‘Who’s that?’ Tessa asked.
Millie started. She’d been miles away. Wiping down a table, she concentrated on Tessa who was, unsubtly, trying to take her mind off Jed. ‘Eleri? I told you about her. Davey Pascoe’s granddaughter. Remember I said we hooked up in Thailand.’ Millie reined in her irritation. She was sure she’d told Tessa about her. ‘We travelled back together and I said she could help out every now and again. Need an extra pair of hands in the café now Zoe’s in Durham and Clare’s at catering college.’
Tessa stared at the willowy figure, dressed in a blue and green chiffon kaftan and bell-bottoms. Eleri sensed she was being discussed and turned around and smiled. Her light eyes rooted Tessa to the spot. ‘She’s gorgeous.’
‘Certainly is and a hard worker too.’ Millie took a loaded tray into the kitchen and Tessa followed at her heels.
‘Get you, hooking up with folk like a seasoned traveller. Remind me how you two met up, then?’
‘Well, I got myself to the same island she was living on and one morning she just appeared out of the sea. Keen swimmer, apparently. Used to do it competitively.’
‘And you offered her a job. Just like that?’
Millie plunged a stack of plates into hot water. ‘Yup.’
‘No references?’
Millie shrugged. ‘None needed really. If she hadn’t worked out, I wouldn’t keep her on. But she’s been great.’
‘Ken would die to paint her.’ Tessa peered through the porthole window in the kitchen door. ‘With those amazing eyes and all that hair.’
Eleri, her golden-brown hair tamed into a waist-length plait, was chatting to an obviously smitten Arthur.
‘Well, if she hangs around long enough, he can. She’s staying with Old Davey for the time being. You know him, lives in the last bungalow before the cliff?’
Tessa nodded. ‘Yeah. He took us all out mackerel fishing years ago, when the kids were small. Forgotten he had family, though.’ She picked up a tea towel and began to dry the plates Millie had washed. ‘If you keep getting busy like this, you’re going to have to invest in a dishwasher, bab. And you haven’t got enough crockery to turn around quickly.’
Millie brushed back her fringe from a steamy face. ‘You could be right there. I’ll add it to the list of suggestions for Clare. It was her mum’s networking group that was in today.’ Returning to the subject, she added, ‘Think Ri’s parents moved to Wales years ago. If Ken wants to paint her, he’d better be quick. She doesn’t seem to stay in one place for long.’
‘I’ll tell him.’ Tessa once again looked through to the café. ‘She looks so free.’ She sighed the sigh of a woman with a husband and three demanding sons at home. ‘Must be great to flit about the world, without a care. And there’s something mesmerising about her, isn’t there?’
‘Agreed. She’s amazingly calm. Nothing seems to faze her. She’s a bit fey too.’ Millie wrinkled up her nose. ‘Think that’s the word.’ She rinsed a couple of plates. ‘Haven’t you heard the story? Rumour is, someone in her family long ago married a mermaid and made her live on the shore with him. Apparently all the female members of the family have that spectacular hair and pale eyes.’
Tessa turned around and stared at Millie, round-eyed. ‘No way! What a story. Oh Ken has to paint her now.’
‘He might have to pay. Think she’s strapped for cash at the moment.’ Millie bit her lip. ‘And she’s not alone.’
‘How’s the sale going?’
Millie winced. ‘Slowly. I’d hoped to exchange by now, but Clare’s parents are checking out yet more things. They’re having another survey done and a feasibility report on top.’
‘Do they want to buy this place or not?’
Millie sank against the prep table. Everything threatened to overwhelm her. ‘Suppose it’s only sensible to be cautious. It’s a big thing to take on. It’s just that, oh Tes, I only went travelling on the understanding the café was sold. And now I’m so broke I don’t know what to do.’
Tessa wrapped her in a hug. She knew there was more to this than just moving stress. ‘I’m sure it’ll all go through soon. You know what they say, solicitors love making everyone panic until the last minute and then it all goes through without a hitch. And once it’s sold, think of all the lovely lolly you’ll have. You’ll be able to do anything you want. Wherever you want. Just like Eleri. Maybe even get back in touch with that Italian bloke.’ Tessa tightened her hold. ‘Berecombe won’t be the same without a Millie Vanilla’s, though.’
Millie’s answer was muffled and unintelligible.
‘And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Jed’s job. Thought it was his news, really.’
‘Why has he gone and got a job with Blue Elephant?’ Millie wailed. ‘I just don’t understand, Tes. How could he do it to me again? It’s such a betrayal.’
‘I don’t know, bab. I just don’t know.’ Tessa held her until the sobs subsided.
‘And I want the café to do well for Clare.’ Millie sniffed. ‘Jed working for Blue Elephant is going to put a dent in the profits. I just know it.’
‘What are you going to do about it?’
Millie stepped away from her hold, wiped her face with her pinny and said bleakly, ‘Have it out with him. That’s if I can ever get hold of him. He seems to be working all the time.’
‘Avoiding you?’
‘Well, he won’t do that for long. Not in a town the size of Berecombe. He owes me an explanation. And he’s bloody well going to give it to me.’