AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER 21
All showered, freshly dressed and warmed up from their afternoon in the sea learning to surf, Maya and her children had been invited to join Sam and his family for a barbecue in the back garden. The patio was much more sheltered than the beach, so the wind didn’t feel so vigorous and biting. The breeze did gently ring the chimes hung around the patio though.
Maya was grateful they’d considered her and the kids this evening. She’d popped to the local Spar and bought a couple of bottles of wine and some cans of beer as a contribution. Rose had insisted they didn’t need any more food. While out, and away from everyone, Maya had dropped Pierce a text to tell him about the day. Guilt played its part; she’d been enjoying herself so much being with Sam — Sam’sfamily — she’d forgotten about him. However, his messages had been very few and far between, so she wondered if he wanted to leave her in peace to enjoy her holiday.
While they waited for the food to be prepared, the children played on the lawn. The older ones playing with the younger ones was always fun to watch. Amber didn’t play games of the imagination like she used to, but it was amazing how the younger children would draw it out of her again. Lewis still had it. Maya would catch him in his bedroom, when banned from all electronic devices, playing with Lego and superheroes. Even dinosaurs would get a look in.
“Lovely, isn’t it, to watch them play?” Sam appeared by Maya’s side with a glass of white wine. He’d obviously caught her smiling at them. About to argue it was too early, Sam gave her a look as if to remind her she was on holiday. She quite liked the look he gave her. He meant business without being pushy. Their hands touched briefly as he handed her the wine glass, his fingers warm. She noticed he had strong hands, and she had a sudden fantasy of him chopping wood.
Her attention drawn back to the kids playing, as Daisy gave a squeal, Maya replied, “Yes, yes, I was thinking the same.” She sipped the wine. It was crisp and refreshing.
“I’m not looking forward to September. We’ll have stroppy teenagers.”
“Pre-nagers, you mean. They’ll only be twelve.” Maya was sure she’d see a significant change in Amber as soon as she started secondary school. She was not looking forward to September.
“We’ll help each other through it.” Sam nudged her. Maya felt an unexpected jolt of pleasure at his touch.
“Let’s hope they stay friends and don’t turn mean towards one another.”
Sam chuckled. “Oh, I never thought of that. Surely not. Not the way fate keeps throwing them together.”
Was it fate throwing Amber and Chloe together, or Maya and Sam? She couldn’t decide. She didn’t mind either way. Slowly, Maya was becoming more at ease with Sam. She just needed to treat him as if he was one of the mums at school, and not focus too much on the fact that he was a very attractive, single man. He also missed Jade, and probably always would. How did Stunning Brunette feel about that? Was that why she wasn’t here?
Besides, Maya was happy with Pierce — wasn’t she? They’d been dating for a month now. He was generous and such good fun, especially in the bedroom. It was wonderful to be reminded that she was a desirable woman.
Burgers devoured, Maya felt satisfied and fit to burst. That last chocolate cupcake may have been the devil in disguise. And she had no idea how much wine she’d drunk — Sam had kept topping her glass up. Heather didn’t appear drunk. She was sitting in a garden chair, picking at nibbles on the table. Rubbing her eyes, Scarlett asked if she could go to bed. Heather stroked her head and kissed her, then instructed Tom to carry Scarlett up to the house — in the nicest, bossiest way possible. She kissed him too and with a wink, made some quip about making it worth it for him later. Maya loved admiring the chemistry between them. From the outside, at least, theirs appeared to be an ideal marriage. Tom did everything he could to make Heather happy, and he obviously wanted to do it. Maya could see he loved her. Had Kyle ever appeared like this to their friends?
“Do you fancy a stroll, to walk off some of the food?” Sam said, coming to stand beside her and shaking Maya from her reverie. “We could go check out the sunset.”
“What about the kids?” Maya glanced towards the four remaining children — five if you included Joe — who had returned to their game in the garden. Candles inside glass lanterns had been lit around the patio and down the garden path, and some sets of solar-powered fairy lights had also come on as the light faded. They hung prettily over a summer house, around the patio and in a tree.
“They’ll be fine here. Mum and Heather will keep an eye on them.”
“Okay, then.”
Maya fetched her phone from out of her pocket and checked the time. Six minutes past eight. There was a text from Pierce. Not wanting to appear rude to Sam, she decided to read it later.
“Don’t worry, we won’t be back late, if you’re worried.”
“Oh, no, I’m not…” Was she giving off an anxious vibe? Just going off alone with Sam… What would the family be thinking?
Sam led her around to the side gate. They passed under an old rose arch with two climbing roses, buds ready to burst, clinging to it and through the cottage garden at the front of the house that Maya had admired the day she’d arrived. The tulips in various oranges, purples, and yellows that lined the path leading to the house were closed up for the evening.
Sam shut the front gate behind them, and they walked, side by side, down to the beach. A few people were about, watching the sunset. Apart from the continuous roar from the sea, Maya noticed how quiet it was. Even the seagulls had disappeared. She slipped off her pumps. The sand cooled her feet. The sea was way out now, and on the horizon the sun was low in the sky, about to dip behind the ocean, making the clouds an orangey-pink. The water mirrored the colours. Maya took a photo on her phone but it still didn’t do the view justice.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sam said. They stopped at the edge of the sand, the expanse of sea before them.
“Yes, it is.”
“I never tire of the sunsets at Kittiwake Cove.” He sighed heavily. “Jade loved them too.”
Maya smiled and gently nodded.
“I’m sorry, I’m doing it again. I must stop living in the past. Jade would kill me — if she was here.” He laughed it off.
“I don’t mind you talking about her.”
“Thank you. We scattered her ashes here. Jade didn’t want to be buried or left in some graveyard no one would visit. She wanted to rest by the sea. She knew I’d come here regularly with Chloe, because of my family.”
