‘So, Johnny, what are your first impressions of Cornwall?’ Jane glances across the breakfast table at her guest. He’s certainly easy on the eye at this time of the morning.
‘From what I’ve seen so far, I like it,’ Johnny says, buttering a slice of toast. ‘Particularly the beaches.’
‘Yes, we’re certainly lucky there,’ says Jane, gazing at the young man who, today, wears his hair down. Dark curls skim his shoulders. ‘Cara tells me you were on your way to Europe before you decided to make a detour.’
Johnny spreads jam thickly. ‘Yeah, I’d made plans to hook up with a friend in Paris, but he’s cool. We can meet up any time.’ He bites into his toast.
Jane sips her chamomile tea. Anything stronger just brings on nausea.
‘What prompted you to change your plans?’ she asks. ‘I mean, I came to Cornwall for a job, so I had a reason.’ She blushes at the true motivation for her question.
‘I had an invite I couldn’t pass up.’ Johnny smiles at the eager expectation on his host’s face. ‘Coffee and a Cornish pasty!’
‘It’s a long way to come just for that,’ Jane says, wondering how she can bring about the conversation she really wants to have.
‘Not for Americans. We’re used to travelling long distances.’
‘So, a nigh on three-hundred-mile journey for a coffee and pasty is nothing to an American?’
‘Well, put like that, it does sound a bit extreme!’ Johnny laughs.
‘Come on, Johnny, you can tell me,’ says Jane, deciding to lay on the pressure. ‘It was more than that, wasn’t it?’
Johnny picks up his mug of coffee and takes a mouthful. He assesses Jane over the rim. ‘OK. I confess it was.’
‘I knew it!’ Jane sits back and grins. Now she will learn the truth of his visit. But Johnny continues to eat his breakfast in silence. A few minutes later, unable to curtail her curiosity, she asks, ‘You are going to tell me, aren’t you? You’re not going to keep me dangling?’
Johnny smiles sweetly.
‘Jo-hn-ny,’ Jane wails, ‘you can’t keep a pregnant woman in suspense. It’s not good for her condition!’
‘OK!’ Johnny laughs again. ‘Cara helped make a boring journey across the pond more interesting and when I learned she was an artist I thought I’d come and see her work for myself. I can tell you, it hasn’t been a wasted trip. Her talent is amazing!’ He accentuates the word. ‘I wish I was that gifted.’
‘She is exceptional,’ agrees Jane, ‘but Cara doesn’t seem to realise it, which is such a breath of fresh air. Since she won the Threadneedle Prize loads of people from all over the world have visited her gallery. You could forgive her for becoming a little big-headed over all the fuss, but she hasn’t changed at all!’
Johnny swallows another mouthful of coffee. ‘Can I ask you something, Jane?’
She sits forward eagerly. ‘Fire away.’
‘I know she’s got kids, but is Cara single?’
‘Yes. I know it’s hard to believe, but she is.’
‘I got that impression, although she told me a good friend paid for her visit to the States.’
‘A good friend?’
‘Yeah. I’d say a very good friend. She travelled Upper Class.’
Jane pulls a face. ‘That must be Greg.’
‘You don’t like this Greg?’ Johnny asks, observing her with interest.
Jane sits back and considers his question. ‘Well, I don’t exactly dislike him. He’s smooth and sophisticated, and knows how to be a charmer. It’s just…’ She hesitates, wondering what exactly it is about Greg that makes her feel uncomfortable. ‘Oh, I don’t know. He’s a lot older than Cara and I get the distinct impression he knows she’s his second chance. I worry about her. She shouldn’t have to settle for someone like that. She could be with anyone.’ Jane looks meaningfully at Johnny.
‘Mrs Corrington, what are you suggesting?’ Johnny teases, fully understanding Jane’s game.
Jane blushes, but continues with her cause. ‘Cara is a widow. She lost her husband four years ago. She’s still young and full of lightness of spirit, and she’s a damn good friend. I feel very protective and only want the best for her.’
‘She’s a widow,’ Johnny says quietly.
‘Yes, it happened before I came to Cornwall, but Trist told me about it. Christo was his best mate. They used to do everything together. Cara, Beth and Sky are like family to my husband.’
‘She told me she had a daughter and two sons,’ says Johnny.
‘Ah, yes, Toby.’ Jane’s face softens. ‘He’s such a beautiful, gorgeous little soul. I only hope my sproglet will be half as easy and happy go lucky when he makes an appearance.’
Johnny smiles kindly at her. ‘How old is Toby?’
Jane considers his question. ‘A year next week.’
Clear brown eyes gaze at her. ‘Didn’t you just say Cara lost her husband four years ago?’
‘You’re sharp for this time of the morning,’ she responds. ‘Toby is the result of an affair, only it was so much more than that, but, for reasons I can’t go into, it couldn’t develop into anything more.’ She gazes out of the window, thinking of the charming, handsome actor who made such an impact on all their lives that summer. It’s beyond her how Cara has continued with her free spirit intact. She would have been devastated if she’d experienced true love with Oliver, only to be forced to continue life without him. And then to find out she was pregnant! Jane shakes her head slowly. Her friend’s strength of purpose is truly humbling.
‘She’s lovely,’ says Johnny.
Jane’s gaze returns to her guest. ‘She is, Johnny, and one hell of a catch.’
The young American laughs. ‘You’re not matchmaking, are you, Jane?’
‘Could be, just a tad,’ she says with a cheeky grin.
‘Well, before you continue I guess I’d better tell you a bit about me.’
Jane sits back. At last!
‘I come from a very wealthy family where great things are expected of me and my siblings. Certain achievements are anticipated… like a good marriage. To carry on the family name, you understand.’ A fleeting emotion passes across the young man’s face.
Jane is all ears.
‘From as early as I can remember I’ve spent summers at my family’s second home in the Hamptons,’ Johnny continues. ‘Actually it’s our fourth, but we always think of it as our second because we love it there so much. Anyway, my parents are great friends with the owners of the neighbouring estate. They’ve always pushed their daughter in my direction and as kids we got along OK, but then as teenagers it got kinda tricky. Our parents teased us about the life we would have together and the beautiful children we’d bring into the world.’ Johnny pauses, a strained expression on his open face. ‘It was downright embarrassing but we went along with it, just to please the folks.’ Johnny glances at Jane. ‘I know that sounds kinda pathetic.’
Jane shakes her head. ‘Go on.’
‘Anyway, Caitlyn fell pregnant. She was just seventeen. She refused to have a termination and she didn’t want to give up the baby for adoption either so we got hitched, but I knew I didn’t love her. She had the child, a little girl who we named Naomi. We tried to make the marriage work but, in the end, however much pressure the folks put on us, we ended up hating each other. So, for the sake of our sanity and Naomi, we parted. Now I only see my daughter once a month or during the summer when I visit the Hamptons. She’s seven this year.’
‘Thank you for sharing this with me, Johnny.’ Jane smiles sympathetically. ‘People’s lives are rarely straightforward.’
‘That’s true,’ says Johnny. ‘However, my folks would disagree with you. Nothing has ever gone wrong in their lives because they mapped out a life plan. They can’t understand where this black sheep of a son has come from.’ Playing with a fork, Johnny grimaces. ‘They’ve told me to travel around Europe for a year and get my head in order otherwise they’ll cut me off from my inheritance.’
‘But that’s awful,’ exclaims Jane.
Johnny shakes his head. ‘The inheritance isn’t a big issue. To be honest, it’s a bit of an embarrassment, and I can make my own way in the world. But they’ve told me they’ll only accept me back in the family once I return as husband to Caitlyn and father to Naomi.’
‘For God’s sake. It’s the twenty-first century!’ Jane says heatedly. ‘We live in a democracy! You can choose how you want to live your life and with whom.’
A resigned look settles on Johnny’s face. ‘You’d think so, wouldn’t you? Anyway, that’s my story.’
Jane stares at her guest. What’s wrong with his parents? How can they disown a son just because he doesn’t want to marry the person they have in mind for him? They are lucky he even tried! Suddenly feeling light-headed, Jane grabs the table. Instantly Johnny springs to his feet.
‘Are you OK?’ he asks with concern.
She looks up at him, gratefully. ‘Just feeling a little spacey. I think I’ll go and lie down.’
‘Here, let me help,’ he says, swiftly moving around the table.
‘Thank you. Perhaps you could just help me to the couch.’ Holding onto the young man’s warm, steady hand, she heaves her bulk out of the chair. ‘You know, you’re always welcome to lodge here, Johnny,’ she says, as they head towards the living room, ‘should you find any reason not to resume your travels in Europe.’
‘Why, Mrs Corrington,’ says Johnny, helping her onto the couch, ‘I do believe you’re determined we all find happy endings.’
‘Of course! That’s why I came to Cornwall.’ Jane makes herself comfortable amongst the cushions and smiles up at him. ‘But that’s another story.’