Page 92 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
He laughed, pulling a tissue from his pocket to wipe it clean. “There you go.” He bent to drop a kiss on the top of her head. “Good girl.”
Tea and biscuits finished, they all strolled out to look round the garden, admiring Martin Brayley’s immaculate flowerbeds. Then they walked down to the small park beside the river to feed the ducks and for Robyn to play on the slide and the swings.
“Ah, bless her.” Sylvia smiled fondly as she watched the little girl swoop backwards and forwards, squealing with excitement, begging her grandfather to push her higher. “Thank you for bringing her over. It means so much to her granddad to see her.”
Liam smiled to himself. What she really meant was that it meant so much to her, too.
“Sometimes it seems like it was only yesterday that Natalie was here, playing on those swings with her daddy.” Fumbling in her pocket for a tissue, she dabbed at her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m being stupid. I don’t mean to cry.”
“No, no. It isn’t stupid at all,” Liam assured her gently. “It isn’t something you ever really get over. I still cry myself sometimes.”
She dabbed at her eyes again, watching as Robyn jumped from the swing and ran over to the slide.
“Look at me, Granma.” The child waved, full of excitement. “I’m going down the slide!”
“She’s growing so fast,” Sylvia sighed. “And she’s adjusted so well. You’ve been such a good daddy to her. But I suppose . . . No, no.” She shook her head. “It’s none of my business.”
“What is it?” he asked, smiling down at her.
“It’s just . . . I suppose one day . . . You’re still a young man. I suppose one day you’re likely to think about getting married again.”
Oh lord.His breath seemed to have locked in his chest. “I don’t think so,” he managed.
She glanced up at him, her mouth a little crooked. “You don’t have to say that just so as not to upset me. I’d understand. It’s just . . . You would still bring her to visit us, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course.”
Robyn was zooming down the slide and Martin caught her at the bottom, swung her up in the air then set her on her feet to race round for another go. Liam felt a knife twisting in his gut. Any lingering thoughts he might have had of flying off to Australia with Cassie really were out of the question.
“Oh, take no notice of me.” Sylvia smiled resolutely and tucked the tissue back in her pocket. “I’m just being a silly old thing. I know you’ll always do what’s right for her.”
They strolled back from the park, Robyn between her two grandparents, holding both their hands. After lunch they had a very noisy game of Snap and then settled down to watch CBeebies, Robyn snuggled on the sofa between them.
They stayed to tea, then drove home. It had started to rain quite heavily, and Robyn dozed off when they were halfway home. She woke as he parked the car beside the garages, and they laughed as they splashed together across the yard and into the kitchen. His mother glanced round with a smile as they came into the house.
“Hi. Did you have a nice time?” she asked Robyn.
The child nodded vigorously. “I went on the swings and the slide. Can I have cola please?”
“Of course, sweetie.” She opened the fridge and pulled out a can. “Here. What do you say?”
“Thank you, Nanma. Can I watch KrazyKat?”
“Yes, sweetie. Ask Gramps to put the DVD on for you.” As the child scampered away she arched an eyebrow at Liam. “How was it?” The note of restrained sympathy in her voice reminded him that she knew it was likely to have been difficult.
He shrugged and went over to the coffee maker in the corner, and poured himself a mug. “Much as always. They’re a really nice couple. It must be so hard for them.” He sipped the coffee. “She was talking about . . . would I still take Robyn to visit if I ever got married again.”
“Oh?” An arch of an enquiring eyebrow. “Is that on the cards?”
He shook his head decisively. “No. Not for the foreseeable future. Maybe never. ”
“And Cassie?”
There was a teaspoon on the counter beside him. He picked it up and absently stirred his coffee with it. “What about her?”
“Julia said you were dancing with her out on the terrace last night. And you didn’t come home until this morning.”
“I’m an adult, Mum. I can stay out all night if I want to.”
