‘That was different.’
‘No it’s not.’
Adrian pulled her to him. ‘One day I’ll get you into the kayak with me.’
‘OK,’ she said.
Adrian pulled back. ‘Yeah?’
And she laughed. ‘Yeah. As long as I sit in front.’
‘Bossy,’ he joked before his son took his attention, impatient at the adults taking their time, wanting to get the kayak down from its rack and out on the water.
‘Don’t worry, Dad,’ said Jonah who had got used to calling Adrian that right from the start, and Leo swore every time he said it his brother got a bit of a kick and it tugged at his heartstrings. ‘We’ll both be in the kayak and we’ll have our vests on. If you can’t remember how to do it, it doesn’t matter. We can learn together.’
Leo found the appropriate paddles and Nina and Maeve took them out to the sands while Jonah and Adrian lifted the kayak out and into the sunshine. They set it down while they put on their buoyancy vests.
Leo watched Nina laughing with Maeve. Sometimes it was hard to believe all these people had been away for so long. He’d already thanked Granny Camille for meddling, he was glad she had, because if she hadn’t he might not be here right now with the woman he intended to spend the rest of his life with.
Leo went to Nina’s side and put an arm around her shoulders. Standing alongside Maeve they watched Adrian and his son take the kayak down to the water with the paddles and none of them uttered a word as they watched Adrian climb in first and then Jonah. Jonah had been saying he was lightest and the least scared so he’d get in last and Leo was pretty sure Adrian might have been playing up to it a little bit to make Jonah think he washelping more than was really needed. But he guessed that was what fatherhood was, it was bonding, in whatever way worked, and it was good to see Maeve, Adrian and Jonah already starting on their way to being the family they all deserved.
‘They look happy,’ said Nina as the kayak, on the gently bobbing water of Stepping Stone Bay began to move with their paddles turning in the air, dipping back down, their rhythm not bad considering Adrian hadn’t been in the sea for such a long time.
‘They’re naturals,’ said Leo.
‘Like father like son.’ Maeve’s voice gave away the emotion behind her comment.
‘We’ll leave you to watch them both.’ Leo put a hand on Maeve’s shoulder. ‘They’ll be fine, you know that don’t you?’
The look she gave him said she really did.
Epilogue
Two months later …
‘It’s freezing!’ Nina said, and not for the first time since they’d got down here to the beach.
‘Bloody cold,’ Elijah agreed. ‘Why do you think I opted for a costume with decent coverage?’ He was dressed as a Santa with a big white beard that must’ve been keeping his face warm, never mind the comfort of the big red jacket and black trousers.
It was Christmas Day and locals crowded onto the sands at Salthaven ready for the annual swim event that raised money for charity. The proceeds would go to the local lifeboat station and although the charity changed every year, it felt poignant that this one had been elected this time round.
Nina had managed to get a transfer to the hospital thirty miles from Salthaven without much trouble at all. The new workplace wasn’t really close but it was do-able. She’d rented a flat not far from her grandad until the sale of her flat was finalised and after that, she wasn’t sure what the next step would be. All she knew was that she was here now and it was everything she’d thought she’d left behind and more. It was home.
‘If Rhianne could see me now,’ Elijah grinned, wavingacross at Bridget who had a mug of something steaming in her hand.
‘Couldn’t persuade Bridget to join in?’ Nina asked him.
‘Next year, she promises me, but I couldn’t do it to her today … she’s had a cold for the best part of a fortnight and I for one don’t want to be responsible for cooking a turkey later if she’s out of action.’
Nina began to smile when Leo came over to her. He’d helped Camille and Walt to bring down supplies of mince pies for the ravenous swimmers following the event and now he looked ravishing in his Christmas pudding costume to match hers. They each had on brown stripey bottoms and then a brown puffy top half with white trimming to represent icing and could barely hug one another, so settled for a peck on the lips.
‘Here they are,’ Leo announced and Nina looked over to where Adrian, Maeve and Jonah were making their way across to them. Three penguins all in a row.
‘Mummy penguin, daddy penguin and baby penguin,’ Nina grinned as they reached them. Jonah was fussing with his black cap, adjusting it so the orange beak sat right in the middle. They each had identical white furry tummies with black bodies and the two huge eyes sewn to each of their caps had Nina laughing. ‘You all ready for this?’
‘Nope,’ said Adrian.
Maeve held his hand. ‘He’s worried how cold we’ll all be.’
