Chapter Fifteen #2
Outside, the spring air was soft and fresh again after the warmth of the kitchen. Sam unlocked the car, handed her the keys, and got in.
They’d barely closed the doors when they burst out laughing.
‘Oh my god.’ Sam buried his face in his hands. ‘Was that awful?’
‘Honestly, it was hilarious. And you fooled him alright.’
‘Feels like I properly got one over on him, but it that really bad of me?’
‘Na.’ She glanced over her shoulder at the house – sunlight glinting off the windows. ‘Even if you own up after the wedding, it’s not doing any harm now.’
‘I guess not. Thank you for playing the part so well.’
Grinning, Clara settled back against the seat and started the engine.
‘And are you ready for the next meeting?’ he asked.
‘You bet.’
‘But no faking this time. We can just be ourselves.’
‘Of course.’ Though a weird realisation crept through her – she’d quite enjoyed pretending to be his date.
The lane wound between budding hedgerows and fields that shimmered green under the soft spring light.
She and Sam chatted in easy bursts – about Dominic and Astrid, about the wedding plans, about nothing at all.
A tractor rumbled past, forcing Clara to edge the car onto the verge, and they both laughed when she over-corrected slightly.
The mood stayed light, their earlier nerves long gone.
About half an hour later, Clara reversed Sam’s car into a narrow parking space in front of a village green, with rows of terraced houses in a weathered brick red surrounding it. Behind the ones opposite stretched a field.
‘Welcome to Somerwell,’ Sam said, unclipping his belt. ‘We can have a look in the village later – it’s very picturesque.’
‘I love all the thatched cottages we saw on the way.’
‘There are plenty more of them in the village. Mum never wanted a place like that. She likes her home here.’
‘Is this where you grew up?’
‘No.’ Sam shook his head. ‘We grew up in Yeovil. Mum moved out here when Claire did. She likes being in the same village. That way she can help with childcare.’
‘I see.’
Clara followed Sam across the green up to one of the houses in the terrace. It had a neatly painted white fence, and a path lined with bushes and clusters of tulips. The garden next door was the opposite, overgrown and messy. Clara pulled a face at it as Sam opened the gate into the neat garden.
‘That brings down the street a bit, doesn’t it?’ she whispered
Sam leaned in closer as he let the gate click shut. ‘I’m sure Mum will tell you all about who lives there,’ he said quietly. ‘She loves gossip, and she knows everything about everyone who lives around here.’
As they reached the door, it swung open before they had a chance to knock.
A striking older woman with neatly feathered shoulder length hair that was almost white stood on the threshold in a plain grey top and matching soft trousers.
A smile split her face, and she thrust her arms wide.
‘Oh, Sam, my boy! You’re here at last.’ She wrapped her arms around him, and he did the same.
Even standing on the doorstep, she wasn’t taller than him.
The hug lasted a long time, and Clara tilted her head, looking on as so much love passed between the two of them.
‘So good to see you, Mum. And you’re looking well.’
‘I’m just so pleased you’re here.’ She glanced over at Clara, still with a broad smile, then stepped down and came over. ‘Oh, how nice to meet you, sweetheart.’ She wrapped Clara in a hug too, and Clara returned it, feeling a happy sense of belonging. ‘You’re Sam’s lovely friend.’
‘This is Clara,’ Sam said.
‘I’m so happy to have you here.’ Sam’s mum pulled back and smiled at her.
‘Lovely to meet you too, Mrs Addison.’
His mum chuckled. ‘Oh gracious, lovely girl, just call me Moira. Mrs Addison makes me feel old, which of course I am, but I don’t feel it or want to be reminded of it.’
‘Well, you’re older than me, but you look great.’
‘Thank you. I certainly have a lot of energy today. Always do when I know my boy is coming home.’ She put her hand on Sam’s back and rubbed it.
‘Now, in you come. I’ve made a cake. We can sit out in the back and eat it.
It’s warm enough, I think, though I hope the dogs aren’t out next door. Make a terrible noise, so they do.’
Sam squeezed his mum’s shoulder, glancing over the top of her head to smile at Clara.
The mention of dogs made Clara think about Skye; she missed her but knew she would be getting lots of cuddles from Molly.
Inside the house was compact and beautifully decorated. It looked fresh and airy. The kitchen was small but bright and inviting. Sunlight spilled through the window and the open door.
‘The garden’s looking good.’ Sam peered outside.
‘I’m glad you think so. It’s like a full-time job keeping it up, but I love it.’ She turned to Clara. ‘Do you enjoy gardening?’
‘A little bit. I like growing vegetables and soft fruit. Sometimes they do well, but they’re a bit hit or miss for me.
There were some great pumpkins growing at my new cottage last year – obviously whoever was there before me planted them – but the vines scared me a bit.
Every time I opened my door, it looked like they’d crept closer to the house. ’
Moira laughed, and Clara saw Sam’s likeness in her bright blue eyes. ‘Sounds frightening indeed. I’ve never tried pumpkins actually. We grew marrows for a while, but they’re a rather useless vegetable and I don’t like the taste of them much, so maybe I’m prejudiced against them.’
‘I don’t think they have a lot of flavour on their own,’ Sam said. ‘But they’re good in things.’
‘Like competitions.’ Moira gave Clara a little smile. ‘If you can grow them big enough.’ She flicked on the kettle. ‘Take a seat outside, my sweethearts, and I’ll make some tea. Or coffee if you’d rather. I hope you like lemon drizzle cake.’
‘Love it.’ Clara saw the cake sitting on the worktop enclosed with a mesh cover. ‘And that looks amazing. Is that your job? Are you a baker?’
‘Oh no, nothing like that. I’m retired now, but I used to be a teacher too. Primary though. The two of you are very brave doing high schools. I always found the older kids too cheeky.’
‘They can be that,’ Clara agreed.
‘Shall I take the cake out?’ Sam asked.
‘Yes, if you don’t mind. And maybe some plates and cutlery.’
‘I can get them,’ Clara said. ‘Just point me in the right direction.’
‘So kind.’ Moira told her where to find them, and Clara got them out before following Sam outside to the little wooden table in the garden.
‘I love your mum.’ Clara beamed at him. ‘She’s so like you.’
He shook his head. ‘I think if anything, it’s the other way around. She was like she is long before me.’
‘Well, whichever way it is, you’re both brilliant.’
‘Here we go.’ Moira came out with a couple of mugs. ‘Let me just grab my own.’
Clara and Sam took seats next to each other, and Moira joined them moments later.
‘Claire’s popping over later with the girls, so you’ll see them too.’
‘I can’t wait to see them again.’ Sam lifted his mug.
‘And I’m looking forward to meeting them.’ Clara took a sip of coffee.
‘You’ll see them again next month too.’ Moira lifted the cover from the cake.
‘We’re coming up to Scotland for the half term.
We haven’t seen Sam’s house in the unpronounceable village yet, and it’s his birthday in May.
I know the Scottish schools don’t get a full week off, but Claire has managed to get that week, so we thought we’d use it for a trip, even if we only see Sam in the evenings and at the long weekend.
Sam’s so good about coming down here every year.
It’s been a while since we’ve been up, and I’ve heard his house is lovely. ’
‘It is a beautiful house, though I’ve only seen the outside. And I’m sure I’d love to see you all again.’ Clara glanced at Sam. ‘If you don’t mind.’ She patted his arm.
‘Of course I don’t.’
‘The girls might not be up for sharing him much. They just adore their Uncle Sam.’ His mum gave him a little nudge. ‘Such a good boy.’ She smiled fondly. ‘Always so gentle and kind.’
‘Mum, you’re making me blush.’
Clara raised her eyebrows at him, a small grin teasing her lips. ‘She’s right though.’
Sam laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. ‘I might leave the table for a bit.’
‘Oh, my darling.’ His mum sank a knife into the cake.
Clara took another sip of her coffee, then grinned at Sam, whose cheeks were pink just above the soft hairs of his beard.
‘And I didn’t know it was your birthday in May,’ she added.
‘Yeah,’ he said. ‘It’s not even a big one or anything.’
‘Still,’ his mum said, handing Clara a piece of cake. ‘We haven’t seen him on his birthday for so long. And we want to come up.’ She ruffled his hair. ‘We all love you so much.’
Clara met his gaze. ‘Everyone loves Sam, especially me.’
Sam set his mug down and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Clara.’ He shook his head. ‘You’re not supposed to keep saying that. We’re not faking anything here.’
‘Sorry. I couldn’t help it.’
‘What do you mean faking anything?’ his mum asked.
‘We’re pretending to be together when we see Dom. You know what he’s like? Clara’s helping me out there.’
His mum chuckled and handed Clara a plate with a piece of cake on it. ‘Goodness me, what nonsense. You two are very funny.’
A small smile tugged at the corners of Sam’s mouth. ‘Well, it saves me having to answer his three hundred questions about why I don’t have a girlfriend.’
Clara lifted her cake, casting him a sad smile. He could easily get a girlfriend if he wanted one, surely?
‘This looks delicious,’ she said to Moira.
Moira beamed at her and gave her a tiny wink.
Clara wasn’t sure what it meant, but whatever it was, she liked it.
She liked how easy it felt around Moira, just as it did with Sam.
And for a moment, she wondered what it would be like to be part of this family.
Her own family were wonderful too, but since her previous vile breakup with football-first Fergie and the Kerr fiasco, she hadn’t considered what it might be like having other people in her life like this.
Whoever ended up with Sam was going to be extra lucky.
Not only would they get a lovely man, but a beautiful mother-in-law with the sweetest heart.
Clara’s chest tightened a bit. She wanted that perfect person for Sam, but the thought also made her a little sad because she kind of wanted it for herself too.