‘To be fair, you weren’t born when it happened.’
‘And my mum keeps herself to herself, living right up the top of the hill.’
‘I will hold that thought though,’ Rosa promised. ‘Maybe I can go and see Mr Gunter and assure him that if we do have one, it will be a staid affair.’
‘Don’t mention the word affair!’ They were both laughing now, causing a little whining noise to come from the sleeping beauty on Titch’s lap.
‘Just a little bit longer, precious one, please,’ Rosa whispered with slight desperation in her voice. Then she added, ‘Titch, is it terrible to say I get a bit bored of being a mum sometimes?’
‘Of course it’s not. You have to fill your mind with other stuff, or it will just become eat, poop, nap, drink, playtime, another nap, another poop, playtime, bath, sleep, repeat.’
‘You missed out scream,’ Rosa said. ‘I do love him unconditionally though.’ She leaned across to stroke Little Ned’s soft hair, as, awake again, he now calmly chewed and dribbled on his teething ring.
Titch took another one of Mary’s wonderful biscuits, then said, ‘I got away without putting any weight on with Theo, but I really must stop snacking.’ Letting out a little burp, she put the lid back on the tin with her free hand. ‘Remind me what charities make up Ned’s Gift again. Sea & Save, of course. They were so amazing after that storm, weren’t they? Looking after the wildlife and clearing the beach.’
‘Yep, and South Devon Lifeboats, who were my saviours when I fell down the cliff.’ Rosa grimaced as she recalled that fateful day. ‘How times have changed. I was in a bad way mentally then.’
‘Yes, you were,’ Titch said sensibly. ‘But you were lucky, and look at you now, girl. A happily married sober mother of one, businesswoman and charity CEO extraordinaire.’
Rosa blushed a little. ‘Ha. That makes me sound very grand. Going back to your question, I have also included the Carrot Footprint, as they are creating awareness around climate change in schools and workplaces, followed by the Cockleberry Bay Residents’ Association, as they do such good work for the community, and I also, after much thought, decided to include Polhampton Paws. This is because although Vegan Vera used them in her underhand way in her mission to try and get the Corner Shop, they are a respected dog and cat shelter, and I was grateful that she brought them to my attention.’
As if Hot knew his kindred paw-folk were being talked about, he plonked himself down in front of them on the heated kitchen floor, making a contented snuffling noise as he did so.
On seeing his favourite creature in front of him, Little Ned, now wide-awake, started to make all sorts of delighted noises.
‘Aw, cute,’ Titch cooed.
‘I know. He is funny. I still can’t believe he’s mine sometimes. I used to brush off new parents when they said that you don’t know what real love is until you hold that little bundle of flesh and blood in your arms.’ Rosa paused. ‘Titch, do you think he’s a handsome baby? – And please be honest.’
‘Er, yes, he’s a stunner. He’s got so much hair and the cutest features. Looking a bit like his dad already, I think.’
‘Oh, I don’t see that yet. I only ask as I’ve seen some downright ugly babies before, and parents just think they are the most amazing things on the planet. So maybe he is ugly, and I don’t see it.’
‘He’s not ugly, Rose. How could he be, with you and Josh as his parents. He is beautiful both inside and out.’
‘Aw. Don’t you be going soft on me. Ugly or not, after my long dark road of growing up in foster homes, I intend to give him the share of love I missed and then some.’
Titch stuck out her bottom lip. ‘That’s lovely, Rose, but don’t spoil him too much, will you.’
‘I won’t. I love him too much for that. And I love this one too.’ Rosa went down on her haunches and lifted Hot so that Little Ned could see him properly. Without warning the little lad reached forward and grabbed sharply at one of the hound’s soft brown ears, causing the usually placid pet to bark sharply in the baby’s face.
‘On the other hand, Little Devils, did you say?’ Rosa shouted above Little Ned’s screams. ‘Have you got their number?’
CHAPTER 3
‘Good moaning, the Ship Hotel, how can I help yew?’ Tina Green announced, trying to disguise her Hackney accent with an over-pronounced posh one. ‘One room, one person for two nights on November the fourth, is that right, madam?’
Danny, Tina’s thirty-four-year-old son, was hovering close to the small reception area at the right of the entrance of the old pub building. He earwigged as his mother continued politely, ‘Perfect. Yes, yes, we take cash, cheque, card’ – and here she risked a joke – ‘or you can do the washing up instead if you like. Ha, ha.’ Danny made a face at her. ‘Yes, Ms Swift, thank you very much. See you on the fourth. Check-in is at two precisely.’
‘Ma. You don’t have to put on that voice every time you answer the phone,’ her son grumbled. ‘This ain’t the chuffing Ritz.’
‘It is to me. We are just into month two of opening and we need to make a good impression. And not everyone likes the London accent, you know.’ Tina took a sip of the cold coffee in front of her. ‘Ugh! Do you know what, son? I’m the happiest I’ve been for years. Look at us! Me and you have got jobs down here, a roof over our heads and a lovely new school for our little Alfie. I mean, who’d have thought it, eh?’
‘I guess so. We’ve worked bloody hard to get this lucky though, right?’
Tina laughed at her son’s astute observation. ‘Yes, you’ve done yourself proud with the renovation work. Lucas still goes on about you getting him such a great discount on all the building supplies, what with you having worked at C&V back home.’
‘Life’s a funny old game, ain’t it?’ Danny mused, running his hand down the deep scar on his right cheek.
‘It won’t be if the rooms aren’t ready for tonight’s guests,’ Lucas Hannafore answered as he came down from upstairs. ‘Two rooms need turning around up there and the public areas need a good hoover. Maybe I should look at getting Edie Rogers back to clean, if it gets too much for you both.’
‘We can manage without that boot-faced old misery, ta very much. Me and my boy are used to a bit of hard graft,’ Tina Green replied. Her face was still pretty despite being lined from too many years smoking and too many years struggling, and right now a smart grey cropped haircut and bright red lipstick complemented her usual happy demeanour. She made soft fists to hide chipped red nail polish from her boss.
‘Also, while I have both of you here,’ Lucas went on, ‘I wanted to let you know that, so that we can compete on a consistent level with the Lobster Pot, I have applied for one of those Three-Star Seaside ratings.’
‘OK,’ Danny nodded, not really having a clue what that meant. Lucas, who in his time had been a plumber and part-time publican, but not a hotel owner as such, was however very streetwise, and picking up on Danny and Tina’s ignorance on the matter, he explained: ‘This is a big deal for us. Seaside Stars are really sought after in the hotel trade and will definitely secure us more guests. And with three stars comes higher room rates, so more profit, which equates to bigger staff bonuses.’