Page 31 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
“You promised,” the child reminded her, her huge blue eyes wide open and appealing.
Cassie laughed — could anyone resist? “So I did.”
“She made me bring the pens in case you were here. Julia has them. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not. I’m not nearly as good an artist as the one who did mine, but I can probably make a decent effort. I can do it while I’m watching the cricket. They are wash-off pens?”
“Of course.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “When you have kids in the house, it’s wash-off pens only. Otherwise all your walls, doors and anything else they can reach would be covered in three-legged ducks and green cows.”
Cassie laughed again, though she could still feel the tension in her shoulders. “Okay. Well, we’re sitting over there. I just need to take my grandmother her tea.”
One dark eyebrow arched in question. “So she got her way?”
“Of course — doesn’t she always? You don’t argue with Nanna.” Her voice was laced with dry humour. “You’re playing today?”
“Yes, I’m second bat, with my brother. You remember Luke?”
“Of course. Hello Luke.”
She smiled up at the man standing behind him. There was a striking family likeness between the two. She knew that Luke was three years older, but Liam was slightly the taller, and a little wider in the shoulder. They both had dark curly hair — Liam wore his a little longer — but they had the same hard-boned, sculpted features and deep-set dark eyes.
“And Mrs Ellis.” She recognised his mother at once. “How do you do?”
“Oh, make it Diane, please.” The older woman smiled warmly . . . to Cassie’s relief. If she had any lingering reservations because of Cassie’s behaviour towards her son ten years ago, she had apparently set them aside. “I don’t think you’ve met my daughter-in-law, Julia.”
Ah, Luke’s wife, an attractive young woman with long, curly hair the colour of autumn leaves. Her smile was as warm as her mother-in-law’s. “Hello, nice to meet you.”
“And this is Ben, my grandson.”
“Hello, Ben.” Cassie smiled at the child, dark-haired like his dad, maybe a couple of years older than Robyn.
“Can I have a tattoo too?” Ben pleaded.
Cassie flicked a questioning glance at the red-haired woman. “Well, if your mother says it’s kay.”
Julia laughed. “I have to say yes, or there’ll be jealousy. That’s if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. Though I bet you don’t want a flower?” she added to the little boy.
“No.” He put on a fierce face. “I want a shark. With great big teeth.”
“Oh . . . right . . .”
His mum shrugged her shoulders. “He can have whatever he likes. It’ll wash off before he goes back to school.”
“Okay. Well, let me just take Nanna’s tea to her, then I can do them while I watch the match.”
The game was about to start. Lisa and Ollie were setting up the scoreboard beside the pavilion, while Cassie’s mum had settled on a blanket on the ground, with baby Kyra in her infant carrier. Vicky was sitting with them, along with little Amy. Noah and Ben had gone off to play with their friends in a corner of the field.
“Hi. Is there room for a couple more there?”
“Oh, hi, Julia.” Cassie’s mum patted the blanket beside her. “Of course, come and sit down.”
Little Robyn scrambled into Cassie’s lap. “Will you do my tappoo now?” she pleaded excitedly. “I want one just like yours.”
Julia smiled and reached into her bag for the pens, and handed them over. “Sorry — she won’t rest until she gets it done.”
“That’s okay. Do you want the same colours?” she asked the child.
