A Perfect Cornish Summer. Phillipa Ashley
for a while, but he was the first to admit his job took him away from home a lot, which didn’t fit in with a conventional family life. Not all the sailing trips were based around the local coast. Most were to Scilly or south Devon, but odd times he sailed as far as the Channel Islands or the western isles of Scotland. Sam wished him well, but something less than pleasure stirred amid her professed happiness for him. Drew sounded serious about this Caitlin in a way she hadn’t heard before. Why did she feel slightly torn about that fact? Was it the idea that everyone seemed to be coupling up? No, that was silly.
Chloe arrived and found Sam queuing at the bar to get in another round. ‘Hi there. Zennor just told me that Drew has a date tonight. He’s so lovely. I often wondered if you and he were a thing when I first moved here,’ she said, then paled. ‘Sorry, that’s a bit cheeky of me.’
‘No, it’s not and yes, some people have been waiting for us to get together but we’re just good friends, as they say. If anything had been going to happen, it would have by now but we’re very happy as mates. And anyway, as you say, Drew’s seeing someone called Caitlin.’ Sam hoped that by stating the situation between her and Drew out loud, she might remind herself of how she ought to feel about it.
‘Oh. That’s a shame. I mean, whoops, not a shame for him and the lucky Caitlin, obviously but I thought … well, he is very easy on the eye.’ Chloe smiled again. ‘Not as gorgeous as Gabriel Mathias, of course. I mean … I’m sorry, I hadn’t realised that you’d known him so well when he lived here.’
Sam realised that she’d have to tell Chloe the truth about her and Gabe before she heard the full details elsewhere.
‘I ought to tell you something before half the town does. I didn’t just know Gabe, we once went out. It was years ago before he was famous when his mum and dad still ran the chip shop next to the post office.’
It was fair to say that Chloe’s jaw dropped.
‘We’d been to the same school and we’d always fancied each other but we started going out properly after we left. I was nineteen and Gabe was just a year older than me.’
‘Wow. You went out with Gabriel Mathias?’
‘Yes. Hard to believe, eh?’
‘Yes. No, not at all, you’re so lovely, Sam, and I can see why but it’s so … so surreal.’
Sam smiled to herself at being called ‘lovely’. Not everyone in Porthmellow would agree, but it was nice of Chloe to be kind. ‘Gabe wasn’t quite as gorgeous then. I mean, he was gorgeous to me. By far the sexiest boy in the village, but he was skinny and bolshie and he worked in the chip shop so he was always covered up in an overall and a hair net and some of the other kids used to tease him and call him Vinegar Face and Grease Ball.’
‘How awful for him.’
‘I liked him. I used to go in late or early to the shop and chat to him. I’d hang around and order stuff I didn’t want so I could talk to him. I can’t tell you how many pickled eggs and saveloys I fed to the seagulls.’
Chloe laughed.
‘Joking apart, I knew he was a nice guy. Thoughtful, ambitious and he loved his parents. We both loved cooking, even then. Mum had taught me to cook and Gabe had big dreams of becoming a chef, but he told me he didn’t feel he could leave his mum and dad to run the business. His grandparents had built it up from nothing after they’d escaped from Cyprus during the war with Turkey. The family had made a new life here and Gabe didn’t know how to tell them he didn’t want to carry it on. He was training to be a chef at catering college by the time we started seeing each other, as well as doing shifts at his parents’ chip shop. He was doing well and ambitious even all those years ago.’
Wow. Sam paused for breath, suddenly aware of how much she’d been gabbling. Why she felt the need to explain, she had no idea. Then she realised that actually, her shoulders felt slightly less tense. It was almost a relief to tell Chloe about her relationship – past relationship – with Gabe, and as Chloe was new to the town, and had no preconceptions, Sam felt she could be honest and open.
‘I had no idea. I knew he’d lived here but his PA never mentioned he knew you … damn. I’m sorry. That sounds dreadful,’ said Chloe.
‘No, not at all. Why would his staff even be aware he knew me?’
‘I thought that Gabe might have mentioned the connection … sorry.’
Sam shrugged. ‘Don’t be, but I’m not the slightest bit bothered that Gabe hasn’t told anyone he knows me. In fact, I’m relieved, because the reasons we split up are … a bit personal, although there are a few people around here who have their own idea. It was complicated and—’
‘Sam. Please don’t think you have to tell me any of the details. It’s your business.’
‘Thanks, but, well, let’s say that Gabe and I grew apart. We split up at the same time as my brother, Ryan, was having some problems. You’ve probably heard about those.’
‘A little. I do know he spent some time in prison. I’m sorry. It must have been very difficult for you.’
‘It was and it came not long after my mum had passed away.’ Sam sighed.
While Zennor and Ben took their drinks over to the pool table, Sam told Chloe just enough about what had happened between her, Gabe and Ryan to explain why seeing him again might be awkward for her, but no more. No one but Gabe and herself knew everything that had passed that night and Sam had no intention of ever sharing it.
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