Beth smiled as she kissed his cheek. The sun had not long come up and already she was having the best day ever.
Spencer turned his head, grinning as he cupped her face. ‘I think we have time for a lie-in before little man wakes.’
‘Shall we go back to sleep then?’ she teased.
Spencer pulled her closer into his arms. ‘Or . . .’ he mumbled, kissing her.
* * *
‘Ta-da!’ said Spencer, spreading his arms out to Samuel’s dark 4x4 parked outside the flower shop.
‘Why are you showing me Sam’s car?’ asked Beth, lifting Archie higher to her shoulder.
‘We’re using it for our day out. It’ll be way comfier.’
Beth couldn’t agree more, squealing on the inside at having use of such a luxurious vehicle. She waited for Spencer to secure the rear-facing car seat, then place Archie inside, checking all the straps while the baby tried to lick everything coming close tohis mouth. She offered Archie a soft play ring, which he grabbed with both hands and stuffed straight into his mouth.
‘Right, I think we’ve got everything,’ said Spencer, checking through the baby bag.
Beth laughed, taking it from him to place by her feet as she sat in the back with Archie. ‘We’re not going too far, and I’m sure there are shops in Looe if we do find we need something.’
Spencer clambered in the front, then turned to grin at her sitting behind him. ‘We are definitely getting a car.’
Beth glanced around at the expensive-looking interior. ‘I wonder how much these cost.’
‘Knowing Sam, probably the price of a small house.’
She laughed as he started the engine. ‘I doubt they’re that much.’
Spencer pulled away. ‘I can get one of these if you want, but I’d rather put my savings into a house for us.’
That came as a surprise. ‘You’ve been thinking about that?’
‘Archie can have a paddling pool in the garden. I thought that would be nice.’
Beth smiled, feeling it reach her heart. For two months they’d shared a little flat above a shop, grown closer, and now they were talking family cars and home ownership. She reached forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s something to work towards.’
Spencer tapped her hand before placing both hands back on the steering wheel. ‘I know it’s early days for us, but it’s good to do a bit of future thinking.’
‘I suppose, as it would take some time to save anyway.’
‘We can afford one now, Beth,’ he remarked casually, making her frown, as she was pretty sure she couldn’t. How much did a florist make exactly?
Beth sat back, watching the world pass by her window. ‘Not sure you know how much primary school teachers earn, but—’
‘I was talking about my own money. I’m not saying you can’t chip in. I’m just saying I have enough for us to buy a house.’
It was niggling at her but she didn’t like to ask. Her dad always told her it was uncouth to ask people about their finances.
Spencer smiled at her through the rear-view mirror. ‘I’m not loaded, but I got left some property.’
‘Oh.’
‘My aunt left her home and shop to us when she died, the flat above included. Lottie wanted to stay in the house, so I said it would make more sense for me to take the flat. I stayed with her on and off over the years, but the flat was mostly home. We never divvied up any money until she got with Sam. The flat isn’t worth as much as the house, so Lott gave me the extra. We still share the business though.’
‘Your aunt helped you in so many ways, didn’t she?’
‘Yeah, I guess she did. Not just her though. When George passed away, he left his house to Lottie and me. So I have half the money from that too. See, this is why I can afford to move us.’
