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Tom shouted, “Hey, I heard that!”
“Who’s holding the fort at the bed and breakfast?” Maya plopped down beside Rose, envisaging not being able to get up for a while. “As Joe’s here.”
“I roped in my nephew, Tristan,” Rose said, sipping from a tall glass. “He’s usually terribly busy, but it’s only for one night.” There was a glint of mischief in her eye, the same twinkle Joe had.
“And who’s managing the bistro, Rhianna?” Maya asked.
“Yasmin is my second in command. And the season hasn’t really picked up yet,” Rhianna replied. “So they should manage without me for a weekend.”
“Can’t be all work and no play.” Joe appeared, standing behind Rhianna, and gave her an affectionate kiss on the cheek.
“Have you got a drink?” Heather called from the open patio doors, where Maya could see a dining room table pushed against the back wall, loaded with food, including fresh salad and buttered burger buns.
“No, Sam’s getting me one.”
And as if on cue, Sam appeared with a full pint in one hand and a glass flute in the other, the golden liquid bubbling.
Handing Maya her drink, he took a seat beside her. “How was your day?”
“Don’t ask.” After her morning and the walk here, Maya was glad to be sitting down. “From trying to paint some mad cat lady’s fingernails, to four overexcited women getting ready for a wedding, spilling champagne everywhere, including into my make-up palette… Let’s just say I need this.” She took a sip of her drink, and it was like liquid gold lining her throat. Each swallow felt medicinal.
“You can relax now,” Sam said, reassuringly. “When are your parents arriving?”
“They said they’d leave Bristol Zoo at about three-thirty.” Maya glanced at her watch. They would be here soon enough. Maya thought she should make the most of the quiet before her children were returned to her and she’d have to resume her mum role.
Sam and Maya soaked up the sun in the corner of the patio. Relaxing in his company, she told him about her morning. Sam laughed. Occasionally he would pat her knee, or she would tap him as they spoke, especially if he teased her, and it would send a zing of excitement through her.
Lewis and Amber arrived before Maya’s parents appeared, having run from the car to the garden. They found their mother, hugged her, and as fast as they’d said they were here, they were off to find Chloe.
“Rose, Charles, this is my mum and dad, Fern and Doug.” Maya introduced her parents. They shook hands and welcomed each other. Charles and Doug stood chatting with a bottle of beer each, handed to them by Joe. The thought suddenly entered Maya’s head that if she and Sam did date, at least their parents had met. She quickly shook off the thought and concentrated on Rose and Fern’s conversation, listening with Rhianna.
“So what part of Cornwall are you from?” Fern asked, as Sam handed her a glass of white wine.
“Kittiwake Cove, in North Cornwall,” Rose answered in her usual warm tone. “We run a bed and breakfast. We converted our family home once the kids grew up.”
“It’s beautiful, Mum. And you’d love staying at Rose’s farmhouse. All original features, quaint and rustic. Rose bakes the most fantastic cakes, too.” Maya couldn’t help interjecting her thoughts on the place. Sam returned to his seat beside her, giving her a warm smile, completely at ease with the situation. Would Kittiwake Cove be the same without Sam there — and Chloe, of course?
Garden Jenga had been set up on the lawn and this amused the five children endlessly, with the aid of the grandads, allowing Maya to relax. She soaked up the warm May sunshine in Heather and Tom’s back garden with a glass of Prosecco. Being in such good company was the perfect way to spend a Saturday. It felt like everyone was one big happy family.
At around seven, a small firepit was lit, to keep everyone warm. Heather came out armed with skewers and a bowl of marshmallows. The children were closely monitored, but had so much fun toasting marshmallows and squashing them between milk chocolate digestives.
Heather sat down next to Maya, topping up her glass once again. “Thanks for coming, Maya. I thought we all had such a lovely time in Cornwall, it would be nice to do it again.” Heather was looking at Sam, who turned, caught Maya’s eye, and smiled.
Yes, they certainly had had a lovely time in Cornwall. Warmth, sand, sea and surf. And a sunset.
“Are you still seeing that guy?” Heather asked.
“Oh, he ended it a couple of weeks ago,” Maya said. “I think I’m going to give the whole dating thing a rest for a bit.”
“There’s someone out there, I’m sure. He might be right under your nose and you don’t even realise it.” Heather clinked her glass with Maya’s and they both laughed.
Whoever was out there, they would have to wait. Maya needed her heart to heal from Pierce’s rejection. She didn’t want to rush into anything else too quickly, fearing it could be a rebound. But she couldn’t stop thinking about Sam.
At eleven o’clock, lightheaded and giggly from the Prosecco and the atmosphere, Maya had to say her goodbyes. She had two very exhausted children to take home, and her mum and dad were ready to leave. She went around as the others did, saying goodbye with a kiss or a hug.
“Remember you must come and visit us at Kittiwake Cove,” Rose said, kissing Maya on the cheek. She’d said the same to Fern and Doug.
“I will.”
