‘Yes. That doesn’t mean she was right though.’
‘Of course not.’ Daniel leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Just when Nick was wondering if he’d dozed off, he spoke again. ‘When I learned the truth, of course I was delighted to reconnect with Alice.’ He hesitated. ‘That’s not to say, and I’m ashamed to admit this, I also resented the way it turned my life upside down.’
‘I can understand that.’ Nick grimaced. ‘I didn’t ask for this. I’m trying my best, really I am, but it’s hard to even stay upright.’
‘Yeah,’ said Daniel, ‘I get it. It wasn’t only Alice’s mum I was angry with. I was also angry with myself.’
‘Why? It wasn’t your fault you were lied to.’
‘No. Except I can’t help thinking that if I’d been a better man in those days, perhaps Alice’s mum would have felt able to keep me in her life.’
Daniel’s words hung between them, and Nick’s skin itched with annoyance. None of this was his fault. Carla should have told him about the baby. She should have given him more than five minutes’ warning before dumping her child on him. Nothing he had or hadn’t done justified her actions.
Daniel patted Nick’s shoulders and stood. ‘All I’m saying is it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions. Bear in mind the most important thing is your daughter, and the relationship you build with her. We can’t change the past, but the future is in your hands now.’ Nick remembered meeting Daniel and Alice on the cliff. Their future seemed bright from what he’d seen.
As soon as Daniel left his side, Nick left the room in search of the football viewing. If the others were engrossed in the game, they wouldn’t be prying into his business. His brief pang ofguilt that he’d left Kitty to mind Emily was sent packing by the thought she was better qualified for the role, so it was for the best all round.
Chapter 19
‘Where’s everyone gone?’ asked Kitty, as she walked hand in hand with Emily into the living room.
Alice grimaced. ‘They’re watching football in my room.’
‘Which is very rude, if you ask me,’ said Sylvie with a frown.
‘It’s fine,’ said Alice. ‘I’ve made a buffet-style dinner given there are so many of us, so they can take a plate through and eat in front of the TV. To be honest, it makes life easier as I was worried about how we’d all fit in here.’
Kitty looked around at the whitewashed walls, a lounge and dining room crammed into the small space. Despite its petite size, the room appeared bigger thanks to the large windows positioned to make the most of the view. ‘I was a bit surprised when we arrived and there were so many people here,’ said Kitty, her smile brighter than she felt.
‘Urgh, that’s Saffron Bay for you,’ said May.
‘She’s right,’ said Alice. ‘Word spreads fast if there’s a dinner party scheduled. I’m used to it by now and always buy enough to feed the five thousand.’
‘You mean people just turn up?’ asked Kitty, her eyebrows raised.
‘Yep, it’s how it’s done here. You’ll soon realise what a tight-knit community we are.’
Kitty hoped she wouldn’t have too much experience of it. She couldn’t imagine anything worse than hordes of locals turning up, demanding to be fed. A giggle beside her distracted her, and Kitty glanced down to see Emily laughing into her teddy. It didn’t take long to find the source of her amusement. Sylvie was sitting at the table contorting her face into the most grotesque shapes Kitty had seen.
‘Why don’t you come and sit over here?’ Sylvie asked Emily. ‘I’d like to meet your friend.’
Emily peered up at Kitty, who smiled and nodded. The little girl scuttled over to Sylvie and held out her new teddy with pride. A cheer came from another room, a clear sign Plymouth had scored a goal.
‘Do you want some help with the food?’ Kitty asked Alice.
‘You could help carry it through?’
‘Sure.’ Kitty followed Alice through to a small, perfectly formed kitchen.
‘The salad’s already on the table. Could you get the baked potatoes from the oven and pop them in this bowl, please? Luke should be here in a minute. He’s gone over to Sylvie’s to cook the pizzas and quiches. It’s handy having a second oven next door.’ She gestured at the tiny space. ‘This kitchen is plenty big enough for me and May, just not up to the job of mass catering.’ She twirled around to the stove. ‘Ah, I’d better get the chilli off before it burns.’
‘Smells good in here,’ said a young man, leaning against a doorframe.
Kitty tried to remember his name, which had been a blur when she arrived. She thought he was some relation of Steve and Sam.He looked like an artist’s impression of a perfect male specimen, square jaw, bright blue eyes, a hint of stubble. Not her type, although … He raised his arm against the doorframe, his T-shirt tightening over his muscles. She could see he’d be popular with the ladies.
‘Tom, I don’t think you’ve met Kitty properly yet.’
‘Hi,’ said Kitty.
