‘The market is safe,’ Charlie said. ‘I won’t be able to take part tomorrow, but that doesn’t stop everyone else. It’s only my bus that can’t trade.’ She had pulled the notice off the door the day after it had appeared. Not that that would reinstate her consent – and it certainly hadn’t stopped the Porthgolow rumour mill from getting hold of the news – but she hadn’t wanted to leave it there for everyone to gawp at. Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she couldn’t help feeling ashamed.
‘I could be a spy,’ Jonah said, raising his hand. ‘Follow the clues, do some digging. You like Bond films, don’t you, Lawrence? Do you want to team up?’ There was a smattering of laughter.
‘Sounds grand, Jonah mate,’ Lawrence said. ‘Let’s talk about it later.’
‘What has happened to Charlie’s bus is a – a travesty.’ Myrtle bristled. ‘When will you be up and running again, d’you know?’
Charlie was momentarily stunned into silence. ‘A few days, I think. I’ve got my inspection on Monday and so as long as that goes well, I should get my consent back straight away.’
‘Good, good. You can’t keep a Porthgolow maid down, that’s what I say. Which means our plan can still go ahead. A three-day food market for the August bank holiday.’
Rose and Frank nodded energetically and Stella gave Charlie a wide, pretty grin.
Charlie gasped, her eyes shooting to Juliette, but her friend looked as surprised as she felt.
‘That’s a grand idea,’ Hugh said. ‘It’s been going so well. Makes sense to end the summer with a bang.’
‘But it’s not the end,’ Amanda piped up. ‘We don’t want it to just be a summer thing. It’ll be harder in the winter, of course, but we were thinking we could hold them once a month in the off-season. There are foodie treats more suited to autumn and then, of course, there’s Christmas. We’ve done some research on other markets. Well, when I say we, it’s all been Jonah.’ She held out a folder and Charlie took it, peering inside at the sheaves of paper covered in photos and information.
‘You want it to continue?’ she asked.
‘I know I’ve not always been the easiest to get on with,’ Myrtle said, ‘but there’s no denying it’s brought life to this place. Bill was singin’ its praises, and I’ve, uh, sampled a few bits, here ’n’ there.’
‘The market is wonderful, Charlie,’ Anton said. ‘There’s no way we could stop it now.’
‘Best thing to come to Porthgolow for a long time,’ Rose agreed, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
Charlie felt the sting of tears. She couldn’t quite take it in. She caught Reenie’s eye and the older woman smiled back at her: a knowing, smug little smile that made Charlie want to hug her.
‘You think everyone will be on board for three whole days?’ she asked. ‘It’s a lot of work. A lot of effort.’
‘Don’t be so negative, cheel,’ Myrtle chided gently. ‘We’re all goin’ to help. We’ll promote it where we can, spruce the village up a bit in preparation. I’ve cleaned tables in my time, so you won’t be on your own in the bus if you don’t want to be.’
‘Benji’s going to create a special Porthgolow burger,’ Jonah piped up. ‘We’re already looking at sauces and recipes. Maybe you could come up with some new cakes, Charlie? Just for that weekend. Like a bank holiday special or something?’
She nodded. ‘I could certainly give it a go, Jonah.’
‘And I’ve been brewing my own ale for a while,’ Hugh said. ‘I could see about having a stand out here on a Saturday. Nothing fancy, mind, but I could launch it on the bank holiday, then sell it in the pub, too. I’ve been inspired by all those artisan brewers with beards and no socks.’ He laughed. ‘I want to be a part of it.’
‘You’ve made such a huge difference, Charlie,’ Amanda said. ‘We want you to know that we appreciate it, that what you’re doing here has changed Porthgolow, and we hope it never ends.’ A lower-deck full of heads nodded back at her and Charlie smiled, even though her eyes were swimming.
Could she really leave this – all these wonderful people – behind, and go back to Bea and Ross-on-Wye?
‘It hasn’t just been me,’ she said, finding her voice. ‘It couldn’t have happened without you – without all of your support. That first meeting wasn’t … well, it wasn’t quite as unanimous as this one,’ she added, laughing, ‘but I still felt encouraged to give it a go.’
She realized then that both she and Daniel had been right. She had needed to show everyone that it could work; that she could turn the empty beach into a thriving hub of activity, but she would never have had the courage to try if everyone had been against it from the start.
‘You were brave,’ Reenie said. ‘You put yourself out there, even though you knew it was a risk.’
Charlie nodded. ‘I did, but—’
‘It’s about time I was brave, too. Let everyone in on my little secret. As you’re all here, now seems like the perfect time.’
‘Reenie,’ Charlie started, ‘you don’t have—’
‘The mermaid thing!’ Jonah jumped out of his chair. ‘You’re going to announce that you’re a mermaid, and bring all your mermaid friends up from the sea to say hello.’
‘Holy mother o’ God,’ Myrtle murmured.
Hugh’s usually pale face went red, and Amanda and Paul couldn’t have looked more embarrassed if Jonah had swept their table clear and climbed on top of it to dance the Macarena.
‘Darling boy,’ Reenie said, ‘if you continue to perpetuate this mermaid myth, then your younger sisters are going to grow up to be very confused individuals.’
‘So … you’re not a mermaid, then?’ Jonah looked genuinely confused, and Charlie’s heart went out to him.
‘No, my love. I am not. But I do have something I can contribute to this bank holiday market.’
‘Unicorns are real, though,’ Flora interjected.
‘That, young lady, is a discussion for another day. No, my contribution is twenty thousand Instagram followers, and my willingness to promote this event on my account in any way you so desire.’
‘What on earth?’ Myrtle asked.
‘What did you just say, Reenie?’ Stella took another piece of lemon cake.
‘Twenty thousand Instagram followers,’ Hugh said. ‘That’s no mean feat.’
‘I have one hundred and four,’ Jonah declared proudly.
‘You’re too young to be on Instagram,’ Reenie said, and shook her head at Paul and Amanda, who had begun to look as if hiding under the table might be their only option.
As Reenie explained about the Porthgolow Hideaway account, everyone got their phones out to see for themselves, as if somehow by viewing it with this new knowledge, they would be able to find a previously hidden selfie of Reenie standing in front of her cottage for all the world to see.
Charlie got milk out of the fridge, desperate for a cappuccino even though it was gone seven in the evening. She hadn’t thought to bring wine, though it would have been perfectly acceptable in this private gathering. She barely noticed the chatter stop, and almost missed Juliette’s sharp intake of breath, but then a slender hand clutched her arm, and Charlie turned to her friend and then followed her gaze to the doorway.
‘Sorry I’m late,’ Daniel said, glancing at Lauren. ‘I got held