Chapter 16

‘Have a look at my Brussels sprouts, ladies, fresh from the farm. Lovely and big, ain’t they?’ Charlie Dillon winked at a blushing pensioner in her eighties. ‘We’ve got artichokes too – some call ’em fartichokes but what can you do. Better out than in, eh?’ Charlie was enjoying himself, in full swing as the open-air market sprang into life on this first Saturday of November. ‘Just eight weeks until the big man will be coming down your chimney, ladies. If you fancy some juicy dates for Christmas, just call on me.’

Pat Dillon tutted. ‘I didn’t think you could sink any lower.’

‘How low, how low, how low can you go?’ Charlie Dillon faked a limbo under his fully stacked fruit and vegetable stall. His wife laughed and made a face at him. ‘Here, have you heard from Daz?’ he asked.

‘Yeah. He texted me earlier, said he’s had to help our Billy out on the ferry today.’

‘For fuck’s sake,’ Charlie grumbled. ‘The van needs unloading.’

‘It’s all right, we’ll manage.’

‘I dunno what’s wrong with the lad lately. I know he had the flu but he’s turning into a right pansy. When I worked Covent Garden Market with my old man, even if we’d had nine pints the night before or a dodgy curry and were shitting through the eye of a needle we would still just turn up and get on with it.’

‘Sometimes you are so disgusting, Charlie. Look, as I said, Daz is working with Billy today, so for Gawd’s sake give it a rest. At least he’s grafting.’

Despite her words, Pat Dillon too was concerned. Her twin boys had always come to her in the past when they were troubled, but she knew she couldn’t pressurise either of them as it was a fine line between prying and supporting. And the worst thing she could do was to alienate Darren and push him away. She didn’t want to worry Billy about his brother, but it was getting to that stage. In fact, she was surprised that Billy himself hadn’t noticed and mentioned it already. But then he was totally smitten with Kara Moon, and for that Pat was happy. She liked Kara and knew she was a good ’un. Her Billy’s wild days seemed to be behind him now and there was every hope that she would get the grandchildren she had always longed for sooner rather than later.

The Happy Hart had just disgorged a string of cars, which were now making their way up to Ferry Lane to park in the market car park. It was a fun and lucrative time to be a stallholder in the months leading up to Christmas. For budget reasons, the council left the Christmas lights permanently up, and someone somewhere had already turned them on, which added to the festive atmosphere. With the market in full sparkle, there was definitely an air of magic about the place.

A few stalls over, Star was scrabbling about on the ground to turn her little heater up, when the familiar and sexy accent she hadn’t heard for over a week spoke.

‘So, Miss Star Crystals and Jewellery. On a scale of one to ten, just how much have you missed me?’ Conor mimicked her soft Cornish accent and answered his own question with a high, coquettish, ‘Eleven,’ and laughed at his own joke.

Her face beaming, Star emerged from under the table in her little white beanie hat and thick blue jacket. A smudge of Bitch Perfect Charlotte Tilbury lipstick that she had stolen from her daughter’s bedroom that morning highlighted her lips.

‘I heard you crying yourself to sleep every night across the stairway, no doubt thinking, is that gorgeous Irishman ever going to brighten up my day again?’

Conor would never admit it to anyone, but it had taken all his resolve to stay away from Steren Bligh, knowing that if he were to rush her, there would be no moving forward with any kind of relationship.

‘I was at home counting the money I’ve been saving by not taking you for a drink,’ Star replied cheekily. Her auntie had made her feel so much better about the whole scenario. She really did have nothing to lose by just having fun. And now she was feeling relieved that she had stopped herself from making the first move and texting him the night before to ask what he was up to.

‘Anyway, this is short but sweet, just like you, but I need to run. Billy said I could have a lie-in, but I can see the ferry loading now. Here.’ Conor placed an envelope in her hand, then headed off at speed down Ferry Lane towards the estuary quay to board the ferry float.

Taking off her sparkly woolly gloves and sitting back down on her little stool so as to warm her legs and feet, Star tore open the envelope. Inside was a greetings card with a quote on the front from the famous Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde: The very essence of romance is uncertainty. Inside was a very badly drawn picture of a dolphin and written in scribbly capitals: I TOLD YOU I WAS HERE FOR A PORPOISE, followed by a smiley face, and How about a walk on Sunday morning. Meet 10.30 at Frank’s? Conor x.

Star laughed out loud. Romance? She’d almost forgotten what that was. But Conor Brady got ten out of ten for trying on this occasion.

‘All right, Billy boy?’ Conor said gaily. Then, ‘Shite, are you on your own, mate? You should have called me. I thought Darren was here with you first thing on a Saturday.’ A tired-looking Billy was just shutting the back gate of the car ferry and heading for the tug to set off across the estuary to Crowsbridge Quay. A cold east wind was whipping around their ears. Small waves were lapping against the side of the ferry float. Seagulls circled in the hope they might be a fishing boat about to dump some scraps over the side.

‘Nah, he’s had to help out my old man and woman evidently. He texted this morning and I’d promised you a lie-in. It’s fine. These early crossings are easy Hartmouth side on market day; it’s the Crowsbridge end with them all piling over from about now that I need the help with.’

‘Has Kara’s Da totally finished for the winter now then?’

‘Yes. He’s ready to rest his sea legs, he told me. He’s going to help me out when I go away and stuff though, so it’s a win-win for me really.’

‘Aye aye, skipper, and all that then.’ Conor laughed.

‘Exactly! And a full-time job for you – if you’d like it, that is? Daz has only ever worked part-time anyway.’

‘Billy, I will bite your hand off, so I will. That is just the best news, thank you.’

‘Every other Sunday off and one day a week off to my choosing, if that’s OK by you?’

‘I’m over the moon, I tell ya.’

‘Just don’t let the customers see you puking, eh?’

‘Jesus, there was me thinking I’d got away with that.’

‘Darren hasn’t got good sea legs either. Star told him to chew raw ginger. He finds it so vile, it stops him thinking about being ill.’

‘She has all the remedies, that one.’ Conor nodded. ‘But I’ll try that, for certain.’

‘Yeah, watch her, she’ll be putting a love spell on you next.’

‘Here’s hoping.’ Conor pulled his hat down over his ears causing curls to spill out in a funny shape. ‘Sunday, you say. I may have a commitment tomorrow, shite.’

‘Tomorrow is fine. Daz has promised me he’ll be here.’

‘Grand.’

Billy reached inside his money bag and pulled out five crisp ten-pound notes. ‘Here’s a nifty as an advance. I pay every Friday straight into your bank account and at that point I’ll deduct this. I just need all your details.’

‘What a man! Can I be a pain and ask you for cash instead of using my account? I could do without my overdraft sucking it all up.’

‘Course. Why don’t you just invoice me, then you can sort your own tax out, be self-employed. That would help me out too. Less paperwork, although I’ll do my part with the insurance and so on, so you’re looked after.’

‘If you’re sure. Ah, this is just the best thing to happen. I can’t thank you enough.’ Conor put the black leather money belt that Billy had handed him over his shoulder. ‘Actually, whilst I remember, take a tenner back as I owe your Kara for some flowers. Tell her it’s for Star’s bunch, will you?’

Billy nodded, took the money, and went to get the Happy Hart on its way.

Conor jumped on board and was just pulling on his gloves when he heard his phone beep in a text.

Your persistence has won over my resistance. Oscar would be delighted, I’m sure. See you tomorrow. She had signed off with the icon of a star and x.

A new job, a new home, and a date with the most beautiful woman that had crossed his path for a long time. Conor Brady began to whistle while he worked.