He’d thought he’d done a pretty good job of acting normally, but Luke had known Sam long enough to tell when something was wrong, and when Katy – after giving them a knowing look – ushered the children and Pip into the living room leaving the men at the table, Sam knew he wouldn’t waste any time asking his friend what was on his mind.
Sure enough, Luke came straight out with it. ‘Is it work?’ he asked. ‘If you’ve changed your mind, it’s okay, but you need to let me know, Sam. I’ll have to sort out someone to take your place, and?—’
‘It’s not work,’ Sam said quickly. ‘I can’t wait to get back to it. I’m so sick of serving behind that bar. It’s just not me. Well, you know how it feels.’
‘I do,’ Luke said, clearly relieved that his first guess had been incorrect. He had, after all, been in the same situation himself once. His parents had assumed he would take over running The Seagull Inn one day and had been astonished when he told them he wanted to build houses for a living instead. But like Seb, they’d never stood in his way or made a fuss about it, which Luke had always been grateful for.
‘So if it’s not work… Is it the pub? I know it must be hard for you, seeing it go up for sale. I must admit, when we saw the details in the estate agent’s window in Millensea the other day, we were gutted for you. I can’t imagine how I’d feel if The Seagull was going to be sold.’
‘It’s something I’ve had to come to terms with,’ Sam said heavily. ‘If Dad doesn’t want to run it any more, that’s his decision. Just as me not running it is mine. I should have let him sell it after Mum died. I was wrong to step in when I did.’
‘You only did what you thought was right at the time,’ Luke said. ‘Has he found anywhere else to live? Haveyou?’
‘No. We’ve hardly looked, to be honest. Well,Ihaven’t. I don’t know about Dad. He never mentions it, but I’m sure if he’d found somewhere he’d have told me. I’m not too worried. We have a good friend who won’t see us on the streets, and he has plenty of room. Then once Dad gets the money from the sale, he’ll be able to buy himself a bungalow by the sea. Maybe he’ll give me a bed there until I find another flat to rent.’ He gave a mirthless laugh.
‘What is it, Sam?’ Luke asked gently. ‘Something’s been getting you down recently and you’re worrying me. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘Nothing,’ Sam said sadly. ‘It’s the oldest story in the book, I’m afraid.’
‘Ah!’ Luke sat back and folded his arms. ‘A woman.’
‘Yeah. Who’d have thought it?’
‘So, tell me all about her,’ Luke said, ‘and why she’s breaking your heart. Is it unrequited love? Is that the problem?’
‘I wish I knew,’ Sam told him. ‘At least then I’d know it was time to give up. Deep down, I think I do know, but all the time she says nothing there’s this tiny little bit of hope that keeps me hanging on… God, I sound so pathetic.’
‘I know all about sounding pathetic,’ Luke reminded him. ‘What about when Katy was with that moronic ex of hers, remember?’
They looked at each other and laughed. ‘Simon,’ they chorused, then glanced nervously at the door in case Katy had heard.
‘He really was a prat,’ Luke said. ‘Yet Katy was actually going to marry him, and I couldn’t say anything, could I? And there I was?—’
‘Pining away like a lost puppy,’ Sam said, remembering all too well how lovesick and heartbroken Luke had been. ‘But at least your story had a happy ending. Look at you both now.’
‘You don’t know that yours won’t have a happy ending, too.’
‘No, but I’ve got a pretty good idea that I’m on a hiding to nothing,’ Sam said glumly.
Briefly, and with some embarrassment, he told his friend about his and Jenna’s recent visit to Weltringham. How he’d shown her Cartwheel Cottage and how they’d walked together down the lane, and how he’d confessed how he felt about her. And about that kiss…
‘And she just left you?’ Luke asked, baffled. ‘She didn’t tell you how she felt?’
‘Not a word.’
‘And you didn’t ask her? Make her talk about it?’
‘How could I? I was mortified. I’d been so sure, Luke. That kiss – it was mind-blowing! At least, from my point of view. I honestly thought she’d felt the same, but I must have been wrong, mustn’t I? She wouldn’t have run off like that if she did.’
‘This was, when exactly?’
‘Wednesday, before I came here.’ Sam sighed.
‘You never said a word!’
‘I was reeling from it all. If I’m honest, I was embarrassed, too. Humiliated. I couldn’t believe she’d sent me packing like that. She still hasn’t mentioned it and it’s Saturday now, so what does that tell you?’
‘It’s all a bit odd,’ Luke agreed. ‘But then, itallsounds really messy to me. She’s clearly still entangled with her ex, and then she has two children to consider. Have you thought about that, Sam? If you and she did get together, you’d be taking on two young girls. Some other man’s daughters. Could you handle that?’
