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CHAPTER 15
Sam threw his keys in the wooden bowl on the telephone table by the front door as he entered the house. Chloe was whinging in his ear that life was so unfair because Amber couldn’t sleep over, and Sam could feel his temples throbbing. He’d had too much coffee and not enough water, he’d been busy at work, and now he was listening to a complaining eleven-year-old. Sam put his fingertips to his forehead and rubbed.
“Chloe, for the last time, Amber is coming to stay — in two weeks’ time. It’s not like I said no. Unfortunately, her mum has made plans this weekend. And it is the Easter holidays.”
“But Amber doesn’t want to go to her grandparents.”
“Chloe,” Sam said sternly, wrinkling his brow, “if you carry on like this, I’ll just cancel the whole damn thing.” As she grew older, it felt harder to play mum and dad.
Chloe stomped up the stairs, mumbling under her breath. God help him when she actually became a teenager.
Sam thought back to the other Saturday, when he’d bumped into Maya and her kids at the cinema. He remembered how much he’d enjoyed her company. Of course, he loved the quality time with his daughter, but adult conversation couldn’t be knocked — especially with an attractive woman. He hadn’t realised how much he’d missed the conversations he’d used to have with Jade.
He got the impression Maya really didn’t comprehend how beautiful she was. Take today; her blonde hair had been tied back in a ponytail, revealing her small, delicate ears and slender neck, wisps of loose hair whipped up by the breeze. When he’d called her name and she’d turned and smiled, lighting up her whole face, he’d caught his breath, stunned by her beauty.
Missing Jade still hurt, but Sam knew he was starting to feel ready to move on now. Jade would want this. Sam still felt he would need to take things slowly, though.
Suddenly, an idea came to him. As the cinema had been so much fun, he would invite Maya and Lewis out with them for the day, and then Amber could stay over. That way, he’d get to know Maya more and spend some time in her company. He retrieved his phone and sent a text message, careful about how he worded it: Hey, Maya, about the weekend after next — would you and Lewis like to go out for the day with us, and then Amber can stay overnight?
Saturday was warm, with clear blue skies and a mild breeze. Spring had arrived, spreading warmth and sunshine. The weather was so good that Tom and Heather had suggested a barbecue.
It was hard to believe it was still only early April, Sam reflected, sitting in Tom and Heather’s back garden with an ice-cold beer. Heather was beside him, holding a pink gin and tonic with plenty of ice. The heat of the sun through his jeans cooked his thighs, but it was too soon to be thinking about wearing shorts. As he chatted to his sister, Sam watched Chloe being very accommodating to Scarlett and Daisy, her much younger cousins, having a tea party with dollies and teddies on a blanket in the middle of the garden. It was endearing to see that Chloe still knew how to play. Too often, kids wanted to grow up too fast.
While the beer slipped down, he mentioned Chloe’s antics of the previous day, guilting him into agreeing to let her have Amber for a sleepover. He didn’t know whether to confide in his sister about Maya. Was there anything to confide yet?
“I thought I could go out for the day first with Maya and her two children. But I’m not sure where to go.”
“That’s a fantastic idea. Isn’t Maya single?”
Sam sighed. Heather didn’t miss a trick. “I think she is, yes.” Although Maya hadn’t been messaging him much recently via PeterPan26, so he wondered if she was dating someone. “But that’s not why I suggested going out for the day.”
“Why don’t you go to Bristol Zoo?”
“No, Amber’s grandparents have annual membership. Chloe went with them recently.”
Heather thought. “Noah’s Ark, but that’s probably a bit similar… Cinema?”
“Did that too, remember?”
“Oh, yeah, you did say… What about the place with the trampolines? And you two can grab a coffee while the kids play.”
“That only kills about an hour. I’ll think some more. I thought it would be nice to go out somewhere for the whole day. Plus, I’ve heard all sorts of tales about that place. I don’t fancy an afternoon in A and E.”
He wanted a relaxing day with Maya, not a stressful one.
“True.” Heather gave a little chuckle. “Oh, she could be your plus one for Joe’s wedding! So, has she said yes to going out for the day?”
Before Sam could answer, there was a scream. Scarlett had Daisy by her dark-blonde plaits. Chloe was trying to mediate between the two, but somehow it had gone too far. Heather flew off her seat, placing her glass on the table and storming over to break up the squabble. She returned, huffing and cursing about having two girls.
“Boys are apparently easier,” she said, grabbing her glass and finishing its contents, the ice rattling. “Sorry, Sam, so what did Maya say?”
He shrugged. “I haven’t had a reply yet.” He finished his beer. He wouldn’t reprimand her for the plus one comment. He wanted Maya to become a friend.
