“You agreed that Charlie and Harry needed to see their dad having a relationship.” Rayah looked at her accusingly.
Sorrell tipped her head and stared at the wood burning stove in her new kitchen extension as if it held the answers to the universe. “I think we talked about the importance of children witnessing positive, healthy relationships from and between people they respected and trusted. Then they know how to act and what their expectations are… you know this, Ray. Why now?”
“Because I heard two of the mums talking about him and gossiping.”
“They have nothing to gossip about. The man has a sex life more secret than your uncle’s.” Keren words were precise as usual. Rayah’s uncle hadn’t had a relationship since he’d split with his wife in the world’s most amicable divorce several years before. He’d recently introduced his new partner, a surgeon slightly younger than him. And male.
No one had batted an eyelid. His three sons – Zack, Scott and Alex – had been far more interested in the fact that his new partner was a Manchester United supporter and the fact that their dad was finally ‘getting some’. Severton was a small town, and stereotypically should’ve been reticent to be so understanding, but given that Gran who ran the post office had also sold home knitted scarves to fund her gin distillery and that alpacas were frequently found wandering around the town’s streets, the senior Maynard having a boyfriend really wasn’t going to be headline news.
Jonny Graham going on a date, however, would be. He was too single, too mysterious and far too good looking. Plus, his dad skills exploded ovaries.
“But that’s the point. Because people don’t have anything to actually comment on, they make it up. And speculate. If he goes on a couple of dates, they might leave him alone at the school gates.” Rayah was under no illusions that she was in self-preservation mode. If Jonny started dating, she would have to move on.
“Is he bothered by the school-gate antics?” Sorrell topped her mug up. “Zack did mention something when he went with him to collect Harry after football.”
“He gets asked to fix a lot of stuff. There have been baked goods and ‘extra casseroles’ or pies. Or tarts. And lots of innuendoes. And shoulder strokes.” Rayah shuddered. She had never been one to throw herself at a man. If someone wanted a taste of what she had to offer, he had to impress her, not the other way round. She’d seen how some girls had acted around her cousins and brother, and the opinion they’d held of those girls hadn’t been complimentary. Thus she had a reputation of being a bit of a ball-breaker.
Thus she was single.
Or maybe that was because no one had managed to oust Jonny off the pedestal.
“Zack said that he – Jonny - was propositioned by two of them to spend Saturday night at his. He was promised he’d be made ‘very comfortable’. I think that was code for a threesome.”
Rayah looked up to the ceiling and prayed for patience.
“Is it me or does Severton have a plethora of single women?” Sorrell nursed her mug. It was one with the words ‘alpacas rule’ written across it, with a picture of an alpaca with a crown on its head. Clearly a joke from Rayah’s brother.
“And men. People don’t like leaving here. It’s too pretty and unique and close to three cities. And it’s bonkers so lots of people fit in.” Keren punctuated her words with a yawn. “So this baby will fit in too. With mine and Scott’s genes there’s no telling what talents it will have.”
“The ability to hold a grudge for ten years. Let’s start with that one.” Sorrell’s voice was particularly low.
Rayah smothered a grin. “Your baby will be beautiful and perfect. And then you’ll have no chance of Scott ever letting either of you go anywhere without him.”
Keren rolled her eyes. “He’s already in over-protective and over-prepared mode. Nobody would think I’m an independent woman who runs her own dental practice and has lived alone for ten years, until Scott knocked me up.”
“To be fair, you did nearly die in a fire.” Sorrell put down her mug. “I think that allows him some sort of pass to be a little concerned about your welfare.”
“Hmmm. Let’s go back to Rayah and Jonny. Scott and I are old news now.”
Rayah shook her head. “There is no Rayah and Jonny. Jonny needs to move on and meet someone who can…”
“Can what?” Sorrell’s eyes narrowed. “Give him more babies? Be a replacement mother for Sadie and Charlie and Harry? Or remind him what it’s like to be in a partnership with someone who has his back, and not in the same way as Jake does. Or maybe that’s the answer: Jake and Jonny forever.”
Rayah was about to answer, maybe with something obtuse so the topic would change, but she was interrupted by the doorbell.
Sorrell got up, her usual calmness surrounding her. When she’d first moved to Severton to open up a boutique hotel, she’d been out of her comfort zone, not sure of what she was doing, her identity shattered by a turn of events. Since she’d mastered being a hotelier and returned to part time therapy for children in Severton, and become part of Sock – Jake’s abbreviation for Sorrell and Zack – she’d become Queen Zen.
A familiar voice disrupted the peace a few seconds later.
“Shouldn’t the three of you be standing around a cauldron?”
Jake was both the best and worst brother Rayah could’ve wished for. He was fun, always the centre of attention without needing to be. He loved hard and had a kind word and gesture for anyone who needed it. She knew he’d been up earlier than he needed to each morning so he could spend twenty minutes having a brew with the farmer whose land he’d bought last year. Old Niall James had a heart attack, meaning he was no longer fit to work the farm and the fields he owned. Jake had stepped in, partly to increase the Maynard estate, but also because by being the owner, Niall could still have a part in running it. So each morning, he swung by his house and they talked through what needed doing, even though Rayah was pretty sure it was a conversation Jake didn’t actually need. He was good at his job.
“The Severton Coven is already established and doesn’t need any extra members at this time. That was what Gran told Marley two days ago when I was in the post office.” Keren patted the seat next to him, but Jake headed towards the fire instead.
Rayah saw Keren’s expression falter, not enough so anyone would notice, and it only would’ve been caught if you were watching carefully. Her brother had crushed on Keren when they’d been younger and had stopped Scott from asking her out back then. They’d all moved on to a certain extent, but Jake was still wary of being too friendly with Keren. Things weren’t quite what they had been with him and Scott still.
“Then I take it the three of you are practicing for when there are vacancies?” Jake raised his eyebrows at each of them in turn, accusingly.
