Page 54 of Second Chance Summer
‘That’s out of order, Sam! Of course I care. I love her. She ismydaughter after all.’
‘Then start bloody acting like a father to her!’
Nate’s eyes narrowed and his lip curled. Sam knew he’d hit the rawest of nerves.
‘I’ll let you – and my daughter – have my decision as soon as I possibly can, but it’s not as simple as you might think, from your cosy little backwater. What I decide affects more than just my future. Be glad you’ve only yourself to think about.’
‘Oh, yeah, I have no worries whatsoever!’ Sam snapped.
‘Maybe,’ Nate said smoothly, ‘it would be better if you had someone special in your own life so you understood the pressure I’m under. I have to think about Grady’s needs too, you know, as well as Morven’s.’
Sam exploded. ‘How the hell would I be able to have “someone special” in my life, Nate, when I’m already juggling a business and your daughter?’
‘Hey! Calm down! I didn’t mean to touch a raw nerve. I know Rhiannon hurt you badly. But she’s gone, Sam. Accept it. You need to move on and find someone new.’
With great difficulty, he reined in his temper. ‘I’ve work to do. I can’t waste time sitting in the sun drinking coffee. Just make your mind up about Morven before it’s too late.’
He ended the call, sitting back in his office chair in frustration. Perhaps he’d gone too far in implying Nate didn’t care about Morven, but drastic action was required. Sheneeded her dad – and if Nate wasn’t coming back, God forbid, she needed to know so she could try to come to terms with it.
Sam also needed to come to terms with stepping in as her parent, if that’s what had to happen. He couldn’t keep leaving her with Elspeth, or making sure she was staying with trusted friends, as he’d had to over the past few weeks while he was working on the retreat. He hadn’t spent a night at home since Lily had arrived.
‘Was that Dad?’
Morven stood in the open French doors, her arms folded. He hadn’t seen her come in. That girl was like a ghost, and she had superhuman hearing. What had she heard?
‘Yes, it was.’
‘I don’t suppose he’s coming home?’
‘He’s making a decision very soon.’
She smirked. ‘’Course he is.’
‘He knows how important it is for you to be together. How importantyouare.’
‘Did he say that?’
Sam hesitated and decided to be honest. ‘He reminded me that he’s your father, not me.’
Perhaps thrown for a moment, Morven shook her head. ‘He needs to remind himself.’
Sam almost didn’t recognise Lily when he met her at theHydraa little while later.
She was dressed in cargo pants and a hoodie, with a bucket hat on her head.
‘Hello!’ she said, lifting up two carrier bags. ‘I’ve been shopping!’
‘I can see that,’ he said, amused to see her in casual mode.
Her eyes were bright with excitement and seeing her so bubbly gave Sam an equal buzz. Along with his pleasure at seeing her smile, he also realised that he cared about her welfare perhaps more than he ought to, considering she was a guest.
On the way to Stark, she filled him in on her trip to the Scilly capital.
‘It was heaving. The boat over from Bryher was packed and that big boat was in port – theScillonian. Half the passengers must have been milling around the streets.’
‘Some of them come for the day or hang around in town until they can get into their accommodation,’ he replied, amused to be seeing the little town through fresh eyes.
‘I managed to get a table outside a café at the back of the beach. Their salted caramel brownies are almost as good as Elspeth’s.AndI found a place selling books.’ She showed him a bag from the Bourdeaux gift shop. ‘It’s been so long since I made time to read a novel. Though maybe I shouldn’t have chosen a crime thriller set on Scilly! Can you believe this one’s calledHell Bay?’
