The Sweethearts Collection. Pam Jenoff
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want it.’
‘We shall visit the jewellers tomorrow and choose you a betrothal ring.’ Unbidden, the memory of Kitto and his garnet popped into her head.
‘I don’t need any fancy ring, Garren. A wedding band will suffice,’ she told him, turning away quickly when she saw his hurt look. ‘It’s only a token after all.’
‘Fair enough,’ he sighed.
Later, in her little room, she took the pentacle out of her basket but as she went to place it round her neck, the clasp came away in her hand.
✳
The rainbow lollipops proved so popular they added rainbow rock to their repertoire and Garren was busy all summer keeping up with demand as holidaymakers and day-trippers flooded to Penzance. Colenso was rushed off her feet from the moment the shop opened until it closed late in the evening, and sometimes it was nine o’clock by the time they sat down for supper.
Mr Goss, eager to put his plans into action, had arranged to remove to the quiet little guest house near to the Gardens and promenade, where he was able to come and go as he pleased. The landlady, a large, amiable woman, looked after her regulars as if they were family, clucking round them like a mother hen.
Once they’d helped him settle in with his personal belongings, and Garren had been satisfied his father had enough put by to live on, they were able to turn their attention to themselves. Instead of making more confections, Garren insisted they spent Sunday afternoons getting the upstairs rooms ready for when they were married.
‘As you can probably tell, we’ve not done anything up here since Mother died,’ he said, gesturing around the little living room. ‘Feel free to change things, move anything around, get the place how you want it before you move up here.’ He hesitated. ‘When I called in and saw Father today, he offered to take care of the shop so that we can have a honeymoon. I can only run to a couple of days but it will be a nice way to start our marriage, don’t you think?’
‘Yes, I do,’ she told him. ‘Have you anywhere in mind?’ He tapped the side of his nose with his finger.
‘Well, I hope it’s somewhere restful, we’ve been so busy,’ she told him, the idea of a holiday appealing.
‘Peaceful yes, but should a honeymoon be restful I ask myself?’ He gave her such an outrageous wink that she looked away in embarrassment. While he didn’t set her pulses racing, he was a good man and she was determined to make him a good wife.
‘We’ll need to sit down and fix a date,’ he told her. ‘However, much as I would like to spend more time with my lovely wife-to-be, duty calls. I really need to make another batch of that rainbow rock or we’ll have none to sell when we open in the morning.’
That night, for the first time in ages, her dreams were of Kitto.
The next morning, her head still spinning from dreaming of Kitto, Colenso let herself into the little shop. She polished the counter, replenished the jars and set about arranging fresh lollipops and rock in their rainbow window. They would need to come up with a new theme for the autumn, she thought, standing back to check the effect. A face peering through the glass made her jump. It looked like Kitto, she thought, rubbing her eyes, certain they were playing tricks. A tap on the window, that cheeky grin. It was Kitto.
Heart pounding, she unlocked the door just as he hurled himself through it. Then she was in his arms and he was hugging her as though he’d never let her go.
‘I thought you were dead,’ she gasped when he finally released her.
‘So did I. And for a long time, I nearly was,’ he murmured, pulling her close and kissing her hard on the lips.
‘Kitto,’ she began but, unable to resist, gave herself up to his embrace.
Lost in the wondrous moment, they didn’t hear Garren come in. It was only when he coughed that they realized he was there and sprang apart.
‘Oh Garren, Kitto has come back,’ she cried, tears of joy coursing down her cheeks.
‘So I see,’ he said quietly.
‘I need some time with my girl, sir. Would you excuse her for a while so we can catch up?’
‘Yes, of course. Take as long as you need, Colenso,’ he told her, his eyes grave.
‘But it’s time to open the shop,’ she began, suddenly aware of where her loyalties now lay.
‘I’ll see to the customers. You go with Kitto. I’m sure you will have much to discuss,’ he told her.
Hands tightly clasped, as if by tacit consent, they made their way down to the beach. The sun was rising, bathing the bay in its rosy glow while the light early-morning breeze carried the tang of salt. Everywhere suddenly looked so vibrant, smelt so fresh.
‘God, Cali, I’ve missed you so,’ Kitto murmured, enfolding her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head and even through the material of her scarf, she could feel the warmth of his lips. ‘I’ve dreamed of this moment so often over the past months, although I must admit I never envisaged you swathed in white,’ he chuckled. Colenso stared down at her apron and grimaced.
‘In all the excitement of seeing you again, I quite forgot to take it off.’
‘Don’t worry, it suits you. Oh Cali, you could be wearing anything or nothing for all I care.’ Realizing what he’d said, he stopped. ‘I was going to apologize but that conjures up such a wonderful vision, I’m not going to,’ he told her. Too happy to object, she contented herself with giving him a playful nudge in the side, which led to more kissing and cuddling.
It was sometime later that they became aware of people watching and so they reluctantly broke apart. They wandered along the shoreline, not speaking, just savouring the pleasure of being together again. Only when they neared the hustle and bustle of the harbour at Newlyn did they seek the shelter and privacy the rocks afforded. He spread his jacket and made a sweeping gesture with his hand.
‘If my lady would care to take a seat.’
‘Why, thank you, kind sir,’ she responded, entering into the spirit of things. They sat staring at each other for a long moment.
‘How are you?’
‘How have you been?’ As ever, they spoke at the same time. Laughing, he took her hand in his, running his thumb over her palm in the way she loved so much. ‘Good to see we’re still in tune, Cali. These past few months have been hell.’
‘I know,’ she agreed. ‘When I heard you were dead I wanted to die too. I was told that your ship had gone down with all hands lost,’ she told him, her words breaking on a sob. He pulled her close.
‘It’s true the barge sank in a heavy swell. Never seen waves like it before and never want to again,’ he shuddered. ‘All I can remember is the water covering me, filling my lungs until I thought I’d burst. Next thing I knew I was waking up in some strange bed. Apparently, I’d been unconscious for quite some time.’
‘And did they tell you what had happened?’ she asked.
‘Only that when the boat broke up on the beach I was dragged onto the sands by fishermen who’d been watching from the shore. I’d busted my leg, fractured ribs. I was a sorry sight, I can tell you. If it hadn’t been for the care of those wonderful strangers I would have been a goner.’ He let out a long sigh, his eyes on the distant horizon, lost in another world, another time. She snuggled into him, revelling in the warmth of his chest, the familiar smell that was him.
‘Then I am grateful to those strangers for nursing you back to health,’ she told him.
‘And you, Cali? How have you fared? Are you cross that I have taken so long to return?’ he asked, dark eyes turning their gaze on her.
‘No,’