“Pity the temperatures don’t fit the comparison,” Mike chuckled, then casually held out his hand. “Come on, let’s go for a ramble.”
A little giddy, Jenny took it and together they walked along the mainly-deserted shoreline. He took his shoesoff, unable to resist testing the water with his bare toes. She wasn’t quite so adventurous though and regretted wearing her chunky-heeled boots as she watched him turn up his combats to the knees and wade further into the water, urging her to join him.
“No way I’m getting my feet wet. It’s bloody freezing,” she exclaimed, grimacing as the water hit her fingers.
While it was chilly on the beach, the sky was completely clear and she could feel the warmth of the midday sun on her back. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before,” she said looking around in fresh wonder as Mike rejoined her,.
“Glad you like it,” he smiled and Jenny was conscious of the fact that he’d taken her hand again. “But there are some other gorgeous beaches further down this direction too. Will we keep going? Make a day of it, maybe?”
She nodded happily, deciding this was one of the nicest Saturdays she’d spent in a while.
38
Later that evening, having spent the day visiting numerous beaches and beauty spots along the coast, Mike suggested dinner in Wexford.
“There’s a lovely beachside hotel I stay at when I’m down on business,” he said, “or we could look for a restaurant in town if you’d prefer.”
Jenny told him that she didn’t care where they went, as long as they ate soon. She didn’t know if it was the excitement of the day, or the sea air in her lungs that was making her feel so hungry.
They opted for the hotel he knew and were soon comfortably seated, enjoying their food.
“You’d better eat some of this too,” she said, pushing a plate of garlic bread towards his plate of fried brie. “Otherwise, you’ll refuse to have me in the car with you on the way home.”
“Agreed,” he said, picking up a slice and popping it inhis mouth, clearly delighted at the prospect of extra food.
“Pig,” she teased, amused at his unbridled appetite. “Do you always eat this quickly?”
“Yep,” he said, swiping another piece as if to illustrate. “There were five in my family and it was every man for himself when it came to mealtimes. If you didn’t eat quickly, you didn’t eat, simple as that.”
She chuckled. “You make it sound like something out of a Dickens novel.”
“God no, I’m not trying to say that we were penniless, just that we were savages. Even now, when we all get together at Christmas or whatever, it’s still the same and Rachel is as bad.” He sat back in his chair. “You should come along sometime – see exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Ah, no thanks,” Jenny joked. “From what I’ve seen so far, one Kennedy is more than enough.” She indicated the empty plates in front of them. He’d even polished off the salad.
She took another sip of wine and licked her lips. “It’s a pity you have to drive back, otherwise you could have a glass too.” Checking her watch, she looked up in surprise. “Crikey, I hadn’t realised the time. It’s nearly nine o’clock! No wonder I was so hungry.”
“It’ll be late by the time we get back. Sorry.”
It must have been the wine because the words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Why don’t we stay? I mean, we could both relax and have a few drinks and then you wouldn’t have to worry aboutdriving or …” She could feel her cheeks reddening as she spoke.
Please don’t let him take this the wrong way,
“Great idea,” he agreed easily. “When we’re finished here, I’ll ask for a couple of rooms at reception.”
Jenny spread mint sauce over her lamb, relieved that he didn’t seem to read anything into it. As if to demonstrate his newfound freedom, Mike poured a generous measure of wine into his glass and ordered another bottle. The waiter was about to uncork it when his phone signalled an incoming text.
“Ah – somebody loves me,” he said, searching for the phone in the pocket of his jacket and then Jenny looked up to see him chuckle at the message.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, a little miffed about their cosy dinner being interrupted.
“It’s from Becky. Sent me the most stupid meme – here, take a look.”
Oh. Jenny reluctantly plastered on a weak smile and handed the phone back to him.
“Well?” he asked guffawing. “Did you get it?”
Jenny didn’t. She didn’t get the joke and she certainly didn’t get the unnervingly close relationship he still had with his ex. She pushed her food around the plate, her appetite as well as her good mood having worn off all of a sudden.
