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Chapter 29
It seemed fitting that they met on the beach, despite the pebbles and busyness of Brighton’s main beach being totally different to the sand and relative quiet of Rest Bay. People, especially families, were out enjoying the last of the summer freedom before the new term commenced, and the weather was still warm and sunny.
Annabelle arrived armed with a picnic and towels, Ron with two folding chairs and a small black dog.
As soon as Izzie saw Ron and Pepe, she tore off along the beach, shouting, ‘Pepe,’ at the top of her voice, and when she reached him, she flung herself down to cuddle the dog.
Jake was more reserved, holding back with his greeting until Ron plonked the chairs down.
‘Hi,’ Ron said, including both Annabelle and Jake.
‘Hi.’ Annabelle’s voice was soft, and she drank him in.
She had taken great care with her appearance, ignoring the fact that Ron had already seen her at her most dishevelled, and a bolt of desire shot through her.
Jake grunted, acknowledging his presence.
Ron gave her a look. ‘You OK?’ he asked Jake.
‘Suppose,’ Jake muttered.
‘We don’t have to do this,’ Ron said to him. ‘If you’re not happy with me dating your mum…?’
‘I don’t mind.’ He was playing with a pebble, tossing it from one hand to the other, then he suddenly gave Ron an intense glare. ‘You’re not my dad.’
‘I know. I don’t want to be. But we could be friends.’
Jake thought about that for a moment. ‘I guess it’s OK.’
‘Can I take Pepe down to the sea?’ Izzie asked. ‘He likes the waves.’
Ron looked at Annabelle, who nodded. ‘If you like, but only if Jake goes with you,’ she said.
The children trotted off, and Ron gestured to one of the chairs. ‘I’m getting too old to sit on those darned pebbles,’ he said, and they both sat down.
‘It’s good to see you,’ Annabelle said. Blimmin’ heck, this was awkward. She felt as though he was a stranger, not someone who she’d shared the most intimate of moments with. How had they gone from that to this? And how were they to return to the way they’d been with each other? This was like pulling teeth, and she was beginning to think that Kate had got it wrong, and Ron didn’t—
‘I love you,’ he blurted. He was staring at the sea, his eyes straight ahead.
Annabelle froze. ‘What did you say?’ Her eyes were also on the shoreline, but her attention was on him.
‘I love you. There, I’ve said it. We might as well get it out in the open, because if you don’t feel the same way, I’ll leave now. No harm done, no hard feelings.’
‘Are you sure? We’ve only known each other a few weeks.’
‘I’m sure.’
She took a deep breath. It was now or never. ‘In that case, I love you, too.’
‘Areyousure?’
Her lips twitched. ‘I’m sure.’
‘Good.’
Both of them were still gazing straight ahead, but as one, they slowly turned to look at each other. A grin spread across Ron’s face, and Annabelle could feel an answering smile on her own.
‘Where do we go from here?’ she asked.
