Page 14 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
He shrugged. ‘Whatever he did in London.’
‘Oh, Liam won’t miss London. He’ll be happy to stay in MacLeod’s Cove.’ Her face relaxed a little. ‘He’s getting on so well with Mum.’
‘That’s good,’ he said coolly.
‘It is. It’s a huge relief.’ Her mouth turned up in a small smile. ‘He’s with her now.’
Sam sighed and glanced away.
‘Knowing her,’ continued Jen. ’She’ll have Liam running around the beach with no clothes on, being at one with nature, getting some vitamin D inside him, some colour on his skin.’ She paused as if wondering why he didn’t respond. ‘What about you?’ she asked. ‘Do you have any children?’
He snapped his head around to face her. ‘Children?’
‘Yes,’ she said, her lips tweaking briefly into a small smile. ‘You know those little people who drive you mad, but you wouldn’t be without.’
‘Ah yes, those.’ Heat crept up his neck. Had she realised his mistake? He frowned. So, if Liam was her son and it was only the two of them who were here, then where was her husband? ‘So, there’s only the two of you here?’
‘Yep. Just Liam and me.’
‘And how old is Liam?’
‘Five. He’s five.’ Her lips twitched again. ‘Did you think?—’
‘I’d best get on.’ He knocked back his coffee and stood up, looking around to say goodbye to Lucy to cover his embarrassment. By the time he’d found her and turned back, Jen had picked up her bags and was walking to the door.
‘Jen,’ he said. She paused. He had one last chance to say something — anything — which was normal, the kind of thing people who’d loved each other once would say after seeing each other for the first time in years. ‘It’s good to see you again.’ She smiled and, encouraged, he continued. ‘I’m glad you’ve come home.’
‘Me too,’ she answered, walking away.
As he watched her leave, he wondered whether she was answering his first comment or his second. Common sense said his second, but his heart hoped it was his first. Because, until he’d seen her again, he hadn’t known exactly how good it would be to see her. And now he knew, he felt something shift inside of him. He didn’t know if it was the cold, leaden weight of failed relationships or loneliness, and he didn’t care. It was enough to know how completely and utterly good it was to see her again.
He was suddenly aware of two things. Lucy was standing beside him, and he had a big grin on his face. This time, Lucy wasn’t saying anything. She simply followed his gaze outside the café to the retreating figure of Jen as she placed some paper bags and a box of cereal in the front basket of her bicycle and pushed off, disappearing from view.
‘She’s back, then,’ he said, unable to think of anything else, and not caring that the smile refused to fade.
Lucy nodded. ‘Yep, she’s back.’
Chapter Five
Jen’s legs pumped the pedals of her old bike with a rhythm that matched the pounding in her chest. The wind whipped through her hair, carrying away the lingering scents of coffee and baked pastries as the café shrank into the distance behind her.
So focused was she on adding distance between her and Sam that she took the turn off the main street too fast and nearly collided with a car. She swerved, waved apologetically and continued on up the narrow road towards MacLeod’s Cottage.
What on earth was she doing? Not even one day back, and she’d nearly managed to kill herself. It seemed she’d left all her senses behind in the café. Her pace slowed as she realised she was wrong. She hadn’t left her senses behind. They were simply full — of Sam. Her ears still heard his Kiwi accent, and her nostrils flared at the memory of his scent — pure male edged with a trace of sandalwood aftershave.
She’d forgotten. And she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. How could she have done? Their relationship had been intense. Once, she’d thought they’d be together forever. But events had changed that. And time, and her anger at what had passed between them, had forced the memories away, so far back that she’d thought they’d been erased. But they hadn’t.
The shock of seeing him again had brought everything flooding back, and it seemed no amount of self-talk would remove Sam’s face from her mind. He’d changed. There was no doubt about that. His face was tanned, and lines had formed around his smile — bracketing his mouth and fanning out from his eyes. He’d always had a lovely warm smile, and now there was permanent evidence to prove how ready it was.
She shook her head, determined to rid it of the unwanted thoughts and memories. She’d made a choice fifteen years ago, and she had to live with the consequences. It would only be a matter of time before Alistair discovered where she’d gone, and she had to be prepared for that. She hoped that what she’d left behind for him in terms of her money and the house would be enough. But the truth was, she didn’t know if it would be.
Jen pushed the bike up the garden path and leaned it against the shed. Taking the bag of shopping, she suddenly realised she didn’t have a key. She tried the doorknob and it opened. She grimaced. That would have to stop. She flicked the latch, and the lock fell into place. She’d have to tell her mother everything, so she’d understand how things would have to change from now on.
‘I’m back,’ she called out. But the place was silent. The front door closed behind her with a clunk and a rattle, and she walked through to the kitchen. A scattering of noodles lay on the table alongside a plate smeared with peanut butter and crumbs. He’d obviously been hungry. A good sign.
She unpacked the few groceries she’d bought, poured herself a cup of coffee and went outside. She didn’t expect to find them in the garden, as she’d have heard them from inside so, instead, she opened the gate in the wall which led through the sand dunes, on down to the beach.
She hadn’t gone far when she saw them — two figures crouching by the stream that cut through the sand. She walked towards them across the otherwise empty beach, lifting her face to the spring sunshine, soaking up its warmth.
