Page 70 of Second Chance Summer
Sam exchanged a pained glance with Lily, who felt rather sorry for Morven, being summoned like a kitchen maid, even if Elspeth meant well.
In the end, Morven relented enough to try a portion of chicken with two helpings of potatoes and then push a spear of tenderstem broccoli round her plate.
Sam was on his second portion of everything. ‘This is delicious, Auntie Elspeth.’
‘Lily did a lot of it – and can you please stop calling me Auntie? It makes me feel old.’
‘Youareold, though, Auntie Elspeth.’
Lily stifled a gasp.
‘No need for that, Morven!’ Sam said.
‘Well, actually, she’s right. Sixty-seven must seem old to a seventeen year old.’
‘I didn’t mean to be rude,’ Morven protested and, for once, Lily believed her.
She gave her a sympathetic look but Morven ignored it.
‘Is there any pudding?’ she muttered.
‘Yes, Lily’s made an Eton Mess.’
‘Hmmph … Can I take mine upstairs?’
‘Not yet, if you don’t mind. Let’s wait until everyone’s finished.’
Morven stabbed at her broccoli. ‘I wonder what the ghosts on Stark are having,’ she murmured with a sly grin.
‘Morven …’ Sam warned.
‘Spook-hetti, I should think,’ Lily said, cutting up a potato. ‘Followed by I Scream.’
Elspeth giggled and Sam grinned.
Morven stared at her. ‘That’s so lame.’
‘My nieces told me the jokes. They love ghosts. Maybe they’ll see one when they visit next weekend.’
Morven’s jaw dropped. ‘Your nieces? They’re coming here too?’
‘Lily’s family are coming to stay,’ Sam said, a core of steel in his voice. ‘Her brother-in-law and his little girls.’
‘B–but where are they going to sleep?’ Morven stammered. ‘Not here! There’s not room.’
‘On Stark. Samphire is ready now, thanks to Lily’s help, and Aaron and the gang are coming over to help me finish Starfish.’
‘You’vebeen building?’ Morven made no attempt to hide her incredulity as she stared at Lily.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Elspeth, knife and fork poised, ready to jump in and tell off Morven for her rudeness. But Lily could fight her own battles.
‘I wouldn’t say building, but I have been doing some painting and styling. I enjoy turning my hand to all kinds of creative stuff, much like you do.’
Morven opened her mouth and shut it before attacking her broccoli spear as if it might leap up and stab her.
After the main course, she scuttled upstairs with her Eton Mess. Clearly her dislike of Lily was trumped by her love of desserts.
Lily was too full to eat any pudding. Sam, however, demolished a large bowlful and Elspeth declared it ‘smashing’.
