The Mermaid Garden(135)
“Yes?” Her stepmother put her arm around her and drew her close. “What is it?” Clementine was crying so much now she was unable to speak. “It’s okay, you mustn’t feel bad. It’s only natural to feel like you do. Every child wants their parents to love them above all others, and marriage breakups—”
“It’s not that.” Clementine wiped her face with her sleeve and sat up.
“Oh, I see. There’s something else.”
“Yes. I’m in love. I’m desperately in love, and I don’t know what to do about it.” Her breath caught in her chest.
“Rafa?”
She nodded. “I don’t know how he feels about me. One moment I think he’s going to kiss me, then he pulls away. I don’t know whether he leads everyone on like that, or whether I’m special. It’s been such a short time, but I’m crazy about him.”
“I can’t say I haven’t noticed that you’re keen on him. But I haven’t seen you together enough to tell you how I think he feels.”
“Today he told me that I’m special. He took my hands and told me I’m beautiful. Then, when I asked him if he said that to all the girls or if it’s just me, he said that it was just me. I could have sworn he was about to lean over and kiss me. He looked at me so intensely. But we got up and drove back into Dawcomb, where he dropped me off outside Joe’s flat. He knew I was going to break up with him.”
“And he didn’t suspect that he’s the reason?”
“I don’t think so. He said he could tell that I wasn’t in love with Joe.”
“I think we all worked that out.”
“So, what shall I do?”
Marina didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely nothing.”
Clementine was surprised; she was expecting a long lecture on how to play hard to get.
“You’re lovely, Clemmie, just the way you are. He’d be a very stupid man to let you go.”
Clementine wanted to cry again, with gratitude. “Thank you.” She put her arms around her stepmother’s small shoulders and hugged her tightly. “I’m so happy we’re friends.”
“Me, too,” Marina agreed, closing her eyes.
When the two women returned to the stable block, Grey was still up, watching a documentary about sea creatures on Sky. He was surprised to see them both red-faced and shiny-nosed. Without a word of explanation, Clementine marched up to him and put her arms around his neck. She gave him a long, hard squeeze and planted a kiss on his cheek. “I’m going to have a bath—my feet are freezing.” He watched, amazed, as she walked lightly out of the room.
“What’s she taken?” he asked Marina.
“Come upstairs and I’ll tell you. I need to warm up, too.”
“What the devil have you been up to?”
“Long story, but I feel wonderful.” She sighed heavily, unburdening years of pain, and grinned at him broadly. “You’re never going to believe it.”
“The hotel’s heaving,” said Bertha the following morning, settling onto the kitchen chair like a nesting hen. “Shame it’s in such trouble.”
“What do you mean, trouble?” Heather asked, hugging her mug of coffee.
“I’ve heard they’ve run out of money,” Bertha said in a low voice. “Though you didn’t get that from me.”
“Who did you get it from then?”
Bertha pulled her earlobe. “Ear to the ground. Apparently, some bigwig is coming down from London to make them an offer.”
Heather’s jaw unhinged. “Are you sure?”
“He’s Jewish.” Bertha raised an eyebrow.
“So?”
“Jake says Jews are clever. Very clever.”
“Clever won’t get them to sell the hotel if they don’t want to.”
“Well, I heard Jake talking to his father in the stable block, and it sounded to me like they don’t have much choice in the matter.”
“They’ll have to bury Marina first. She won’t give in without a fight. What’ll happen to us?”
“I don’t know. They might get rid of some people, but not us. We’re independable.”
“You mean indispensable?”
“That’s what I said, indispensable.”
“You might be, Bertha, but I’m not so sure about me. Anyone could do my job.”
“It’s not anyone they’d want, now, is it? They’d want experienced staff who know their way around.”
“Hope you’re right. Keep your ear to the ground and let me know if you hear anything else.”
Clementine was no artist, but the only way to spend time with Rafa was to join his class. He was pleasantly surprised when she appeared on the cliff top to paint the lighthouse with Pat, Grace, and Veronica. “I’ve got nothing else to do this weekend,” she said, sitting on a blanket with Biscuit.