Page 62 of The Wedding Proposal
‘You’re right.’ Elle felt the responsibility for her mother coming to roost squarely on her shoulders. ‘She probably wouldn’t know you, anyway.’
They talked for a few more minutes, agreeing that Elle would ring the hospital herself the next day. Will sounded relieved. She ended the call feeling uncomfortably conflicted, her remnants of love for her mother bound up in duty and tainted by unresolved issues.
Love, for Elle, always did seem confused and complicated, instead of the certain, shiny, clean thing she wanted it to be.
She sighed, and returned to the computer room to complete the morning session.
Giorgina and Alice had been joined by three fresh boyish faces and conversation was loud, but this time good-natured and punctuated with laughter.
Briefly, she updated Joseph on her mother’s circumstances.
His brown eyes darkened with concern. ‘Do you need some personal time? My mum’s due to come in this afternoon, anyway. I can ask her to come early.’ He tapped his top shirt pocket, from which his phone could be seen peeping.
Elle summoned a smile, even though, for once, she would be glad to be out of the centre and alone with her thoughts. ‘There’s only an hour to go. Don’t disturb her. It’s not as if I have a workshop session to run.’
He nodded. ‘If you’re sure. The schools break up in two days so we’ll be busier, then. I have two of Mum’s friends, both retired teachers like her, who I can call on for help with general supervision of the beginning-of-holiday excitement.’ He smiled. ‘It’s one of my favourite times to be here. It can be chaotic but I like the smiling faces.’
Trying to share his enthusiasm and, mindful of her promise to Lucas, Elle took the opportunity to sound Joseph out about the Bubblemaker session.
His eyes brightened. ‘That sounds like it could be a wonderful opportunity. Please make Lucas welcome to visit for coffee tomorrow afternoon. I’m always interested in discussing what somebody is prepared to do for our children.’
The rest of the session passed without incident and Elle returned to the marina. When she reached Seadancer it was to find Loz and Davie happily ensconced with drinks in their hands on the improbably named le Chateau, a yacht moored three berths down. Loz waved and yoohooed and Davie came off the boat to wind down Seadancer’s gangplank so that Elle could board.
‘You’ll have the place to yourself today.’ Wine fumes rolled off him into the hot afternoon air. ‘Our friends Patrice and Birgit have just arrived and I expect it will take Loz the next twelve hours to catch up on their news.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Elle said, truthfully. ‘The centre’s gearing up for the summer holidays so I’m glad of the peace.’ Loz was a sweetheart but her constant conversation took up a lot of headspace. And if she were to ask how things were going with Lucas, Elle was sure she would blush, exciting Loz’s ever-present curiosity.
Once Davie had ambled back to continue pickling his liver, Elle whisked through the galley, the saloon, and then Loz and Davie’s stateroom and bathroom, leaving behind her the smells of bleach and polish.
Seadancer rocked peaceably on her lines and, as she worked, Elle wondered when to ring the hospital again, and The Briars. When it would be best for her to return to England and check out her mother’s situation for herself. And whether the need for that was on her side or her mum’s.
She sighed, wishing for love unburdened by old baggage. It was too late to achieve that with her mother. Her father was focusing on his new wife/new life scenario.
But with Lucas . . . ?
Her hands slowed as she wiped the glass of the foredeck doors. Their past love had been tainted by Ricky. Her attempts to keep the new relationship separate from the old had only resulted in completely alienating Lucas.
The answer to the earlier debate between her head and her heart was suddenly as clear as the glass beneath her industrious hands.
She’d tell him. Tonight. Before things went any further.
Chapter Twenty
Lucas liked to feel the sun slanting onto his back while he hosed seawater from wetsuits and hung them on plastic hangers to drain.
He’d been in the water today with Polly while Lars provided surface cover. Polly was possibly his favourite instructor, just because she looked as if she was a bumbly, shy, awkward woman and he liked to see the clients’ faces when she actually proved to be confident and incisive.
Today, two buffoons, Bryan and Jim, had decided to break a golden rule and drink alcohol between dives.
Polly had tried to indicate how bad an idea it was with a friendly, low-key request. ‘Come on, guys, don’t buy beer if you’re diving this afternoon. Alcohol accelerates your no decompression limits and makes it difficult for your body tissue to reabsorb oxygen. Decompression sickness is easier to contract.’
Lucas grinned to remember Bryan and Jim rolling their eyes as they went ahead with their order at the beach bar.
Knowing that entertainment was about to follow, Lars and Lucas had just waited.
Polly watched Bryan and Jim hand over their euros. ‘How’s the beer, guys?’ she called.
‘Good!’ Jim called back, lifting his foaming pint in a mocking toast to her.
