‘People are so impatient,’ Sam said to the quiet elfin woman with a sigh. ‘I wish they’d realise we’re doing what we can. It’s not always like this. Then again, if this is her first visit I suppose we haven’t given a very good impression.’
‘I’ve only ever been in here when it’s fairly quiet,’ she admitted. ‘But I haven’t been here in high season, so…’
‘You’ve been here before?’ Sam asked, surprised. ‘I don’t remember seeing you.’
‘Well,’ she said with a laugh that transformed her face, ‘why would you? I expect you see hundreds of people every week. I was last here in May with my family. My grandparents live at Sanderlings, and my mum’s at Watersmeet now, with a man called Mac.’
‘Of course! The Wainwrights and the MacMillans. You’re Alison’s girl?’
‘I am.’ She looked a bit embarrassed. ‘I’m Jenna.’
Sam frowned. Jenna! That was it. He remembered Alison telling him all about her. A teacher. She had twins, too. Busy woman. No wonder she looked so worn out and delicate.
And yes, she was married to a man. Sam couldn’t remember his name or anything about him, but he did distinctly recall that Alison hadn’t seemed to like him. It wasn’t anything she’d specifically said that had given him that impression. More what she hadn’t said.
‘I’m Sam,’ he told her, smiling.
‘I know. Seb’s lad Sam,’ she said, a sudden twinkle of amusement in her eyes.
He groaned. ‘You know, that will probably be engraved on my tombstone. You’re here on holiday then?’
She shrugged. ‘Sort of. The girls needed a break, and their dad’s busy working, and they love being at Watersmeet. All the animals, you understand, nothing to do with their grandma or Mac.’
He grinned. ‘Naturally.’
‘So I thought, why not? And Mum and Mac were kind enough to invite the three of us to stay at theirs, so we’re here for the duration of the summer holidays.’
‘The three of us’? Hmm.
‘Good for you. Well, I’d like to say that future visits to The North Star won’t be quite as frazzled as this one, but I’m afraid I can’t promise.’
‘You do look very busy,’ she agreed.
‘We always are at this time of year,’ he told her. ‘The trouble right now is, we’re short-staffed. Two of the bar staff are on holiday – one at very short notice – and one of the kitchen staff got another job and walked out without warning. So you can imagine what it’s like.’
Jenna winced. ‘Ouch! Bad luck.’
‘Yeah.’ Sam sighed. ‘Oh well.’ He nodded at her empty glass. ‘Another one?’
‘No thanks. Like I said, I need to get back. The twins will be in bed but even so. Thank you. I hope things are a bit more manageable for you tomorrow.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘I highly doubt it but thank you.’
She slipped off the stool and, giving him a little wave, headed towards the door. Sam gave another sigh and picked up her glass.
‘Actually…’
He glanced up, surprised to see her standing in front of him, looking a little flushed and a bit nervous.
She hesitated and he prompted, ‘Actually?’
‘Look, feel free to say no, but would you like some help? I used to work in a bar in my student days, and I’m pretty handy in the kitchen. I’m sure I could be of some use, anyway.’
Sam stared at her. She wanted to work here?
‘I couldn’t do days,’ she added hastily. ‘Not really. It would have to be evenings because I can’t expect my mum to babysit the twins all day, and anyway they need me, and I must spend some time with them. But I don’t think it would be too much for Mum to sit with them in the evenings and put them to bed. After all,’ she added, as if still working it out in her own head, ‘they go to bed at half past eight at the latest, so Mum and Mac would still have a good few hours to themselves.’
‘Yes please,’ Sam heard himself say, and then prayed he hadn’t sounded too pathetically grateful.
