Page 49 of Merrily Ever After
‘I’m afraid so. This was only a flying visit. Once I leave here, I’ve got to drive over to my mum’s house before heading home.’
‘Your mum’s around?’ He turned and walked with her in the direction of the stairs.
‘Alive and well and living not far away from here. My parents separated years ago. I mean, they were never married, and they were never reallytogether, together if that makes sense …’ Emily paused, realising that Will was getting a lot of information in return for a simple question.
‘But you have your dad’s surname, I noticed?’ he said, ruffling his thick blonde hair. He’d made himself look windswept; it suited him. ‘Not your mum’s.’
‘Yes, how did you know?’ She blinked at him. Had he been checking her out?
‘I’m not stalking you, I promise,’ he reassured her. ‘But I spotted it on Ray’s paperwork as next of kin. I’ll be doing some work with him soon; we need to make sure he keeps active, now he’s here.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Emily brushed away the prickle of disappointment and managed a smile. ‘Ah, yes, active is good.’
‘Anyway.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Got far to go home?’
They took the stairs side by side.
‘A little place in the Derbyshire countryside, Wysedale?’
‘Oh yeah.’ He nodded; the corners of his mouth pulled down as he tried to place it. ‘Never been, is it nice?’
‘From what I remember of it.’ Emily gave a wry smile. ‘I’ve been so busy with Dad recently that I’ve hardly been home. But yes, it’s very pretty. You should visit some time.’
They reached the bottom step but neither of them made a move to go any further.
Will grinned. ‘Best invitation I’ve had all day. I might just do that.’
‘Oh, I didn’t mean to visit me …’ She felt a rush of heat to her face and rummaged in her pockets for her car keys to avoid his eye. ‘I just meant in general. That you should come to Wysedale because there are some nice walks. If you like walks, that is?’
‘Yeah, of course, I knew that was what you meant, ignore me.’ His smile remained steady, but for a fraction of a second, a look of embarrassment flashed across his face.
‘I’m sorry, that sounded rude of me,’ she said, cross with herself. ‘You would be very welcome at my cottage any time. I’m not really with it. Long day at school, you know.’
‘You look too old to be at school,’ he teased.
‘Rude!’ Emily gasped, pretending to be offended.
‘Apologies.’ He slapped his forehead. ‘I’m turning into my grandad, that was the sort of bad joke he used to make. And, to be honest, I’m more into waves than walking. Surfing is my passion.’ He bent his knees and stretched out his arms, pretending to balance on a surfboard.
‘You look like a surfer,’ she said, recalling the first time she’d seen him in jeans and a hoodie.
‘Is that another way of saying I look scruffy?’ ‘No!’ she protested with a laugh. ‘Just healthy and wholesome.’
‘I think I prefer scruffy.’ He grimaced, making her laugh.
‘I keep saying the wrong things. But thank you for making me laugh; it’s just what I needed.’
‘Then I’m glad to be of service.’ He touched her arm gently. ‘Anyway, I was lying when I said yours was the best invitation I’d had.’
‘Oh?’ she said, feeling ridiculously disappointed.
‘Yeah,’ he deadpanned. ‘Bernard asked me if I’d cut his toenails for him. And I’ve got to tell you that takes somebeating, I don’t think anyone had been near his feet in some time.’
‘Poor Bernard.’ She pursed her lips at the thought.
‘What about poor me?’ He mimed sawing through wood and moping his brow and she couldn’t help but giggle.
‘Thanks for sharing. And with that lovely image fresh in my mind, I shall bid you goodnight.’
