‘So, you’ll be all right while I’m away?’ Fen asked Poppy for the umpteenth time.
It was Monday morning and Fen’s wheeled case waited by the front door next to Leo, who was licking his paws, blissfully unaware that his favourite person was about to leave him in the hands of a cat amateur. ‘It’s only a week, but I know Jake’s leaving first thing tomorrow. Can you manage on your own until I’m back? Are you sure you’re OK with looking after Leo?’ Fen said.
‘I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me or Leo. Enjoy yourself and tell Archie all about the strange woman who’s taken over the studio.’
‘Oh, I’ve already done that.’
Poppy laughed but realised Fen wasn’t joking. ‘Right.’
‘All good. Oh, don’t forget the radishes and lettuces. Take the ones that are ready and use them.’
‘I won’t forget. I promise.’
Fen gave Poppy a quick peck on the cheek and stroked Leo. ‘Bye, matey. Behave for your new friend!’
Poppy watched as Jake met Fen at the end of the path and walked with her to the jetty. She hadn’t seen him the previous day; once she’d surfaced after the party, she’d been way too busy clearing up the studio with her parents and Zoey before it reopened again for business.
They’d spent the Sunday in shifts helping her before they’d caught the helicopter service to Penzance to start their long journey back to the Midlands. Poppy had collapsed in a heap in the evening. She’d been so occupied with the launch and her family that she’d had little time to dwell on Jake’s bombshell about leaving so soon, but now she was suddenly alone, the silence and isolation hit her all at once.
What Poppy hadn’t told Fen was that when she’d awoken in the small hours, she’d googled the area Jake was travelling to … Big mistake. Huge. Yes, there were giant anacondas, magnificent jaguars and indigenous people whose way of life was being threatened with extinction by loggers and mining companies. Their stories needed to be told and shown to the world. But her surfing had also revealed that the area was infested with drugs gangs, river pirates and ‘organ harvesters’ – who had absolutely nothing to do with farming.
‘Even if he does get eaten by an anaconda, there’s nothing I can do about it,’ she told Leo who’d taken up position on Fen’s favourite cushion as if he knew he had the run of the place now.
‘It’s none of my business anyway,’ she said, refilling Leo’s bowl with fresh water. ‘Jake didn’t even mention whether he was coming back to the island after his trip. My business is to build on the momentum of the launch day and firm up the arrangements for the art workshops.’
Leo narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed by her pitch.
‘I’ll just check there’s enough hare and badger to last the week,’ she told Leo and received a tail twitch in response. ‘I wonder if you’d notice if I fed you weasel and oxtail instead?’
She was deep in the back of the pantry when she heard the door open and Jake calling.
‘Poppy? Are you still here?’
She put on a cheery smile and carried the tins into the kitchen. ‘I’m still here, just taking care of Leo’s menu planning. You see.’ She held up the tins. ‘What do you think for his supper tonight? Quail and haddock or woodcock and lobster?’
Jake laughed. ‘Both are far too good for Leo, but if pushed, I fancy the quail.’ He shot a glance at the cat who yawned in response. ‘I thought I’d come and see if there’s anything you need while Fen’s away,’ he said.
She held up a tin of food and a pack of Dreamies. ‘I think there’s enough food in there to last a month, if not a year.’
‘I meant you personally, not Leo.’ He gave the cat a head shake. ‘Leo is taken care of better than any human on these islands.’
Poppy smiled, even though she had a sudden end-of-an-era feeling. She’d known Jake for barely a month, but it had been the most dramatic month of her life.
‘Fen got off OK then?’ she said.
‘Yes. She’s looking forward to seeing Archie, but I think she’s apprehensive of what she might find. When I spoke to my mum last night, she said he’s definitely doing better physically and in himself so that’s a good sign.’
‘It’ll be nice for you to see your family before you go.’
‘Yes. Mum’s looking forward to it. I plan on a day with my parents and Grandpa, then I’m off to London to meet the rest of the crew. There’s a film maker and journalist coming too and we meet the local fixer in a small town once we’re in Brazil.’
She left the cat food and treats on the worktop, aware that she and Jake were ignoring the elephant in the room: would he ever be back?
‘Do you want a drink at the pub before I leave?’ he asked.
She thanked her stars she’d already had an answer prepared to any offer like this. Weaning herself off her dependency on Jake had to start right now.
‘Um … I can’t. I’ve arranged to go out with Kelly. We’re getting the boat over to St Saviour’s. There’s a Mexican night at the hotel and a bunch of people from the Flower Farm are meeting us.’
He nodded. ‘Oh. Right. OK. Sounds like fun.’
‘Hope so. If I can avoid the fancy dress part of it.’
‘Pity. I’d have liked to see you in a sombrero.’
She grimaced. ‘I think Kelly might be handing them out when we get there, along with maracas.’
He made a maraca shaking gesture. ‘Sorry.’
The atmosphere was excruciating. It was obvious they both wanted to get the hell out of one another’s company, each for their own reasons. Poppy was in agony. Was he expecting her to invite him? He seemed disappointed and she was glad of that but also felt awful for hurting him – had she hurt him? If so, she regretted it but she was being cruel to be kind to herself. She couldn’t bear to spend a last night with him. She didn’t trust her emotions She might get a bit too merry and say something she didn’t mean. Like ‘So, when are you coming back?’ or even ‘Don’t go.’ Either would be a total disaster, so it was way better to keep out of harm’s way.
‘I’d better open up the studio,’ she said.
‘Sure. I need to be online and on the phone most of the day.’
‘OK. See you later maybe.’ Just leave now.
‘I’ll pop round in the morning before I catch the boat to St Mary’s.’
‘Great,’ said Poppy.
Jake left. Leo started to pummel Fen’s best cushion with his claws. Poppy thought about shooing him off it and removing the cushion for its own safety but decided the cat needed some consolation for being left in the care of an incompetent female human. She could always buy Fen a new cushion as a thank you for all her help over the past few weeks.
She was fine. Really fine. She went back to the studio and set up her board. Customers drifted in and out, and she tried to keep her mind on them, but in the quiet moments, her thoughts would keep returning to Jake. No matter how prepared she’d been for him leaving, and annoyed by his comments after their kiss, she’d still hoped he might stay for a little while longer – or at least say he was coming back.
Wearing a sombrero and shaking her maracas hadn’t seemed so bad after several shots of tequila. Poppy vaguely recalled singing along to a mariachi band as she fell asleep in the studio that night. She woke up the next morning with a dry throat and a slightly fuzzy head but no regrets at having told anyone how much she cared about them, apart from a slightly shaky call to her mum and a late-night text to Zoey, who’d replied ‘Are you on Prosecco or gin? Love u 2. Call you tomorrow.’
She didn’t even know if Jake would keep his promise to call in to say goodbye, or not, after she’d knocked him back.
As the morning passed and the time for the ferry approached, the cloud of gloom descended once again.
‘Hello.’ Jake’s voice at the entrance to the studio snapped her out of her thoughts. Framed against the morning sunlight through the studio window, he looked so darkly sexy, she could believe every tale about him being descended from Spanish pirates. He was wearing dark jeans and a pale green T-shirt, and his chin bore a shadow of a few days’ stubble.
The fizzy feeling in her stomach, arms and head left her in no doubt she fancied him to bits, and more … She cared for him; she might possibly be a little bit in love.
Her heart sank. Who was she kidding? More than a ‘little’ and there was no ‘might’ about it. If she could just get through the next couple of minutes without letting him suspect how she felt, she’d be safe.
‘Hi there. You travel light,’ she said, noting he didn’t have any bags with him.
He smiled. ‘I left my backpack outside. Don’t want to cause any breakages.’
‘Good idea because I’d have to charge you,’ she said, pointing to the humorously worded sign asking shoppers to be careful in the gallery.
He raised an eyebrow. ‘You’re settling into this really well.’
‘Yes.’ They both smiled, but she felt as fragile and transparent as one of Kay Baverstock’s glass bowls.
Leo ambled through the open door towards them.
‘Watch out for your shoes,’ he said, aiming a laser look at the cat.
‘Ah, but Leo doesn’t see me as a predator.’ Poppy smiled, but inside she half-wished he’d never stayed to help her in the first place. It would have made it easier to see him leave now.
He turned his attention back to Poppy. ‘Did you have a good time last night?’ he asked.
‘Yes. Can’t you tell?’ she pointed at the dark circles under her eyes.
‘Glad it was fun.’
‘It was.’ The pause lengthened.
Poppy picked up a pile of postcards from the desk. She had to do something with her hands. Jake shoved his in his combat pants.
‘Poppy … I just wanted to say—’
She cut him off. ‘Thanks for everything, Jake.’
He frowned, but then said, ‘I was going to say the same. Thank you.’
‘Why would you thank me?’ she blurted out, finding it harder to keep in her real feelings with every second that he lingered.
‘Because, I er … was a bit of a miserable sod when you first turned up. Still am from time to time, but not quite so much.’
His crooked, self-effacing smile tied her stomach in knots. Why now? Why suddenly admit to herself that she’d fallen for him when he was leaving any moment? That was why, because he was leaving and she was safe. Almost safe.
‘I’ve enjoyed myself a lot these past few weeks and it’s made me realise that I’d forgotten how to let myself do that lately. I’d shut myself off to having any kind of fun.’
‘Me too,’ said Poppy. ‘It’s been a lot easier having your help. And Fen’s.’
He reached down and ruffled the back of Leo’s neck. Leo let him and Jake let out a gasp. ‘Bloody hell. That’s progress.’
‘You see, perseverance pays off.’ Poppy kept her tone jokey and light, but her inner voice was willing him to leave in case she did something silly – like cry. What was she like? Had she made no progress at all? She’d only known Jake a month, but this farewell was almost as bad as Dan walking out. Worse, because Dan was a shit and Jake wasn’t – or hadn’t proved himself to be yet.
She moved behind the cash desk and picked up an art catalogue for safety – from herself mainly in case hugging might be required. She needed to bring this to a close.
‘Safe travels. Look forward to seeing your pictures,’ she said.
Jake frowned. He was probably wondering why she was clutching the catalogue to her chest. ‘I’ll email you the best ones,’ he said.
‘Can’t wait. Now, I think I just heard the ferry hooting.’
He glanced at the door. ‘I didn’t hear anything.’
‘Maybe I was mistaken, but it’s almost time.’
‘I guess so … OK.’ He didn’t smile.
Poppy was teetering on the very edge of losing it. She knew if she even hinted she’d miss him, he might offer to come back to St Piran’s again. But he might not and that would break her freshly healing heart all over again. How, how, how had she let herself become so attached to Jake so soon after Dan? That wasn’t how things were supposed to be. It wasn’t being strong or smart, or any of the things the websites said you should be.
Toot.
She almost passed out with relief. ‘There, you see. I’m telepathic.’
‘Yeah. Sure. I’ll be off then.’ He walked towards the door.
‘Don’t get eaten!’ she called.
He turned around and smiled. ‘I’ll try not to.’
And his smile was the last she saw of him. Perhaps the very last she would ever see of Jake Pendower in the flesh. Unless Archie returned and he came to visit him. That could be months or even years, if Jake’s recent track record was anything to go by.
She busied herself with the vital task of tidying the immaculate cash desk and fanning out the postcards on the desk. She checked the petty cash yet again, just in case. Thank God that the customers would soon arrive.
Warm fuzziness against her legs made her look down. Leo’s furry face gazed up at hers, his eyes almost questioning. She picked him up and he allowed her to cuddle him before half-heartedly attempting to bite her, wriggling free and ambling off up the staircase to her flat. Oh well, at least he was sticking around.
After Jake left, Poppy dealt with a steady if unspectacular stream of visitors, with a relative rush at the end of the afternoon. She’d been very glad to keep busy, either chatting to customers or phoning and emailing to try and organise her first workshops and holidays.
Leo sauntered in and out via the front door to the studio when it suited him. He had been dining at the studio, at Fen’s and at Archie’s, but with Archie’s cottage locked up, his choice of eateries was now down to two. Poppy had shut the studio by five and was catching up with some work. She’d left the rear door behind the work area ajar, to let in some fresh air and to enable Leo to come and go as he pleased, but by half past six, he hadn’t turned up. She assumed he’d used the cat flap and gone to Fen’s, so she closed the studio door and went to see if he was waiting to be fed.
There was no sign of him at Fen’s cottage, so she put down a full dish on the tiles and locked the cottage again. He was bound to return to one of his homes sooner or later, and it would have to be Fen’s now because she couldn’t leave the studio door open all night. By ten o’clock, it was dark, a weather front had moved across the isles and Poppy had to make a dash over to Fen’s with a torch to check on Leo. The moment she switched the light on, she could see that the food hadn’t been touched.
Either Leo wasn’t hungry or he hadn’t been home. He hadn’t been to the studio either … A ripple of unease stirred in her stomach. However unpredictable Leo was, he loved his food, and as Jake and Fen had pointed out, he especially loved his hare and badger.
After checking the rest of the cottage, she locked up again and wandered home, sweeping the beam of the torch over the road and the cobbles of the harbour, hoping to see a pair of eyes glinting in the darkness or waiting for her on the veranda of the studio.
By eleven she went up to the flat and stood at the window. A break in the clouds revealed the half-moon for a minute or two shining onto the restless sea. The lighthouse beam flashed a couple of times, but there was no sign of Leo.
Poppy woke before dawn. She’d left the bathroom skylight open despite the squally rain showers that had blown in for most of the night, and had slept fitfully, expecting Leo to climb in off the roof at any moment, but he hadn’t.
She scrambled into her clothes, pulled on a waterproof and hurried over to Fen’s cottage. The food was still untouched.
‘Oi, Leo! Where are you hiding, your furry little devil? Are you really that pissed off that Fen’s left?’ A mad thought struck her. Dogs had been known to follow their owners hundreds of miles, but Leo would have to have super feline powers to swim from the Alcatraz that was St Piran’s. Jake might think he was the Blofeld of the cat world, but Poppy knew differently.
Panic began to set in then. She would never ever forgive herself if Leo had come to harm on her watch. How long should she wait? Should she phone Fen? No, it would worry her unnecessarily and possibly make her return, by which time Leo would probably saunter in to one of his homes, oblivious to the full-scale cat hunt he’d caused.
There was no one she could call who could help in any way. With Fen and Jake gone, she was aware of how alone and isolated she was.
She took a calming breath. Leo was a cat. A cat who loved to roam. That was what cats did. With this cheering thought in mind, she locked up and turned to head back down the road to the studio, planning on making herself a large mug of coffee while she waited for the wanderer to return.
But all the way home, her mind whirled with nightmare scenarios. Might he have got into a fight with another cat or a dog? He wasn’t an aggressive cat, only a bit aloof, but a dog could hurt him badly. What about a fox or a badger? She had no idea if there even were any on St Piran’s. She doubted it very much.
By the time the ferry arrived a couple of hours later and Leo hadn’t shown up around any of his homes, Poppy was frantic. She had no choice but to put on a smile for the customers, although she did start asking casually if any of them had seen a large ginger cat, or if they did, could they please let her know.
Several times, she’d looked up Fen’s mobile number on her phone. How long dare she leave it? Her finger hovered over the number when the phone rang out. It wasn’t Fen. It was Jake. He’d only got the first syllable of ‘Hello’ out when Poppy launched everything at him.
‘Jake! I’m so glad you’ve called.’
‘Why? What’s the matter? Are you OK?’
‘Leo’s gone missing.’
‘What do you mean. Missing?’
‘He didn’t come home – any of his homes – for dinner last night and I searched for him until dark and earlier this morning. I’m so worried about him.’
The phone was silent for a couple of seconds. ‘I’ll come back from St Mary’s,’ he said.
‘St Mary’s? What are you doing there …’
‘My plane had mechanical trouble, then there was low fog at Newquay, so later flights were delayed. I was on standby. Someone offered me a bed for the night, so I stayed over. I didn’t want to risk coming back to St Piran’s and missing the first flight out,’ said Jake. ‘I was about to walk up to the airport now. But I’ll get the jetboat to you.’
‘You can’t come back now! You’ll miss your flight to Cornwall.’
‘Let me worry about that.’
She stopped objecting. If Jake thought the situation with Leo was serious enough to return, things must be bad. ‘I’ll never forgive myself if we can’t find him,’ she said.
‘We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’ll meet you at St Piran’s harbour as soon as I can.’
It was no good. She’d have to close the studio. Leo was more important. She guessed Jake would be along in half an hour at the most in a fast boat. An extra person searching would be a huge help and if Leo still didn’t materialise, then Jake could help her make the decision to call Fen.
Having a sudden flash of inspiration, she locked up and ran down to the quayside where Trevor, the local fisherman, landed his catch and where Leo had been known to hang around in the hope of a treat. Her hopes were dashed because there was no sign of him, nor had Trevor seen him. Feeling more and more desolate, she made another round of the immediate vicinity of the studio and two cottages. Jake would be here soon so she wandered slightly further up the hill from Fen’s towards the ‘town’.
As she neared the crest of the slope, she spotted a man in chinos and a pink shirt ahead, on his knees, with his head in a hedge next to the road. Even from the back she knew it was Hugo Scorrier, part-owner of Petroc Resort. His black Labrador was sniffing around Hugo’s feet.
He backed out of the hedge and, spotting Poppy, called over to her. ‘Hello. Poppy isn’t it? Have you seen Fen Teague? I’m afraid her cat’s dead.’