Page 46 of Cupcakes and Kisses in Micklewick Bay

Her dad pulled his gaze away from setting out the barbecue utensils. ‘Ey up, who’ve we got here, then?’

‘Mummy’s got a new friend,’ announced Chloe.

‘Has she now?’ said Heather.

‘And he’s got a dog called Ernest.’ Chloe treated Ernest to a scratch between his ears.

‘Mum, Dad, I’ve got a surprise for you,’ said Jasmine.

‘You do?’ Heather said, confusion clearly putting her at a loss for words. She set the plate down on the food preparation table next to Steve.

Jasmine couldn’t help but laugh. They were completely thrown by the concept of her bringing a man to their home, but, she supposed, it had been a while.

‘You remember little Max Grainger, don’t you?’ she said.

Heather glanced from Jasmine to Max, then to her husband, before settling on Jasmine again. ‘Aye, course I do. Why?’

Jasmine stood aside. ‘Max is here, Mum. This is Max. He’s moved back to Micklewick Bay. He’s Connor’s dad.’

‘Hi, Auntie Heather, Uncle Steve.’ Max gave an apprehensive smile. ‘It’s good to see you. I hope you don’t mind us gate-crashing your barbecue.’

The uncertainty in his voice tugged at Jasmine’s heartstrings. She watched as her parents’ expressions morphed from utter shock to unbridled delight as this new set of circumstances sank in.

‘Well, I never,’ said Steve, dropping his barbecue tongs.

‘Max? Little Max Grainger? Oh, my goodness! I can’t believe it!’ Heather clapped her hands to her face. ‘Oh, lovey, come here.’

She hurried over to Max, sweeping him into her embrace, kissing his cheek, just as she’d done when he was a small boy, tears trickling down her face. ‘What a wonderful surprise! It’s so fantastic to see you, my love.’ Keen to be part of the welcome, Ernest nudged at her legs, his tail swishing from side to side.

The three children looked on, giggling before turning their attention to the small paddling pool Steve had filled earlier for them to have a splash about if they got too hot.

Max dropped Ernest’s lead and returned Heather’s hugs with equal warmth, bending to wrap his arms around her. ‘It’s so good to see you, Auntie Heather. I’ve been wanting to come and see you for a long time.’ His voice cracked. ‘I wanted to thank you and Uncle Steve for always being so kind to me.’ Ernest trotted over to the children, jumping straight into the paddling pool and making them hoot with laughter.

‘Get away with you, there’s no need to thank us, but it isn’t half grand to see you, sweetheart. Now, let me look at you.’ She took a step back, taking his hands in hers as she surveyed him. ‘My goodness, it’s hard to believe you’ve grown so tall, you were always such a little scrap of a lad. And I’d recognise those twinkly eyes anywhere. Steve, see what a fine-looking young man our little Max has grown into.’

‘Max, welcome back.’ From the way her dad was beaming, anyone would be forgiven for thinking he’d won the lottery. ‘By ’eck, it isn’t half good to see you, lad. You’ve made our bloomin’day.’ Steve hugged him close, patting him soundly on the back, his eyes dancing with happiness.

Jasmine looked on. It was a scene she never thought she’d ever witness: Max Grainger returning to her parents’ home, all grown up with no trace of the skinny little boy he used to be. Both she and her parents had assumed they’d never see Max again, that he’d be swallowed up by a new life, with new friends over in Harrogate, and forget all about them. Their greatest wish for him was that he would be happy and feel settled with his grandfather. It felt good to know that had evidently been the case.

‘It’ll be just like old days,’ said Heather, through happy tears. ‘You always used to love it when your Uncle Steve got the barbecue going.’

‘I remember.’ Max smiled fondly at her, his eyes damp. ‘All of my happy memories as a child are of being here, with all of you, and hanging around with Jingilby.’

‘Oh, aye, I remember that nickname you had for our Jasmine.’ Steve chuckled. ‘She used to go mad if anyone else ever dared use it. “Only Max is allowed to call me that,” she’d say.’

‘Really?’ Max said. ‘I had no idea.’ He looked over at Jasmine.

‘Oh, aye, your Uncle Steve’s right. The pair of you were very close. We always used to say there was a special bond between you.’ Heather reached for the nearby kitchen roll, pulled off a square and dabbed at her eyes.

Thanks for that, Mum and Dad!Jasmine hoped Max wouldn’t notice her blushes, but judging by the way he was scrutinising her, she suspected the chance of that was slim. She was relieved when her mum spoke.

‘Right, we have a load of catching up to do, so I suggest you get yourself comfy, lovey. Our Jasmine can fetch you a drink and then you can tell us all about what you’ve been doing right fromwhen you left here that day, sobbing your little heart out, up to the day you moved back to Micklewick Bay.’

‘Aye, I reckon the food can wait a bit longer, while we give Max our full attention. I’ll pacify the kids with an ice pop each,’ said Steve, before heading in the direction of the kitchen.

Sitting in the shade, a glass of shandy in his hand, Max’s chest expanded as he drew in a deep breath. Jasmine and her parents looked on. She felt a thrum of anxiety reverberating around her, preparing herself for what she was about to hear. She’d always hoped Max’s new life had been a happy one, that the hard times he’d been through had been left behind in Micklewick Bay. She really hoped she wasn’t going to hear something to the contrary.

TWENTY-TWO

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