The Newcomer

Piran shook Robert’s hand with his natural distrust. He was always darkly suspicious of strangers, and this one looked a bit too pleased with himself. Too tall. Too good-looking. Too well-dressed. And Piran didn’t like the way Helen was looking at him all dewy-eyed. He’d have to keep a watch on this one. ‘’Ow do?’ he growled.

Robert, used to other men’s wariness, struck up a conversation about the weather while Penny got Helen’s attention. ‘I’m worried about Queenie,’ she said quietly. ‘Where is she?’

Helen shrugged disinterestedly. ‘She’s fine. I saw her earlier.’ Her gaze wandered back to Piran and Robert. ‘Piran’s jealous.’

Penny ignored this and continued, ‘But why isn’t she here? Did she say?’

‘Who? Queenie? No. I say, Robert is a bit of all right.’

‘Where was she? Did she look OK?’

‘Yes, yes, fine. Normal Queenie.’

‘Will you stop staring at Robert?’ Penny hissed. ‘It’s embarrassing.’

‘I’m not staring,’ Helen grinned.

‘Yes you are. You are starting to drool. Stop it. Anyway, you already have the most handsome man in Cornwall.’

‘Yes, but it’s fun to see his nose put out of joint,’ Helen giggled.

‘I pity poor Piran, and Angela,’ Penny said virtuously. ‘As soon as everyone settles down and sees Robert as the nice, faithful husband he is, the better.’

Helen looked knowingly at her friend. ‘You fancy him too! Don’t deny it.’

‘I may have referenced his appearance once or twice, but it’s the inner person I see,’ sniffed Penny.

‘Yeah, yeah,’ Helen laughed. ‘Whatever.’

Penny continued. ‘And Angela is going to be wonderful for Pendruggan. She’s sweet, obviously caring and conscientious. You are lucky to have her.’

‘So you won’t want me to send long emails to Brazil about them then?’ Helen asked cheekily.

Penny pursed her lips, then said frantically, ‘I shall definitely need you to send gossip at least hourly. I don’t want to be horrible, but you wouldn’t automatically put them together, would you?’

Helen laughed. ‘You are a bad girl.’

‘I know. But you love me.’ Penny looked anxious again. ‘We only have a couple of hours before the taxi picks us up. We have got to show Angela around the vicarage, settle them in, and Simon has booked a table at the Dolphin for a “welcome” lunch.’ Her eyebrows twitched anxiously. ‘Would you and Piran join us for lunch? Give me some moral support? Please? And I want to find Queenie to say goodbye.’

Angela and Simon approached them. ‘It’s such a beautiful church and I promise I will take care of it and the congregation.’ Angela smiled, tucking her arm into Simon’s. ‘It feels such a happy place.’ She looked over to Robert and Piran. ‘Don’t you think so, Robert?’

‘I do indeed,’ he agreed.

Simon locked the empty church and solemnly handed the ancient, heavy key to Angela. ‘There. That’s yours.’

Angela carefully put it in her small handbag. ‘I will look after it with my life.’

Walking out of the churchyard, Simon, with Robert and Piran chatting beside him, noticed that there wasn’t a soul in sight. Not a single one to wish him bon voyage. All had drifted away back to their homes and Sunday lunch. He was surprised and a little hurt, but he supposed the morning in church had been his farewell.

Penny, walking behind him, felt his disappointment. It was unkind. They were obviously yesterday’s people now. Even Queenie hadn’t bothered to show up.

She watched as Jenna demonstrated her cartwheels to Faith on the village green but Penny’s mind began to slip into a future she couldn’t yet imagine. What the hell were they doing going to Brazil?

‘Wouldn’t you say so, Pen?’ Helen was talking to her.

‘Sorry. What?’

‘The Dolphin is female friendly. It’s OK, as a woman, to go to the Dolphin for a drink or a sarnie and not raise eyebrows.’

Penny roused herself. ‘Oh, yes. Don and Dorrie are wonderful.’ She forced herself to sound relaxed. ‘It really is lovely.’ They approached the gate of the vicarage. ‘Well. Here we are. Your new home.’

At the front door, Simon put his key in the lock and pushed the door open.

‘SURPRISE!!!!’ A great wall of noisy voices and the smiling faces of Pendruggan villagers hit him. People were blowing hooters and throwing streamers so that, in moments, Simon was covered in coloured paper and hugs.

And, halfway up the stairs, like the Cheshire cat, sat a smiling Queenie with a tray full of her famous pasties.

‘Sorry I didn’t make church, Vicar, but I was busy making these for you.’

Simon was sucked into the crowd as Penny wiped her eyes and waved at Queenie.

‘You didn’t think she’d honestly miss a send-off like this, did you?’ asked Helen.

‘Did you know about this, you cow?’ said Penny, unable to stop the tears of relief. ‘I thought the worst.’

‘Oi,’ Queenie cackled as she reached Penny. ‘What you crying for?’

‘I missed you in church,’ Penny smiled, ‘I was worried for you.’

‘You thought I was dead in me bed, didn’t ya? Don’t lie.’

‘Of course not. It’s just that I’m going to miss you.’ Penny hugged the old lady, feeling her whiskery chin tickle her cheek.

‘Come on, you silly girl, there’s a huge buffet spread out for you all in the lounge.’

‘Not my clean lounge! That’s out of bounds!’

‘Well it ain’t now.’

4 (#u68b2c4e0-1ab1-559d-9e35-f3749b316f39)

‘Well, that was a surprise,’ Penny said, taking Simon’s hand as they settled in the back of the people carrier taking them to Heathrow. ‘I’m quite exhausted.’

He stroked her hand as he took a last look at the village green and gaggle of people waving from the vicarage garden. ‘It was quite wonderful.’

‘We’ll sleep well on the flight.’ Penny yawned and turned to Jenna, who was rubbing her nose with Blue Ted. ‘You OK, Pidge?’ she asked.

‘Faith is nice,’ said Jenna sleepily. ‘She liked my bedroom. I don’t mind her using it because she said she would show me how to put make-up on when I come back.’