Page 84 of Coming Home to Sturcombe Bay
Cassie turned to her, laughing. “Never mind, you can—” Something hit her in the chest. Instinctively she put up her hands, and found herself clutching the bridal bouquet.
As a cheer rose up, she felt her cheeks flame scarlet. Unfortunately, the stone terrace wasn’t going to open up beneath her feet, so she could only smile as if she was sharing the joke. She knew exactly where Liam was, so she was able to avoid looking in his direction.
“Well, well!” Lisa chuckled. “That means you’re the next bride.”
“Huh!” She shook her head decisively. “Not gonna happen.”
Lisa’s eyes danced. “Never say never.”
“Huh!”
* * *
With the photographs finished, there was time to mingle on the terrace. Everyone stood sipping champagne in the late afternoon sunshine. Time for games — quoits and skittles and giant Jenga for the adults, a treasure hunt in the gardens for the children.
Liam perched on the stone balustrade, watching the fun down among the flowering shrubs and the gravel paths. Robyn had dragged Cassie in to help, and was clinging to her hand or her skirt as they followed the clues.
That was a worry. The little girl was getting very fond of her — she was going to be upset when she left. But it would only be worse if he let himself be drawn into getting closer to her himself, he reminded himself brusquely. He needed to be careful.
“She’s very attractive.”
“Huh?”
His sister-in-law was smiling at him. “Cassie Channing. Not exactly beautiful, perhaps, but there’s something about her.”
“Mmm.”
“Luke said you used to have a thing with her.”
“A thing? Yes, well . . .” He managed to keep his voice even. “That was a long time ago. We were both young.”
“Robyn seems to have taken to her.”
“Unfortunately.”
Julia arched a questioning eyebrow. “Why unfortunately?”
“Because she won’t be staying.”
“Did she tell you that?”
“She didn’t need to tell me, not in so many words.” It had been in her eyes, in the tone of her voice when she had beentalking about her adventures. What had Sturcombe to offer in comparison to that?
“You could be wrong.”
“I’m not wrong. Leave it, Julia,” he added sharply as she opened her mouth to argue with him. “She won’t be staying.”
The children had finished their treasure hunt. Little Amy had won, and was thrilled with her prize — a big jigsaw of Frozen.
Robyn came running back to him, her rosy face full of disappointment. “I came second, Daddy.”
“Well, that’s pretty good. And Amy is your best friend, so you’re very happy for her that she won, aren’t you?”
A brief second, then the child’s bright smile beamed out. “Yes I am!” She scrambled over to where Amy was showing her prize to her mother, and the two of them hugged.
Liam breathed a sigh of relief. He had sworn to himself at Natalie’s funeral that he would do his very best to bring up a child she would be proud of, and sometimes he worried that, loving her so much, he risked spoiling her and bringing up a monster instead.
But then the sweetness of Natalie’s nature would shine through in her, and he would have to smile.
