Page 120 of Second Chance Summer
In the sunshine, a few customers were sitting at the tables enjoying their food, when Morven emerged with a tray to clear away.
Lily was about to go into the café when Morven shrieked and the tray fell onto the terrace with a clatter that made one man spill his cappuccino over his lap.
‘Dad!’
Morven ran towards a pony-tailed man who was wheeling a suitcase down the path from the quay. Even if Lily hadn’t known who Nathan Teague was, she’d instantly have guessed he was related to Sam.
‘Hello, sweetheart.’ Nate folded her in his arms.
Elspeth walked onto the terrace, her hands dusty with flour. ‘Nathan! It’s so good to see you! Come inside.’
Morven broke away from Nate, still holding his hand. ‘This is my dad!’ she announced to Lily. ‘You were in London when he came back before so you have to come and meet him now.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ Lily said, deeply touched that Morven was so keen for them to meet. Sam had told her that when Nate had come home as promised, earlier in the summer, he’d finally reached a decision.
‘Hi there. You’re the famous Lily,’ he said, giving her a warm handshake.
‘Dad’s back for good this time,’ Morven said.
After Nate’s previous visit, he’d gone back to LA, givenhis notice and packed up his life there. Grady wasn’t part of the plan any longer, much to everyone’s relief. He’d told his daughter – and Sam – that it wasn’t working out with his girlfriend and never would because anyone who wasn’t willing to accept the most important person in his life wasn’t for him.
This had raised him several notches in Lily’s estimation and must have delighted Morven.
Nate put his arm around his daughter. ‘I am and I’ve got a lot to catch up on. Morven’s told me about your offer of a bursary, Lily?’
‘Yes, and I’m so happy she’s accepted it and that she’s applying to Falmouth.’
‘It’s very generous of you,’ he said, still with his arm around Morven. ‘Isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ Morven said, shyly.
‘She’s so talented,’ Elspeth said proudly.
‘And she’ll be the pioneer for what I hope will be an annual Lily Loves student bursary,’ Lily added. ‘A real trailblazer.’
‘I always knew it!’ Elspeth declared and Nate smiled at Lily.
Morven’s cheeks went suspiciously pink. ‘Shall we go inside, Dad?’ she said, a little desperately.
‘I’ll see you in a while.’ Lily was keen for the three of them to have a private catch-up. She watched them all walk into the café and decided to leave her coffee. It was the second time that morning that she’d had to bite back tears. But that was OK. It was OK to be human, to feel happiness – the whole spectrum of emotions.
She’d finally heeded the message that she should be kinder to herself by not always trying to be perfect.
Nate and Morven emerged from the café after a while and rejoined Lily before they all headed to Stark to see Sam. Morven took the helm, guided by Nate, who knew the waters almost as well as his brother.
Sam was waiting at the jetty and Lily spotted several guests were lounging in front of their cottages or wandering along the paths.
‘We’ll have to be quiet, though,’ he said, possibly for Morven’s benefit. ‘The guests are relaxing.’
‘I still can’t believe what you’ve achieved here,’ said Nate. ‘I should have been here.’
‘I didn’t do it on my own. Aaron and the lads were incredible – and Lily, of course.’ Sam winked at her. ‘Morven’s added her own creative touch and has been helping with the changeovers when she can.’
Morven grinned. ‘I’ll be too busy when I’m at uni next year,’ she said.
‘I know I’ve been no use until now, but I’ll be here to lend a hand if I can,’ Nate said. ‘I’ve just negotiated a freelance contract with my old company in Exeter. They’re doing well and with my US experience, I can charge them more. I could invest in the retreat, if you like, but it’s your baby.’
‘It’s still ours jointly,’ Sam said, fair-minded as always.
