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“Ah, you don’t know what you’re missing.”
“Freezing cold water. That’s what she’ll be missing,” Sam said, his tone dry. Did he dislike Joe flirting with her?
Joe laughed. “It keeps the grey hairs away.” He combed a hand through his curly black hair. “You should try it more often.”
“There you are, Joe!” Rose entered the breakfast room to clear plates from the tables. Heather stood to help her. “We could have done with you an hour ago.”
Joe stood up and kissed his mother. “Sorry, Mum, had to clear up the pub this morning from last night.”
“Luckily your dad didn’t burn the sausages, or the bacon.”
“I’m leaving the pub in the capable hands of my staff this weekend.” Joe sipped his coffee.
“Who? Rhianna has her bistro now!” Rose frowned.
“Don’t panic, Mum. Lizzie and Ricky will manage. I’ve got extra staff in and Toby’s back from uni for the Easter holidays.” Joe patted his mum’s shoulder reassuringly.
“I am glad,” Heather said, “because it will be lovely for us to spend some time with you this weekend, Joe.”
“Yeah, already cleared. And I’m only a phone call away.”
“You mean you’ve joined the twenty-first century, Joe, and bought a mobile phone?” Tom jested from across the room.
“I’ve always owned one. I just don’t see the need to be constantly attached to it.”
Sam looked at Maya, nodding in Joe’s direction. “Our brother is a bit of a technophobe.”
“Phone-o-phobe,” Heather teased.
“All right, you two. I don’t see you for months, then the first chance you get you’re ganging up on me.”
“Never,” Heather said, kissing her brother’s forehead.
“Little point owning a mobile down here. They don’t bloody work most of the time.” Joe raised his eyebrows and sipped his coffee. Maya sat quietly, listening to the family banter. Even Rose and Charles teased Joe. It was endearing to watch, even as an outsider. “You won’t be teasing later, when I’m in the water teaching your kids to surf.”
“But we know you love it, Joe,” Heather said, laughing.
“How on earth did you convince Rhianna to marry you?” Sam asked, jovially.
“Hey, hey, what is this? Pick on Joe time?” Joe held his hands up defensively, but Maya could see it was just sibling teasing.
Upon seeing Heather get up to help Rose, Maya felt she should too. She stood to check on Lewis and Amber and to retrieve their plates.
“Sit down, dear, you’ve paid to be waited on this weekend,” Rose said. “I’ve got this.”
“Yes, sit yourself back down, Maya,” Joe said with a mischievous smile, glancing at Sam. “We haven’t finished getting to know one another. Drink your coffee and let them wait on you.”
Maya giggled nervously and did as she was told. Sam gave an assenting nod.
Once the plates were cleared, Charles arrived with more coffee and tea, and the kids helped themselves to more juice and pastries. The whole family, now including Maya, Lewis and Amber, chatted about the plans for the day. Scarlett and Daisy had been given a box of toys by Rose so were easily entertained. Joe, knowing the tides, suggested the kids surfed after lunch, when the tide would be coming in. Cricket on the beach was agreed for the morning activity, with a picnic as the sun was out.
Maya hoped she wasn’t imposing, but they all reassured her that she was more than welcome, and in fact the Trescotts (and the Wyatts) would be offended if she and the kids did not join them. It was settled. And to be honest, Maya would only get a sulking pre-teen if she tried to separate Amber from Chloe.
