‘And Marcus is growing up fast, and baby Amy is a joy.’ Then she’d got out her purse and shown him photographs.
‘Fantastic,’ he replied. ‘I’m glad things are good for you, Claire. And I’m pleased you came in.’ Nick swallowed. ‘Callum is a lucky man.’ He couldn’t believe he’d just said that.
He noticed Claire’s chest rise quickly as she inhaled suddenly. ‘Thanks, Nick,’ she replied, holding her water glass.
‘It’s funny you ended up with him.’ He clenched a fist under the table. What was wrong with him? ‘I was terrified of him, you know,’ he said, adding a laugh. ‘Didn’t he live in that huge house next to the church with his brother?’
Claire laughed, the smile reflecting in her eyes. ‘Yes, he did. But Cal’s not scary in the least.’
Nick remembered the Rodway boys well – Callum and Michael. They were clever, rugged and good-looking, the whole family commanding a superior status in the village. ‘Didn’t Michael go on to become some hotshot accountant?’
Claire nodded, smiling, clearly trying to hold back her amusement. ‘A banker,’ she corrected.
And Callum Rodway, Nick remembered, was the taller, more handsome brother. Much older than their group of friends, he reckoned Callum was probably shaving while he and Claire were still in nappies. ‘Didn’t he used to babysit in the village?’ Nick wished he could just drop the topic. ‘I swear my mum used him a couple of times.’ The Rodway boys had a reputation for being responsible, and it didn’t surprise him that Callum had become a doctor. ‘I’m just glad it’s worked out well for you, Claire, and that you’re still near your parents.’ He knew her plans for university had been crushed after what happened that summer. ‘So, you’re happy?’
Claire stared at him for what seemed like an age. ‘Of course.’
She didn’t ask if he was.
* * *
Nick braked at the junction, winding down the window. Whatever happened during the next week, he had to focus on the restaurant, not get sidetracked with things that couldn’t be changed. He’d told Trevor he’d call each day for progress reports. ‘I can be back on-site in a few hours,’ were his parting words, at which Trev had nearly shoved him out of the door. It was the cellar that was concerning him most.
With the end of the journey in sight, Nick skirted Dartmoor, heading towards Bodmin and Wadebridge. From there it was narrow lanes all the way to Trevellin, and with every bend he took, every gateway he pulled into to allow a car to pass, Nick’s apprehension about the reunion grew.
Of course he was looking forward to seeing everyone again, but witnessing the happy goings-on of the Rodway family would still sting. He wasn’t sure he could stomach too much familial bliss when his had fallen apart so comprehensively.
He passed a sign. Trevellin village was three miles away. His heart thumped as he tried to work out exactly why he was feeling so apprehensive. Then that kiss in the sea was on his mind again – beautiful, silly, perfect; the only time anything physical had ever happened between him and Claire. Given what came afterwards that day, neither of them had ever mentioned it again.
Chapter Twenty
The beach was crowded at the northern end but as they walked further along it became less so. Stripy windbreaks and colourful parasols flapped in the breeze, while kids splashed about in the shallow breakers of a mid-tide.
‘I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here,’ Maggie said, hitching up her long skirt as a wave broke around her ankles. Patrick’s grin as he tried to keep up with everyone was reminiscent of him as a much younger man, Claire thought as she slowed down to wait. She was relieved he’d come back to the farm safely a couple of hours after driving off, grumbling about having forgotten what he’d gone to the village shop to buy. No one had the heart to tell him he’d not set off for the shop in the first place.
She felt sad that he and Jason hadn’t acknowledged each other yet – not even a nod – but she knew that having the pair of them on the same beach was a breakthrough. While Patrick’s lack of greeting was perhaps due to his mind letting him down, especially with so many faces around, Claire hadn’t failed to notice the way he’d glimpsed Jason a couple of times, as if he’d wanted to speak. She wished she could say the same for Jason, who had walked off ahead at a much faster pace.
‘Take your shoes off, Granddad!’ Amy called out, dancing around with a wig-like spray of wet seaweed in her hand.
‘Why would I want to get my toes all covered in sand?’ he replied in a silly voice, wiggling his feet. ‘I don’t want Grandma telling me off for catching a chill.’ He ruffled Amy’s hair as she skipped past.
Claire caught up with Jason, hoping she might be able to slow him down, get the two men to fall into step. ‘Didn’t Rain fancy a walk?’ she heard him ask Maggie, who was walking alongside. He threw a piece of driftwood and Russ lolloped along the sand to retrieve it. Amy chased after the dog, dragging the seaweed behind her. ‘Or Callum or Mum for that matter?’ he said, turning to Claire.
‘Mum had some errands to run. You’ll have to throw that stick a hundred times now, you realise,’ Claire said with a laugh, avoiding answering about Callum. She stared up at the expanse of blue sky, trying to put the earlier house viewing behind her. She’d cleaned up her cut and patched it with a plaster, hoping it didn’t look too unsightly. Finally unwinding, she planned on changing into her new dress before Nick arrived later.
‘Anyway, I think Rain’s more interested in getting to know that son of yours,’ Maggie said, linking arms with Claire.
Claire checked behind to see if Patrick was any closer to them. He wasn’t. He was stooping down to pick up a razor clam shell, showing it to Amy. ‘Don’t worry, Callum’s back at the house. I doubt they’ll get up to anything they shouldn’t.’
‘Apologies in advance if my daughter corrupts your son,’ Maggie said with a laugh. ‘Rain’s a good girl really.’
Claire squeezed Maggie’s arm. ‘Marcus is pretty inexperienced when it comes to girls. Having her around might do him some good.’
Jason waited for Greta, who was also struggling to keep up, but when he saw she was talking to his father, he veered off, picking out more driftwood from the tideline to throw for Russ. Claire knew he’d only agreed to come to Cornwall for her and their mother’s sake.
‘Does Rain see her dad often?’ Claire asked.
‘Rarely. He has his own family. They don’t know about her.’
‘That’s tough for Rain.’
Maggie hesitated, kicking at the sand. ‘The more I try to give her a stable life, the more I mess up. She needs a father figure but all I’ve managed is a string of disastrous relationships.’ Maggie let out a sigh. ‘Her biological father pays her school fees and she keeps pretty much everything she owns there. School’s her real home.’ She gripped Claire’s arm tighter. ‘I feel such a failure.’
‘Oh, Maggie, I’m sure you’re a great mum. Rain’s a lovely girl.’
‘She knows I was Peter’s bit on the side,’ Maggie whispered, pulling closer. ‘It’s all hush-hush because of who he is. It’s hard for a teenager to accept half of her existence has to be kept quiet.’
‘Oh, Maggie…’
‘It’s ironic. Pete was the only man I’ve ever truly loved. He was also the only man who wasn’t prepared to leave his wife for me.’