‘I thought they’d be with other children,’ Jenna admitted.
‘Lindy told me, when I booked, that for a first lesson she likes to deal with the rider one-on-one,’ Sam explained. ‘Later, if they stick around for further lessons, they’ll get to join a small group, which will be more fun for them, but she likes them to master the basics first.’ He watched her as she nodded, eyes never leaving her children. ‘Do you think… I mean, what are the chances of themhavingmore lessons?’
‘I suppose it depends how much they like this one,’ she said. ‘I’m not averse to bringing them here at the weekend for a lesson if they really want one.’ She slumped suddenly, her tone becoming flat and lifeless. ‘Of course, it depends on Joel. He might want access every weekend, and I really can’t see him driving all the way out here every Saturday, can you?’
She’d told him about the twins’ sleepover at Joel’s house and, although she’d laughed about the cat litter tray and the fact that Joel was still just being Joel, stuck to his laptop and refusing to get in the swimming pool, he could see that it had affected her, having to share the girls with a strange woman whom she’d never even met.
‘I suppose not,’ he admitted. ‘Seems a shame, though. They’re clearly loving this.’ He watched them fondly, a smile on his face. ‘Look at Ada! She’s trying so hard, isn’t she? Hallie looks like she’s taking it all in her stride, which doesn’t surprise me. She’s always more confident than Ada.’
The lesson was only thirty minutes long because the riding instructor said it was best not to overwhelm new riders, and that their legs would ache quite badly enough the following day just from this one session.
Sam looked at his watch. It had been nearly ten minutes.
‘Shall we go for a walk?’ Jenna suggested suddenly.
He looked at her in surprise. She sounded quite nervous, and he’d assumed she’d want to keep a close eye on her children.
‘Are you sure? We don’t have to. I don’t mind sitting here if you want to watch them.’
‘I know you don’t, but there’s no point really. They’re in safe hands, and I don’t want to distract them. Let’s go for a walk down the lane, shall we?’
He nodded, and after a brief glance at the twins, who weren’t paying the slightest bit of attention to their mother, being far too focused on doing what the instructors were telling them, they headed out of the gate and began to walk down the lane.
The verges were a vivid mass of cow parsley, buttercups, dandelions, oxeye daisies and even poppies, their colours cheering the route as Sam and Jenna walked without talking along what passed for a footpath. They’d decided to head towards the village, rather than the sea, and Sam wanted to show her something.
The village square wasn’t large, by any means. Weltringham was a bigger place than Kelsea Sands, but it was hardly what anyone would call busy. It had one village shop, two pubs – The Queen’s Head and The Seagull Inn – a primary school and a church. The church of All Saints seemed out of proportion for the size of the village. It stood on elevated ground and boasted a tower with a castellated parapet, and a beautiful churchyard.
‘That must be ancient,’ Jenna said.
‘Not as ancient as you think. It was only built in the late nineteenth century on the site of an old Norman church. They think there was a Saxon church here before that. Just think, once upon a time there was a church even grander than this one at Kelsea,’ Sam said. ‘Old Kelsea, I mean. Not Kelsea Sands.’
‘And now it’s under the sea,’ Jenna said with a shiver. ‘Scary, isn’t it?’
She turned her gaze to the row of Victorian terraced houses opposite the church. ‘Stella lives in one of those,’ she said. ‘I’m not sure which one, though.’
‘Let me show you something,’ Sam said. He led her round the side of the church, following the road as it bent left.
‘If you continue going this way you’ll eventually end up back at Kelsea Sands,’ he said. ‘It’s another route. Have you ever been this way?’
‘I have a couple of times,’ she said. ‘The twins prefer the way we came today, though. There are alpacas grazing in the field if we go by that route.’
He nodded. ‘Fair enough. Well, down here is where my friend, Luke, lives. You know the builder I told you about?’
‘Oh yes.’
Sam was already striding on, eager to show Jenna the Ingledews’ beautiful home. They turned off the main lane down a side street which was, if it were possible, even quieter and so pretty. Standing on its own, set back a little from the others, was a beautiful cottage that was clearly several hundred years old. It had a wraparound garden, a tiled roof, and latticed windows. There were even roses growing round the front door.
‘Oh, wow,’ Jenna breathed. ‘How lovely is that?’
‘Cartwheel Cottage,’ Sam said, unconsciously sounding as proud as if it were his own place. ‘I helped them do it up. When Katy bought it – well, let’s just say it was a bit rundown. She hired Luke to work on it, and he brought me in on the job. You should have seen it then, and how they transformed it. It’s full of oak beams and it has an inglenook fireplace and everything. Proper chocolate box cottage. That was, what, seven years ago now.’
‘So, she wasn’t with Luke at the time?’
‘No. They fell in love when he was working here, and now they own it together. They got married about six years ago, and they have two little children. And a dog.’ He laughed. ‘You can’t forget Pip. He’s getting on now, but he’s a real character.’
Jenna gave him a sideways look. ‘This family really means a lot to you, doesn’t it?’
‘Luke’s my best friend. He’s been my best friend for nearly a decade now. His mum and dad own The Seagull Inn back in the square, so we had a lot in common. He and Katy are such a happy couple. Mad about each other. And the children. It’s… it’s kind of like a dream really. I suppose I sort of envy them, in a way. Luke always wanted to settle down and have a family and he’s achieved it. And what a place to have a family, eh?’
