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But Owen didn’t intend to let it go. ‘So, Dad, how was it?’ He chuckled and took another bite of his burger.
Will took a sip of beer, trying to decide how to respond. ‘It was a good evening,’ he said at last. ‘Coop and Ailsa were there, too. Nate could have told you that.’
‘And what about this annoying woman you were supposed to be avoiding? Does she even exist?’
‘What?’ Did Owen think he’d manufactured Joy Taylor in order to get a date with Cleo Johansen? He conveniently forgot he’d denied it was a date and he’d tried his damnedest to avoid the whole charade. ‘Theannoyingwoman turned up in the club last night when we were there – and she appeared for a surf lesson this morning. Believe me, she’s as real as you and me.’
‘Okay, Dad. Keep your hair on.’ Owen laughed. ‘I believe you.’ But he gave Will a doubting look.
They finished their lunch and Will checked the time. The sea was too rough for any lessons this afternoon, but there would no doubt be some foolhardy guys – like he had once been – eager to hire out a board. ‘Want to go straight home or come to the beach with me?’ he asked as they made their way down in the lift.
‘What could I do there?’
Owen sounded disgruntled but Will detected a note of interest in his voice. ‘You could help me with taking their money – like you used to do before you got too busy to help your old dad.’
‘Hmmm. Maybe. It would be good to be on the beach again, but…’ he glanced down at his crutches. ‘But these won’t be much good on the sand.’
‘You can sit on the edge of the van. You’ve done it before – when you didn’t have the excuse of a dud ankle.’
Owen chuckled. ‘You’re on, Dad.'
Once at the beach, both Will and Owen were kept busy. The wilder weather had brought out groups of young and not so young people who were visiting for the weekend and wanted to hire boards. It was close to five o’clock before they were able to close up.
‘Can’t wait to get out there again, Dad,’ Owen said, as he hopped into the passenger seat. ‘Thanks for this afternoon. I get stir crazy sitting around at home.’
‘There’s no reason you have to stay home, is there? I could drive you to your workshop every morning and come back for you at lunchtime, then take you back home to rest. Could you do some work sitting down?’
‘Maybe.’ Owen sounded doubtful, but Will could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes. ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’
‘Too busy feeling sorry for yourself, I guess.’ But it was said good-naturedly. ‘Why don’t I pick you up on Monday at seven?’
‘Goodo.’
‘I’ll take you home now.’
‘Thanks. Han should be home. She was catching up with her mum at the cafe this afternoon and I think they were planning to bring over something to eat. You could stay for a bite, you and Han’s mum.’ He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Will sighed inwardly. Life was going to become awkward if Owen and Hannah were intent on pushing him and Cleo together. It would be good for Ailsa’s plan, though there was no chance of Joy seeing them together in Owen’s home.
As Owen predicted, both Hannah and her mother were seated in the kitchen when Will and Owen arrived.
‘Hello, Will.’ Cleo blushed. ‘How are you, Owen?’ she asked to hide her embarrassment. ‘Good to see you’ve been getting out.’
‘Where’ve you been?’ Hannah asked him, picking up a piece of strawberry flan.
‘Dad took me to lunch at the club, then I helped him with his boards. Can I have a piece?’ He hobbled over to the table and collapsed into a chair, his crutches clattering to the floor.
‘Hi, Cleo,’ Will said. ‘Busy day?’Why did he suddenly feel tongue-tied?
‘Yes, thanks. Sounds as if you had one, too. I was about to make tea for Han and me. Would you like some – or would you prefer coffee? And do help yourself to a piece of flan. It was left over at the café today and it won’t keep.’
‘Thanks. Coffee for me.’ Will took a seat alongside Owen who had already helped himself to a piece of the strawberry confection.
‘It was great to get back to the beach, Han. I can’t wait to be surfing again. This dammed ankle is stopping me from training. I was planning to give you surf lessons before this happened. Dad, don’t look at me like that,’ he chuckled. ‘I’ve been around you long enough to know what to do.’
‘You don’t surf, Hannah?’ Will asked, on comfortable ground talking surfing.
‘Not well. I’ve tried a few times on friends’ boards without much success, so Owen offered to help. Everyone seems to surf here. I’m not sure how I missed out at school.’
