Page 34 of Second Chance Summer
CHAPTER TWELVE
Lily prepared the goat’s cheese salad while Sam whisked up eggs, spinach and potatoes for the Spanish tortilla that was to be their ad hoc main.
‘This is fun,’ she said, placing the rinsed leaves on a plate. Fun was something she hadn’t had in a long time and, after their earlier experience, she desperately needed a distraction.
Sam handed her a glass of white wine. ‘Chef’s perks,’ he said, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
‘I’m not sure if making a salad counts as proper cooking, although I can’t remember the last time I made one for myself.’
‘It definitely counts. As you’ve probably gathered, I’m hardly a professional chef.’
‘You’ve done all right so far.’ Lily nodded at the new kitchen. Although bijou, its stainless-steel surfaces gleamed.
‘When I’m catering for one, I enjoy cooking. I’ve looked after myself for years. I’m not sure Morven always appreciates my food, though.’
Lily placed sliced roundels of crumbly goat’s cheese on the salad. Their shared experience made her feel more confident about asking him personal questions: ‘Does she live with you?’
‘Yes, since her dad left.’ He sighed. ‘My brother Nate got a job as a games designer in LA. It was meant to be a six-month contract, his big break and a lot of money. He was going to come home afterwards and buy a place in the UK. Or, if things were going exceptionally well, establish himself out there and Morven was going to join him.’
Intrigued, Lily carried on drizzling balsamic vinegar on the salad.
‘And I’m guessing that hasn’t happened?’ she said casually, scattering chopped walnuts on top.
‘That was eighteen months ago. Nate finished the contract then was offered another six months. He also moved in with a woman he met at work.’
Lily picked up the plates. ‘And there isn’t room for Morven?’
With a pained expression, Sam opened the door to the dining room to let her through. ‘Apparently not.’
They sat at the table. ‘That’s rough on Morven,’ she replied, understanding now why the teenager might be feeling pretty pissed off.
‘It is. She’s confused, upset … rejected.’
‘I bet.’
‘She also loathed my brother’s new girlfriend, Grady, on sight.’
‘They’ve met?’ Lily said in surprise.
‘Only over FaceTime. That was enough.’
‘So, Morven’s with you for the time being?’
‘Yes. She doesn’t want to live with me and she doesn’t want to live with Grady. I’m afraid Morven’s mum, Holly,didn’t feel able to care for her. She and Nate had a fling when she was over here for a holiday. She married young and then fell pregnant with Morven. Her husband refused to bring up another man’s child and issued her an ultimatum so Holly decided Morven was best off staying with Nate.’
Unlike Sam himself, Lily thought, whowasbringing up another man’s child, even though the circumstances were very different. ‘That must have been incredibly hard for her,’ Lily said, trying to imagine having to give up your baby. ‘And no wonder Morven feels confused and rejected …’ Lily found her heart thawing towards the girl. ‘What does she want?’
‘If I knew that, I’d be able to predict the Lottery numbers.’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know because Morven doesn’t know.’
They continued the meal for a while, talking about the food, where the cheese and leaves had come from.
‘It’s Morven who created the artwork in your cottage, you know,’ Sam said.
Lily thought back to the evocative collages of Scilly that hung in her room. They were original and haunting.
‘They’re all her work?’ she asked, rethinking her initial assessment of the truculent teenager.
‘All her own. She loves art. Mixed media is her big thing. She’s just finished her A-level Art course and she’s on track for a top grade.’
