Page 13 of Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

‘All, done, Stella, I’ll leave you to get dressed. Don’t feel you have to rush, just when you’re ready.’

‘Thanks, Rachel, that was wonderful.’ Stella inhaled slowly, she felt so chilled she could quite happily stay there all day.

EIGHT

The metal gate gave a reluctant groan as Stella pushed it open, the soothing scent of lavender swirling in the air as the skirt of her dress brushed against the plants that lined the path to number five Magnolia Gardens; her mum’s Victorian terraced house on the other side of town.

A wood pigeon cooed from a nearby rowan tree, joining the muted rumble of a lawnmower further down the road. Uncertainty bloomed in Stella’s chest as she clicked the gate shut, wondering how the afternoon would pan out. She’d tried to imagine her mum in the company of a man since she’d first learnt of her relationship with Rhys Baker, wondering how she’d behave. It had proved a difficult image to conjure. Thus far, Stella had only ever seen her mother in the company of men whom she’d believed to be no more than friends. She’d never been introduced to the few who’d taken her mum out to dinner; they’d never lasted more than five minutes anyway, but now she was beginning to wonder if she’d been given a true picture. After all, thirty-three years was a long time not to have had a romantic relationship. But then again, Stella had countered, she couldn’t imagine herself being tied down to someone for even a fraction of that time! She and her mum were cut from the same cloth,she’d told herself, so maybe it wasn’t so unbelievable. One thing she did know for sure was, as much as she was keen to get to know the man who’d so suddenly become a feature in her mum’s life, she hoped she’d like him, for her mum’s sake more than anything else. Stella would struggle to hide her feelings if she didn’t.

She was halfway down the path, when the door was flung open, and her mother appeared, her cheeks flushed. ‘Stella!’ Alice’s shoulder-length, highlighted blonde hair had been fluffed out and she was smiling broadly. Only her blue eyes betrayed the fact that she was feeling anxious. It was an expression Stella had rarely seen from her usually self-assured mother. And if the pretty dress that flattered her trim figure and her carefully applied make-up was anything to go by, Stella could see that her mum had made an extra effort today.

‘Hi, Mum.’ Smiling, she stooped to kiss Alice’s cheek, inhaling an unfamiliar perfume. ‘Ooh, you smell nice, and you look very pretty; I’m loving that dress.’

‘Thank you, lovey.’ Alice’s hand went to the floaty fabric of her sundress, smoothing it down. ‘I spotted it in a shop window when I was in York last week; thought I’d treat myself, got some new sandals too. The perfume’s a present from Rhys.’ Stella noted the tiny quaver in her mum’s voice and how her gaze flickered momentarily away.

‘Ah, must be serious if he’s buying you perfume,’ Stella said, teasing gently.

‘Oh, I don’t know about that, it was just a gift.’ Brushing away the comment, Alice gave her daughter’s arm a squeeze, the colour in her cheeks deepening. ‘Thank you for coming, we’re just in the garden. Rhys thought with it being such a lovely day, we could have a barbecue; better than sweltering away indoors over a roast dinner.’

‘Mmm. Couldn’t agree more.’ Stella pushed her sunglasses up onto her head and followed her mum down the neat, high-ceilinged hall, the delicious aroma of a barbecue floating down to greet them.

‘Can I give you these, Mum?’ She fished the bottle of white wine, encased in a padded cooler, and box of chocolates from the leather tote bag she’d had slung over her shoulder. ‘The wine should still be chilled but I’m not so sure about the chocolates. I reckon they’ve probably melted in this heat. Sorry.’ She pulled an apologetic face as she handed them over.

‘Ooh, thank you, lovey, I’m sure they’ll be fine, but you really needn’t have bothered.’ An air of distraction hung around Alice, a nervous smile hovering over her mouth as she set the gifts down on the table. ‘Rhys is outside, come on, let me introduce you to him.’ She paused, fixing Stella with a pointed look. ‘And please give him a chance, no courtroom cross-examinations, okay?’ she said reprovingly, her voice low. ‘He’s nice. I like him and I don’t want you to scare him off.’

Stella raised her palms. ‘As if I would. I’ll be sweetness itself.’ She grinned, resisting the urge to say that if he genuinely liked her, he should be able to withstand a little close questioning. Though Stella had already made a mental note to keep the tone of her enquiries gentle, there was no way she wasn’t going to take the opportunity to do a little fishing, due diligence and all that. It was her mum’s heart they were dealing with here, and Stella needed to be sure it wasn’t going to get broken, needed to satisfy herself that Rhys’s intentions were nothing less than honourable and that he was worthy of her lovely mum.

‘Hmm.’ Alice regarded her, a hint of doubt in her eyes. ‘Just make sure you are.’

After Alice had first announced the news of her fledgeling relationship with Rhys, Stella had embarked on a round of subtle questioning in which her mum had revealed that, not onlywas Rhys eight years her senior, but he was also a widower with two grown-up children – a daughter and a son – and a doting grandfather to two little girls. He was comfortably off – ‘So he’s not after my money, before you head off down that route,’ Alice had said, giving her daughter a knowing look – and ran his own business as a financial advisor – that part had set alarm bells ringing, though Stella had done all she could to hide the fact from her mother – and had moved to the area six months earlier. The details had been basic, barely fleshed out at all, but, most importantly, this Rhys Baker appeared to be making her mum happy, so Stella hadn’t pushed any further.

But today, seeing her mum like this, she found herself hoping he wasn’t going to let her down.

Stepping out into the sun-filled garden, Stella took in the thoughtfully set table with its striped, waxed tablecloth and matching linen napkins, a jug of colourful flowers from the garden placed in the centre. Her eyes went to a tall man, with swept back salt-and-pepper hair who was tending the barbecue. His attire was smart but casual, the quality of their cut lending him a well-groomed air.

Shielding her eyes with her hand, Alice said, ‘Rhys, I’d like to introduce my daughter, Stella.’ She followed up with a smile, her body language revealing how nervous she felt. She and Stella negotiated the sandstone steps down to the garden, classical music murmuring softly from the speakers on the window ledge.

‘Hello there, Stella, it’s delightful to finally meet you.’ Rhys set down the tongs he was holding and headed over to her, his hand outstretched, his fresh, citrussy cologne wafting under her nostrils. His warm smile set wrinkles fanning out at the corners of a pair of kind, brown eyes. ‘Your mother has told me so much about you.’

‘Hello, Rhys.’ Stella resisted the urge to say she wished she could say the same about him, her mum having furnished herwith only the scantest of details, and that was only because Stella had pushed, albeit gently. ‘It’s lovely to meet you too. I hope my mum hasn’t told you anything scary.’ Returning his smile, she took his hand, noting the strong, but not overpowering, grip and spotting the expensive watch at his wrist.

‘On the contrary, I’ve heard nothing but good things. Your mother’s very proud of you.’ His smile deepened.

‘Phew! That’s a relief,’ Stella said jokingly. She stole a quick glance across at her mum, noting the smile she was sharing with Rhys. It triggered a squeeze of affection in Stella’s heart.

‘Thought it best to save stories of your teenage years until you know each other a little better,’ Alice said with a chuckle.

Stella pulled a face of mock horror. ‘Quite right too. I can’t deny, I had my moments. Don’t think Rhys is quite ready to hear them yet.’ Her mum didn’t know the half of it, sneaking out of her bedroom window at night and meeting up with boyfriends. As for university, Stella would be the first to admit she’d been pretty wild. But, despite this party-loving side to her, she’d always managed to buckle down and take her studies seriously.

‘Don’t worry, I think I’m pretty unshockable after what my two put me through.’ Rhys gave an affectionate shake of his head. ‘I can laugh about it now, though at the time, I have to admit, it was pretty challenging.’

‘S’good to know I’m not alone,’ Stella said with a smile.

‘And, rebellious streaks aside, have you had a good day so far? Your mum tells me you go for a run on the beach every Saturday and Sunday morning. I have to say I’m full of admiration for you. I stick to the solid pavements of the top prom; so much easier, and which probably explains why our paths have never crossed.’

‘Oh, I think I’m just a glutton for punishment.’ She laughed. ‘And nothing beats running by the sea, the breeze coming off itis so refreshing on days like these, not so much in the winter though, it can be pretty bracing then.’

‘I can believe that,’ he said, giving a hearty laugh.

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