Page 69 of Just the Beginning

Clearly enjoying her moment in the spotlight, she hooked her arm through his. ‘That charm will get you into trouble one day.’

‘Let’s hope so! Come on, guys, let’s get you all sat down.’

There was a bit of a faff as everyone tried to take charge of who was sitting where. To no one’s surprise, Ed hadn’t got around to his promised seating plan. Again Rick was happy to stand back and let them get on with it. As long as he wasn’t sat next to his dad he’d be happy. Anya had taken Freya to the farend of the table where a waitress was waiting with a booster cushion for Freya to sit on. Anya got her settled and as she turned to take her own seat she caught Rick’s eye. He was about to turn away, embarrassed at being caught staring like some lovesick puppy, when to his surprise Anya patted the seat next to her.

He hesitated with his hand on the back of the chair. ‘Are you sure?’

She nodded. ‘Yes. It’s Ma’s evening and I don’t want her worrying that I’m still upset with you.’

‘Thanks.’ It was only after he’d sat and was placing his napkin across his lap that Rick realised she hadn’t said she wasn’t still upset with him, only that she didn’t want to give Ma that impression. He glanced across the table to where Davy was sitting further up on the other side, between Chloe and Helen. ‘How’s things at the hotel?’

‘Fine, thanks. It’s been a busy couple of weeks as we’re at capacity, but nothing I can’t handle.’

‘That’s great to hear.’

There was a stilted silence for a moment. ‘How’s things with The Hire Hut?’

‘Same, same. Busy, I mean, but Ed’s been helping me out, which takes the pressure off.’

‘That’s good. And it must be nice to have Liam home.’

‘Yeah, it is.’ Rick didn’t think it would be a good time to mention Liam and Caroline splitting up. He was also regretting accepting Anya’s offer to sit by her. If the choice was between her ignoring him and this tortured, awkward politeness, he’d take the former. More for something to do than anything else, Rick reached for the basket of bread and offered it to her. Their eyes met and he was instantly back on their first date when she’d been so worried about eating too much, as if he was thekind of man who cared about anything other than the woman he was with feeling content and well-fed.I will always want you to eat the bread, he’d told her, and damn it, he’d meant every word.

Anya stared down at the basket then back up at him. Was he fooling himself that he saw the same regret he was feeling? With a stiff smile, she shook her head and looked away. Rick set the bread down and swallowed a sigh. How had they gone from so much promise to this painful awkwardness in just a few short weeks?

Things improved a little once Ed and Matt came and sat opposite them. The pair kept up a steady stream of chatter with Anya. The waitress arrived with an activity pack to keep Freya occupied and the next minute Matt was rearranging the chairs and Freya was knelt up between him and Ed, playing spot the difference.

‘It’s about their intellectual level,’ Rick muttered to Anya from behind his hand and was pleased when she properly met his eyes for the first time and laughed. After that things felt a bit easier between them and the noise level around the table ramped up as one plateful of delicious food after another was placed in front of him and glasses were topped up for a second and then a third time.

‘Can you pour me some water, please?’ Anya asked him, gesturing up the table to a large jug.

‘Of course.’ He retrieved the jug and poured them both a glass.

‘Thank you.’ She took a long drink, her lashes fluttering down to shade her eyes, and she let out a little sigh as she set down her glass. ‘That’s better.’ Her cheeks bore a rosy glow. It was warm in the restaurant, even with the door open, but he thought perhaps it might be something to do with Ed’sgenerous pouring hand. Even flushed and with her hair rumpled from where she’d pushed it off her forehead, she’d never looked more beautiful. Regret flooded through him that he’d messed everything up between them and he had to look away before he did something unconscionably stupid like fall on his knees and beg for her forgiveness.God, Harry better be right about this.

Instead of dessert, Harry appeared from the kitchen bearing an enormous three-tiered chocolate cake with a pair of gold sparklers sticking out the top of it. They sang ‘Happy Birthday’, the rest of the guests who were in for dinner joining with both the singing and the round of applause afterwards.

‘Speech! Speech!’ Ed called out and, to more applause, Ma stood, beaming from ear to ear.

‘I’d like to thank you all for making such a lovely fuss of me,’ she started.

‘It’s no more than you deserve,’ Ryan interrupted, and they all cheered in agreement.

‘We love you, Ma!’ Chloe said, after the cheers had died down.

‘I love you too, dearest. I love you all.’ Clasping her hands together, she looked around the table. ‘The most important people in my life are all sat here with me tonight. Especially you.’ She reached out a hand to Pa, who was sitting to her right. ‘From the day I first set eyes on you, I knew you were the one, Ron Penrose. You’ve made every day since a delight.’

‘And you mine, my love,’ Ron replied.

Rick wasn’t the only one who had to have a gulp of their drink as Pa took her hand and kissed the back of it. He couldn’t resist stealing a quick glance at Anya. She was looking back, her eyes shining.

That could be us, one day. He longed to give voice to the achein his heart, the desire to put things right almost overwhelming his vow to give her the space he knew she needed.

A chair scraped loudly, breaking the moment, and they both looked around to see Davy rising to his feet. ‘I don’t want to distract you from tonight’s celebrations, but I can’t let the chance to apologise to you all pass me by. I don’t know what to say other than I was scared and I was selfish and I’m sorry that I’ve put you all through so much unnecessary worry.’ He looked along the table and met Rick’s eyes. ‘I’m especially sorry for the position I put you in, Rick, and I don’t want anyone here taking out what was my decision on this boy a moment longer.’ Davy’s gaze rested on Jago for a long moment until Rick’s dad nodded. ‘Good, now that’s sorted, there’s just one more thing I need to do.’ He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out an envelope. Rick assumed it was a birthday card for Ma until Davy tossed it over the table to land in front of Liam.

‘What’s this?’

‘Best open it and find out,’ Davy said with a wink. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got somewhere else to be.’ He pushed back his chair and walked towards the door, one hand held out and a broad smile on his face.

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