Page 52 of Matilda’s Summer of New Beginnings

‘Result,’ I muttered to Jay as we took our places at the bar. ‘The baby didn’t look at me and scream.’

He laughed. ‘Why would she scream? You’re not that terrifying, you know. Honestly.’ He looked at me, and his eyes travelled slowly around my face. He smiled a little smile, and shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t scream if I woke up and saw you looking at me.’

But before I could analyse that comment, the onslaught of Elin’s fan club hit us full throttle, and we barely had a chance to speak to each other again until closing time.

For some reason, Sam turned up then, so I was spared from asking Jay to elaborate on his comment any further.

Which was maybe a good thing.

I don’t know . . .

I do know that we both looked at Sam rather oddly.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ asked Jay, as Sam began to push chairs under tables, clear glasses and tidy up spillages.

‘I’m too wired to sleep,’ replied Sam. Looking at him, you’d think he was a man on the edge of exhaustion, but hey ho. ‘And Cerys and Elin are asleep. So I wanted to do something useful, and to come down and thank you personally for stepping in, Matilda. I’m so sorry you ended up doing this on your holiday. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time really.’

‘Oh no, it’s fine.’ I smiled, while thinking how odd it was to hear Sam call Elin by her actual name — like she was a proper little person. Yet this time yesterday, she wasn’t even in the big wide world. I mean she was a proper little person. But — yeah. It was just weird.

Mind. Blown.

‘No, honestly. I’ll sort out a refund for your room. You’re not coming to Padcock and working for your keep.’

‘Seriously,’ I said. ‘It’s fine. I was happy I could help Jay out. I really was. Being here meant I could help Polly in the tea room as well and—’

‘Woah!’ said Sam. ‘You’re popping in there as well as here? Matilda, what does the word holiday actually mean to you?’ He wasn’t being mean, he looked genuinely confused.

I shrugged. ‘It means being somewhere I like that’s away from home, doing things I enjoy doing, and being with people I want to be with.’ Now I was confused. Didn’t holidays mean that to everyone? ‘Doesn’t everyone want that on holiday?’ I asked.

‘Well I guess — but most people don’t tend to spend their downtime working for other people,’ said Sam.

It was my turn to smile. ‘Have you never heard of volunteering? Honestly, I’m having a lovely few days. I really, really needed to be away from home this weekend, and if I can step in and help out where I can I’m happy to do it. Also, I have brought my art stuff, so I’m spending time doing that as well.’

‘Matilda’s going to illustrate the Padcock Pathway for us. You know — the new leaflet?’ piped up Jay.

I shot a look at Jay and he winked mischievously.

‘I never said that,’ I mumbled.

‘But you did think it. Be honest.’

I shrugged. Then I nodded. ‘Yes,’ I said in a small voice. ‘It does seem like a nice thing to do.’

‘There you go again,’ chided Sam, but not unkindly. ‘Helping us lot out again. But you’re right. That thing needs to be totally revamped. I think I might have a look at the text . . .’ Then Sam’s whole face crumpled into a massive yawn, and he sort of sagged a bit. ‘Sorry. Busy day. Long night.’

‘But you maybe won’t have a look right now,’ said Jay. ‘Go on. Go up and grab some sleep while you can, before that child realizes what it’s like to be hungry in the middle of the night and yells at you.’

Sam nodded. ‘Yeah. Yeah. I should. Thanks again Matilda.’

‘You’re welcome,’ I said.

‘And I’m happy to stay over again tonight in case you need anything,’ said Jay to me. ‘I got some stuff from home when I went balloon shopping for exactly the purpose of spending another night here. Or two.’ Was it my imagination, or did he look a little bit hopeful at that one?

I decided I’d imagined it and replied lightly, ‘Just one. I do need to get back actually. I have work Tuesday, and I need to see Rosie. But tomorrow, I’ll nip to the tea room and see Polly, and I’ll head back home late afternoon.’

‘One night is better than no nights,’ said Jay a little cryptically.

I simply smiled and nodded and said, ‘Yes. Yes it is.’ But deep down I was almost screaming to be able to stay longer.