Page 9 of Tricks & Treats at The Cosy Cornish Bakery

‘I’ll see if I can get him some merch.’

‘Thank you, that’s really kind.’

‘No biggie.’ He tilted his phone towards him and scanned the screen. ‘I’ll get Dana onto it. Give her something to do other than hassle me. I’ve missed three calls from her already. They want me to do another five films in the franchise…’ He let the sentence trail.

‘But you’re not keen?’

He gave her a rueful grin. ‘Money’s good. But those films are a pain to make. I’m sewn into a muscle costume for fourteen hours, with a hole to pee through, most of the acting’s done against a green screen and it’s all about the SFX. Special effects,’ he added, as Ginger looked blank. ‘Weird. Doesn’t exercise the brain cells and the sheer tedium stresses me out. I get claustrophobic in the suit, you know?’

Ginger didn’t, but nodded.

‘You know what they say, be wary of the box they put you in as it’s impossible to climb out of. I gotta big break playing Captain Titan, but it looks like I’m stuck with him.’

‘And you want to do something else? A different kind of role?’ Ginger had had this conversation with her famous crime writer. Romilly had expressed how tricky it was to write something different once you were known for a particular genre.

‘Guess we’re all clowns wanting to play Hamlet.’

‘Maybe. Although I’m happy doing what I’m doing. I get a lot of satisfaction from it.’ As long as the roof holds out for another winter. ‘I tried lots of things before.’ She flashed him a slightly embarrassed grin. ‘Even acting for about five minutes but I’ve decided this is what I really want to do.’

‘I get that from you.’ Josh nodded thoughtfully. ‘You seem very grounded, Ginger. Think I’m going to get a lot out of staying with you.’

The station clock chimed three. She stood up. ‘I’d better start making dinner. It’ll give you time to unpack and settle in.’ She glanced outside. ‘And it’s a lovely afternoon. Why don’t you take a walk? Build up an appetite for the chicken casserole? Maps are on the hall table.’

‘I’ll do that.’ Josh stood up, too. ‘Thanks, Ginger.’ He stared at her meaningfully. ‘Thanks for everything. It’s been good to talk to you.’ He gave her a blinding smile, instantly back in Hollywood-star mode.

Ginger wilted in the force field of starry charisma. Looking up at him, she stammered back, ‘A-any time.’ As she heard his thundering footsteps running upstairs, she thought, Joshua Ralph was nothing she had imagined. He was a really nice bloke.

CHAPTER 6

Chloe gulped down half a glass of Pinot in one swallow. ‘Oof. I needed that. Dealing with Pammy was trying.’ She tore open the packet of crisps and offered it to Ginger. They’d met for a drink in The Smugglers and had bagged the best table, the one in front of the vast inglenook fireplace. Despite it having been a warm sunny day, an autumnal nip had frosted the evening and it was good to cosy up in front of a roaring fire. Hints of Halloween were already appearing, with posters advertising the pumpkin carving competition and ‘Monster Mash’ playing over the pub’s sound system. ‘Oh, I forgot to ask. Has he turned up yet? Your megastar?’

Ginger took a crisp and crunched it. She pulled a face. ‘Cheese and onion?’

‘Nothing more exciting in the snacky department behind that bar,’ Chloe said, with a resigned expression. ‘That’s why I need some goss. So, is your VIP here?’

‘He is. Cooked him my special chicken casserole last night. The one with herby dumplings. Seemed to go down well. Veggie chilli and my special rice tonight. I’ve left him relaxing in front of the wood burner with a good book. He’s a reader.’

Chloe raised a brow. She knew her friend’s weakness for a man who read. ‘Is he now?’ she teased. ‘And drop-dead gorgeous?’

‘You could say that,’ Ginger replied, refusing to be drawn in.

‘Oh, go on, tell me who it is,’ Chloe hissed. She glanced round at the crowd standing at the bar behind them. ‘I’m not going to tell anyone.’ She widened her brown eyes dramatically and drew a finger across her throat. ‘I promise on the life of Pinky Polkinghorn’s parrot. If he’s still got it.’

‘Demelza? Course he’s still got her. Still takes her for a walk round the village. Ziggy goes berserk whenever he spots her. Think she’s about fifty now and still as foul-mouthed.’

Chloe pointed a crisp at her. ‘Stop changing the subject. Who have you got staying with you?’

‘Promise you won’t tell? I’m serious, Chlo. I’ve promised him complete privacy and that’s even more important with this one.’

‘Honestly, I promise not to say. You can trust me. Besides, the last time I had any free time to go to the cinema was probably back in 2019. I most likely won’t have a clue who he is.’ Chloe’s lips curled and she shook her hair back. ‘I’m not bothered about all that celeb stuff.’

‘But bothered enough to ask who I’ve got staying at The Sanctuary?’ Ginger grinned over her pint of cider.

‘Natch. It’s about the most interesting thing happening in this place.’

Ginger leaned in. ‘If I tell you and you blab, I may have to kill you, or worse, put his assistant onto you, and trust me you won’t want that.’

‘Ooh!’ Chloe squealed. ‘He sounds high profile.’