Page 29 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
She immediately regretted opening her mouth. For a moment, their shared history crackled between them like static. Memories of being able to escape the notice of parents and friends and retreat into their own world floated into her mind.
‘Here you go,’ she said quickly, determined to break that connection. She placed a plate with two slices of banana bread and a knob of butter onto his table.
‘Thanks.’ As she turned to leave, he added, ‘So, how are you settling in? I gather it’s been a while since you’ve been back.’
‘Settling? Oh, like dust,’ she quipped, before grimacing at her own awkward humour. ‘It’s OK. Different, but OK.’
‘Running away from more weddings?’ The question lingered, half-joking, half-serious.
She winced. It had been at a friend’s wedding when their own problems had come to a head, and she’d left him. And shortly afterwards fled the country, too.
‘Only my own marriage,’ Jen retorted, her heart skipping a beat. Was he probing or simply making conversation? She couldn’t tell.
He nodded but made no other response.
Jen was saved from further emotional tightrope walking by the entrance of another server, hurrying in for her shift.
‘Excuse me,’ Jen said, gratefully retreating into the sanctuary of the kitchen. Leaning against the cool stainless steel, she closed her eyes and took deep, steadying breaths.
Jen glanced at him on the security camera. Sam was someone from a different life, one she wasn’t sure how to revisit even if she wanted to.
‘OK?’
She looked up into Lucy’s mischievous eyes.
‘You did that on purpose.’
Lucy raised her eyebrows, the picture of innocence. ‘Did what?’
‘You know. And if you’re trying to get us together, I’d rather you didn’t. I’ve got enough on my plate without…’ She waved her hand in Sam’s direction, unable to verbalise exactly what Sam represented.
‘OK,’ said Lucy. ‘Point taken.’
‘Good. Now, where is all the stuff you want Sam to take to Mum’s?’
Lucy shrugged. ‘I made a mistake. I must have taken the stuff before. But’ — she brushed her hands together and stood up — ‘now he’s here he could give you a lift back home, because of your flat tyre.’
Jen’s face went stony. ‘You are trying to match-make, aren’t you? It’s not on, Luce!’
Again, an ambivalent shrug. ‘But he’s here right now, and it is a fact that your tyre is bust.’
‘I can walk.’
‘Course you can. We can all walk, but why do that when there’s a perfectly good lift out there waiting for you? And Jen’ — she said, more softly — ‘any fool can see that Sam still has feelings for you.’
‘Then I’m not any fool,’ Jen grunted. But even as she uttered the words, she knew she was a fool because her sister was right. She’d seen it in his eyes, too. But she was sure they were remnants only — residual feelings which no doubt would evaporate once he’d got used to seeing her around. ‘I’ll let Sam know he’s no longer needed.’
Lucy sighed, but Jen turned on her heel and walked out into the café.
‘Sorry, Sam, it looks like we’ve wasted your time. It seems Mum must have moved the stuff back home without Lucy knowing.’
Sam swallowed the last of his coffee and stood up. ‘No problem, I was passing on my way back to Wellington, anyway.’ He pointed to the banana bread. ‘Any chance of a paper bag so I can take it away?’
‘Of course,’ she said, reaching around the counter for a bag, which she slid onto the table.
‘If you’re finishing up, do you want a lift home?’ said Sam.
Lucy appeared out of nowhere. ‘That would be great! Her bike got a puncture on the way here.’
