Lyndsey could sympathize. She’d resented her sister’s ability to snap her finger and make the boys come running, too. Later, she’d come to see that the kind of boys who fell for Becca didn’t interest her anyway. Reaching up, she kissed Griff on the mouth and he immediately cupped his hand around the back of her neck to draw her closer.
‘Get a room, you two, and stop making this old married woman jealous,’ Becca said light-heartedly, poking her head out around the front door. ‘It’s time for the travel summit — isn’t that right, Li-Li? Nora’s sound asleep, the tea is made and we’ve got millionaire’s shortbread to go with it.’ She smiled at Griff. ‘You’ll have an amazing time visiting British teashops, because they all serve their own versions of the recipe, so you can work your way through them and rate the best.’
‘I knew there was a reason I wanted to come with y’all.’ Griff hugged Lyndsey. ‘Apart from seeing what I’ve been told is the prettiest place in the whole country, and meeting your folks, of course.’
A knot tightened in her stomach.
‘They’ll love me, honey, don’t fret. What’s not to love?’ Griff winked, picking up on her unease.
‘I’ve got a long list, but I promise I won’t share it with them,’ Lyndsey quipped. ‘Come on in; let’s make sure to get a piece of that awful shortbread before Theo scarfs down the whole thing.’
If she kept reassuring herself everything would be fine, she hoped it would come true.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Griff wandered into the kitchen to find Paul, Lyndsey’s dad, there already and filling up the kettle. Now he wished he’d waited a while to come down, but although they’d arrived in London three days ago, jet lag was still kicking his ass, and he was in desperate need of coffee. He hadn’t avoided Lyndsey’s parents, but hadn’t gone out of his way to be alone with them, either. He’d figured it best for them to get the measure of each other before any serious topics reared their heads.
‘Should be another nice day for getting out and about,’ Paul said, nodding at the bright blue, cloudless sky visible out of the window. ‘What’s on the agenda today? I’m sure there is one.’ He chuckled.
To look at him now, it was hard to believe the man was seriously ill a few months ago. On Monday, he’d walked all around St Ives with them with no more need to rest than anyone else. Lyndsey’s prediction had been correct. Griffhadbeen enthralled by the pretty little town. The lightwasincredible. Long golden beaches stretching far out into the distance. Pastel-colored cottages clinging to roads so steep and narrow he was surprised people and cars didn’t tumble down them. A picturesque harbor full of colorful boats bobbing around under a clear summer sky. The sketchbook he always kept tucked in his pocket was crammed with ideas for new glass projects.
‘Even as a little kiddie, our Lyndsey always had a plan.’ His scrutinizing gaze swept over Griff. ‘I’m not sure you were one of the items on her list though when she went to help Becca.’
‘I’m pretty sure I wasn’t. She wasn’t on mine, either. I reckon we were both pretty content with our lives, but . . .’ He wasn’t sure how, or if, to put his deepest feelings into words.
Paul eyed him thoughtfully. ‘Some things can’t be planned. I was a bit of a ladies’ man when I met Maureen. Never more than one at a time, mind you.’ His blue eyes twinkled. ‘Although there might’ve been a bit of overlap occasionally.’
‘You fell hard for her?’
‘Oh yes, and I see you looking at my girl the same way.’ He stepped across to close the kitchen door. ‘You need to know it’s never made any difference that Lyndsey’s not my biological daughter. Not to me.’ He gave an exasperated sigh and ran a hand over his thinning gray hair. ‘Maureen and I wanted a little brother or sister for Lyndsey, so we tried for a baby as soon as we got married, but it never happened. We’d about given up when she finally fell pregnant. Because we were so thrilled, we thought Lyndsey would be, too.’ Paul shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor.
‘But instead she felt left out. Second best. The one you got stuck with,’ Griff murmured.
Paul nodded sadly. ‘Becca was always a bit of a handful. Her mood changed like the Cornish weather from one second to the next.’
‘So she played you both to her advantage, leaving Lyndsey out in the cold.’ He wondered if he’d spoken too harshly. ‘I’m sorry. That was rude.’
‘Mebbe, but you’re right. Will you tell me one thing?’
‘Yeah, if I can.’
‘The girls seem to be doing better together. Did we do right, pushing Lyndsey to go to Tennessee?’
‘Apart from sending the woman I love spinning into my orbit? That’s somethin’ I’ll be eternally grateful for, if you weren’t sure.’ He grinned. ‘Yeah, I’d say you did good. Things were rocky at first, mind you. I’m not spilling any secrets by sayin’ that, because they’d tell you so themselves. They seem to have found a middle ground that suits them both.’
Paul gave an appreciative nod. ‘Little Nora’s got us both wrapped around her tiny fingers already. I don’t know how we’re going to say goodbye when you take her away again.’
There was nothing Griff could say. All the video chats and pictures in the world weren’t the same as real-life kisses and cuddles.
‘I’ve tried talking to Theo, but he don’t have much to say for himself. I s’ppose my funny accent confuses him.’ He looked worried. ‘I hope he isn’t having the same kind of problems Lyndsey did.’
‘He has had some trouble adjusting, but I’m pretty sure the worst of it’s behind him now. He’s a great kid who’s had a lot of upheaval to deal with.’ It wasn’t his place to tell the whole story. ‘Don’t worry about him too much. Theo’s a typical twelve-year-old, and they aren’t usually the chattiest even at the best of times. You’ve got a point about the Cornish accent, because I don’t mind admitting it’s a challenge to me, too. Keep plugging away, Paul. He’ll catch on eventually, like I’m startin’ to.’
‘You’m doing all right. Do you reckon the boy might enjoy going out fishing for mackerel tomorrow?’
‘He might. How about we make it a guys’ day out? I wouldn’t mind having a try, too.’ He’d only ever been on a pontoon boat on a lake before, never out to sea, but the idea appealed to him. It would also give him an opportunity to get to know Paul better.
‘I’d be happy to have you come along. I didn’t think to—’
