‘Well, I can take Jack with us, if you like.’
‘That would be brilliant. I’d love him to experience it, without having to put myself through it.’
‘Okay. I’ll set it up and let you know.’
They chatted amiably as they finished their coffee, then walked down the winding slope of the pier to the little harbour, Lou exclaiming the whole way about the scenery.
‘This place is just incredible! I can’t believe it! I could stay here looking at it all day.’
Icould stay here looking at you all day. The thought floated into his head unbidden and took him by surprise. But he loved the way her face lit up and her eyes sparkled.
‘I felt like such a chump this morning for letting the car battery die like that, practically on its first day,’ she said as they made their way back up the slope. ‘But now I’m kind of glad I did and I got to come here with you, because I’d never have known about this.’
‘I have a set of jump leads in the car,’ he said. ‘When I drop you home, I can get your car started.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of it.’
He frowned. ‘It’ll only take a few minutes. It’s no bother.’ He smiled crookedly. ‘You really don’t like asking for help, do you?’
She shrugged. ‘No, I suppose I don’t. I like to take care of myself and Jack, stand on my own two feet. I can’t bear begging.’
‘It’s not begging – I offered.’
She smiled. ‘Well, maybe I have a problem accepting help even when it’s offered.’
‘There’s no shame in getting a bit of help when you need it. It’s no biggie. It’s just the way things are done around here. We help each other out. It’s neighbourly.’
Lou sighed. ‘That’s the problem. I have nothing to give in return, and it’s not helping each other out if you’re always on the receiving end. It’s just begging, plain and simple, and it doesn’t sit right with me.’
‘People don’t see it like that. Besides, you have plenty to give.’
‘Like what?’
‘Friendship. Loyalty. Much more important things than a few lifts.’
‘Anyway, I have a car now, so I’ll be able to do my fair share of ferrying the kids around from now on.’
‘Only if you let me jump-start it. Give and take – see how it works?’ He gave her a cheeky smile.
Lou grinned. ‘Okay, you win.’
