Jenna had no doubt that her mum was only being polite. After her refusal to look after the children, Joel had visited Alison and told her what he thought about her. To say he’d been rude would have been the biggest understatement of the year, and not only that but he’d lied to Alison about Jenna, putting words in her mouth that she’d never even thought, let alone said.
‘It’s okay,’ she responded gently, thinking how unselfish her mum was being to still offer to welcome him to Watersmeet. ‘I doubt he’ll be visiting anytime soon.’
‘Jenna, what’s going on? I think?—’
‘Mum,’ Jenna said hastily, desperate to cut off that line of conversation, ‘I need to ask you a favour. A big favour.’
Her mum nodded. ‘Go on.’
‘I know this is a bloody cheek, given what happened earlier this year, but I need you to watch the kids for me.’
Alison frowned. ‘Of course. When?’
Jenna gave her an apologetic look. ‘Tonight at six. And – well – probably most other nights while I’m here.’
Alison stared at her. ‘What?’
‘I’m sorry, Mum, I really am.’
‘Where are you going, Jenna?’ Rosie, who’d been lying on the beach towel, frantically gulping down ice cream to stop it dripping on her face, had clearly been eavesdropping. Now she rolled over onto her side and fixed Jenna with a stern look.
Jenna realised that Kendra and Niall were now also watching her, as was Mac.
Even Stella, who’d been lying on her stomach, absorbed in the daily newspaper and apparently oblivious to the conversation, looked up and began to pay attention.
At least the ‘oldies’ were nestled comfortably in their deckchairs, chatting about the glory days of Millensea and taking no notice of her whatsoever.
She blushed and shifted on the sand, scooping up a handful and letting it run through her fingers.
‘The thing is,’ she said awkwardly, ‘I sort of accepted a job.’
‘A job?’ Rosie squeaked.
‘Oh, Jenna, no! You’re supposed to be on holiday, spending time with the twins,’ her mother said, clearly disappointed.
‘I know, and I am. I mean, I want to. That’s why I said I could only do nights, so I can be with them every day. I just felt sorry for him.’
‘Sorry for who?’ asked Mac.
‘Sam Hughes,’ she mumbled.
They all looked at each other, then back at her.
‘Seb’s lad Sam?’ Rosie asked.
Jenna nodded. ‘He’s really short-staffed. I popped into the pub last night after I left Sanderlings – only for a lemonade,’ she added hastily, omitting any mention of the vodka and Coke. ‘It was so busy and he was rushed off his feet. He told me that two members of staff have gone on holiday, and another has quit without notice, so he’s really been landed in it. It was chaos in there last night, and he looked so stressed, and… Well, before I knew it, I’d offered to help him.’
There was a moment’s silence, and a few looks were exchanged. Jenna held her breath.
‘Well,’ Mum said at last, ‘I think that’s really kind of you. Of course I’ll look after the twins. It will be no bother at all, will it, Mac?’
Mac smiled. ‘Of course not.’
‘They’ll be in bed by eight or half past every night,’ Jenna said eagerly. ‘So really it will just be for a couple of hours or so.’
‘I don’t mind having them,’ Rosie said. ‘They can stay at the caravan with me some nights. They’ll like that.’
‘And we’ve a spare room at the vicarage,’ Kendra said, glancing at Niall, who nodded in approval. ‘They could always have a sleepover with us. It will be fun.’
