‘Mum just uses the kids as an excuse,’ Abbie said, joining them. ‘She loves Aqua Dome.’ She grinned.
‘I do,’ Sheena said. ‘It’s my weakness.’
‘She thinks going on a waterslide makes her a thrill-seeker,’ Abbie teased.
‘Well, we can’t all be adrenaline junkie surfers like you.’
‘Fair play to you, Sheena,’ Victoria said. ‘I just stick to the lazy river and then only under duress. I usually sneak off to the spa as soon as I can and leave Neil to it.’
‘Well, I’m sure Jack will love it,’ Lou said.
‘And maybe when he gets to know us better, he could come with Bo for the weekend the odd time. It’d give you a chance to do something for yourself – go out, have some fun, maybe find yourself a nice boyfriend. I’m sure you’d like to meet someone, wouldn’t you?’
‘I don’t know.’ Lou shrugged. ‘I haven’t really thought about it. I don’t have much time for socialising.’
‘You’re young, it’s only natural you’d want to be with someone. I know you put Jack first and that’s great, but you have to think of yourself as well. Let me have a think.’ She put a hand to her chin, rubbing her lip with a thumb as if she were trying to solve a crossword puzzle clue. ‘There’s a fella who works with Finn – very nice chap and he’s around your age. Or Owen – what about Owen?’ She looked across at Abbie.
‘Owen’s with Katie, Mum,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘You know that.’
‘I thought they might have broken up by now. I mean, it’s only a matter of time if you ask me.’
‘What’s all this?’ Aidan asked approaching the table.
‘Mum’s decided she has to fix Lou up with someone,’ Abbie told him.
Aidan frowned. ‘Leave her alone. She doesn’t want to be fixed up with someone,’ he said to Sheena. ‘Do you?’ he asked Lou.
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. It might be nice?’ Not because she really wanted to be set up by Sheena, but the idea seemed to piss Aidan off and that was oddly gratifying.
Aidan’s frown deepened. ‘Well, she’s old enough to find her own boyfriend if she wants one,’ he said to his mother. ‘She doesn’t need you matchmaking for her.’
‘Well, that’s me told,’ Sheena said, placing her palms on the table and lifting herself out of her chair. But she lookeddelighted, casting a knowing smile in Aidan’s direction as she walked away.
