‘Well, thanks.’ She ruffled Jack’s hair. ‘We’d love to come.’
‘Yay!’ Jack clapped his hands.
‘Do you want to go to your house and get your stuff first?’
‘I don’t think I’ll be getting in the water. It’s a nice day, but I’m sure the sea is still freezing. I should probably get Jack’s togs, though, in case he wants to get in. I’ll just throw some things in a bag and meet you at the restaurant?’
‘I’ll come and pick you up. Just send me a text when you’re ready.’ He gave Lou his mobile number.
‘Okay, thanks. We won’t be long.’
Lou and Jack walked back to the cottage, Jack babbling all the way about school and Bo.
‘Did you eat your lunch?’ she asked him.
‘Yep. And Bo gave me one of her chocolate chip cookies.’
‘That was nice of her. This is turning into an exciting day, isn’t it?’ she said to him. ‘Starting school, making new friends, and now a trip to the beach.’
‘Yep. It’s the best day of my life so far.’
Lou grinned down at him. ‘Your life just keeps getting better and better.’ She had to admit she too was excited about an impromptu trip to the beach – and maybe making a new friend herself. She loved when things happened spontaneously like this.
Back at the house, she quickly packed a bag with togs, towels and some snacks, then texted Aidan that they were ready.
He arrived minutes later, and Lou slid into the passenger seat beside him after she’d settled Jack next to Bo in the back. Fortunately, Aidan had a couple of extra booster seats for ferrying Bo’s friends around.
‘Have you been to Inch before?’ Aidan asked as he steered the car around winding country roads.
‘No, I haven’t explored the area much at all yet – just Dingle town. I’ve heard the beach there is beautiful.’
‘It is. It’s where I grew up. My parents still live there, and my sister Cara.’
Lou admired the scenery as they drove, listening in amusement to Bo and Jack’s childish chatter in the back. This was turning out to be a lovely day, she mused, smiling contentedly to herself.
Inch beach was as stunning as everyone said it was, the wide expanse of golden sand backed by undulating dunes and surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains. Aidan unloaded bags from the car and carried them to the beach. He spread a couple of blankets on the sand. It was pretty quiet, just a few groups of people dotted around on the sand or strolling along the water’s edge, the sound of children’s laughter mingling with the wash of waves on the shore.
‘Right, is anyone getting in?’ Aidan asked, tilting his head to the water.
‘Not me,’ Lou said.
‘It’s too cold,’ Bo said, shivering exaggeratedly and Jack agreed, mimicking Bo’s squirming, shoulders up around his ears.
‘How about we all go for a paddle?’
‘I think I can handle that,’ Lou said, as the children scrambled out of shoes and socks. ‘I’ll stay with these two if you want to have a swim.’
‘Thanks, but I think I’ll just paddle too. Your wimpiness must be catching.’ Aidan kicked off his trainers and bent to remove his socks and roll up his trousers.
They walked barefoot to the water’s edge, the children running ahead.
‘It’s freezing!’ Lou gasped, as a wave lapped over her feet and shocks of pain darted up her legs. But she acclimatised to it as she and Aidan stood ankle-deep, watching Bo and Jack running in and out of the water, squealing about how cold it was. She inhaled deeply, feeling the sea air doing her good.
‘How are you liking living in Dingle so far?’ Aidan asked her.
‘I’m loving it.’ She turned her face to the sun and closed her eyes. ‘This is bliss.’
‘It’s pretty perfect. Mind you, it’s not always like this. We have dull days sometimes. And it does rain occasionally.’
