Page 53 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

“What’s the matter, Lewis?” Maya asked, frowning, trying to concentrate on the road.

“I miss Kittiwake Cove. I miss my holiday,” he said through sobs.

“Oh, my darling, hopefully we’ll get to go back, maybe in the summer for longer. Would you like that?”

Lewis dried his eyes, nodding. Maya had forgotten how attached and sentimental he became to a location or a holiday. And they’d had so much fun, playing with Chloe and her cousins. Sam’s family had adopted them as their own. Even Maya couldn’t shift the grey cloud hanging over her head. She thought of home and getting back to her routine, to try and cheer herself up.

“I miss Chloe,” Amber piped up.

“You’ll see Chloe at the weekend, and back at school,” Maya said as brightly as she could. “There’s only a week left of the holidays. And you’ll be spending some of that time with Nanny and Granddad.” There were shrugs and grumbles, some recognition of what Maya was saying, at least. “I know, let’s play I Spy to keep our minds off going home.”

Maya hated I Spy and secretly hoped the kids would have a snooze in the back of the car, as she didn’t want to face two and half hours of playing it. However, gone were the days of them falling asleep in the back of the car the minute she drove off.

Made it home safe. Thanks for a lovely weekend. Amber is missing Chloe. Car is unpacked. Going to have an early night myself.

Sam read the text over and over, wondering how to reply to Maya. Chloe was missing Amber, too. But she wasn’t the only one missing the Rosevear family. For the last few hours Sam had felt lost, not exactly sure what to do with himself or Chloe. Before dinner, he’d ended up watching a film with Chloe on the sofa as the weather wasn’t improving. The blue sky they’d seen on the horizon earlier had missed them. Now, in the kitchen, he helped his mother by loading the dishwasher — he’d been shown twice now how Rose liked her dishwasher loaded. He was half listening to Rose as she talked about Maya and how glad she was to have forgotten to book the family room off the B&B website.

Glad to hear you’re home safe. Chloe misses her BFF too lol! Early night sounds like a good plan. Catch up soon. X

He’d tagged the kiss on his message before realising and sending. What the hell. If he hadn’t found out about the guy she was dating, he may have made a move, and asked Maya for a date himself. The time they’d snatched alone had made him realise how much he did want someone in his life. How much he missed the adult conversation, the sharing of experiences, the love and affection, and someone to also appreciate the sunsets at Kittiwake Cove. Even though he was surrounded by his family, Sam couldn’t shift the loneliness of being single. When he got home, he’d make a concerted effort to start dating. He had to.

He really liked Maya. But if she didn’t like him in the same way, then it would never happen. But this weekend, spending time with Maya, he knew now he was ready to move on.

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