Page 49 of Sanctuary at MacLeod's Cove
‘What about Liam?’ asked Kate.
‘I guess he can come with me,’ said Jen doubtfully. ‘Lucy and I can find something to keep him occupied for an hour. You’ll be fine, won’t you, Liam?’
Liam’s brow lowered, and he shot a covert glance at Sam. ‘I can stay here with Sam, can’t I, Sam?’
‘Liam! We can’t impose on Sam!’ said Jen. ‘Besides, he has work to do.’
‘It’s fine by me,’ said Sam. ‘I’m not keen on losing my assistant.’ He shot a grin at Liam, whose frown immediately lifted.
‘But you were going to visit me at the school,’ said Kate, exchanging glances with Jen. They’d hoped that the visit would break down his resistance to attending school.
Sam cleared his throat. ‘How about Liam stays here with me until two thirty when I could bring him to the school library. If that’s OK with you all?’
‘That,’ said Jen with a sigh, ‘would be perfect. Thank you.’
‘No need to thank me. I’m grateful to have the help.’
As she passed Sam, she reached out, about to touch him in thanks, but stopped herself just in time. What was she doing? Confused, she carried on to the kitchen door, where she paused.
‘I’d best get going.’ She hovered, feeling suddenly unsure about leaving Liam with Sam. ‘I’ll see you later, yeah? And Liam…’ she hesitated, rejecting her first instinct, which was to fuss, ‘… don’t let Sam work you too hard.’
Liam shook his head and proceeded to demolish the scone.
‘Jen!’ called Kate from the hallway. ‘You didn’t open the delivery that came for you.’
Jen picked up her things and followed Kate into the hall and looked down at the parcel, which still sat on the hall table unopened.
‘It can’t be for me. I haven’t ordered anything, and no one knows I’m here. It’s probably for Lucy, or maybe Ellie ordered something and sent it ahead of her arrival.’
‘Then why is your name printed on it?’ said Kate, passing it to her.
‘Oh,’ she said, a sick feeling settling in her stomach. She opened it to find a framed photograph of herself taken just after she’d met Alistair. She remembered that Alistair had taken it and, because of how happy she’d looked, she’d sent it to her mother. ‘What the…’ She looked up at Kate, who took it from her.
‘That’s the photo I found a few months ago and shared on Facebook,’ said Kate, obviously bemused.
Jen swallowed. ‘I know. I recognise it. Who did you share it with, Mum?’ She didn’t dare dwell on the fact Alistair had taken the shot.
‘Only you lot. Lucy set up a separate family group for me. So, it must be one of your brothers or Ellie. No one else would have access to it. Puzzle solved. It’ll be one of your siblings teasing you.’
‘Right,’ said Jen. ‘Yes, of course you’re right.’ Her mother had to be, because she couldn’t contemplate an alternative explanation.
‘Exactly.’ Kate took the framed photo and placed it on the hall table. ‘There. Now, I must be off. See you later, love.’ She kissed Jen on the cheek and closed the front door behind her.
Jen hesitated, then took the photo and slid it into the drawer. She didn’t know why, but the sight of it unnerved her.
The café turned out to be hectic and, after a phone call to Sam, who reassured her that everything was fine, she ended up staying longer and didn’t return to MacLeod’s Cottage until after five.
She walked into the back kitchen to find Kate busy at the stove while Sam and Liam sat outside on the verandah looking out to sea in silence. Sam had a bottle of beer in his hand, and Liam had a bottle of lemonade in his.
‘Hello, you two.’
‘Mum!’ said Liam, leaping up and giving her a hug. She was glad that the ‘big boy’ thing had disappeared for now, no doubt driven away by his obvious tiredness.
She poured herself a glass of water before joining them on the verandah. ‘How was your visit to school?’
‘Good. But I want to show you what I did when I came back.’ He tugged her hand, and Sam followed as they inspected their progress on the house.
‘Wow!’ she said. ‘You two have been busy.’
