Finding Happiness at Penvennan Cove, page 1
Also by Linn B. Halton
THE PENVENNAN COVE SERIES
Coming Home to Penvennan Cove
Making Waves at Penvennan Cove
Finding Happiness At Penvennan Cove
WRITING AS LUCY COLEMAN
Magic Under the Mistletoe
Summer on the Italian Lakes
Snowflakes Over Holly Cove
The French Adventure
FINDING HAPPINESS AT PENVENNAN COVE
Linn B. Halton
AN IMPRINT OF HEAD OF ZEUS
www.ariafiction.com
First published in the UK in 2022 by Head of Zeus Ltd, part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Copyright © Linn B. Halton, 2022
The moral right of Linn B. Halton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN (PB): 9781803289366
ISBN (E): 9781838938024
Cover design: Leah Jacobs-Gordon
Head of Zeus Ltd
First Floor East
5–8 Hardwick Street
London EC1R 4RG
WWW.HEADOFZEUS.COM
Contents
Welcome Page
Copyright
Dedication
April
Chapter 1: Living in Harmony
Chapter 2: A New Kind of Normal
Chapter 3: Making Plans
Chapter 4: Counting the Victories
Chapter 5: Confronting My Fears
Chapter 6: Good News Incoming
Chapter 7: Focusing on the Positive
Chapter 8: Perfect Timing
Chapter 9: Food for Thought
Chapter 10: Party Time!
Chapter 11: A Guessing Game
Chapter 12: Change Happens One Step at a Time
Chapter 13: Never a Dull Moment
Chapter 14: Stepping Up
Chapter 15: A Leisurely Sunday Barbecue with Friends
Chapter 16: Is This the Calm Before the Storm?
Chapter 17: A Few Home Truths
Chapter 18: Cast Adrift
Chapter 19: A Distress Call
Chapter 20: Back to Nature
Chapter 21: Teamwork
Chapter 22: A Reality Check
Chapter 23: Pulling Together
Chapter 24: Romance is in the Air
Chapter 25: The Cold Light of Day
Chapter 26: Packing Up
Chapter 27: The Housewarming
Six months later…
Chapter 28: It’s Time to Hoist the Main Sail!
Epilogue: One year later…
About the Author
Acknowledgements
An Invitation from the Publisher
When the dream you’ve been chasing has to change, it can turn your life upside down.
Be guided by your heart and tap into your gut instincts. Then take a deep breath and a leap of faith.
If you currently find yourself in that situation, then this story is dedicated to you.
Change can be unexpectedly liberating.
April
1
Living in Harmony
Waking up each morning next to the man who first stole my heart more than a decade ago is still a novelty. But it’s also a reminder to count my blessings. No matter what problems the new day ahead might bring, each night when we fall asleep in each other’s arms the irritating worries simply fade away. As for the bigger issues – well, it’s a case of acknowledging there are some things that are outside of my control, no matter how difficult that is to accept.
‘I can almost hear your mind ticking over,’ Ross murmurs, sleepily. ‘Did the birds wake you again?’ He rolls into me, snaking his arm around my waist and giving it a comforting squeeze.
‘Yes,’ I grumble, unappreciatively. ‘It is a wonderful way to wake up and it does lift my spirits, but it’s not even five o’clock. I’ve had less than four hours sleep and they’re so… enthusiastic.’
Loud actually, but it’s not their fault I’m feeling sleep deprived. The garden of Pedrevan Cottage backs onto a swathe of trees leading down to a picturesque stream. Even though it’s slightly smaller than the one at the front of the property, Ross says this is the best of the two bedrooms because it has such a lovely outlook. But at this unearthly hour of the morning, it sounds as if every robin, blackbird and thrush in the area has come to Penvennan to celebrate the dawn chorus. Another two blissful hours and it would be the perfect start to the day, because I’m sorely in need of my beauty sleep.
‘It’s a male thing I’m afraid,’ Ross informs me, soberly. ‘The most dominant of the males need to assert ownership of their territory. They like to show off to the females and leave the other males in no doubt about how strong they are.’ Ross stifles a yawn, but his eyes are now open.
‘Strong?’
‘After a chilly night and on an empty stomach, they need to be well-fed to sing the loudest. It requires a great deal of energy to impress their partners. It’s the me Tarzan, you Jane mentality.’
‘Is that why you sing in the shower?’ I start giggling. Ross sings off-key and he knows it, but it warms my heart to hear him. He pulls me even closer, snuggling his chin into my hair.
‘No. That’s not a territorial thing. Pedrevan is your cottage. I’m just the poor, homeless guy you took in out of the kindness of your heart. Can you hear that woodpigeon joining in?’
I listen carefully, but all the birds are clamouring to be heard. ‘I’m not sure which sound to focus on.’
‘Well, people say they coo, but it’s that vooo sound, which usually means the male is defending a nest.’
Ross is right. It’s intermittent and there is a sense of urgency to the woodpigeon’s call. ‘You’re surprisingly knowledgeable about birds,’ I remark, casually.
‘It’s only stuff I’ve picked up from Gawen up at Treeve Perran Farm. Before you arrived back in Penvennan Cove I used to spend my Sundays there giving a hand in return for one of Yvonne’s hearty roast dinners.’
Goodness, I learn something new about Ross with every passing day, but this is a real surprise.
‘And, of course, our feathered friends are enthusiastic; it’s not their fault that sounds carry further before the world around them begins to wake up,’ he continues. ‘There’s no background noise to mask the birdsong, plus it’s courting season. Once they have young ones to feed, they’ll have less time to sit in the trees and sing. A bit like humans when they settle down.’ The bed begins to shake as he chuckles softly to himself. I nudge him gently in his side to discourage him.
I’m still awaiting that proposal he promised me back in November, but I know the timing hasn’t been right. It will come once we have a new routine established, but it’s still early days.
‘What exactly did you do up at the farm? I thought you knew Gawen because you attended Tai Chi classes with Yvonne. Although I notice the two of you don’t go anymore.’
Ross rolls away, easing himself upright and adjusting his pillows so he can sit back and stare out the window. It is annoying having to keep the curtains open but Ripley, the boss of the house, is a typically vocal Bengal cat. She howls if she can’t jump up onto the windowsill to peer out over the garden, no matter what time of the day or night it is. And as soon as the birds are awake, she’s out there hunting. In between, Ripley keeps coming back inside to keep an eye on everything from her privileged vantage point. Fortunately for the birds, she has more luck with mice than she does with any of our feathered friends.
‘Not since you came back and started monopolising my spare time,’ Ross points out, stifling a yawn.
‘That was most definitely not a part of my action plan,’ I reply adamantly, seeking out his hand to interlace my fingers with his.
‘Maybe not. But the moment you saw me again you couldn’t help yourself, could you?’ He grins at me in the gloom.
I love the strands of tousled, dark curly hair that flop down onto his forehead, in stark contrast to the shaved back and sides. And that close-cropped beard, which often leaves pink marks on my skin whenever he rubs up against my cheeks.
‘No. And neither could you. Are you hungry?’ I ask, hoping he’ll say yes.
‘You want me to make pancakes for you at this unearthly hour?’
‘No… but you could tempt me with your special scrambled eggs.’
Ross runs his fingertips playfully down the edge of my cheek.
‘You mean my Treeve Perran Farm Burford Brown eggs, with freshly chopped tarragon and a sprinkling of home-grown parsley, courtesy of my kitchen windowsill garden?’
That makes me smile.
‘When you sold Treylya to your father, I was half-hoping you’d at least bring that beautiful, bespoke off-white leather sofa with you! I wasn’t expecting you to turn up with just your clothes, a small cardboard box of personal items and five pots of herbs.’
‘Oh, I’m sor
I was only joking, and I didn’t mean to remind him of his ex-wife, Bailey. He built that house to please her and she chose the furnishings, but, as magnificent as it is, Ross could never relax there because it’s a show house, not a home. Here in Pedrevan Cottage we’re cosy together and now he’s here with me forever.
‘The herbs were a welcome bonus, believe me. I do know how lucky I am to be living with a builder who also happens to be a budding chef,’ I add softly, easing myself up to kiss his neck and work my way slowly across to his mouth.
When we pull away, I can see there’s a gleam in his eyes making them shine. ‘Well, one of us has to be prepared to roll up their sleeves instead of diving into the freezer.’
He’s right and I’m certainly not going to deny it, because it’s another of the things I love about him. And my stomach is happy about it too. Even in my wildest daydreams as a teenager, it was never anything more than wanting to catch Ross Treloar’s eye and maybe even a kiss. I simply wanted him to find me interesting, more than just a school friend. I never dared to imagine a future where I was the woman in his life, because I instinctively knew that the world outside of Penvennan Cove had much to offer. And I was eager to prove myself.
‘I love you, Kerra Shaw,’ Ross whispers, his breath warm on my cheek. ‘I’m sorry for the trouble my father has caused, and I hope that now he’s returned to his villa in Spain we can begin to repair the damage.’
In a perfect world that might be the case, but Jago Treloar is used to creating chaos and walking away. Unfortunately, my dad Eddie is a stubborn man – I should know, as I take after him. After Mum died, I returned home and we supported each other for a while, until Dad found out that Ross and I were seeing each other. It’s complicated because it isn’t just about Ross’s disastrous first marriage, but a bitter dispute between the Shaws and the Treloars going way back.
Ross and I hung out in the same little group at school. All the girls chased after him and the few he did date saw it as a status symbol to be referred to as his girlfriend. Others implied a connection to him that simply wasn’t true. Several years after I left for London, my best friend – Tegan – mentioned in one of our catch-up phone calls that Ross was married. His new wife, Bailey, was both sophisticated and came from the right family, according to Ross’s parents. By all accounts, he was dazzled by her and who could blame him? Even I was intrigued when Tegan was describing her to me. It wasn’t until after I returned to Penvennan Cove that Ross told me the reason for their divorce. Not only did Bailey run up excessive debts in his name, but she’d had an affair with a local golf caddie. I felt gutted for him because the Ross I know deserves better than that. Dad, on the other hand, saw that as proof Ross couldn’t make a relationship work.
‘Let’s think of this as the start of the next phase in our relationship,’ I reply, with more positivity than I’m feeling right now. I miss my father and no longer being welcome in my family home is tough to handle. But I understand that Dad will need time to get used to the idea of me and Ross living together permanently. The situation would probably be a little less volatile if we didn’t live almost opposite each other on the High Street. Penvennan is a small community, and nothing remains a secret for long here unless it goes on behind closed doors.
‘Anyway, I’m starving,’ I continue. ‘They do say it’s unwise to go to bed on an empty stomach and that was your fault.’
‘I was tired and how was I to know you were hungry?’ Ross responds, but we both know that wasn’t the case at all. However, I was more than willing to be guided upstairs and food was the last thing on my mind last night.
Miaow, miaow, miaoooooow. The greyish outline of our little tiger strolls through the bedroom door.
‘Hey, Ripley. Don’t tell me you’ve come back in for food, too?’ Ross groans as Ripley jumps up onto the bed. Her usually bright, cinnamon-coloured coat is masked in shadows in the half-light. She headbutts Ross’s arm, her tail flicking back and forth as she seeks his attention. He stops to smooth her ears for a few moments, but she’s obviously in a hurry to eat and get back to stalking her prey.
Miaow, miaoooooow. Miaoooooow!
‘I guess we’re all having an early breakfast this morning,’ I confirm, beaming at Ross.
Ripley concurs with another loud miaoooooow.
‘Okay, I’m getting up now – right this minute.’ Ross clambers out of bed, mumbling to himself. ‘That’ll teach me for insisting on having an early night.’
I hope he can make out the playful expression on my face. ‘It wasn’t quite as early as we planned,’ I retort. ‘But I’m not complaining.’
‘You’re not tempted to give me my marching orders, then?’ he banters with me, and I shake my head enthusiastically.
‘You’re a keeper, I thought I’d made that clear. Are we wrapping up warmly so we can enjoy breakfast out on the deck? It will be lovely watching the sun rise.’
Ross yanks on his jeans, then leans forward to kiss me and I know what he really wants is to jump back into bed. ‘I know we’ve been in limbo,’ he declares, his voice now in serious mode. ‘But it won’t be for much longer. I needed to sell the house and draw a line under that part of my life forever. Now I’m finally here, it’s just you and me going forward with no distractions. Oh, and Ripley too, of course! With my father out of the frame, I feel I can breathe a huge sigh of relief.’
Insisting that his father’s plans for setting up a new depot and office is done as a separate entity was a hard-fought battle but one that Ross succeeded in winning.
However, the day Jago walked into our local public house, The Lark and Lantern, he was out to cause trouble. He announced to anyone who was listening that Ross had big plans and wouldn’t be staying in Penvennan Cove. That’s so typical of the way Jago operates. The mistake he made was in lingering long enough for my dad to catch him in the act.
Jago said that it was time the lonely, single women around here stopped taking advantage of his son. Everyone gasped apparently, when they realised Jago was referring to me because Ross and I have been careful to keep our relationship private.
My father is a proud man, and rightly so. He stands for truth and honesty. However, while Dad sees Ross as a hard-working businessman, he also thinks that he’s a man with commitment issues and that I deserve better. What Dad can’t see is that Ross is the man Jago would like to be. Jago sacrificed his principles to get where he is today – kicking-back in Spain with a successful business run by his hard-working son, and money piling up in the bank.
Ross and I have been left to deal with the gossip and speculation. As we know from the past, rumours can quickly get out of hand and Ross moving in with me is a way of showing the world they’d better get over it. Every little thing either of us does is now being watched like a drama unfolding, not least the fallout with my dad – and people are taking sides.
Hopefully, by the time Jago returns to the UK for a visit to check that his master plan is going in the right direction, Ross and I will no longer be hot news. Jago will have no choice but to accept the situation because it’s none of his business. As for my dad… well, I can only hope and pray that he gets over his prejudice and comes to see that Ross is, and always was, a true gentleman. But more importantly, that Ross’s heart is in the right place, which is here, with me.
2
A New Kind of Normal
My phone kicks into life and it’s Tegan. We sat next to each other all through our school years and were inseparable. A friendship like that lasts forever, no matter how different the paths you travel might be – and ours couldn’t be more diverse.
‘I was passing and I’m standing on your doorstep. Do you have time for a coffee break? No problem if it’s not convenient,’ she says, brightly.
‘No, it’s fine. Perfect timing in fact, as I’ve been working since six this morning. I was in the garden office, but I’m walking back up to the cottage as we speak.’
