Page 13 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

Chloe picked up her wine and hid her burning face. ‘Maybe,’ she muttered.

When he’d retreated behind the bar, Ginger poked her friend. ‘What was all that about, then?’

‘What?’ Chloe asked mutinously.

‘You going scarlet and monotone when Nik came over. You still got a thing for him? Oh, Chlo, you have, haven’t you? After all these years.’ Ginger looked over to where Nik was laughing about something with Liam. She giggled. ‘And the way he looked at you with the googly eyes, I’d say the feeling was mutual, girlfriend.’

CHAPTER 8

It was a different kind of commute, Chloe had to admit, as she trudged across the creamy sand to the stretch of exposed rocks known as Dancing Ledge where a gaggle of beach cleaners stood around a heap of equipment. She wasn’t sure why she’d agreed but it had something to do with the fifth glass of Pinot downed the night before. Reaching the group, she adjusted her sunglasses and muttered a brief hello. At six thirty in the morning she wasn’t totally sure she’d sobered up.

At least the weather was good. Better than good. It was one of those glorious early autumn days when Cornwall shuffled its feathers and shook them out, gleaming, to dry. Wheal Kitty Cove was a compact horseshoe enclosed by steep cliffs on either side. The sea, sparkling a brilliant turquoise, blended into the sky at the shimmering horizon and the sun, still low over the inland hills, cast long shadows. Still cool, Chloe knew it would heat up later in the day. Breathing in deep, her lungs met nothing but pure ozone. Even she had to admit it lifted the spirits. Thrusting cold hands into the pockets of her padded gilet, she turned to greet Ginger who skidded to a halt at her side.

‘Chloe, you came!’

Chloe winced. ‘Not so loud. I’ve a real humdinger of a headache.’

‘Lightweight,’ Ginger teased gently. ‘Still, a few hours out in the fresh air will sort you out.’

‘Kill or cure,’ Chloe grumbled.

‘Quite possibly.’ Ginger turned to the sea and lifted her arms. Raising her face to the sky, she breathed in slowly through her nose and expelled through her mouth. ‘Greetings, universe,’ she called out, repeating it three times. ‘Hello, wonderful sun, sea and sky!’ Then, opening her eyes, she twisted to Chloe. ‘What a magical morning.’

Chloe smiled at her. It was impossible to feel hungover or grumpy when Ginger was around. ‘What do we do, then?’

‘Nik will lead the briefing and then we grab our gloves and a bag and get going. Keep a lookout for nurdles. We need to collect as many as we can of those.’

‘Nurdles?’

‘About the size of a lentil. Plastic. Come in lots of different colours. They’re the raw product for anything made out of plastic. Absolutely terrible for wildlife.’

‘Okay.’

‘Speaking of wildlife,’ Ginger added, ‘occasionally we get a lost seal. There’s a special protocol. If you spot one, give me a shout.’ A wriggling hairy bundle threw itself at her knees. ‘Ooh, hello, Ziggy. You’ll have to go on the lead if we see a seal, mate.’

Chloe looked round to see her mother and several of the Sea Kitties ambling across the sand. Her heart sank. She didn’t want to have to deal with her today. To her relief, Dulcie just waved and whistled for Ziggy to come back.

A wind whipped around the back of her legs as she listened to Nik do the welcome talk. She put an arm through Ginger’s and huddled closer. The sooner they got going and moving, the warmer she’d be. I mean, how much was there to it? It was only picking up a bit of litter.

Nik, wearing an orange hi-vis waistcoat, ran through health and safety, pointed out where the clean would start and finish and reminded everyone to hand in their bags to Pinky, who’d be manning the weighing station at the slipway. ‘If you come across any needles or broken glass, shout for Pinky. He’s got the sharps box. Tina here’ – at this he gestured to a tiny blonde woman huddled in an oversized parka – ‘is the first aider should you need one.’

‘Needles?’ Chloe whispered disgustedly in Ginger’s ear. ‘Will there be many of those?’

‘Hardly ever find any, don’t worry. It’s just Nik always has to go through all the health and safety stuff. It’s in the rules.’ Ginger giggled. ‘Although try not to get injured. Don’t fancy your chances getting first aided by Tina. I remember her from school. Biology wasn’t her strong point.’

‘Oh, is that who it is. Thought she looked familiar.’ Chloe giggled, too, and earned a reproachful look from Nik.

‘And, we’re unlikely to come across any abandoned seal pups this early in September,’ he continued, ‘but if we do, dogs on leads immediately, please, and keep at least one hundred metres away. Ring me – you should all have my mobile number – and I’ll alert the folk at the seal sanctuary. We’ll have to abandon the beach clean should that happen. But, as I say, it’s unlikely.’ He glanced up at the sky. ‘We’ve got a great day for it, so keep in your pairs or groups, look out for each other and enjoy.’ He paused, looked around at them and added, ‘And a heartfelt thank-you to each and every one of you.’

As a morale boosting speech it was pretty effective. The group, comprised mostly of women, gazed enraptured at Nik standing tall and Viking-like. Chloe could almost hear the hormonal sighs murmuring on the sea breeze. She bit down on another giggle. Maybe the beach cleaners’ motives weren’t one hundred per cent philanthropic.

Ginger collected the litter picker and the bag and waggled a sieve at Chloe. ‘Do you want to rubbish pick or fill in the data sheet?’

‘Give me the picker and that scoop thing, I’ll start off collecting.’

‘It’s the nurdle sieve. You know, the tiny plastic beads I told you about.’

‘Okay. Whatever. Brain’s not up for form filling yet.’