“He’s a scoundrel,” William said with a smile.
“Oh, my favorite kind of kid!”
Juniper laughed. “He can be a scoundrel, but he’s incredibly sweet and loving. He adores William.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“He can’t get enough of the frogs he made him for his birthday.”
“Huh?”
William’s heart sank at Cassie’s look of bewilderment. Juniper looked at her, confused.
“Frogs William made?” Cassie clarified.
“Yes. He carved them out of wood, with the pond and everything. It’s pretty much the only toy Billy plays with most days.”
“William carved frogs from wood?”
Juniper was clearly struggling with Cassie’s confusion. “Ah, yes.”
“I didn’t know you could do that.”
Reaching for his wine and taking a sip, William shrugged.
“Well, he can. He’s very good at it, actually.” Juniper laid her hand over his where it rested on her shoulder, offering a wordless apology for causing him discomfort. She had no way of knowing that his family weren’t aware of his hobby. He hadn’t picked up a chisel or carving knife in over twenty years, after all.
“Hm, interesting. You’re full of secrets, aren’t you, brother of mine?” Cassie said, flicking him a look.
William squirmed. He hadn’t been deliberately secretive; it had just never come up and the Lockes didn’t really indulge in hobbies outside of golf. Until he’d been to Blessed Inlet, it hadn’t even occurred to him that he might be talented in anything other than the family trade.
“Well, enough of that,” Gwen cut in, rescuing William. “William also tells us that you make pottery, Juniper.”
“I do, yes.”
“And you have a shop?”
“Yes.”
“That must be lovely.”
“It is. There’s a little house attached to the back of the shop, so it makes it easy for me to have Billy with me while I’m working.”
“Do you think you’ll have a shop in Sydney?”
The tension that seized Juniper at his mother’s words was palpable. “Ah, I’m not really sure,” she prevaricated.
“Oh, it would be a shame to give it up just because you’ve moved,” Gwen opined.
“We haven’t really talked about any of that, Mum.”
“Oh, I see.” There was a long, awkward pause. “Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She smiled reassuringly at Juniper. “How about we move on to the main course.”
“Great idea,” said Cassie. “Honey, why don’t you tell William the latest with the buyout at your work.” James, taking the hint with alacrity, launched into the latest tidbit in the ongoing saga at the company he’d worked at for over a decade.
For the main course, they enjoyed salmon wellington with a green bean salad and buttery baby potatoes. Everyone agreed on a break before dessert. William followed Juniper as she walked over to the railing overlooking the harbor. He slipped an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him, smelling of flowers and sunshine and something so indescribably her. “I’m sorry about that, before.”
CHAPTER 23
