‘You’re late.’ A shrill American accent broke his peace.

  Slightly startled, Jack raised his eyes and his voice. ‘I thought you were out with Brooke tonight?’

  ‘I couldn’t be bothered in this weather. Cabs are so slow today and the traffic is terrible. I’m in the bath. Come join me if you want to.’

  ‘I’m just having a nightcap to wind down.’

  ‘Oh, come on, spoilsport. Bring it in with you.’

  Jack went over to the window and looked out. Huge snowflakes were falling in front of his eyes, landing on Central Park and the sidewalk below. Despite the darkness he could make out a group of young guys shrieking in delight as they chased each other in a snowball fight. What was it about snow that reduced even fully grown men to children? Probably the same reason a barbecue turned them into the next MasterChef.

  After the day he had had, he was quite happy to settle down in the warm and shut the noisy world out.

  New York never slept, but tonight, the sirens and traffic seemed muted, as if the elements had allowed the city to doze off, just for a second. He flicked on the television to find an effusive weatherman waving around facts and figures about how rare snow like this was at this time of year, and how the city could expect another heavy fall of it from midnight.

  ‘Jack! Come to me.’ His girlfriend’s sulky tones caused Jack to make a face. Knowing he would pay for it later if he didn’t, he turned off the TV and walked through to the bathroom, glass in hand.

  Riley Roberts, ‘real name not stage, honey’ was luxuriating in the huge copper standalone bath, up to her neck in a veil of thick bubbles. At twenty-five, her body was fit and toned. Her blonde crop made her resemble a young Gwyneth Paltrow, but instead of relying on her natural beauty, her lips had been enhanced and her eyelashes lengthened.

  ‘Oh, you’re empty-handed,’ she said, those plumped lips curling.

  ‘Sorry – you should have said.’

  ‘Did you call the orthodontist today?’

  Jack felt his anger rising at the familiar mantra. ‘How many times do I have to tell you. My very slightly crooked bottom teeth are staying.’

  ‘And how many times do I have to tell you that they are so not Hollywood, doll. Imagine if your screenplay is a hit and I’m walking that red carpet with you. I can’t be doing all the smiling at the press on my own, now can I?’ Riley lifted herself up out of the water to show off her small pert breasts. ‘Are you drunk? You look drunk.’

  ‘I had two glasses, this is my third.’

  ‘I expect Caitlin was there flirting with you all?’

  ‘Yes, the Caitlin who is very happily married to Dominic was there, but not flirting.’ Jack sighed. ‘If you’re going to start being ridiculous again, I’m going back in to watch the end of the film I started last night.’

  ‘Fillum.’ Riley mimicked his English accent. ‘I don’t know why you can’t say movie like normal people. So, who else was there then? Ruby? Calista?’

  Jack noticed the half-full bottle of Chardonnay resting in the portable wine cooler on wheels he had got her last Christmas. ‘Why are you asking me for a drink, when you have plenty here already?’ For a moment he felt tempted to empty the icy contents over her head.

  ‘That’s right, be horrible to me. I’m darn sure you wouldn’t speak in that way to that witch you met in Cornwall last year. “Oh, Star, you’re so beautiful. Oh, Star hi, show me your crystal shop and around this quaint little village. Oh, Star, put a love spell on me.”’

  Jack ran a hand through his hair. ‘Wait a minute, where did that come from? Every time you have a bloody drink you—’

  ‘I’ve just been lying here thinking about it. I’m surprised the bathwater isn’t boiling.’

  ‘I’m not getting into this. I have changed my numbers and every email address. And now I’ve left Eddison’s, she doesn’t even have a clue where I work. Riley, please stop this.’

  His fingers automatically went to the scar on his forehead, a reminder of the drunken row when Riley had discovered a message from Star – saying nothing too incriminating, thank goodness. But his incensed girlfriend had pushed him in her fury, and he had lost his footing, cracked his head on the coffee table and fallen awkwardly enough to break a bone in his forearm.

  Jack Murray had never before been a cheater or philanderer. Born to Emma and James, both GPs, he had had a blessed upbringing, and with two younger sisters, he knew how to treat and respect women. He had had two serious relationships before Riley. One straight out of uni with a sweet half-Italian girl called Maria and another in his late twenties with Jacqui, a teacher, who had actually done the dirty on him and been unfaithful, saying that if he hadn’t been married to his job, it never would have happened.

  Looking back, he realised he probably wasn’t in love with either of them as on neither occasion had his heart been broken. He and Maria just drifted apart, and with Jacqui, despite agreeing that she was right in what she was saying, he was more annoyed that she had cheated on him than that they were splitting up. He had been in London then, living with her in a rented flat in Old Street; an easy commute to the City and his finance job. As they parted ways, he stayed where he was and she moved in with her new lover to the flat above the dry cleaners at the end of their street. Talk about rubbing his nose in it.

  Jack went over to Riley and leaned down to kiss her on the forehead. ‘Let’s not fight. Please.’

  Riley turned her head away. ‘Just go and watch your movie, Jack. I need more time to think.’

  Relieved that his feisty lover seemed to have calmed down slightly, he walked back through to the living area and began flicking through the many channels on offer. His thoughts turned to Star. It was as if the light in his heart had been turned on when he had met that girl. He just had to glance across at her pretty little face behind her market stall and bam, there she was, spouting a quote from Blaise Pascal. The one and only romantic quote he knew from anyone really. And he had Maria, his first lover, to thank for that – although he never confessed to Star how he knew it. While they were both studying Mathematics at Oxford, fellow nerd Maria had given him a book explaining amongst other things Pascal’s invention of the original calculator. In the front of it she had written, The heart has its reasons which reason knows not.

  His logical brain couldn’t accept all or maybe any of sweet Star’s ‘power of the universe’ theories, but it had seemed quite strange that this one quote had set off both their initial conversation and huge physical connection. She had told him that she believed there were such things as love angels who led you to the right partners at the right time in your lives. Maybe she was right?

  Jack felt a stirring at the memory of their lovemaking that day. It had felt so natural and right to want to make love to her. Like a primal instinct. The fact that he was cheating hadn’t even crossed his mind. It was the best sex he had ever had in his life, adventurous and fun. It had also caused feelings to go through him that he had never thought possible. He had liked Star too. Her soft, gentle nature. Her honesty. She had touched on her slightly wobbly heritage, the opposite of his stable one, and it had made him like her even more. Made him want to protect her. However, later that evening when he had gone back to his Airbnb to find Kara still up, and he had chatted to her on the balcony, the overriding feeling then was guilt. There was he, in a live-in relationship with Riley, two years down the line, and whilst he was making love to another woman, Riley had been frantically trying to get hold of him. Her parents had had a car accident whilst staying at their holiday home in Barbados, and were in intensive care on the holiday island.

  He had flown home immediately to do everything he could to help. Held Riley when she needed it. Realised that there was a soft centre underneath all her bravado. Realised that he did love her too.

  Things went back to normal, and all was well until the day she found the message from Star. Riley had been lying next to him on the sofa, fiddling with his phone to find some music to play through the apartment’s expensive speaker system when it had popped up. Just a simple A little hello to the big apple. Hope the silver screen is still calling, then the emoji of a star with an x for a kiss.

  He had explained to his girlfriend that Star was a friend of Kara’s who was running the Airbnb and that she had offered to show him around Hartmouth because Kara was busy. The kiss was what had thrown Riley though, and like a dog with a bone, her extreme jealousy had taken over. She had found Star’s shop online and was beside herself that there was no phone number listed on the website. The night of their big fight, she was trying to get Jack’s phone off him to call Star directly and ask her what the hell was going on. Later, mortified by his accident and knowing that she was responsible for his injuries, when with a guilty tongue he assured her again, ten times over, that he and Star had not had sex and that he would delete and block the woman from every form of communication, Riley promised that she would never bring it up again.

  He thought often of Star, her sweet spirit, her tender touch, the bolt of lightning that had gone through him when he first set eyes on her … but his life was here. Here in New York. He wondered what would happen if he were to pitch up in Hartmouth and see her again – but who was to say that she would want anything to do with him anyway, after he had cut her out of his life and failed to keep in touch. There were finance companies dotted around Cornwall, of course, but if he moved back to England they wouldn’t give him a salary anywhere near what he was earning now. And then he thought of how it would be, living by the sea and writing his screenplay in a life with less stress. Maybe he could manage down there. He had to admit that staying at Kara Moon’s B&B looking over the water had given him such complete peace. And to be in the same country as his parents and sisters again would be so lovely.

  It was their turn to be at Riley’s parents’ this Christmas. The couple were fully recovered from their injuries, aside from her mother having a slight limp from her badly broken leg and her dad now having a deep gangster-type scar across his neck, which would no doubt be treated by the best plastic surgeon in California where they lived, once the time was right. So, Jack wouldn’t get to see his folks again until at least Easter now. The wave of homesickness that swept over him was halted by the sound of Riley walking purposefully up the hallway.

  Quickly putting the TV on to a channel, he stared at the screen. It was showing an old black and white Hollywood movie. The glamorous actress in a feather boa with cigarette holder in hand was crying as she entered a hotel. A young porter rushed to her side to take her bags and, with a slow voice like Forrest Gump, said, ‘If you don’t mind me asking, what’s troubling you, ma’am?’

  ‘It’s not a what, it’s a he,’ the actress said in her brittle voice.

  ‘Well, like I say, lady, if you do not love too much, you do not love enough. He musta bin a lucky fella.’

  ‘That is just the sweetest thing.’ The officious character took a drag from her cigarette holder. ‘Did you make that up, boy?’

  ‘Jeez no, I’m not that clever person who says things like that. My old boss, he was the one with brains. He told me about a man called Blaise Pascal, he evidently had all the right things to say to the ladies. I don’t even know who he was, ma’am.’

  Jack’s mouth fell open and then stayed open as Riley appeared in the doorway wearing a complete white underwear set, stockings included; smudged red lipstick and teetering on her highest Louboutin heels. Sexily strolling across the room, she put her expensive shoe up on the sofa and, making sure her crotch was right next to her boyfriend’s face, growled, ‘Let’s just fuck, Jack.’

  Saying nothing, Jack pulled her gently down on top of him and with the words of Blaise Pascal and thoughts of Star Bligh and her love angels running through his mind, he made love to his young fragrant girlfriend on a cold snowy November night in New York City.

  Chapter 23

  ‘Here she comes, the jolliest girl in the whole of Hartmouth,’ Joe Moon greeted Star at the front gate to Bee Cottage.

  ‘Your Pearl or Mrs Harris from Tasty Pasties should get that award, I reckon,’ she replied.

  ‘Well, it’s good to see a smile on that pretty face of yours for once, whoever’s putting it there.’ The wise ferryman opened the gate. ‘Quick, come on in out of this cold. They’re forecasting a big storm for later – like the one we had nigh on twenty years ago. Trees down, the lot.’

  ‘Ooh good. I love watching the lightning. But let’s hope it doesn’t strike Mum’s caravan like it did back then. Do you remember?’

  ‘Oh my goodness, yes. I had to come and collect you and my Kerry from school. They rang as no one had turned up to collect you both. I drove us up to Hartmouth Park and found your mum getting into an ambulance with a broken arm. She’d panicked when the lightning struck, rushed outside and missed her footing on the steps.’

  ‘That’s right – so you did. Those schooldays are kind of happy memories – well, apart from Mum causing another drama.’

  ‘We even stopped the ferry for a day. Now that is unheard of. How is your mum these days?’

  ‘Miserable, stoned, unreasonable. Same as normal, really.’

  Joe gave Star’s shoulder a squeeze just as Kara pulled up outside in her Passion Flowers work van. The redhead got out and slammed the door behind her. ‘Sorry I’m a bit late. That new receptionist at the Hartmouth Bay Hotel, God, can she talk. I got a christening flowers order from her today though so that’s good.’ She lowered her voice. ‘Has Pearl gone?’

  ‘Yes, yes.’ Joe kissed his daughter on the cheek. ‘But we need to hurry. I’ve no idea how long it takes to get that hair of hers done.’

  There was a loud woof as Joe showed them into the kitchen and an overweight black Labrador with hints of grey around his whiskers came bounding towards them all.

  ‘Oh, look at you! Hello, Bob the Dog.’ Star knelt down and fussed him. ‘What a handsome boy you are.’

  ‘I forgot you hadn’t met him yet.’ Kara patted the hound’s back as a trail of drool came out of his mouth and onto the kitchen flagstones. ‘Ew. Not sure what’s worse, that or Grandad’s dog Bert and his toxic farts.’

  ‘I miss that old Jack Russell as much as I miss your grandad,’ Joe said, putting three mugs next to the kettle. ‘Seems like an age they’ve both been gone, can’t believe it’s only a matter of months.’

  ‘I know. I still feel as if Grandad is with us,’ Kara said. ‘That all of a sudden he will appear on his old trike, get Bert out of the basket on the front and march up the garden to his shed, then give the chickens some apple cider vinegar.’

  ‘And Bert will come in here, release one of his silent but deadly smells and clear the kitchen.’ Joe’s shoulders shook with laughter.

  ‘He will be with us again soon when Harry’s Rose starts coming up in the garden,’ Kara told them, thinking back to the seeds he had left her to plant next to the Agatha Christie rose that represented his dear late wife, her Granny Annie.

  Joe swallowed the lump in his throat. ‘Be keeping an eye on all of us, he will. We’ll have to behave ourselves then.’

  ‘I reckon he’d kind of prefer it if we didn’t.’ Kara smiled as Bob grabbed her trainer from the doorway and padded off with it to another room. ‘The dog’s listening to him already, see?’

  ‘Right, let me make you both a hot drink. Will coffee do you?’ Joe asked.

  ‘Could I have a herbal tea instead, if you’ve got one, please? I’ve gone off coffee lately.’ Star removed her coat and scarf and put them on the back of one of the kitchen chairs.

  ‘Green Tea and Mint is all we’ve got, that do you?’

  ‘Lovely.’

  ‘Have you got the ring gauge?’ Kara asked as she looked in the fridge to see if there were any goodies they could snack on.

  ‘Yes, in my pocket.’

  ‘Let’s quickly do that first then.’ She handed Star a little Babybel cheese to eat.

  Joe carried on making their drinks. ‘Her rings are in the musical box on her dressing table in our room. You want the gold one with the single ruby in it. She’s definitely not wearing it – I checked as she left.’

  The girls went upstairs. ‘I feel as if I haven’t seen you properly for ages,’ Kara said as she started to look through Pearl’s jewellery, taking care not to disturb it too much.

  ‘I’ve been busy making Christmas stock and making whoopee with Mr Ireland, so I have.’ Star affected an Irish accent. ‘Sorry, we must sort something. I thought just that this morning.’

  ‘Yes, we must.’ Kara looked at her. ‘I suppose it’s silly to ask how it’s all going?’

  ‘Sex is how it’s going. Lots of it. It’s great he has your flat, a place of his own. Skye loves having the freedom, and my going next door also means she doesn’t have to know what her harlot of a mother is up to.’ Star grinned.

  ‘So, he doesn’t take you out then? Me and Billy thought maybe we’d see you in the pub this weekend. I miss you.’

  ‘We always have the intention of going out and then just end up in bed and getting a takeaway. Or he cooks for me. I get the impression he’s saving up. He owes his dad and Frank a lot of money since his court case.’

  ‘And me actually. He still hasn’t paid me for the flowers he got for you.’

  ‘Oh.’

  ‘Mate, I don’t want you getting hurt. Are you sure he’s seeing you for the right reasons?’

  ‘Kara. It’s all good.’

  ‘If you’re happy that he doesn’t take you out and it’s just sex then great, but I just … Oh, I don’t know. I’m slightly miffed he hasn’t paid me for the flowers, to be honest.’

  ‘Just ask him.’

  ‘I don’t like to. I know he’s in debt but now you’ve told me he’s splashing the cash on takeaways.’

  ‘I get most of them.’

  ‘Star!’

  ‘I offer – after all, I’m fine for money. I’m just helping him out, Kara. I know you would do the same for Billy.’