoever had almost put a dent in his skull.
‘I think you’re the lucky one,’ she said, trying to sound apologetic but keep things light. ‘It could have hurt you. It just slipped out of my hand while I was trying to take a photo of the – um – boats in the marina.’ She lowered her voice, realising that a few people had stopped to see what the drama was about.
Finn held up the phone. ‘I meant you were lucky because I caught it. It slid down the thatch on the shop porch.’
‘Oh, thank you! I’ll come down and get it.’
Rose hurried down the twisty staircase as fast as she could, wondering if Finn thought she’d been trying to take a photo of him.
Slightly breathless, she put a cheery smile on her face when she reached where he was waiting outside in the lane.
If she’d hoped to catch her breath, the sight of him up close was no help whatsoever. He had to be six feet four at least, with a tanned face and dark wavy hair brushing his shoulders. Wherever his genes had originated from, they were pretty extraordinary.
Gathering herself, she nodded at the sloping thatched porch of the shop and her still-open window. ‘Well done on catching it. You should play for the village cricket team.’
‘I do – but it’s the first catch I haven’t dropped since the start of last season.’ He smiled and Rose was filled with relief. ‘Maybe you should make sure it’s working before you get too excited?’
‘Hmm. Yes.’ She took it from him. There didn’t seem any damage to the case. She pushed the button and it flickered into life. ‘It seems OK.’
Dark brown eyes scrutinised her. ‘I hope you got a good photo.’
She detected more than a hint of amusement in his voice. ‘I’ll take a look when I get back upstairs.’ She wiggled the phone at him. ‘I was trying to get in as much of the estuary and marina as possible, to show a friend how fantastic it is.’
He glanced up again. ‘A room with a view,’ he said carefully.
‘It’s perfect. I mean, it’s ideal for what I need. Lucky for me that it was available.’
‘I expect Oriel is pleased too. I think she’s been hoping to get a tenant for ages and the rent will come in handy,’ Finn said. ‘Will you be working in the shop?’
‘I’m happy to help out from time to time.’ Did he know why she was here? Or at least one of the reasons she’d told Oriel she was here? Which wasn’t a lie – simply not the whole truth. ‘Though I’m no expert on crystals and healing stones.’
He smiled wryly. ‘I’m sure you and Oriel will get on very well.’ He seemed to catch something out of the corner of his eye and nodded at a fishing boat passing by, before returning his attention to Rose. ‘Well, I’m glad I saved your phone,’ he said.
Now she’d got him, Rose didn’t want to let him go, even if she felt she was keeping a fish wriggling on a hook.
‘I’m actually an archaeologist,’ she blurted out. ‘So, although I’m interested in folk myths and legend, it’s from an academic point of view.’
‘So, you’re down here to work?’ He sounded incredulous.
‘Oh, yes. I’ve got a small research grant to study some of the ancient sites over the summer, on the Lizard and in the far west. There’s a dig up on the moors near King Arthur’s Pool. So, that’s why I’m here,’ she added then wished she hadn’t because it sounded as if she was trying too hard.
Her work also didn’t quite explain why she’d chosen a literal backwater in Falford Creek when she could have stayed somewhere more central to the sites she was interested in, such as Falmouth where she might well have found some university accommodation close to the students and her temporary colleagues. Then again, even if he did know where all the locations were, he’d probably just think she didn’t know the area.
‘Sounds like an interesting job,’ he said, and Rose believed he meant it. ‘I’m sorry to say I don’t know anything about those old sites, but I am aware there are dozens of them dotted about. Have you got a car to get around?’
‘Yes. I left it in a reserved space on the village car park, though Oriel seems to think I’d be better off learning to drive a boat.’
He nodded enthusiastically. ‘Good idea. It’ll save you hours, especially when the holiday season ramps up. Who’d choose to be stuck on the road behind queues of tourists when you could be out on the water?’ He lifted his hand and turned towards the estuary where a man was in the main inlet, chugging out towards the open mouth of the sea in his boat. ‘A boat gives you freedom …’
‘I’m beginning to realise that. Um. Do you work around boats?’ She hoped she didn’t sound as guilty as she felt.
‘Yep. At the boatyard opposite.’ His smile belied his keen scrutiny of her. ‘I think you might have seen me the other day when you were walking past the yard.’
Rose’s pulse quickened. He definitely had noticed her spying on the yard. ‘Oh yes. I think I must have, but I hadn’t made the connection.’
‘I’m Finn,’ he said. ‘Finn Morvah. Our family owns Morvah Marine.’ He held out his hand.
Rose took it. It was a brief contact, firm and warm, yet she couldn’t help the tingle of excitement his touch sent through her. She’d wondered for a long time how it would feel to meet the person who might have given her life back – now she’d shaken his hand. Possibly.
She’d also wondered if she’d know instantly, by some instinct, even though that was medically impossible and totally fanciful.
‘I’m Rose Vernon,’ she said, letting go of his hand suddenly as if it was a hot coal.
He gave a wry smile. ‘I know.’
She exhaled in surprise. ‘How?’ Then she laughed. ‘Oh, I see. Oriel has already told you.’
‘A newcomer moves into a tiny place like Falford? News travels fast. I didn’t know you were an archaeologist though. That hadn’t reached me yet.’
She laughed. He’d admitted he knew her name. She’d lied about not knowing his. This was going to be much harder than she’d even imagined. As for any instinctive recognition that he was her donor … She had to admit she’d felt nothing other than – undeniably – she fancied him. A lot.
‘Well, I must be going,’ he said. ‘Unless … you wanted to get a quick coffee? Or a cold drink? I’d like to hear more about the dig.’
‘Really?’ Rose was amazed at being asked and slightly worried she’d let something slip that gave her secret away, but still she answered, ‘I’m sure I can spare time for a coffee.’
‘OK. The pub does coffees on the terrace.’
They walked the hundred yards down to the pub, ordered coffee and a Coke for Finn before finding a seat in the afternoon sun. There were a few obvious tourists outside, taking pictures with expensive-looking cameras or selfies with their phones. They were oohing and aahing about the view and Rose overheard one say: ‘Wouldn’t mind living here, must be Paradise.’
Finn exchanged a wry smile with Rose. He mouthed ‘Paradise?’ and she smiled back. She was pleased that already she wasn’t considered a tourist.
‘It is incredibly beautiful here,’ Rose said when the tourist was out of earshot. ‘You can hardly blame people for thinking it.’
‘True, but it’s not Paradise.’
‘I know. I suppose if you live and work here all the time, you have a different perspective.’
‘Yup. Nowhere is perfect, least of all Falford …’ He smiled. ‘But I wouldn’t be anywhere else.’ His gaze travelled to the boatshed on the far side of the estuary. Rose thought he also glanced at his watch and wondered if he felt guilty about taking time off work.
‘I’m sure you’re busy working on that big boat,’ she said.
His eyebrows met in surprise. ‘How do you know about that?’
‘I noticed it through the doors. It’s impossible not to,’ she said, desperately trying to explain away her interest in the yard. ‘I didn’t know what type of boat it was.’
‘She’s a gaff rigged cutter. We’re building her for a client. Or should be.’ He grimaced, and Rose was now certain he felt guilty about being away from work.
Somehow, she hadn’t really expected Finn to refer to the boat in female terms. It seemed like the stuff of centuries before. Yet he dropped in the feminine pronouns naturally enough. Rose wondered why boats were called ‘she’. Who had decided it?
‘Will I be seeing you on the water soon?’ he said.
‘I hope so, but I need a driving lesson from Oriel first.’
‘I’m sure you’ll be fine. Oriel knows this estuary like the back of her hand. She’s a good sailor, even if she does insist on sticking to the motorised variety.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it,’ Rose said. She was warming to Finn even more. She’d half-expected him to laugh when she’d said she was going to learn to drive the boat. Yet he hadn’t, and the passion for his surroundings was clear.
She’d only been here how long …? And she’d already discovered that Finn and Falford were full of surprises. She wondered whether he’d react to her secret in the same positive way if he knew about it. Maybe he’d be delighted, rather than freaked out, but she wasn’t ready to take that risk.
They chatted about her work, although Rose wondered if he’d simply used that as an excuse to invite her for coffee. Finn told her that his grandfather had taken him and Joey to King Arthur’s Pool when they were young boys and that they’d both believed that Excalibur really had been thrown into the water. Rose found it fascinating to talk to local people and hear how legends were handed down over the centuries.
They also talked about the boatshed and the estuary for a while, with Finn pointing out some of the features along the bank. He didn’t mention his own home, which was clearly visible from the pub, but Rose hadn’t expected him to. She was still recovering from being invited to coffee, and guessed that it was an impulsive suggestion, possibly one that had surprised him as much as her.
The landlord appeared at the table and nodded at their empty cups and glasses. ‘Get you anything else?’ he said.
‘Not for me. I have to be going,’ Finn said, turning to Rose.
‘I ought to do some work too,’ Rose said, and the landlord left.
‘Yes … maybe I might see you on Saturday?’ Rose blurted out.
‘Saturday?’
‘Oriel invited me to a party at the yacht club. I thought, as you and your family like sailing, you might be going?’
Finn hesitated. Rose feared she’d put him on the spot. ‘I hadn’t really made any plans yet but maybe I will see you.’ He smiled.
‘I won’t keep you from your work any longer,’ Rose said lightly.
‘Hmm. Good idea, but I’ve a got a more important job first. I have to pick the kids up from school.’
Rose covered her shock with a smile. ‘Oh. Oh, I s-see,’ she stuttered. ‘You had better go. Thanks for saving my … phone.’
‘You’re welcome. See you around, I hope?’
With that, Finn was gone.
Kids. She hadn’t expected that. She’d blithely assumed her donor would be young, male – and single? It was as if she’d been blinkered. Of course, he might have a partner and a family.
A family … that thought was like a stab to the heart. It was regret. Her treatment prior to her transplant meant that she was unlikely to be able to have children without a lot of help, if at all. It also made her think carefully about whether she should ever reveal who she was to her donor. Blundering into the life of the person who’d chosen to help her was one thing, intruding into his family was quite another. It made Rose more determined than ever to tread very carefully around the Morvahs – and she certainly wouldn’t hold her breath for the yacht club party as far as Finn was concerned.