Page 18 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
“It’s lovely to see you too.” Debbie beamed with delight. She had always tended to be rather shy and subdued, but now she positively glowed. And the neat little diamond engagement ring on her left hand, glinting in the sun, was the reason why. “I heard you were back. Gosh, you’re so brown!”
Cassie laughed. “Lots of good New Zealand sunshine. And you’re getting married in . . . what, three weeks?”
“That’s right.” Her eyes danced with happiness. “You’re coming?”
“Oh, I’d love to!”
“Of course you must.”
Amy darted over to hug her mother’s legs. “Mummy, we went in the sea and we raced, and I won!”
“Well done, sweetheart.” Debbie stroked a gentle hand over her daughter’s dark hair. “We’re quiet in the café at the moment, so I brought some cupcakes down, if anyone wants one?”
That announcement met with instant approval. The box was ice-cream pink to match the colour the café was painted, the name CupCake Café spelled out in blue, and with three cartoon cupcakes dancing along beside the words.
Inside were six iced cupcakes. Wide-eyed, the children each solemnly selected their favourite colours, remembering to say, “Thank you.”
Debbie sat down on the picnic blanket and handed round the remaining cakes to the grown-ups. “How long are you staying?” she asked Cassie.
“I . . . um . . . I’m not sure yet.” Always that same question, and she still wasn’t sure how to answer it. Especially with Liam sitting just a few feet behind her.
“And how’s your grandmother?”
“Well, she’s home — she didn’t want to stay in the hospital any longer. But Ollie thinks it could be any time.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. But she’ll be better off at home, if that’s what she wants.”
“That’s what Ollie said.”
“Oh . . .” Debbie’s phone was buzzing, and she pulled it from her pocket. Her face paled as she glanced at the screen.
“Alan?” Lisa asked quietly.
Debbie nodded, her happy smile gone as she opened the call. “No, we’re down on the beach, with Lisa and Cassie Channing . . . He’s up at the farm . . . Why are you doing this, Alan?” Her voice cracked. “You were never that bothered about her before.”
“Causing hassle for her, as usual,” Lisa explained softly to Cassie. “He doesn’t like it that she’s getting married again, that she’s going to be happy without him. So he’s trying to stop her by threatening to go for custody of Amy.”
“That’s ridiculous . . .”
Liam had heard, and his mouth thinned. He held out his hand to Debbie, gesturing for her to give him the phone.
“Gowan? This is Liam Ellis. Yes, Ellis. Mrs Ellis is my mum. Remember that lurcher pup you took into her surgery a couple of months ago?” Hobo lifted his head, as if some canine instincthad told him he was being talked about. “Mum remembers. Running with fleas and badly undernourished, and with a nasty injury to his leg which should have been treated weeks sooner?”
Liam’s voice held a barely restrained anger.
“She remembers how you slammed out of the surgery, refusing to pay for the treatment. You were lucky the RSPCA decided not to prosecute, but only because you signed the poor thing over to her. She’d have been happy to see you in court. And she’d be happy to see you in court now if you don’t leave Debbie alone.”
If Debbie’s ex-husband was trying to argue, Liam wasn’t giving him the chance to get a word in edgeways.
“Do you seriously think any judge is going to let you have custody of a five-year-old child if you can’t even look after a puppy properly?” A brief pause. “Yes, I suggest you do that. And if any of us hear that you’ve been hassling Debbie, you’re likely to find you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Goodbye.”
Debbie’s eyes were wide as he cut the call and handed the phone back to her with a grin.
“He’s reconsidered.”
“Thank you.” She laughed, half in disbelief. “Wow! I didn’t really think he could get custody, that he was just trying to stir up trouble. But I was afraid Bill would get drawn into it, and . . . well . . .”
Liam gave her a quick hug. “Don’t you worry about it. All your friends have got your back. Just enjoy getting ready for your wedding.”
