Page 33 of Together Again at the Cornish Country Hospital

‘It is perfect and she’s so beautiful.’ Amy lightly touched the blanket that was tightly wrapped around the baby, as she lay peacefully in her father’s arms.

‘She is, isn’t she?’ Aidan sighed, and then glanced across the room. ‘I’m really glad Lijah could make it, he was so kind the day she arrived, but I didn’t think for a moment he’d want to come to something like this. He must get invitations to some amazing events.’

‘I can’t think of an event more amazing than this.’ Amy’s eyes glistened as she spoke, and she meant every word.

‘You’re right of course.’ Aidan planted a kiss on her cheek, the baby nestling between them for a moment, before he moved back again. ‘But I think the reason Lijah is here is you. And the volunteering, it’s all an excuse to spend time with you. The question is, what are you going to do about it?’

Amy had to swallow hard for a moment to stop herself from telling Aidan everything. She was desperate to have someone to confide in because her feelings for Lijah were getting out of hand, despite the rules she’d set for them. If she confessed to Aidan that they were seeing each other, and that it felt like they’d plunged straight into a full-blown relationship, he’d get excited and start talking about how many celebrities there’d be at the wedding. Aidan wouldn’t be able to keep it to himself either, it’s just the way he was, but it would make it even harder when Lijah left if everyone found out. She’d have to deal with her friends’ disappointment as well as her own heartbreak. So she shook her head instead. ‘He’s having a tough time, that’s all, and it made him want to come home, but this isn’t his home any more and he’ll realise that sooner or later. So what I’m going to do, is precisely nothing.’

‘Because you don’t want to risk getting your heart broken?’

‘He’s not interested in me like that.’

‘Oh come on, Ames, you’re not that dim.’ Aidan gave her a nudge, grinning, but before she could respond someone grabbed her from behind and spun her in a circle.

‘I’ve missed you so much!’ Isla looked incredible. Her sun-kissed skin was part of it, but there was a glow about her that was more than skin deep.

‘I’ve missed you too. Never go away for that long again!’ Amy hugged her friend hard. It was wonderful to have her home, and even better to see her looking so happy.

‘Nice of you to show up.’ Aidan was still smiling, his tone jokey, and Amy knew Isla’s flight home had only arrived back the evening before. She’d texted Amy to tell her she was spending the night with Aidan and Jase, and that she couldn’t wait to see her at the party, but jet lag must be hitting hard.

‘Sorry, we set an alarm, but we slept right through it.’ Isla looked over her shoulder to where her boyfriend was chatting to Jase. ‘I think Reuben would still be asleep if I hadn’t physically rolled him out of bed. Why didn’t you wake us?’

‘I remember me and Jase trying to wake Rube up when he was a teenager, and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. We love our nephew to pieces, but a morning person he is not.’

‘Hmm, I found that out on our trip, and a whole lot more, too. Thankfully most of it was good.’ Isla’s eyes sparkled.

‘Do I need to buy a hat for the wedding?’ Aidan raised his eyebrows.

‘Not yet, well not for me and Reuben, but there’s always Lijah Byrne and his muse, our very own Amy Spencer.’

Amy had been about to protest, but Aidan got in first. ‘We were just talking about that, weren’t we Ames?’

‘Yes and I was just saying there’s nothing to talk about.’ Amy kept her tone light, part of her still wanting to confide in her friends, despite knowing what the consequences would be, but the desire to try and keep things low-key was even stronger. ‘He just needed a break from work and the chance to be normal for a bit, that’s all. And he thought coming back home would give him the opportunity to do that.’

‘Hmm, I’m not sure about that.’ Isla turned her head towards where Lijah was standing, and Amy followed her gaze. There was a large group of people circling him and, Isla was right, Lijah couldn’t just walk into a room and blend in seamlessly, no matter how much he might want to. The realisation was like a stab in the gut, and she knew what it meant. It meant he’d be leaving Port Kara all the sooner. He’d come home to get away from the circus that his life in the spotlight had become, but Port Kara wasn’t another world, people still knew who Lijah was. Once he realised that his hometown wasn’t the solution, it would have far less to offer. It hadn’t been able to hold him a decade ago, and she couldn’t imagine it would now.

‘Well, seeing as you two have let me down. I guess my next hat will just have to be worn in honour of Wendy and Gary’s wedding.’ Aidan shook his head. ‘But I still think you’re wrong about Lijah. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, Amy.’

‘We’re old friends and there’s a bond between us because I was close to his mum. If you read any more into it, I’m afraid you’re wrong, but I’ll let you off seeing as you’ve got baby brain. After all, who can blame you for not being able to think straight when you’ve got this gorgeous girl in your life?’ Amy had been certain that bringing the conversation back round to Ellis would be the best way of changing the subject, and she’d been right.

‘I fell in love the moment I met her yesterday.’ Isla stroked the baby’s cheek. ‘She’s absolutely perfect.’

Amy murmured in agreement as Aidan and Isla cooed over the baby, stealing another glance at Lijah. He chatted to everyone who approached him, a smile on his face, even though she knew he’d rather be left alone. He’d always tried to make people feel like he was interested in them, it was one of things she loved about him. There was no denying she did still love him, but some people were better loved from afar and Lijah was one of them. The trouble was, the longer he stayed, the harder it was to remind herself of that. The rules she’d set down for them had been as good as useless in stopping her feelings for Lijah deepening and, no matter how many times she gave herself a good talking to, it was impossible to keep an emotional distance between them when he was around. If Amy wanted to protect her heart, she had to help Lijah realise that he needed to leave Port Kara, even though she knew how much it would hurt when he did. If he stayed much longer, her feelings for him were going to get even stronger and there was a chance she might never get over him.

* * *

Lijah had felt touched to be invited to the party that Aidan and Jase had thrown to welcome their daughter to the world. It had been wonderful to feel like part of a proper community for a little while, and most people had treated him like any other guest. There’d been a handful who’d cornered him for about fifteen minutes, paying him far more attention than they would have done if he’d had some other job, but he’d managed to extricate himself without doing or saying anything that someone might be able to make a headline out of.Lijah Byrne displays his arrogance by telling party guests to leave him the hell alone.The press would have a field day with that, and he hated always having to keep his guard up against that kind of thing, but he’d been burnt in the past.

Lijah had spent the rest of the time watching Amy and wishing he could be a part of the life she’d made for herself in Port Kara, surrounded by friends who loved her for the wonderful person she was. He envied the authenticity of her life; it was something he was never going to have. He’d wanted to walk over to her and slip his arm around her waist, so that everyone would know how he felt about her, but she’d made him promise not to do anything that gave them away. Lijah had done his best to respect Amy’s wishes, but he had a feeling anyone watching him would have been able to tell how he felt. His eyes kept sliding towards her, even when he was talking to someone else and, as much as he’d enjoyed chatting to some of her friends, he’d rather have spent every moment with her.

He’d had to leave the party before the food was served, having already arranged to have dinner with his aunt. He didn’t want to miss out on that, because she was flying out to Tenerife to spend some time with Dee, and there were decisions Lijah needed to make about where his own future lay. Claire had also promised to make her famous homemade pizza. He’d never been able to find another pizza to match it, not even in Italy, and his stomach was already growling when he reached Mor Brys.

‘Hello sweetheart.’ Claire enveloped him in a warm hug, as she greeted him at the door. ‘The pizzas are in, so it won’t be long. And you don’t need to knock, this is your home and it always will be.’

‘Not when someone else is living in it.’ He couldn’t keep the note of sadness out of his voice, as he stepped inside, but guilt twisted in his gut as Claire’s face fell. The last thing he wanted was to make her feel bad. She deserved to be happy, and he was so glad she’d found someone who made her smile the way Dee did, just by talking about her. ‘Ignore me, I’m being stupid.’

‘No, you’re not.’ Claire reached up and touched his face. ‘Your mum is in every corner of this house and it’s going to be such a wrench for me to leave. But I need to if I’m ever going to find a way to live without her. That doesn’t mean we have to sell the place, though, does it?’

---