Chapter Fifteen

"We're closed."

"No, you're not," Pen said, marching straight into the bookshop and stooping to pet Fabio who purred ferociously.

"I was just closing," Ash said, slipping her finger into her book to mark her page.

"You were reading," said Pen, coming up to the counter. She tilted her head to read the title of Ash's book. "Oh, I've read that, it's fabulous, isn't it?"

Ash, who had been so engrossed in the book that she hadn't even noticed Pen passing the window, grunted. "It's alright."

"It's brilliant," said Pen. "There's the part… oh, wait, no spoilers, sorry."

"You mean the part where they meet under the pier," Ash said, who had just finished the chapter in question and was itching to move on to the next.

"Right," Pen said, grinning. "It's about the most romantic thing I've ever heard of."

"Really?" asked Ash. "I mean, it was pretty romantic, with all the moonlight and stuff, I suppose. But I could think of more romantic things."

"Like what?" Pen asked, leaning one elbow on the counter.

"Like a picnic on the beach at midnight," said Ash. "During a meteor shower. Or an eclipse."

"Huh, alright, I see where you're going with that. I like it." Pen brushed her hair back over her shoulder.

Ash thought the gesture made Pen's neck look longer and for a quick instant she remembered Pen hugging her, the way her body had felt, those curves pressed up against her. It had been warm. Cozy even. She sniffed. "Anyway, what do you want?"

"To talk to you," Pen said. "Oh, how's the genealogy going?"

"Badly," Ash scowled.

"What exactly are you doing anyway?"

"Trying to find out who Mary was," said Ash, not seeing much point in denying it. Besides, the faster she answered Pen's questions, the faster Pen might up and leave. She definitely wanted Pen to leave. Her perfume was annoyingly close and even though it smelled sort of delicious, Ash had a book to read.

"Maybe I can help," Pen said quickly. "I knew her as well as anyone."

Which reminded Ash that she'd seen Pen take in the homeless girl. "You like helping, don't you?"

"Don't you?" asked Pen. "And there's nothing wrong with being helpful."

"Is there not?" Ash asked. "I mean, I saw that homeless woman go into your shop. And alright, so she's probably had something to eat and a hot drink, and maybe you let her use your bathroom. But in the long run, you've only helped her out for this afternoon, haven't you? You haven't changed her life or anything."

Pen was blushing, a look that made Ash feel a bit funny. "Um, actually, Lucy's going to be staying with me for a while. She's working at the bakery."

Ash didn't know what to say to this. She was… shocked perhaps. But also surprised in a good way. Pen put her money where her mouth was, she wasn't messing around. Maybe George had a point about her being a truly decent and kind person.

"Oh," said Ash eventually. She swallowed and looked out of the window. The sun was still shining, but the light was more orange now. It was time to close up.

"Listen, how about I tell you everything I know about Mary. Then we can talk about the bookshop," Pen said. "I need to make a presentation to put to the council as part of applying for a grant."

"A grant?" Ash said. She breathed out. "You really are taking this seriously, aren't you?"

"Why don't we go to the pub?" said Pen. "We can sit and talk there. It'll save you from washing up the tea cups."

"No," Ash said. "I'm going for a walk on the beach." She hesitated, looking again at the beautiful sun and thinking about how Pen had just taken in a stranger. How maybe she wasn't interfering. How maybe she was that rare thing, an actually good person.

Ash didn't know how many truly good people she'd met in her life, but she was quite sure it was no more than she could count on one hand.

Pen's perfume made Ash's nose twitch and, she decided, she quite liked it. Maybe she should ask Pen what it was so she could buy some herself.

"I'm going for a walk on the beach," she said again, as Pen's face fell. She took a breath. "You could come with me, if you like?"

Pen beamed. "I'd like that."

Ash nodded. "Give me five minutes to close up then. I'll meet you outside." She switched off her computer. "And take that damn cat with you."

THE SAND WAS wet and firm underfoot but Ash was careful not to walk too fast. Pen was more than a head shorter than her, her legs weren't as long, so Ash guarded her pace and Pen bobbed along beside her.

"I like the smell of wet sand," Ash said for no reason other than to fill in the gaps.

"It smells like home to me," said Pen.

"So you grew up here?"

"Born and bred."

"Not a bad place to live in," said Ash.

"Getting used to it, are you?" asked Pen with a grin. "I knew you would. Tetherington grows on people. Maybe you won't need to sell the shop after all."

"First of all, I'm still not totally convinced the place belongs to me."

"Which it does," Pen said firmly. "After all, a solicitor said it did, so it must be true."

"How nice to be assured that everyone in authority is looking out for your best interests," said Ash, walking along with her hands in her pockets. "Ever heard of police brutality? Or government corruption?"

"Of course I have," said Pen. She paused for a second. "I just… I don't think constantly assuming the worst about people is the best thing to do. I mean, I could have assumed the worst about you, but I didn't."

"Like what?"

"Like… you're a gold digger who wants to steal the shop and… and… you're a serial killer or something."

Ash laughed. "Where did the serial killer come from?"

"Well, you are a bit… cold. Detached. That seems like a serial killer-y thing to be," Pen said.

"I'm not a serial killer," said Ash. "But equally, I don't go around making friends with everyone by default. And there's nothing wrong with that. In my view, if everyone just minded their own business, life would be a damn sight better."

Pen snorted.

"What?"

"Nothing, just… Well, you're not exactly minding your own business when it comes to prying into Mary's life, are you? You want to know all about her."

"So that I can determine whether or not the shop is rightfully mine," Ash said. She breathed in cool salt air. "And she was supposed to be my father's sister. I, uh, I don't know much about him."

"Oh," Pen said.

There was a few seconds of quiet as the gulls called and the sea murmured on the sand. Then Ash felt something, Pen's arm sliding into her own. She considered pulling away, but actually, it was quite nice to have some support there. The sand wasn't as flat as it could be. And the breeze was a little chilly, so Pen's warmth was equally welcome.

"I'm not sure I can help you with any of that," Pen said as though nothing had happened. "I mean, Mary never mentioned a brother. But I'll ask around. Maybe some other people in town know more than I do. Have you tried requesting her birth certificate? Or your father's?"

"I didn't think about that," Ash said. "But I don't know his first name, so that might not help."

"If you don't mind asking, what about your mum? Can't she help?"

"She's on a ‘round the world cruise. I haven't told her anything, she'll call me at some point, but I can't get in touch with her at the moment."

"Inconvenient timing," said Pen.

"That would be my mother all over," Ash said. "And I'm really not being nosy about Mary."

"You are a bit," qualified Pen. "But it's alright, I can understand why."

"I just…" Ash stopped and looked out over the sea. "I just wonder if we're alike."

Pen didn't say anything and Ash started walking again. "Alright then, what about this presentation?"

As the breeze blew their hair, Pen filled her in on all the details, almost breathless with anticipation. "So, I'll need your help," she finished with.

Ash shook her head. "Oh, no."

"No?" Pen asked, stopping in the sand.

"No," said Ash firmly. "I'll talk to the solicitor about a valuation and get a fair price for you, but that's the extent of my involvement in all this. I don't interfere with other people's lives just like I don't want them to interfere with mine."

"But this isn't interfering," Pen started, staring up at Ash with big blue eyes.

"I mind my own business," said Ash. "End of story. You want to make some presentation then I wish you all the luck in the world, but it's none of my business."

"Right," Pen said.

She blinked and Ash thought that maybe she was going to cry. Her lip trembled a little until Ash wondered why on earth she was looking at Pen's lips in the first place. She had no business doing that. She tore her eyes away and focused instead on the soft downy hair on Pen's cheek, but that was no better. In the end, she went back to looking at the sea, that was a far safer bet.

"Right," said Pen, pulling her arm away from Ash's. "I suppose that's just the way it is. I'll deal with things with the council." She bit her lip. "And, um, I'm late for crochet circle, so I'd better be going."

She walked unsteadily away across the sand and Ash watched her go, wondering why she suddenly felt awful. She'd only told the truth, done what she always did. Yet for some reason, telling Pen she wasn't going to get involved was a lot harder than telling anyone else.