‘Great additions to what? What did I miss?’ asks Jackson, coming back to the table.
‘Ellie’s taking The Beach House on tour,’ Greg says, overdoing the enthusiasm. ‘I think it’s a fab idea.’
‘It’s a fundraiser for the hospice. Aaron thought Ellie might like to take a pitch and we could bring the VW too,’ says Milo in a much more measured tone.
I leave them to talk and turn to Reeni.
‘I can’t afford to do it,’ I say under my breath and even I can hear the urgency in my voice.
She leans into me. ‘Don’t stress. I’ll put up the pitch fee. Callit my way of helping.’ She’s interrupted by Olly running around the table from his dad and trying to crawl up onto her lap. She lifts him up, and he snuggles into her, pulling at his ear. ‘I think this one has had enough excitement for the day.’ She kisses the top of his head. ‘And stop worrying, it’ll be great promotion for your business.’
Reeni and Aaron have set off with a tired crying Olly, Dillon’s said his goodbyes and Milo’s already halfway down the road, taking his mum back home in his Mini. That leaves me, Greg and Jackson.
‘Back to the café?’ Greg asks.
‘Perfect, I’m heading that way, too. I’ve got to pick up the van,’ says Jackson, casual as anything.
‘Surely Lyonstown Road will get you there quicker,’ says Greg, shooting him a very uncharacteristic, narrowed look.
Something flickers across Jackson’s face, but it’s gone before it settles and it’s too quick to read.
‘No, the coast road has a better view.’ He catches my eye for a fleeting second before I break the contact and busy myself tidying up the glasses on the table.
‘Whatever,’ grumbles Greg. Then I feel his hand on the small of my back. ‘Ready?’
The sun is hiding behind a cloud and the wind coming in from the sea whips across us. The further we walk, the chiller it gets. I rub my arms hard to warm up as we approach The Beach House.
‘Here, take this.’ Jackson shrugs off his jacket and hands it across Greg to me.
‘She’s fine. She doesn’t need your coat.’ Greg pushes the jacket back before I have any chance to decide what to do about Jackson’s offer.
‘Don’t be stupid. She’s cold.’
The pair of them have stopped walking and are facing each other.
‘She’d have said if she was cold.’ Greg is glaring at Jackson and the air is static with tension.
‘She obviously is, so what were you going to do about it? Offer her your tie to keep warm? Very useful in a gale.’ Jackson’s eyebrow with the gold hoop arches as if to emphasise the absurdity of that scenario. ‘Are you cold, Ellie?’ he adds, his voice low and deliberate.
I’ve had enough. ‘Oh my God. Stop it, the pair of you,’ I snap, holding up both hands. ‘I don’t need either of you playing the hero. I can speak for myself.’ And without waiting for an answer, I march away from them and find myself looking straight at Mum and Dad. They’re standing at the front of their car and have watched the whole altercation. Crap.
Mum waves as I get closer. ‘I’m so glad we caught you.’
‘Hey, Mum,’ I say, stopping by her.
Jackson keeps walking. ‘See you around, Ellie,’ he calls. Then, with a pointed glance at Greg he says, ‘Lovely to meet you, Greg. Look after that tie, yeah?’
Greg chooses not to reply and simply glowers. I switch my attention to Dad to find him staring at Jackson as if he’s mentally filing away every detail. Before I can explain, Dad calls Greg over, leaving me with Mum.
Like everyone else, Mum is staring at the back of the retreating Jackson. ‘I didn’t know you still saw him?’
‘I don’t. I haven’t seen him in years. He’s back visiting family.’ I shrug as if Jackson being back in my life is a non-event and try to desperately ignore how hard my heart is thumping.
‘Be careful, love.’ She clasps her hands together. ‘Don’t get caught up in issues from years ago.’
‘It’s nothing. He’s not staying and I’m not reliving anything.’
We’ve been walking as we talk and all four of us are now at the front door of the café. Greg excuses himself and ducks inside to use the bathroom.
