Page 53 of Second Chance Summer
‘Know what you need, mate? You need a break. A bunch of us are meeting up at the Rock Inn after rowing practice tomorrow. You should come.’
‘If only … I’m on host duties.’
‘For this woman who was in the papers? The dead one,’ Aaron chortled. ‘She can manage alone on the island for one evening, can’t she?’
‘Hmm …’
‘Or you could invite her along?’
Sam laughed out loud, drawing raised eyebrows from his friend who remarked: ‘What’s up? Not her scene?’
‘I doubt it. I don’t know … I really can’t leave a guest on her own.’ He thought of Lily’s encounter with the ‘shadow’. Though it was tempting to dismiss it – whatever it was – as her being understandably on edge, Sam wasn’t going to fall into that trap. Lily didn’t strike him as the sort of person to mistake the evidence of her own eyes, and it was – just about – possible that someone had landed on Stark without his knowledge.
‘She’s had a crap time lately and, between you and me, that kayaking incident was a far closer shave than is being made out.’
‘Really?’
‘Yep. Don’t let on to anyone because there’s been enough drama around it but I thought we were both goners.’
Sam relayed the details of the accident to Aaron, who blew out a long breath.
‘Jesus, I’d no idea it was that close.’
‘It was, and it was Lily’s decision to play it down in public. She doesn’t need any more press attention and, if I’m being honest, I don’t need the retreat to acquire a bad reputation. Not now it’s almost up and running.’
‘That sounds positive. How’s it going?’
‘Cottage two is virtually ready, bar a bit of decorating.’ Sam held back the fact that Lily had offered to help with that. ‘Cottages three and four are watertight and need more work inside.’
‘Hmm. Do you want me to come and lend a hand? Help you with the heavy work, do some painting?’
‘You must be too busy.’
Aaron grinned. ‘Always, but I can spare the time especially on these light nights. I haven’t forgotten how you helped me out in that storm. Me and the kids would have been sleeping under the stars if you hadn’t spent days rebuilding the place with me.’
‘You don’t owe me anything,’ Sam insisted.
‘I know that, but I want to help. I might round up a couple of the crew too. Danny the decorator owes me a big favour.’
He slapped Sam’s back, causing his Coke to spill over the table and make it even stickier. ‘Come to the Rock. Bring this Lily. I’m sure we can handle her. The question is, can she handleus?’
‘Believe me, Lily could handle anyone,’ Sam said, feeling a smile creeping onto his lips.
Aaron’s eyes widened. ‘Oh, really? Impressed you, has she? She sounds like quite a woman. I haven’t seen you take an interest in the female species since Rhiannon.’
‘Lily’s a guest,’ Sam countered, alarmed that he’d revealed too much. ‘It’s my job to take an interest.’
Too late. Aaron had scented blood. ‘Whatever you say, mate,’ he said, picking up his glass with a knowing smirk. ‘Whatever you say.’
After lunch, Sam zoomed back to Bryher and drove to Hell Bay House where he’d arranged to FaceTime Nate.
Ten minutes into the conversation, he was ready to hurl the laptop across the room. It was early-morning in California, mid-afternoon at Hell Bay House. Nate was sitting by the pool in a pink shirt, his Aviators pushed back on his gelled hair, an espresso cup on the table. They’d waited until Morven was out visiting friends so they could have a frank conversation.
‘Nate, if you are going to take this new contract, you need to decide ASAP. Morven needs you. You can’t leave her in permanent limbo. It’s bad for her self-esteem, and it’s affecting her mental health.’
‘Don’t I bloody know that! She won’t even talk to me,’ his brother complained.
‘Only because she feels that you won’t listen to her and don’t care!’
