‘You’ve not moved in here yet, then?’ He stopped, plate mid-air as he dried. ‘Sorry, was that a bit forward? It’s just that you and Sebastian… well, it’s like you both live here.’
‘I don’t think we’ll leave it too much longer.’ She recapped how they’d met, how quickly they’d become a couple, how they wanted to enjoy one another before living together.
Nate understood. He wished he’d done the same in past relationships: taken a step back to really know what was what before he leapt in and things ended badly. And he should know better than to ask questions. The night before he’d left Wales, he’d been to the pub with a few mates, a bit of afarewell, see you in a monthtype thing. They’d tried to set him up with the barmaid, who was great, a good laugh, friendly enough, but he’d left feeling glad he was away for a while. He didn’t get others’ incessant need to have him paired off.
‘Well, it’s good to see the business thriving.’ He took the next plate. Belle was handing them straight to him to make it easier.
‘It certainly is. Where’s Branston today? I thought you’d bring him; he was so well behaved at the café.’
‘We took him for a long walk this morning in the woods; he’ll be happy sleeping. It’d be too much excitement for him here, although he’d lap up the attention.’
‘Well, he’s always welcome. Next time, maybe.’
‘Appreciate it.’
‘You are, too.’
He laughed. ‘Thanks for clarifying.’
‘You seem to be enjoying being back.’ She managed to look at him as she waited for him to finish drying the plate he had and take the last one.
‘I am, more than I thought I would if I’m completely honest.’ When he realised he was looking at Morgan again as she finished putting the plates and some spoons in their relevant places on the table, he finished the last piece he was drying and hung up the tea towel.
When Jeremy came inside and asked for another couple of glasses, Morgan asked, ‘What’s that they’re all drinking out there?’
‘It’s Pimm’s,’ said Jeremy. ‘How’s Marley?’
‘He’s absolutely fine; please don’t worry about him. I’ll have to teach him road safety,’ Morgan assured him. ‘Now let’s get those glasses for you.’ She took them from Belle, who’d found them from the appropriate cupboard, and handed them to Jeremy, who carried them between his fingers.
‘Pimm’s isn’t my usual tipple, but Trevor says I have to try some; it’s proper British to enjoy Pimm’s in the sunshine.’
‘Sounds like Dad,’ Nate smiled.
‘I had a sneaky suspicion I’d want to enjoy myself with a glass or two of something so I left the car at home.’ Trevor winked before he headed back outside.
Nate leaned close to Morgan and spoke under his breath. ‘Thank God for that.’
Once they finished the clearing up, Nate and Morgan headed outside and helped themselves to Pimm’s.
‘I haven’t felt this relaxed in a long time.’ Morgan had pulled sunglasses down from the top of her head.
It was quite a gathering, helped by the sunshine, of course. Although Nate doubted the winter meals held inside lacked any atmosphere, not with this lot, anyway. ‘I must admit I wasn’t entirely convinced I should come.’ He wouldn’t tell her that his attendance had a lot to do with her presence and how increasingly difficult it was to be near her and not tell her how he felt. ‘I’m glad I did, though.’ As birds twittered all around them and the smell of barbecue and freshly cut grass hung in the air, he confessed, ‘We’ve been here less than a couple of hours and it kind of feels like a big family gathering.’
‘That’s what Mum loved the most. It was just her, me and Tegan, no large family gatherings. Dinner was more on the practical side for us – eat and clear up and no time to linger. Mum worked a couple of jobs and was usually pretty tired by the end of the day. But she raved about these occasions; she couldn’t wait to bring me to one.’
Betty had taken charge of the dessert by the looks of things because already she and Belle were going back and forth inside and emerging with plates of pavlova, the light meringue filled with strawberries and cream, and delivering them to those who wanted it.
‘I said I was full up,’ said Nate, his fork breaking off the first piece, ‘but I wouldn’t say no to this.’
Betty was adding in the explanation to everyone that dessert was now rather than waiting any longer because Gillian would need to head home soon, seeing as she was tired.
Sebastian was right behind Nate and told them both, ‘She has a card game with Bruce, another of the residents. And word has it your dad was interested too.’
He’d intended it to be a secret shared but Betty overheard, the news went to Peter and before they knew it, everyone had heard.
‘I’ll be back for another dinner soon,’ Gillian promised as she fielded complaints that she was leaving.
‘Betty never disappoints,’ Nate declared as he finished his pavlova and scraped the very last of the cream from the plate. ‘I know I’ve said it before, but that woman can bake.’
