Jenna picked up the presents, her mum helping her.
‘I didn’t really think he’d turn up, did you?’ her mum asked, as they carried the toys inside the house.
‘No, I didn’t,’ Jenna said honestly.
‘How do you feel, now that he’s here?’
They placed the presents on the table, along with the other gifts the twins had been given. Jenna stretched her back, not sure how to answer the question.
‘I don’t know,’ she said eventually. ‘He’s their dad, so of course it’s good for them that he’s here. But…’
‘But?’ her mum asked, arching an eyebrow.
‘I just don’t want him to spoil anything,’ Jenna admitted. ‘And he probably will, won’t he? He always does.’
‘Well,’ her mum said, ‘I always knew he was a bit of a wet blanket at events and get-togethers, but until you told me what had been really going on with him all these years, I had no idea how bad he was. Now I know, I wish he’d stayed away, for all your sakes.’
‘He’s their dad, though,’ Jenna reminded her.
‘It’s not me that needs telling,’ her mum said firmly. ‘Still, I’ll be polite, don’t worry. Even after everything he said to me earlier this year I’ll bite my tongue and make him welcome.’
‘Thanks, Mum. I know he doesn’t deserve it. It’s just…’ Jenna sighed. Just what? Why did she still have this feeling of loyalty towards a man who’d shown her precious little over the years?
Despite hoping that he wouldn’t show up today, she couldn’t deny that the moment she’d seen him striding down the path, her heart had hammered, her pulse had raced, and she’d felt as if her stomach was doing somersaults. Was she really still in love with him after everything he’d done?
She thought about Sam, and the moment they’d shared just before Joel arrived. It hadn’t felt the way it had when she’d seen Joel. Whatever it was she felt for Sam, it couldn’t be love, then. So, what was it? Affection, she supposed. And gratitude, for all he’d done for her.
Yet – there’d beensomethingelse. Something she couldn’t explain. It was all very confusing.
‘We’d better go back outside and make sure everything’s okay,’ her mum said, clearly aware that her daughter didn’t have any answers right now. She smiled. ‘And stop your grandad from eating all the food before Mam wallops him one for being such a greedy guts.’
Outside there was a sudden breeze blowing from the Humber, and Grandad and Evan were both eyeing the sky and issuing dark warnings about rain, even though there was barely a cloud in the sky.
‘You do talk rubbish, Stan,’ Gran said, shaking her head. ‘And you shouldn’t encourage him either,’ she told Evan. ‘You’re a vet, aren’t you? A man of science. Honestly!’
‘That’s me told,’ Evan said with a raised eyebrow. ‘Fierce, your wife, isn’t she?’
‘Soft as butter,’ Grandad said with a wink. ‘Don’t let her fool you.’
Jenna smiled, hearing the affection for his wife in his voice. It must be wonderful to be loved so deeply by someone for so many years.
She looked round, suddenly sure that someone was watching her. Sam was leaning against the wall, nursing a bottle of beer. As she met his gaze he tipped the bottle in her direction, as if toasting her. She smiled at him and he smiled back.
Then her arm was grabbed and she found herself being pulled towards the drive.
‘What the hell?’
Joel glared at her as they came to a halt by the gate. ‘Was that him?’ he demanded. ‘Was that Sam?’
Jenna blinked, not sure what he was talking about. ‘Was who Sam?’ she asked, bewildered.
‘The one in the pink shirt. The one you were just making eyes at.’
‘Making eyes at?’ Jenna would have laughed if she hadn’t been so angry that he’d hauled her away from the garden like a naughty child. ‘What the hell are you going on about? And where are the twins?’
‘I left them fussing round those bloody ponies with Niall’s kid. All I’ve heard for the last twenty minutes is Sam this and Sam that. Seb this and Seb that. Who’s Sam, I asked. Who’s Seb? Imagine my surprise when I discovered that they’re the owners of that bloody pub over there.’ He jabbed his finger in the direction of The North Star. ‘And apparently, dear Mummy is working there!’
Jenna shook off his hand. ‘What’s it got to do with you?’
