She wanted to stay, but she also wanted Beth and Avery to have their privacy. His home was huge compared to Kate’s but even so, there were times when she had walked in on them kissing.
She had felt like a gooseberry when it had happened in her home. Now, having so recently experienced what it was like to be passionate about another person, she felt even more in the way.
Beth might not be able to be very athletic with her leg in plaster, but that wouldn’t have dampened her enthusiasm. Kate had been unable to keep her hands off Raff. She could only imagine how hard it must be for Beth and Avery to keep their hands off one another.
And it wasn’t merely lust or desire in Beth and Avery’s case. Unlike Kate and Raff, Beth and Avery were madly in love.
‘I’ve loved being here with you, darling,’ Kate said on the Friday morning, ‘but I think that, unless you really want me to stay, it’s time I returned to Bluewater Bay.’
‘I’ve loved you being here, Mum,’ Beth replied. ‘So has Avery. And although I want you to stay, I don’t need you to. So yes, I agree. Avery will arrange your travel, so don’t worry about that, and it’s up to you when you go. I know you’ll be back at school on Monday, so would need to be back by Sunday at the latest. But that’s cutting things fine. You’ve got to go and collect Rufus from Granny Viv’s and then drive home to Chelmsford, so if you want to leave tomorrow, or even today, that’s perfectly fine. On one condition,’ she added as Avery came and joined them in the spacious kitchen. ‘You promise you’ll come back for a weekend or two, or more, once Nanna and Frank are back from their cruise.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Avery. ‘And leave the travel stuff to me.’
‘That’s wonderful. Thank you both. Then … if it’s really all right with you, I think I should return today, if travel can be arranged.’
‘Consider it done,’ said Avery, pulling his phone from his pocket and making the necessary calls.
Twenty
Although Kate was sad to leave Beth, so much so that they both cried when the car came to pick Kate up from Avery’s, she was relieved to be back in Bluewater Bay.
She had not told Granny Viv she was coming back today. It would be a nice surprise. At least she hoped it would.
But as the car pulled up in the driveway, it was Kate who got the surprise.
She thought she recognised the vehicle parked in the drive next to hers, but it was only when she opened the front door and heard a laugh – a wonderfully cheerful laugh – that she remembered to whom the Volvo belonged.
She stopped in her tracks, half frozen with fear, half overcome with desire.
How would she react when they came face to face once more?
What would he say?
But more importantly, why was Raff Gale here?
Her curiosity getting the better of her, she marched along the hall, dumping her case at the foot of the stairs as Rufus cameracing out to greet her. She gave him a quick pet as Granny Viv called out to ask who was there.
‘Ula? Is that you?’
‘No,’ said Kate stepping into the doorway of the sitting room. ‘It’s me.’
‘Kate!’ Granny Viv couldn’t hide her surprise.
‘Oh, hello, Kate,’ said Millie, looking from Kate to Granny Viv and then to Raff.
Raff didn’t say anything at first but he had jumped up from the sofa on which he had been sitting the moment Kate had spoken, and he had now turned to face her.
‘This is a surprise,’ Kate said, unable to keep her eyes from his handsome face.
‘Not too unpleasant, I trust. You look … wonderful. How’s Beth? Much better I hope. Her accident must’ve given you a terrible shock. Erm. I should be going.’
‘Nonsense,’ declared Granny Viv. ‘Stay.’ She pointed at him and at the sofa as if commanding him to resume his seat, but he remained standing, gazing at Kate as Granny Viv continued. ‘Kate, my darling, you should have let me know you were coming back today.’
‘Why? Is this an inconvenient time for you?’
‘Not at all. But I would have arranged something special for dinner tonight.’
‘Would you indeed?’
