The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin

Author:Cressida McLaughlin [McLaughlin, Cressida]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-07-08T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

‘I don’t see how it’s going to work.’ Charlie stared up at the blue sky and the occasional puffy cloud that drifted above her. They were lying on the grass outside the large eco-domes of the Eden Project, their bellies full of Cornish ice cream. She glanced sideways, to where Oliver had his eyes closed.

‘Maybe it just will,’ he murmured. ‘Food trucks and yoga, in harmony with each other.’

Charlie turned her sigh into a deep breath, as Juliette had taught her to do. She didn’t want to acknowledge that yoga techniques were helping to calm her down. She had left Juliette on the bus, exchanging waves and smiles with Belle through the window.

‘Who holds a week-long yoga class outside anyway? I understand retreats for the truly committed, but Porthgolow is hardly the place, is it?’

‘It’s a beautiful, tranquil beach.’ Oliver held his hands up when Charlie glared at him. ‘I’m playing devil’s advocate. You’ve got to think of it from Daniel’s point of view, and then you can work out the best response.’

‘The best response is to ask all my market people to get there early, so Belle and her yoga class can’t stop it happening. I can’t believe he’s doing this.’

‘Can’t you?’ Oliver rolled onto his stomach, and Charlie did the same. Marmite, who had been snoozing between them, raced forward so he could stand in front of them and be unavoidable. Oliver ruffled his fur and Marmite lay down in front of him.

Charlie thought back to the night of the hot tub and the way Daniel had effortlessly parried all her accusations. How, on the day of her first event, he had placated Myrtle not with words, but with a bonfire and fireworks. He did whatever he wanted. ‘I suppose I can,’ she admitted.

‘So why is he doing it?’ A robin dropped onto the grass and began investigating the undergrowth, sounding its sharp little call as it went.

‘That is the million-dollar question.’ She wondered if it was a way of getting back at her for abandoning him after their kiss. But that seemed petty, and unlike him, and certainly not something she could discuss with Oliver. ‘Perhaps, even though he claimed to be supportive at the beginning, he doesn’t like the food market.’

‘Why doesn’t he like it?’

‘Because his hotel is all about calm and serenity, and the market gets quite noisy. But the cliff’s a long way up, and I know sound drifts, but it’s not like the hotel walls are made out of paper.’

‘But the outdoor swimming pool and gardens will be used a lot now it’s summer.’

‘It’s only one day a week.’ Charlie drew herself up to sitting. ‘I wonder if he’s had complaints from some of the guests? But then he should just come and talk to me about it, or turn it around – advertise it as a feature of Porthgolow and encourage them to take advantage of it. Surely they can’t all be so refined that they faint at the sight of a hotdog stand?’

Oliver laughed, stood up and held out his hand.

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