On Saturday morning, Maddie swept into the flat on a waft of Chanel-scented air, bearing an ‘up-for-it’ attitude and several bags. She’d arrived ten minutes before, leaving her car in a reserved space on the village car park. Rose had lugged her suitcase while Maddie carried her overnight bag and a large suit carrier. She could hardly believe Maddie needed so much stuff for a four-day stay.
After dropping the bags on the floor to hug Rose, she waved her hands excitedly.
‘I’ve brought you a present!’ She thrust the bag into Rose’s hands. ‘Hope you like it. I got it from Seasalt during my lunch break. I thought you could keep it here as a treat then take it back when you come home.’
‘Oh, this is lovely. Very appropriate,’ Rose said, examining the pale blue duvet and pillowcase set, with its discreet pattern of sailing boats. ‘Oriel gave me a spare set of hers, but I don’t think she’ll mind.’ Rose smiled, thinking of the duvet cover printed with meerkats. Mind you, she had been looking forward to seeing Maddie’s face when she’d made up the sofa bed.
‘You’re welcome.’ Maddie hugged her again. ‘Now, let’s check out this famous view I’ve heard so much about.’
Rose let Maddie go to the window, and hung back, awaiting the verdict. Had she exaggerated how wonderful it was? Had her love of Falford been coloured by the people who lived here and the emotions associated with them?
Maddie’s silence gave no clue but then she turned around and let out a breath.
‘Wow. Just wow. This is … truly breathtaking. I can see exactly why you wanted to rent the place.’ Maddie turned away from the window, a look of wonder in her eyes. Rose puffed up with happiness. It took a lot to impress her friend who had travelled to many beautiful places in the world.
Maddie breathed in. ‘Smell that?’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘Actually, what is that? There’s a bit of a pong.’
Rose laughed. ‘It’s seaweed and the mudflats. They can niff at low tide.’
‘Nowhere is perfect I suppose, but it is a stunning location. No wonder you’ve fallen in love with Falford.’
‘I had to take the flat once I saw the view. Mind you, you haven’t seen the bathroom yet.’
‘It could have an avocado suite with gold taps and I wouldn’t mind, with that view,’ Maddie declared. ‘Talking of which, I could do with a wee.’
Rose smiled to herself. ‘You must be psychic. It’s that blue door on the right.’
After Maddie had settled in, Rose made some tea and they both tucked into scones with jam and clotted cream from the Falford Stores. Maddie pulled her legs under her on the sofa and seemed very much at home.
‘Well, you haven’t exaggerated about how gorgeous Falford is,’ she said.
‘Do I ever?’
‘Not really. This place could be amazing, you know.’
‘I’ve already grown to love it. Even the avocado bathroom suite.’
‘Avocado. Hmm, that’s an interesting colour. Why did people think avocado was a great colour for a bathroom? Why not turnip or satsuma?’
After catching up with the gossip, Maddie’s latest case and Geraint’s job, the conversation turned close to home. Maddie was eager to grill Rose on ‘the locals’ and to meet them as soon as possible.
‘Before we meet anyone, you need to know that I haven’t told anyone here about the transplant. Apart from Oriel and her girlfriend Naomi, and they’re sworn to secrecy.’
‘Is it such a secret?’
‘No, it’s more that it’s so much simpler and it’s great to be able to make a fresh start. Everyone at home and work knows how ill I was and they try to be kind, but for a change, I’d really like people’s first question not to be: “Oh, you’re still alive, then?”’
Maddie laughed. ‘Oh, Rose, they don’t all do that!’
‘Some do – or some version of it like “How are you?” “Still doing OK?” “You look well. I can’t believe how lucky you were.”’ Rose thought of Oriel, asking if she might have a serial killer’s DNA in her. She smiled. At least it was original.
‘Asking how someone is, is a perfectly acceptable way to greet them,’ Maddie said.
‘But not a fun topic of conversation for a whole evening. I don’t want to be treated as a freak show. Coming here is a chance to start again. I’m just Rose, the archaeologist. The woman who lives above the pisky shop. Rose, the emmet.’
Maddie screwed up her nose. ‘The what?’
‘“Emmet”. It means tourist. It’s from the Old English word for ant.’
Maddie laughed. ‘I guess I’m an emmet too.’
‘Don’t forget you’re also a criminal lawyer.’
‘Oh God. You haven’t told them …’
Rose laughed at Maddie’s horrified expression. ‘Why not? They’re lovely, honestly, but I can’t save you from an interrogation. It’ll make a change.’
‘Is there anyone interesting down here?’
‘Hmm. No one in particular.’
‘Now, you hesitated that bit too long. That means there must be. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to meet this “no one in particular”.’
‘Maybe.’ Rose hid a smile, not sure whether she wanted her mate to meet the Morvahs or not.
She decided to introduce Maddie to Falford life by taking a stroll past the pub and gallery to the end of the headland where the ferry took passengers across to the other side of the estuary. The tide had come in and on this warm July evening, the water was busy with craft floating, rowing or puttering by.
Maddie was in French indigo jeans, a white jersey T-shirt and Jigsaw pointed loafers, and had draped a tailored blazer around her shoulders. It was her casual look, because she had to wear sombre suits all day in her job. Then again, thought Rose, a defendant might be a bit alarmed to be represented by someone wearing Doc Martens and a maxi dress. She just hoped Maddie had brought a pair of trainers and by the look of her perfectly coiffed bob, a pair of hair straighteners.
For the first time, Rose felt that she looked more at home in Falford than the person next to her. Not that she minded how Maddie was dressed, only that she was here and appeared more than ready to launch into local life. Maddie looked a little tired from her long journey down, but still didn’t have a hair out of place.
They might have chosen very different paths in life, but they’d developed a strong bond, made stronger by recent experience. They’d both been to state schools, they’d worked hard and been lucky to have supportive teachers and friends. Maddie’s dad was still working as an engineer for a water company and her mum as a speech therapist. They had ordinary backgrounds, but Rose was well aware that she and Maddie were more fortunate than many people.
They stopped by a bench on a favourite viewpoint above the passenger ferry jetty. Raindrops still sparkled on the leaves after an earlier shower, and honeysuckle scent filled the air.
Maddie leaned on the back of the bench and sniffed. ‘This is beautiful. The estuary is much bigger than I expected, and so green and wooded. I can well imagine smugglers and pirates hiding here.’
‘The whole river is littered with tiny coves and beaches. You can only get into some of them with a kayak or paddleboard.’
Maddie’s eyes lit up. ‘I have always wanted to try paddleboarding. Someone at work invited me to have a trial session on a reservoir but I didn’t fancy gliding serenely along to the sound of the M25 rumbling past.’
‘I’ve wanted to try it,’ Rose admitted. ‘But it would be so much more fun with you. Oh and by the way, I ought to tell you that I’ve taken up sailing.’
Maddie’s gasp of amazement could surely be heard all over Falford. ‘You? Sailing?’
Rose grinned. ‘Yes, and I know the people at the hire centre so if you want to have a go, let’s not wait. Let’s go down to the hire centre first thing and book a session.’
Rose spent the next twenty minutes talking about her sailing lessons and how she’d gone from nothing to being able to take her small training dinghy up and down the estuary under the supervision of the safety boat. She decided not to mention Joey or Finn or her adventure on board Siren, no matter how tempting. Maddie would most definitely have asked a thousand questions and Rose couldn’t face explaining feelings she wasn’t sure about herself.
Luckily, there were many other exciting new topics to stick to, with Falford being all new to Maddie.
‘I hope you don’t mind but I do need to work while you’re here and I promised to meet Oriel and Naomi to talk about our plans for the regatta. You can come if you want to – I know they’re dying to meet you.’
‘I’d love to and at least you don’t have to make a costume. I’ve got it all sorted and I’ll bring it when I come back for the regatta. My client says she’s pulling out all the stops to get a good one.’
‘Oh goodie,’ Rose said. ‘I can’t wait.’
The next day, Rose and Maddie presented themselves at the sailing centre where an instructor kitted them out in shortie wetsuits and buoyancy aids and gave them a basic intro to paddleboarding. It was nothing like sailing, that was for sure, and Rose’s experience counted for zero.
She fell off once, but the water was only waist deep. Even though it was July, the shock of being dumped suddenly into cold water made her shriek before she dissolved into laughter.
Maddie stayed upright, and quickly got the hang of it, wanting to paddle off to the far end of the creek that led on to the main inlet. Rose wasn’t so sure, having seen for herself how conditions could change very quickly out of the shelter of the creek. She managed to persuade Maddie to confine herself to pootling around in the creek, exploring little beaches and tranquil offshoots where thatched cottages were tucked away.
After an hour of paddling, they decided to return to the centre, having allowed plenty of time. However, Maddie soon realised that the wind and tide weren’t helping.
‘I’m paddling like mad, but we don’t seem to be making much progress!’ she complained to Rose.
‘The tide’s against us, I think. We’ll just have to paddle harder.’
‘I’m knackered. I’ll have arms like Nicola Adams at this rate.’
‘You should be so lucky,’ Rose called back. Her own arms and shoulders were burning, and they weren’t even in sight of the sailing centre yet. ‘We’ve no choice but to carry on.’
‘It looks so gentle from land,’ Maddie said, sweeping her paddle into the water.
‘You wanted to explore the end of the creek.’
‘Why didn’t you talk me out of it? I wish we’d brought some G&Ts with us.’
Amused, Rose decided to save all her energy for paddling rather than replying.
They soldiered on and were making some progress. The centre came into view, but it looked a long way off, and there were swirls and currents all around, as the tide flowed out and they battled against it.
‘Remind. Me. Never. To. Do. This. Again,’ Maddie said between huffs, then: ‘Whoa!’ She toppled, in almost-comic slow-motion before falling sideways off the board with a splash.
‘Maddie!’ Rose tried to paddle over, but at the same time that took her back towards the mouth of the estuary. Worse still, Maddie had parted company with the board and was trying to swim after it. However, it was floating slowly but very surely towards the mouth of the creek.
‘Oh bugger,’ she said and swam towards Rose. She trod water. ‘I think you’d better give me a tow to the shore. I hope the hire centre won’t be too angry at me for losing their board.’
Thanks to her regular visits to the local lido, Maddie was a decent swimmer, yet Rose was glad when she reached the board. Even though she was soaked, she giggled. ‘This hasn’t ended how I expected.’
Rose laughed too but was slightly worried Maddie might try to do a Titanic and climb on the board and they’d both end up in the drink.
‘I’ll be glad to get out of the water,’ Maddie said as Rose started to paddle for the bank. ‘It’s bloody cold in here.’
‘Hey there!’
The board wobbled and Rose almost fell off again. She was filled with a mixture of relief and dismay at the sight of Joey motoring towards them in the RIB from his yacht.
Maddie had no such qualms about being rescued. ‘Hurrah!’ Maddie called from the rear of the board. ‘The cavalry are here!’
‘Need a hand?’ Joey called.
‘Um …’ Rose started.
‘Yes, wouldn’t mind!’ Maddie shouted.
‘Hang on,’ Joey said.
The RIB was suddenly much closer, much to Rose’s alarm. She was worried the wake might capsize her but then it slowed. Joey took Maddie’s hand and helped her into the boat.
‘Thank you. My board’s probably halfway to France by now,’ she wailed.
‘Don’t worry about the board. You’re OK, which is all that matters.’
Maddie threw a dazzling smile at Joey. ‘Oh, yes, I think I’m going to be fine.’
Rose held on to the RIB, keeping herself alongside it.
Joey smiled. ‘You look cold. Do you want a lift to the hire centre?’
‘Would you mind?’ Maddie said sweetly.
There was no way Rose wanted that kind of humiliation, but she had to admit she didn’t relish the prospect of battling the tide now they were cold and tired. ‘Maybe to somewhere nearby? Though I’d rather not go back without the board.’
‘I can retrieve the board for you, and then meet you at Finn’s jetty and you can launch from there? You’ll be back at the hire centre as if nothing had happened.’
Maddie snorted. ‘Apart from being dripping wet, of course.’
‘Oh, they’ll expect that,’ said Joey with a chuckle.
Rose nodded, but had misgivings about being dropped off under Finn’s nose. ‘I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’
‘It isn’t. It’s much closer to the centre, but they probably won’t see us. Then I can go and retrieve the board and bring it to you so you can carry on as if nothing had happened.’
‘As long as you don’t tell anyone,’ Rose said.
‘Would I?’ Joey feigned innocence while, Rose had to admit, managing to look wickedly sexy.
‘That would be absolutely brilliant.’ Maddie had turned on the charm to full volume. She was obviously amazed by this handsome local coming to the rescue, even though neither of them really needed it.
‘Thanks,’ said Rose as they motored back towards Finn’s, with her sitting on the board, being towed alongside. She hoped they weren’t being watched.
Joey dropped them off and they climbed out, tying the board up temporarily. Rose hoped that Finn was out and luckily there was no sign of him. Joey then zoomed off to get the board. In a couple of minutes, he was back.
‘You’re a star. Um – we haven’t actually been introduced,’ Maddie said, shooting a look at Rose.
‘This is Joey,’ Rose said. ‘He and Finn work at the boatbuilders opposite the flat. This is Maddie, my best friend. Sometimes,’ Rose said laughing.
‘Hiya,’ said Joey.
‘Pleased to meet you, Joey. This is lovely,’ Maddie said, eyeing the white-painted boathouse over the water.
‘Yeah,’ Joey glanced up at it. ‘Finn fell on his feet when he landed this place. There he is now.’
Joey waved but Rose had mixed feelings. Chatting to Finn alone outside the store was one thing but being in his presence under Maddie’s – and Joey’s – scrutiny was quite another.
She could tell Finn was puzzled to see them. He frowned as he walked towards them. ‘Everything OK?’ he said, striding onto the wooden jetty.
‘Rose and Maddie needed a lift back,’ Joey said. ‘Luckily I was passing.’
‘What happened?’
‘I fell off and the board decided it wanted to go to France for the day,’ Maddie said, her eyes on stalks at the sight of Finn, coming on top of her first encounter with Joey. ‘I hope you don’t mind us landing at your – um – property.’
‘If I did, it wouldn’t stop Joey,’ Finn said wryly.
Joey burst out laughing. ‘What a warm welcome.’
‘Of course I don’t mind,’ Finn said, raising a smile.
Rose cut in. ‘Finn and Joey are brothers, Maddie,’ she said, trying to explain the edge to the banter.
‘Brothers.’ Maddie had her smile in place, but her eyes betrayed her assessment of the situation. Had Maddie worked out that the Morvahs were much more than ‘no one in particular?’ ‘Pleased to meet you, Finn.’ Maddie held out her wet hand.
Finn took it and smiled. ‘Do you need to come inside? Dry off?’
Maddie smiled. ‘Well—’
‘No!’ Rose said. ‘Maddie, we have to get these boards back to the hire centre.’
‘I thought we had ages? Joey said it’s only a few minutes back to the centre from here.’
‘OK, but we don’t have time for afternoon tea,’ Rose said sarcastically, eager to be back on their way and sensing tensions between the Morvahs might rise if they stayed any longer though she had no idea why.
‘That’s OK. Finn’s all out of scones but I’m sure he’d be only too eager to ask you inside if he had any …’ Joey slid a look his brother’s way. ‘Isn’t that right?’
‘I haven’t made a scone since school, and I do believe they ended up as ballast under the boatyard jetty.’ He turned to Rose. ‘I do have towels, though.’
‘That’s only any use if we don’t plan on getting wet again.’
‘They’ll keep you warm if you plan to stay. Hold on.’ He nipped onto Siren, down the ladder and returning with two towels.
Maddie wrapped hers around her tightly and Rose took one with a thank you. Finn also handed over a bottle of water each.
‘Thank you. Much needed,’ Maddie said, clearly unable to take her eyes off him. Rose didn’t blame her. She’d have a hell of a lot of explaining to do later. Thank goodness she hadn’t told her friend about spending the night on board a boat with Finn.
‘How’s the pageant going?’ Finn asked Rose.
‘OK. I hadn’t realised how seriously people take it. I was up two nights until after midnight making bunting for the boat.’
Joey sucked in a breath. ‘Oh, it’s deadly serious.’
Maddie made an ‘o’ with her mouth.
‘Mum’s joining in with Bo’s boat,’ he said.
‘Yes, I saw her making costumes at the cricket match,’ Rose said, still finding it hard to imagine Dorinda in rockabilly gear.
‘Then you’ll know how keen everyone is to win.’
‘Wow,’ Maddie said.
‘Oriel’s desperate to get one over on Nigel and win first prize,’ Rose said. ‘He and his mates are constructing a battleship, apparently. We can’t compete with that.’
Joey rolled his eyes. ‘That sounds like Nige. Always has to go ten better than anyone else. He won last year with a Titanic theme. It even had an iceberg. He’s a complete tool to be honest. Even Finn will agree with me on that.’
Maddie laughed but Finn stayed silent. Rose could feel the undercurrent of tension between the brothers.
‘Look, if you and Oriel need a hand with your boat, then you only have to ask,’ Joey said. ‘Can we help?’
‘Not unless you can make a life-size model of a mermaid’s grotto or Tintagel. Our efforts with corrugated cardboard and poster paint aren’t really cutting it and Oriel has big ambitions.’
‘A grotto or castle. Hmm. Might be a bit of a stretch in four weeks.’ Joey rubbed his chin. ‘On the other hand, I’m sure we can help with something: props, a backdrop? You could paint a castle or knock up a grotto. We’ve plenty of offcuts at the yard and all the equipment. I’m happy to have a look at your design and see if we can come up with anything.’
Rose snorted. ‘“Design” is pushing it.’ She thought of Oriel’s sketch in the back of Rose’s notebook and Naomi’s airy ‘don’t worry, we’ll wing it’.
‘I’m sure Finn will lend a hand too, if we ask him nicely.’ Joey turned pointedly towards him.
Rose caught Finn’s startled expression.
‘See, he’s really enthusiastic.’
Rose cringed. ‘I’m sure you’re both far too busy with the cutter,’ she said firmly.
‘Actually, we’ve been busting a gut to get on with her lately. Finn’s had our noses to the grindstone and she’s back on schedule so I think we can make time to help our friends. We can all get together after work if you like.’
‘Naomi’s on late shifts for the next two weeks … Are you sure you’re not too busy?’ She added this to try and get Finn’s opinion.
‘All work and no play, et cetera,’ Joey said. ‘We all need some fun.’
‘Yes, absolutely.’ Finn suddenly spoke up. ‘We’re never too busy to help defeat Nige. I haven’t forgotten him giving me out for LBW when I’d definitely got an edge on that ball.’ Finn’s eyes had lit up with amusement.
Rose stared at him. Joey seemed momentarily dumbfounded.
‘Many hands make light work, Rose,’ Maddie said, then squeezed her friend’s arm significantly. Rose guessed she was in for the cross-examination of the year as soon as she and Maddie were alone.
‘That would be … great. I just need to ask Oriel.’
‘There you go, then.’ Joey sounded delighted. ‘Shall we get you on your way back to the hire centre?’
Finn helped Rose and Maddie launch. Maddie made sure she’d secured the leash before wobbling off with Rose in the direction of the hire centre. It took all Maddie’s concentration to reach the centre without another soaking, but once she was safely on dry land, the Maddie mask of confidence was back.
‘Did you have a good paddle?’ the owner asked.
‘Lovely, thank you.’
‘No problems.’
‘Not at all. Piece of cake,’ Maddie declared.
Rose almost choked. ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re obviously naturals,’ she said but Rose detected more than a hint of irony. ‘I’ve got a great deal on the double sea kayaks this week, if you fancy trying those,’ she said. ‘Or you could join the coasteering trip tomorrow morning? Lots of fun jumping off rocks, scrambling down cliffs. You’d love it.’
‘We’ll certainly give it serious consideration,’ Maddie muttered, tugging Rose’s arm. ‘Come on, Rose. I’ve a Zoom meeting with the head of chambers.’
They got changed in the hut and walked home in the cool of the early evening. ‘Well, that was an adventure!’ Maddie declared. ‘And my, what an end to it. You never mentioned that those two lived in Falford.’
‘Who do you mean?’
‘Finn and Joey! You know very well.’ Maddie fanned herself. ‘I’ve never warmed up so fast in my life.’
‘You are married, Maddie. Have you forgotten?’
‘No, and I love Geraint to bits but he’s not here and I can still look, can’t I? They don’t inject you with an immunity-to-fancying-other-people serum when you sign the register, you know.’
‘Finn’s a friend. He works at the yard. It’s run by him and his mother. Joey too.’
Maddie peered over her sunglasses. ‘They seemed very keen to help you out with this boat.’
‘Everyone helps each other in Falford. There’s a lot of community spirit and Finn and Joey aren’t Nige’s biggest fans either.’
‘Nothing to do with them being fans of you, of course?’
‘They know Oriel and Naomi. It isn’t only me they want to help.’
Maddie raised an eyebrow. ‘I take it both of these Morgans will be at the regatta?’
‘Everyone will be there. And it’s Mor-vah, not Morgan.’
‘Morvah. How exotic.’
‘Not really. It’s a hamlet in West Cornwall. I expect their ancestors came from there. There’s a pierced stone nearby called Men-an-Tol, which—’
‘Fascinating …’ Maddie was already staring off into the distance.
‘No need for sarcasm,’ Rose muttered, wondering if she should have been quite so enthusiastic about Joey and Finn’s offer of help with the boat design. It might mean them spending far too much time together. However, by the time she’d returned to the flat, she’d convinced herself that she’d have to deal with it for the sake of Team Oriel.
Finn, on the other hand, hadn’t seemed too keen at first, until he’d suddenly changed tack, taking Rose by surprise.
A not totally unpleasant surprise … though how they’d all get on working side by side for the next few weeks, she had no idea.