Luke, as he’d often thought, had everything he’d ever wanted. He’d turned into a real family man since he’d met Katy and was never happier than when he was spending time at home with his wife and children.
Sam wanted that for himself. Like Luke, he’d never really been one for going out drinking. Maybe being raised in a pub had something to do with that. Also like Luke, he’d had the example of two loving parents to follow. His mum and dad had been devoted to each other, and he wanted a life like that. He wanted a home of his own, a woman he loved, who loved him in return, to walk beside him every step of the way. And he wanted children. He was, he’d realised over the last few years, increasingly broody. Maybe it was turning thirty that had done it.
But he’d never expected that when he did finally fall in love, the woman who won his heart would come with two children – and a husband – in tow.
‘Couldn’t get anywhere more beautiful,’ Jenna agreed. ‘Do you want to knock on the door?’
‘No. Luke and Katy will be at work.’ He gave her an awkward look. ‘I’m invited for tea later. I said I’d pick the key and the children up from Luke’s parents and bring them back here. Katy’s bringing us a takeaway home. Is that okay?’
‘Why shouldn’t it be okay?’ she asked, surprised.
He wanted to tell her that he felt guilty for abandoning her after the riding lesson, and even more guilty for not asking Luke and Katy if it would be okay for her to join them. But how could he? Jenna would probably think he was crazy if he said he wanted her to meet his best friends.
‘How will you get home afterwards?’ she asked suddenly. ‘You came here in my car.’
‘Luke or Katy will drop me home around ten, unless they’ve had a glass of wine or two with their tea. It’s less than an hour’s walk if they have.’
‘But it will be dark by then! You can’t walk home in the dark, not along those country lanes and paths,’ Jenna said, horrified. ‘I’ll come and pick you up myself if you want!’
Sam smiled. ‘As if I’d ask you to do that!’
‘I’d be happy to. Honestly. I don’t like to think of you walking alone all that way at that time of night. I won’t be able to settle, not knowing if you’re safe.’
Sam felt the familiar tug of love for her and tried to ignore it. ‘We’d better get back,’ he said. ‘The riding lesson will be finishing soon.’
They headed back the way they came, through the square and along the long and winding lane that led to the sea.
‘You know,’ Jenna said wistfully, ‘the more I see of Holderness, the more I love it. It’s so underrated, too, because it’s not flashy or grand in any way. Hardly anyone knows about it outside of the local area, and they miss all these pretty villages and the peace and quiet. I can’t believe I’ll be going home soon.’
He felt his spirits sinking at the thought. ‘When?’ he asked. ‘When exactly will you be going home?’
‘I’m hanging on till the very last moment, but I’ll have to go on the 5th.’
‘The 5th? That’s only’ – he did a quick mental calculation – ‘ten days away!’
‘I know,’ she said sadly. ‘The new term begins on the 7th so I’m pushing it really, because I need time to get the twins ready for the new term. I’ve been working after my shift for the last couple of weeks – lesson plans and that sort of thing. I’m taking the girls into town the day after tomorrow to collect their new school uniforms and treat them to some stationery and other bits and bobs. It’s all starting to feel very real.’
‘Yeah,’ he said glumly. ‘It is.’
She stopped and, to his amazement, she took hold of his hand. ‘I’ll come back, Sam,’ she said. ‘Not to work in the pub, obviously, but to see you.’
‘Me?’ Surely she meant her mum and Mac? Her family.
Jenna was staring at the ground now, and her fingers, wrapped around his, suddenly tightened. ‘Yes, you,’ she mumbled. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
Sam’s heart leapt. Was she saying what he thought she was saying? Everything he’d hoped for and dreamed of these past few weeks felt suddenly so much closer, but it was a torment not knowing for sure if he was just letting his imagination run away with him.
‘Jenna,’ he said nervously. ‘You know, don’t you, how I feel about you?’
The hand tightened a bit more. ‘I think so,’ she said, not looking at him.
‘This summer,’ he said, swallowing hard. ‘It’s been brilliant, working with you, getting to know you. That evening when you walked into the pub for the first time – well, the first time I really noticed you – you looked so beautiful, I just wanted to take care of you. Everything I felt that night – it hasn’t gone away. It’s just got stronger. I-I think I’m falling in love with you, Jenna.’
She looked up and he saw that her face was flushed and her eyes were shy.
‘Youthink?’ she asked uncertainly.
He shook his head. ‘I know,’ he said firmly. ‘But I also know that it’s different for you. Everything you’ve been through with Joel – it’s still raw. I don’t expect you to just forget all about him, or what’s happened. I just want to know, I suppose, if there’s any chance for us at all. You said you’ll miss me. Did you mean that in the way I hoped, or do you mean as friends?’
