Page 45 of Strictly Friends
Ruby started as Kenny’s voice snapped her out of her reverie. They had walked to the marina café from his office and were seated at a table, waiting for Jake to work his way through a double-scoop chocolate ice-cream.
‘I think they’re worth considerably more than that,’ Ruby said with a tight smile. ‘Sorry, I got a bit lost in my head... there’s a lot going on.’
‘Anything I can help with?’
She hesitated. ‘Actually, I’m glad you asked because we need to talk properly. We have to go back to London soon and—’
‘Mum,no!’ Jake howled in protest.
‘We can’t stay here for ever, Jake,’ said Ruby. ‘I have to get back to work, and you need to be in school.’
‘But I’m doing my classwork every morning,’ he pleaded. ‘Please, Mum, can’t we stay here longer?’
‘We’re not leaving tomorrow, so calm down. Jake, you’ve always known we were only coming for a visit. We’ve been here for a while and Auntie Fi needs me back at work – and don’t forget Grandma Pearl is all on her own,’ she added, shamelessly pulling the granny card.
Kenny cleared his throat, and Jake turned to him hopefully. ‘I’m very happy you came here to see me, son, but your mum’s right. School is important, and now you know where I am, you can always come back for a visit.’
Crestfallen at his father’s lack of support, Jake returned his attention to his ice-cream while Ruby gave Kenny a grateful smile. When he unexpectedly returned it with a conspiratorial wink, she couldn’t help the giggle that escaped.
‘What are you two planning for this afternoon, then?’ She broke off a piece of the spiced bun Kenny had ordered for her and popped it into her mouth.
‘Sam should be back by now, so I’ll take Jake out on the motorboat. My boy loves the water and it’s a fantastic way to see the island.’
‘You okay with that, buddy?’ Despite her own reservations about sailing, Ruby had no wish to project her fears on to him.
‘’Course I am, Mum. I’m not a baby!’
There was no evidence of anxiety in Jake’s indignant expression and Ruby relaxed, marvelling once again at how much Jake’s confidence had grown since their arrival.
Kenny leaned forward to dab a lone raisin sitting on her plate with his finger and her pulse quickened at the oddly intimate gesture. His arm brushed against hers and, caught unawares by the unexpected touch of his bare skin against her own, she felt a shiver run through her. For a moment she stared, mesmerised, as he licked the raisin off his finger, and then scolded herself sternly as she fought to regain her equilibrium.Don’t get sucked in!
‘So, what do you say, Rubes? You sure you don’t want to come with us? It’ll be fun, and I promise I won’t let you drown,’ Kenny teased, his dark eyes alight with mischief.
‘I do know how to swim, thank you very much!’
‘You do indeed,’ he murmured. ‘I always used to love watching you in action.’
She looked at him askance, and he guffawed with laughter. ‘Damn, Rubes, if looks could kill!’
Her lips twitched and then, despite herself, she found herself laughing with him. For just an instant time stood still and the past six years melted away. Kenny’s cheeky sense of humour was another thing that had attracted her to him, and it felt good to let go and relax into the moment.
Leaving the café, they returned to Kenny’s office and Ruby perched on the corner of his desk while Kenny knelt to fit Jake’slife vest. Tugging the jacket to check it was secure, Kenny stood up and looked enquiringly at Ruby.
‘Any plans while we’re out?’
She tilted her head quizzically. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Just wondered, that’s all.’ He stared at the toes of his shoes with a hangdog expression so much like Jake’s that Ruby bit her lip to hide her amusement.
‘I’ll be fine. I want to take pictures of the marina. This place is stunning, and I’d love to capture some images of the boats in the sunshine under that incredibly blue sky.’
Tugging his father’s hand, an excited Jake led the way out, and Ruby leaned against a concrete post to watch as they headed down the walkway to where the motorboat was moored. While Kenny helped Jake aboard, Ruby removed the cap from her camera and then snapped a few shots of her son at the wheel while Kenny, his arm cradling Jake protectively, checked the instrument panel.
When Kenny unhooked the mooring chain, seeing their faces looking so alike and alight with laughter, Ruby couldn’t help smiling. Neither could she resist raising the camera and zooming in to Kenny’s face as he held on to Jake before starting the engine.What if we could be a family again?If MissIda was right and Kenny hadn’t moved on, was a reconciliation for the sake of their son so impossible?
Watching the motorboat power away over the foam-flecked waters, Ruby slowly lowered the camera and gave herself a mental shake for thinking the unthinkable. Sorrel Island was wearing down her defences and her judgement, she thought sombrely. For more reasons than one, it was time to return home.
32
