Over a month had passed since Motts’s dramatic encounter by the lighthouse. All of her aches and pains had faded away within the first week. Her only lingering reminder was the occasional nightmare.
The bad dreams haunted her sleep at least twice a week. She had initially tried to stay up all night to avoid them. When that didn’t work, she’d taken to calling Teo, who kindly talked through her nightmares with her until she managed to drift off peacefully.
Motts usually hated talking on the phone for any length of time. Teo didn’t cause the same level of anxiety for some reason. She had the brief spike of fear when dialling his number, then it faded away after he answered.
After two weeks, Motts had begun to feel comfortable outside of the cottage once more. She got back into the habit of walking the path to fight her fears. Her daily forays into the village helped.
Over the first few days, it felt like every villager had popped by to check on her. Marnie had explained they’d taken Noel’s behaviour as a personal affront and wanted to ensure Motts received a proper welcome. She didn’t know how to deal with them or the copious amounts of food they brought.
But now, five weeks after the drama on the cliff, Motts had begun to settle down completely. She didn’t jump at shadows. Any anxiety now likely had more to do with an impending visit from her parents, which would definitely involve an argument about her moving back home.
She wouldn’t.
Despite everything, Motts had already fallen in love with life in the village. She’d created a new routine for herself. The garden had begun to flourish in the late spring sun.
She was happy.
Today she had a long day in the garden planned. Some of her herbs needed tending, and weeds always needed pulling. Teo had promised to stop by for a visit, since he had the entire weekend off.
“Knock, knock.”
Motts sat back on her heels. She’d been pulling weeds from one of her plots of herbs. “I can see you over the gate. And I know you can reach the latch with your unnaturally long arms.”
“I’d look rather strange if I had T-rex limbs.” Teo demonstrated by pulling his arms up, causing her to laugh. He reached over the gate to unhook the latch and let himself into the garden. “My mother sends her love in the form of štrukli—it’s like a cream cheese strudel of sorts.”
Motts immediately stood up, yanking her gloves off and using them to brush the dirt away from her jeans. “You had me at cream cheese.”
“Did I?”
She frowned at him, trying to decipher his tone of voice. “Question?”
“Flirting, not an actual question.” He lifted the covered dish in his hands. “Have you worked up an appetite? I have.”
“Doing what? Driving.”
“It’s a tough job.” Teo smiled. She always felt a strange flutter in her stomach when he grinned. “I have news for you.”
Motts went from the enjoyable flutter to a sinking sensation in her stomach. “Oh?”
“Not bad.” He shifted the dish to one hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “The prosecutor wanted me to give you the latest update.”
Deciding tea was needed, Motts led Teo into the cottage. Cactus immediately sauntered up to greet the detective inspector. He’d fallen in love with the man; not surprising when he brought treats for both of her pets on a frequent basis.
“Don’t.” Motts stopped Teo from speaking before he’d even opened his mouth. She washed her hands before filling the kettle and switching it on. “Tea, coffee, or cocoa?”
“Coffee.”
Motts had already reached for her jar of instant coffee. She’d gotten it specifically for Teo, since he preferred it to tea. “How did I know?”
When they’d finally settled at the kitchen table with drinks and a slice of the not-quite strudel, Motts stirred her cocoa nervously. Teo sipped his coffee and waited. She appreciated his not pushing her into a conversation she didn’t want to have.
Motts knew putting off the inevitable wouldn’t help in the long run. “Go on, then.”
“Are you sure?” Teo stretched his arm across the table and wrapped his hand around hers. “It can wait.”
“Will I read about it in the paper?”
“Definitely. And I have no doubt village gossip will be sharing the news.” He squeezed her hand gently, then leaned back into his chair. “Noel has decided to plead guilty. His defence counsel made him understand forcing this to trial wouldn’t gain him anything.”
“So, I don’t have to go to court.” Motts had grown increasingly anxious the longer the case had gone on. Rhona deserved the justice that Jenny never received. “I would, but I wasn’t looking forward to it. Vina said I had a good argument for Cactus being my emotional support animal.”
Teo failed at trying to hide his smile behind his coffee mug. “I’m not laughing at you, I promise. I’m just imagining the crown court’s reaction to a naked cat on the stand.”
“He’s not naked,” Motts insisted. She wrapped her hands around her mug. “Mostly. So, what happens now?”
“He’ll be sentenced. You don’t have to worry about dealing with Noel ever again.” Teo saluted her with his mug. “Now, with that out of the way, what are your plans for the day?”
“Weeding?” She hadn’t finished with her garden chores.
“Gardening it is.”
They hadn’t done a ton of traditional dates. Teo had taken her distaste for going to restaurants, the movies, or any crowded public place in stride. They’d gotten takeout a lot and gone for walks and bike rides all around southern Cornwall.
Their families had met. Her uncle Tom and auntie Lily had invited Teo and his parents for dinner. River had spent most of the meal teasing her endlessly until she accidently on purpose knocked her pot de crème into his lap, much to everyone’s amusement.
They intended to have another meal when her parents arrived—at her uncle and auntie’s place. Her cottage was simply too small. Motts had no idea how her mum and dad would handle her new relationship; River and Nish had promised to be there for moral support.
A week and a half later, their offer was being put to the test. Her uncle Tom had a sick sense of humour. He’d placed her parents and Teo’s on the same side of the table, while they were on the opposite with River and Nish.
“Eat. Eat.” Her auntie Lily had grown tired of everyone sitting in an uneasy silence around the table. “I didn’t poison anything.”
Teo exchanged a glance with Motts. “Should I take it as a good sign that she’s joking about poisoning us in front of me?”
Motts turned away to laugh along with Nish, who’d heard Teo’s comment. “I’m not explaining why this is funny.”
The tension in the room slowly dissipated as the meal progressed. Her dad and Teo’s seemed to get along well. Her mum, on the other hand, kept frowning at Teo.
“This is what happens when you flee the nest.” River leaned around Nish to whisper to her. “She’ll calm down eventually.”
“Did Auntie Lily?”
River crossed both of his fingers. “Any day now. It helps that Nish is far more responsible than I am.”
“And Teo isn’t?”
“My mum isn’t nearly as protective as yours,” her cousin pointed out helpfully. “Your dad seems impressed by him.”
“Teo saved his little poppet. Of course her dad loves him.” Nish shoved River back into his seat. “You’re drawing attention to yourselves.”
They were halfway through dessert when the other shoe finally dropped. Motts had been holding her breath in the hopes she’d escape without being embarrassed by her parents. She’d almost gotten to the end when everything went haywire.
“And you, young man, what are your intentions with our Motts?” Her mum pointed her cheesecake-covered fork at Teo. “Does a detective inspector make enough to support someone? Is it safe?”
Motts felt the flush start at the base of her neck and creep up her face. “Mum!”
“I worry, dear.”
She set her fork down on the plate and tried to compose herself. She’d practised a response to this sort of conversation for days in preparation. “I make enough money from my business to support myself. Teo and I have barely begun dating. We only had this dinner because you and dad insisted.”
“Poppet.” Her dad draped his arm across the back of her mum’s chair. “She worries.”
“That’s not a good enough excuse. You keep saying she worries as though it erases the damage she’s started to do to our relationship.” Motts shot to her feet, and Teo caught her chair to keep it from falling to floor. “I love you, Mum. I do. You can’t keep treating me like I’m a teenager. I’m in sodding perimenopause, for crying out loud.”
“Pineapple.”
Motts held her hand up to stop her mum from responding. “Enough, Mum. You make me feel as though I’m incapable of managing my life. I’m not. At all.”
Once again, Motts found herself fleeing to the garden. She sat on the steps and reconsidered all her life choices. Teo came out and joined her, squashing himself beside her.
“Sorry for the awkwardness.” She wasn’t embarrassed for speaking her mind. She should’ve stood up for herself months ago. “They love me. I think they just expected me to be somewhat dependent on them forever. I’m sorry they bombarded you with so many questions.”
“Don’t be.” Teo eased Motts into a hug. He bent his head to brush a kiss against the top of her head. “Life isn’t all about a walk down the primrose path. I’m just glad mine led to you.”
Be sure to check out Motts’s next adventure in Pierced Peony!