Chapter 26
Beth
With a diet of finger sandwiches and cake for most of the day, Beth felt quite full, although she was sure she could squeeze something in for dinner. The tearoom opening day was drawing to a close, and had been a great success. The entertainment had left and so had most of the customers, leaving the odd straggler behind as Ginny tidied up for the day.
‘What can I do?’ asked Beth, keen to help.
Will plopped Ginny onto a nearby chair. ‘Nothing, thanks.’ He turned to his partner. ‘You can both head home. We’ve got this covered.’ He gestured at Sophie, Matt, and Alice.
Beth wondered where Spencer was. She hadn’t seen him in a while but hadn’t taken much notice until now. ‘I don’t mind helping clear up,’ she told Will.
‘And I should be the last one going home,’ said Ginny.
Will waggled a finger at her. ‘You’re growing a baby, you can rest.’ He turned back to Beth. ‘And you’ve not long had one, so you can rest too.’
Ginny tapped his thigh. ‘Oh, stop fussing. Although, a cup of tea would be nice. I haven’t had time to have one today.’
Beth watched him bend to kiss Ginny’s cheek before heading off to make her a cuppa. ‘You look worn out, Gin.’
‘I’m okay. It’s just been a long day. I’ll get into a proper routine now we’re open.’ Ginny yawned. ‘I think I’ll get a bag of chips on the way home. I honestly don’t think I can handle much dinner this evening.’
It sounded like a good idea to Beth as well. ‘When I find Spencer, I might get some too.’ She glanced down at Archie snuggled in his pram. ‘And he’ll want a bottle soon.’
Ginny smiled at the baby. ‘I saw Spencer head towards the pub with Robson a little while ago. He was helping take some chairs back I borrowed for outside. Perhaps he’s still in there.’
‘Okay, I’ll check.’ Beth waved goodbye to everyone, declined the offer of lemon tartlets, then made her way along the road to the Jolly Pirate.
There was a nip in the air as the sun went down, but it hadn’t made the people in the front beer garden move to the warmth of the pub.
Beth scanned the area to see if Spencer was chatting outside, but he was nowhere in sight, so she pushed the pram through the small crowd to enter the premises. There seemed to be more people out front than cosying up by the bar, but there were at least two people looking rather cosy in that direction.
Spencer was sitting on a stool, facing the bar with a blonde woman to his side, practically stuck to his arm. Her full lips were close to his ear, whispering what, Beth could only imagine.
With a heavy heart and no more appetite for chips, Beth turned around and headed back into the chill. She paused for a while by a tall patio heater, remembering Spencer had the door keys. The last thing she wanted was to interrupt him getting snuggly with a woman. After all, was it her business if he started dating?
Feeling quite agitated about the fact, she marched back inside, parking the pram by his legs.
Bleary eyes rolled up her body, stopping at her mouth for a moment before meeting her glare. ‘Beth. Hi.’
Beth stilled on noticing how drained his face looked, then ruby-red lips caught her attention as they moved into the frame. Ignoring the woman, she focused on Spencer. ‘I’m just heading home,’ she said softly. ‘You have the keys.’
‘Oh.’ He patted his pocket. ‘Right, yeah.’ He went to stand, but Beth placed one hand on his shoulder.
‘You can stay if you like. I don’t mind.’ It was such a fib, but she could hardly say she felt jealous.
‘Is this your wife?’ asked the woman.
Spencer gazed at her as though just realizing she was there. ‘What? Oh, erm, no.’
It was the truth, but for some reason, Beth felt as though he’d just whacked her in the gut. The worst part was him not bothering to introduce her at all. She took the keys and made a quick exit, wanting some fresh air.
It took a moment before she slowed her pace, mentally shaking her head at herself for being silly. She had no claim over Spencer. They were Archie’s parents, that was all. The man had every right to chat up women in pubs. She couldn’t expect him to stay single forever. After all, he had told her she was the last woman he’d slept with, and that had been quite some time ago.
Beth took a calming breath as she strolled to the chip shop.
‘Hey, Beth. Wait,’ Spencer called.
She peered over her shoulder but carried on moving forward, still not stopping when he caught up to her.
‘Oh, hi,’ she said casually. ‘I thought you were staying in the pub.’
With your new friend .
‘No. I was helping Robson with some chairs, then got chatting and was given a drink, but I couldn’t face it. I was about to head back to the tearoom.’
Beth brought the pram to a halt so she could face him. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Just tired. I did feel like drowning my sorrows as soon as I sat down, but the whisky put me off.’ He breathed out a small laugh, then gazed down at Archie, staring back at him.
‘You’re really taking Ryan’s accident badly, aren’t you?’
He shrugged one shoulder. ‘It’s made me rethink my job at the centre.’
Beth shook her head. ‘If you’re going to work with kids, you’re going to have to deal with accidents happening. Trust me, I work in a primary school.’
‘I just feel really bad it happened on my watch.’
‘You do feel that way, but these things happen. Spence, it’s not your fault.’ She watched him sigh deeply as he stared out to sea.
‘If I can’t handle seeing kids get hurt, I won’t be able to work with them. It’s not something I thought about when training, and I did first aid courses as well.’ His shoulders slumped as he held the pram. ‘Oh, I don’t know, Beth. Annette blaming me for Ryan not swimming is rattling around as well. My head feels all over the place since it happened.’
‘So you thought it best to get drunk and have a one-night stand?’
I shouldn’t have said that .
She went to apologize, but Spencer got in first.
‘Really? That’s what you saw when you came in the pub?’
It was what she’d assumed but words were suddenly failing her. Most probably due to the hurt flashing through his eyes.
‘I was talking to Robson, then he went back to work, and some lady sat next to me.’
‘It’s none of my business,’ were the only words that seemed to blurt out from nowhere.
Spencer quirked one eyebrow. ‘Well, I’m making it your business. I don’t want you thinking I’m that person again. I don’t want anyone thinking that of me. I spent a long time cleaning up my act, and barring the mistake I made with you, I’ve been doing—’
‘Mistake?’ Beth had a lump stuck in her throat as she gazed at her son, fluttering his eyes to a close.
‘No, that’s not what I meant,’ said Spencer quickly. ‘I love him, and I . . . That’s not what I meant at all.’
‘Look, Spence. We’re just co-parenting, right?’ He didn’t reply, so she continued. ‘We don’t have to explain to each other if we want to date. We—’
‘I wasn’t dating. She just spoke to me. I can’t help it.’ He pointed to his head. ‘It’s my hair. It often attracts women. They start talking about Scotland and kilts and . . .’
Beth burst out laughing, flapping one hand in his face. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled through a giggle. ‘That’s just so funny.’
Spencer frowned, raking his locks with one hand. ‘Glad I amuse you.’ A slow smile built as their eyes met. ‘I don’t want to date anyone, Beth,’ he added quietly.
They stood for a moment in silence, then Beth swallowed hard and gestured up the road. ‘Do you fancy chips now?’
His lips twisted to one side. ‘Hmm.’
They walked along the harbour, Beth pushing the pram, Spencer’s hands shoved into his coat pockets. The wind whipped up the sea as the streetlights came on to guide the way, and all seemed settled again until Beth opened her mouth.
‘I know you said you don’t want to date just yet, but one day you will, so perhaps it’s best I start fixing up my flat now, ready to move back. You’ll want to bring a woman home at some point, and I don’t want to be in the way.’
Spencer grabbed the pram handle, stopping her in her tracks. ‘Whoa! Let’s just get one thing straight right here and now. You are not in my way. I’m not bringing anyone home, and women are the last thing on my mind at the moment. But if you want to go back to yours, then, yeah, sure, I’ll help you decorate. I’ll make sure you and Archie are settled and happy. You two are what’s important in my life.’
Beth took a deep breath. ‘I hate feeling like a burden.’
‘You’re not. I love living with you. I mean, it’s nice having you both around. I just want you to be happy, Beth.’
A beat passed.
‘How are you feeling?’ he asked softly.
Annoyed about blondie in the pub, stupid for being jealous .
‘I’m okay. I think we should be more worried about you. I want you to be happy as well.’
‘I’ll be all right.’
‘Do you think Ryan getting hurt was triggering for you?’ Beth shook her head at herself. ‘I sound like Jan now.’
Spencer laughed quietly. ‘Maybe I should speak to her.’
‘Seriously though, Spence. It could be why it’s affecting you so badly.’ He didn’t reply, but his expression held a thousand sad stories, and all Beth could do was reach out and pull him into her arms.
Spencer held her back, and his warmth was so soothing, but she had to stay focused. It wasn’t her turn to be comforted. It was his.
Lightly, Beth stroked circles over his coat with one hand as the other found its way to the back of his neck, resting upon his upturned collar. It was heartbreaking to think of the things he’d been through as a child. How it had stayed deep within him. Perhaps it would be for the best if he spoke to a therapist, but she got the feeling he was the type who liked to figure things out for himself. At least she could help by offering a hug or two when needed, and it was obvious he needed one, especially as he was clinging to her so tightly.
Spencer’s head shifted so their cheeks were touching, but Beth slowly pulled away, as the backflips the butterflies in her stomach were doing was all too much. The last thing she wanted was intimacy attached to pain.
I want to kiss you, Spencer Jordan, but not like this .
She smiled gently as he shoved his hands back in his pockets. ‘Let’s get some dinner and go home. I feel a blanket and film night coming on.’
He nodded slightly. ‘Sounds good.’
Beth motioned to the pram. ‘Do you want to push him?’
‘Sure.’ He placed his hands on the handle, then poked out his elbow, offering his arm.
Beth curled her arm around his and lightly tapped his shoulder with her head before they set off. How on earth was she ever going to go home when she felt she was there already with him?
Spencer glanced her way and smiled, then started chatting about the Hub as they passed it by. He had such a way of making everything feel normal again, and Beth wished she could stay by his side forever.