‘Wait. Drew, I’ll come with you.’
He turned, his hand on the door latch. ‘It’s not your battle, Caro.’
‘What, because I’m not from Cornwall? We’ve only got one sea, and it’s as much mine as it is yours. Don’t you dare tell me it’s not my battle.’
‘It’s going to be hard work. Distressing at times, too.’
‘Well, if you’re up to it, I’m sure I am.’
Drew smiled suddenly. ‘Okay. Bring a warm sweater and your drysuit. We can lend you an oilskin jacket.’
Luckily, the drysuit that she’d been lent was packed neatly away in her diving bag, along with the warm underclothes that she wore with it. Caro pulled on a thick sweater, following him down the stone steps and onto the beach. They bundled into his car, and Drew stopped off outside a stone cottage in the village, going inside for a moment and then reappearing with his own diving gear. When they reached the harbour, it seemed full of people who knew exactly where they were going and what they were doing, loading boats and setting out to sea.
She saw Lucas and Ellie exchanging a kiss before they split up to board separate boats. Jake wound his way through the crowd, catching up with them.
‘Can I hitch a lift?’
Drew nodded. ‘Of course. I need to speak to Lucas before we go. I’ll catch up with you at the boat.’
Caro could see Drew’s father’s boat further along the quay. A woman, with shoulder-length blonde curls, dressed in a woollen coat that incorporated all of the colours of the rainbow, was hurrying towards it, carrying two large bags. The man on board, who looked too much like Drew not to be his father, stopped to greet her.
Jake nudged her. ‘That’s Diana, Drew’s mother. She never lets Peter go to sea without sandwiches and a flask.’
The bag that Diana handed to Peter looked as if it contained a lot of sandwiches and more than one flask. Caro watched as Drew’s parents hugged, Diana’s long scarf fluttering in the breeze.
Diana bade Peter goodbye and then turned away, catching sight of Caro.
‘Ah! You must be Caro.’ She thrust the second bag into Caro’s arms. ‘Drew texted me and asked me to bring my oilskin jacket for you. Here.’
‘Thank you. I’ll look after it and make sure I get it back to you.’ Caro put the bag at her feet, holding out her hand to Diana, who shook it vigorously.
‘I’ve been telling Peter that he must make sure that Drew doesn’t hurt his leg again.’ Diana leaned confidingly towards Caro and Jake. ‘Of course he’s a Trevelyan, so he doesn’t listen. They all think that they have everything under control and no one needs to worry about them. They’ll never change.’
‘I’ll keep an eye on him,’ Jake volunteered.
‘Would you, darling? Thank you.’ Diana turned to Caro. ‘I’ve been hearing all about you. You’re up at Smugglers’ Top, inventing marvellous things...’ Diana gave a wave of her hand to cover the full range of marvellous things.
‘I’m doing my best.’ Caro smiled, warming immediately to Diana.
‘Fabulous. Creativity’s such an important thing. And Jake’s been giving you diving lessons...?’
‘Try not to make it sound as you’ve been stalking her, Mum.’ Drew’s voice sounded behind her. ‘Caro’s not used to village gossip, she’s still under the impression that not everything she does is common knowledge within ten minutes.’
Diana waved her son away. ‘Don’t listen to him. I’d be fascinated to hear more about your inventions, we must have tea together. There’s a little place overlooking the harbour that does a very passable afternoon tea.’
‘Thank you. I’d like that.’
‘Wonderful.’ Diana smiled at her, and then turned to her son. ‘Drew, darling, you will be careful, won’t you? I know that there’s no point in asking you to stay behind, but I just couldn’t bear it if you were hurt again...’
Drew wrapped his arm around his mother’s shoulders, taking her to one side and speaking to her quietly. They must have been words of reassurance because Diana was nodding, and when Drew let her go, she seemed reconciled to his leaving.
Gramps came hurrying along the quay and got into the boat. Drew and Jake followed him, and Drew turned to help Caro. Peter gave Diana a cheery wave, and she waved back, her bright scarf fluttering in the sunshine as they drew away from the dock.
Drew and Jake were talking to Peter, who w
as at the helm. Gramps patted the wooden bench beside him in an invitation to join him.
‘All right, lass?’