Page 91 of Changing Tides
A shriek from further down the beach had Mari on her feet in seconds and jogging down the sand. As Joey followed, Mari picked Denny up from where he’d fallen. Wet sand covered hisface and hands and he bawled as she tried to wipe away the worst of it from his eyes.
“Let’s wash it off in the hut and get him some lunch. We need time to talk this through properly.”
Joey felt like they were walking through thick mud, as if everything was going slow while Mari and the outside world carried on at normal speed.
“Perhaps it wasn’t the best idea to leave him unsupervised while we talked.” She smiled over the head of her screaming child. “Are you okay?”
They shook off the shock and nodded. “Yeah, yeah. It is. What I want. More than anything.” They ran a hand through their hair and Marianne gave them such a dazzling smile they thought their legs might buckle.
They led the way back and helped Mari wash off the sand, distracting Denny with the bucket and spade they’d left in the hut earlier. Denny stopped crying immediately and toddled outside to find sand. Mari followed him, then turned as Joey lifted the hamper.
“Can I do anything to help?”
Joey passed her a blue checkered tablecloth. “Put that on the picnic bench and I’ll be out in a minute with the food.”
The fire had taken some of the chill off the stone building and Joey added more fuel, taking a few moments to stare into the dancing flames hungrily licking at the new logs. Small sparks flickered upward into the darkness of the chimney, like the spark of hope that warmed Joey’s chest. If Mari wanted to be with them, they would do anything to make it happen.
When the food had been spread on the table, and Denny was settled on Marianne’s lap carefully deconstructing the sandwiches and eating the chicken filling, Mari looked up from the spread in front of them.
“Were you expecting a small army to join us?” Her eyes twinkled.
“When I’m anxious I over-prepare. I thought it might be our last trip out together and I wanted it to be perfect.” It sounded silly now. How things could change when you had the courage to talk about them.
“I’m sorry I went into hiding. You must’ve thought I didn’t care.” They grasped the hand that wasn’t trying to feed bread to a now squirming Denny. “I care so much it hurts.”
“In a good way, I hope.” Marianne surrendered Denny to the beach, and he ran back to his new toys.
“Joey make castles?” He waved his spade.
“Let Joey eat something, then they’ll play with you, Denny.”
Joey crammed a few sandwiches into their mouth, washed them down with juice, then got up to join Denny.
“You two go and play your games, and I’ll clean up here.” Marianne stood and leaned over the bench, planting a soft kiss on their lips. Even that touch was enough to heat Joey’s entire body.
“Shall I ask Aoife if there’s any chance of Denny sleeping over tonight?”
Marianne’s smile showed all her teeth. “The text has already been sent.”
Joey trotted down the beach, grinning as they went. “Okay, Denny, that castle needs a moat.”
The knockon the window of the conservatory made Joey jump. They swung out of the hammock as the outline of Marianne’s head appeared around the corner. It was a moonless night, and if they hadn’t been sitting in the dark for an hour, they wouldn’thave been able to make her out. The only thing that had kept them calm while they waited for Marianne to tell them her plans had been to lay watching the blanket of stars above.
“I guessed you’d be out here.”
“Hey, come on inside.” Joey reached for the lamp switch, but Marianne stilled their hand and looked up at the twinkling heavens above them.
“I walked up from Aoife’s and the longer I was in the dark, the more they stood out. It’s amazing.”
“It is.” Joey was watching Marianne rather than the stars, but they couldn’t agree more.
Marianne tore her eyes away from the spectacle. “I guess we need to talk without the distraction.”
Joey took her hand and led her into the darkened house to the comfortable chairs set around the fireplace. They’d left a small fire burning low, just enough to give out a gentle heat and flickering light.
Marianne sat in the chair closest to the fire.
“Would you like a drink? I’ve got a bottle of white in the fridge.”
