Sitting at dinner in Philpots that evening, Anna felt wonderful. The fresh air, the sun, the swimming, everything had made her feel so alive. She found it hard to remember the Anna of a few days ago, and she almost couldn't recognise Stephen he looked so relaxed.
'You've got a red nose,' she said.
'Yes, it looks very healthy,' she replied.
'Why is mine red and yours healthy?' he laughed.
'What are you having?' she asked, changing the subject.
'Will we be able to taste the difference?' he joked.
Anna knew that over dinner Stephen would probably find it easy to start talking about the things that were making him unhappy, but she didn't want him to. She wanted a relaxed, uncomplicated meal - an evening without thinking about London, work or Stephen's problems. So she deliberately kept the conversation away from anything serious.
The lobster was followed by a lime and lemon dessert, and a wonderful selection of cheeses. They finished with strong coffee.
'I hope so,' said Stephen.
Just as they were leaving, Tristan arrived.
'I'd rather have a bit longer in bed tomorrow morning.
'Don't worry,' Stephen said. 'I don't expect Tristan will let me have one. I should think he needs to sell the expensive stuff to make some money'.
Stephen who was coming?
He turned and looked up at Dolphin Cottage, just in time to see Stephen coming out, pulling a black T-shirt over his head. A few minutes later, he jumped onto the boat.
Tristan smiled. 'Do you know anything about boats?' he asked.
They left the harbour and turned north following the coast. Tristan dropped some lobster pots into the sea and said he'd collect them later that day. The sea was calm as they continued northwards. It was a bit cooler on the water than on the land and Stephen was pleased he'd remembered his sweater. He'd left Anna in bed, sleeping like a baby. She hadn't even woken up when he'd dropped his keys on the floor. Lucky her!
Being out on the sea was beginning to work its magic.
As the boat rose and fell gently, Stephen remembered his excitement as a child on fishing trips with his father. His memories of his childhood holidays were of fishing with his father for hours, not saying much but enjoying the activity. It was one of the few times they'd spent a lot of time together. Now it was too late. His father had died a year ago from an unexpected heart attack, leaving Stephen full of things he'd wanted to say to him.
Today, the sea was calm. The sun made the tops of the waves dance and shine. And when Tristan stopped the boat there was silence, no more noise from the engine, just the rather sad sounds from a few seagulls. Together they started fishing off the back of the boat.
He pulled in the fish and said, 'Mm, a mackerel.
Nothing special, but quite nice grilled on the barbecue.
Tristan looked at him rather sharply.
'Sorry. Have I said something wrong?' said Stephen.
'You're very lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Have you always lived here?' Stephen was interested in getting people to talk about themselves - and it was easier than talking about himself.
Stephen hadn't expected that. Apparently, Tristan had left Polreath when he was eighteen and had been very excited about living in a city. But he'd found that he missed the sea and the open spaces.
'Have you got any family here?' asked Stephen.
Monday he found he enjoyed the office politics and the competition for new business - it made him feel alive and at the centre of things. But now, something was different.
Perhaps it was because everything at work was so uncertain.
Again, there was silence in the boat. Both men watched the water to see if any fish were biting, and both men were deep in their own thoughts. They each caught some fish - mainly mackerel - and Tristan talked a little more about Polreath and his life there. Stephen liked the easy way in which Tristan talked; he knew that that was how Anna would like him to be.
'Four. Not bad for a city boy!' Stephen replied.
There was something in Stephen's voice that made Tristan look at him.
