‘I’ve no idea how or why I know that,’ he said, looking at his champagne glass as if that might give him the answer. ‘I have to admit, it’s slightly worrying that I do. I don’t think it’s very good for my image.’
Alex gave a laugh. ‘I’m pretty sure your image is just fine, mate. As usual. And if you start showing your feminine, understanding side too, the rest of us may as well hang up our boots, so at least give us a fighting chance, eh?’
Charlie snorted. ‘Oh, don’t worry. I’m not about to claim absolutely any understanding of women. Totally beyond my capabilities.’
‘Beyond any man’s, I think!’ Marcus chimed in.
Amy and I exchanged an eye-roll.
‘Come on then, pests. Let’s go and see these waves.’
Some quiet cheering was quickly followed by me finding a small boy attached to each hand. We walked down the stairs and across the beach. The soles of my shoes were thin so there followed some inelegant manoeuvring over the larger pebbles of the beach and I wished, not for the first time, that our local beach was covered in soft white sand instead. I shamelessly used the children as support devices until we got closer to shoreline, where the pebbles became smaller and merged into sand.
The tradition of going to see the waves had begun when Liam was a baby. I loved spending time with people, especially my closest friends and family, but I always needed a bit of time to myself on this day amongst the celebration and the laughter, just to have a chat to Mum. It wasn’t always aloud but the words were there and I believed – I knew – she could hear them. But it was always by the shoreline. The first time I’d done it, I’d said that I was ‘going to see the waves’. I wasn’t sure why. It just came out and then it stuck. My family understood and left me to do what I needed to do.
When Liam had arrived, I’d borrowed him and cuddled his warm, chubby little body as I stood at the tide line, wishing that my mum could be there with me, be there to hold her first grandchild. The following year, he’d toddled over to me and I’d picked him up and taken him with me again and a tradition of the boys coming with me had been born. They didn’t yet understand the deeper meaning of this ritual but it didn’t matter. Part of the tradition now was that time alone I got with the boys. I still sent up my wishes and love to Mum, but my nephews’ happy laughter and giggles as they taunted the shallow waves had made what had once been so difficult a little easier to bear and now a moment of joy that I looked forward to. I’d felt bad excluding Alex, but I’d seen the wariness in the boys’ eyes. I didn’t want to push anything on them yet because, if things did progress with me and him, I really wanted them to like him. I shoved all other thoughts out of my head as the boys gripped my hands and pulled me to the edge of the sea and began dancing with the shimmering water as it chased them back onto the land, their laughter echoing across the beach.
With slightly soggy feet from a misjudged moment, the boys and I headed back up to the restaurant and reclaimed our seats. Maria smiled at me as they ran back to her and Niall wrapped his arms around her neck as she pulled him onto her lap to remove his shoes and dry his slightly damp feet.
‘How were the waves?’ Alex asked.
‘Pleased to see us.’ I laughed.
He smiled. I wanted to pick back up on what I’d been planning to say earlier but now it didn’t feel right.
‘What time do you have to go?’
I saw his expression cloud a moment.
‘Not that I want you to go!’ I added quickly. ‘I meant, how much longer do I get to keep you for?’
‘Not long, I’m afraid. I’d better head off soon.’
I nodded.
‘I’ll call you tomorrow, when I wake up.’
‘OK.’
‘I’m really sorry I can’t stay tonight.’
I shook my head. ‘It’s OK. I mean, it’s not, in that I want you to stay, but it’s OK in that I understand that you can’t. Because you have to work. I’m not sure shift work is our best friend right now. Bit of a pain in the bum, if I’m honest.’
He laughed at my rambling. ‘It certainly can be. But I’m sure we’ll find a workaround.’ That promise was back in his voice, as his gaze leisurely drifted over my face before he leant closer and kissed me.
‘Ugh!’ Liam’s voice came across the table. My nephew still hadn’t fully grasped the concept of whispering. He had the whispered tone right, but the volume was generally still set to normal. My smile broke against Alex’s lips. He pulled away and shook his head, resignation on his face.
‘Sorry.’
He shook his head, smiling. ‘I have to go anyway.’
‘But you’ll miss the cake!’ Gina waved her hands. ‘Two minutes!’ she said and rushed off to accost a waiter.
‘Babe, I really do have to go.’
Across the table, I saw Amy’s eyebrows rise. I chose to ignore them.
‘Don’t worry. I’ll save you a piece. Don’t make yourself late.’
