Chapter Sixteen
Sam
Sam lounged back in his seat, looking out over his mum’s beautiful garden.
Often he came down to Somerset in the summer with the boys when the garden was in full bloom, but it was nice to see it in spring when everything was starting to come out.
Already daffodils and tulips had taken over the borders, and the bushes looked ready to burst any day.
His dad had planted their garden in their childhood home in Yeovil, and it had always been a riot of colour in the summer.
Dad had died long before Sam’s mum had moved into this house, but Sam was sure Dad would appreciate this garden. If only he’d lived to see it.
Behind the back fence, some ponies nibbled at the grass, flicking their tails as they made slow progress along the field.
Sam turned his attention back to Clara and his mum, who were chatting like they’d known each other forever.
Mum was like that. She always made people feel welcome and at ease.
So did Clara. Little wonder, then, that they were getting on so well.
Voices from nearby sounded, and Moira got to her feet. ‘I think that’s Claire and the girls. Let me check.’ She headed inside.
Sam caught Clara’s eye. ‘You’ll love my sister.’
Clara smiled. ‘I’m sure I will.’
‘Oh my god, hi!’ Claire’s voice came from the door, and Sam jumped up to hug her.
‘Hey, you beauty.’ Sam lifted her off her feet, and she let out a delighted scream.
He set her down again, smiling at her. She was as polished looking as ever, with a pretty, open face and warm blue eyes just like him and their mum.
Her caramel-coloured hair fell in smooth waves to her shoulders, and her nails were perfectly manicured.
A soft perfume drifted in the air around her.
Sam turned to ruffle the hair of his nieces.
Both of them had very dark brown hair, which they definitely got from their father.
‘Hello, you two. How have you got so big? Get back down.’ He gently pushed on their heads, pretending to shrink them.
‘Stop it.’ They giggled, pushing him back.
‘No, you stop. Stop growing. I insist.’
They carried on play-wrestling as Claire turned towards Clara.
‘Hi, I’m Claire.’ She extended her hand towards Clara with a friendly smile.
Clara smiled back. ‘Hi, I’m Clara.’
‘This is going to confuse me no end,’ his mum said. ‘Claire and Clara. I can see myself getting it wrong all week.’
‘Lovely to meet you, Clara. I’ve heard all about you.’
Clara made a cringing face. ‘Good things, I hope?’
Claire nodded. ‘All good, just not enough details.’
‘What details did you want?’ Sam raised an eyebrow.
‘Everything,’ Alisha chimed in with a gap-toothed grin.
Claire cast him a look. ‘I’ll get them directly from Clara.’
They all sat back at the table, and Sam leaned right back as both his nieces tried to sit on his knee at the same time. ‘Ok, you’re getting a bit big for this.’
‘So, you’re a teacher like Sam,’ Claire said to Clara. ‘I don’t know how you do it.’
Clara smiled. ‘Teaching can be tough, but I enjoy it. I used to teach social studies, but I moved into guidance a few years back. It’s not quite the same as I’m not in a classroom anymore, but it’s still challenging.’
‘I could never do what you do,’ Claire said with a shake of her head.
‘Likewise. It takes a special kind of person to be a nurse. You’re amazing for doing it.’
Claire shrugged. ‘It’s just my job.’
‘I bet the patients love you. Just like the school kids all love Sam… so do the staff.’
Sam held his breath. Was she going to say that she loved him again? Alisha took the opportunity to tickle him in the ribs, and he nearly catapulted the two of them into the hedge. ‘You totally winded me.’
‘Be gentle.’ Claire gave them a stern look. ‘Remember Uncle Sam is a softy, and if you push him too hard, his stuffing will fall out.’
‘Such a lovely image.’ Sam shook his head.
Claire laughed. ‘So, everybody loves you. How sweet.’ She cocked her head and blinked her eyes in a fake way.
Sam groaned inwardly but couldn’t help cracking a smile. ‘Of course they do. Just my natural charm.’
Clara patted his arm. ‘That’s exactly what it is.’
Moira chuckled. ‘Wait until you hear the story they told Dominic.’
‘What story?’ Claire’s eyes widened. But before Sam could speak, Moira had already taken up the tale, and Claire was laughing.
‘And he believes it?’ she said.
‘So far,’ Sam said.
‘And to what lengths will you go to prove it?’ Claire looked between the two of them with a grin.
Alisha tugged on Sam’s sleeve. ‘Does it mean you’re getting married?’ she asked.
‘No.’ Sam laughed and tousled Alisha’s dark hair affectionately. ‘Clara and I are just friends.’
‘Uh-huh.’ Claire sat back with a sceptical expression.
Mina looked up at Sam with big brown eyes. ‘Can we be flower girls when you get married?’
‘I’m not getting married.’ Sam smiled at Mina, then looked at Claire, who was still giving him a very annoying look – nothing more than he’d expected.
With his mum and sister so genuinely taken with Clara, time passed quickly with pleasant chat and a lot of laughs.
As the late afternoon shadows crept in, Claire checked her watch with a sigh. ‘Right, I’d better get going.’ She gave Sam, then Clara a quick hug. ‘Duty calls.’
‘It’s been so lovely meeting you,’ Clara said. ‘And hopefully I’ll see you again before we leave.’
‘Aw, I’ll try to. Work is at such odd times, but hopefully we’ll get some time together.’
Mina and Alisha wrapped themselves around Claire’s legs, making it clear they weren’t thrilled about her leaving. ‘Mummy, stay.’ Alisha tugged at her sleeve.
‘Don’t be silly. You’ve got Grandma, and Uncle Sam, and Clara too. You’ll have the best time.’ She kissed them both goodbye.
‘Why don’t we do some football?’ Sam said. ‘Bet you can’t beat me.’
‘So can.’ Alisha ran to him straight away.
He got the ball out, and they kicked it around as Claire headed off with a wave.
Clara and Moira headed inside for a bit, still chatting like old friends, while Sam kicked the ball about with the girls, letting them get goals past him at every shot, until they were screaming with laughter that he was the worst goalie ever.
After a while, they tired of the game and wanted to go and watch TV for a bit.
Clara and his mum had come out to the bistro table again, and Sam dropped into a seat beside them.
‘I’ll just help them get the telly on.’ His mum got to her feet and followed the girls inside.
Clara smiled at Sam. ‘You’re so good with them.’
He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I feel bad that I don’t see them very often.’
‘Yeah. That must be hard. Do they get on with Kaleb and Jacob?’
‘They sure do. It’s a riot when they’re all together.’
‘They’ve found something they want to watch,’ Moira said, coming out of the kitchen door, sitting down with a little exhale, and patting her hands on her soft grey trousers.
‘They’re probably tired out,’ Sam said. ‘That was a lot of running about.’
‘Are you tired too?’ Clara chuckled.
‘One hundred per cent.’
She looked away towards the fence and the rather overgrown neighbouring garden.
‘Right state that place,’ Moira said, noticing where Clara was looking.
‘It’s a bit of a mess.’ Sam frowned, taking in the overgrown hedges starting to spill onto his mum’s side. ‘Does anyone live there?’
‘Oh yes. Mr Bridger still has it. He’s very reclusive, barely says a word when you try to talk to him.’ His mum drummed her fingers on the table. ‘I’m a bit worried about him. Haven’t seen him outside in ages.’
‘Oh dear.’ Clara raised her eyebrows. ‘Is he an older man?’
Moira shook her head. ‘No, not as old as me. He’s maybe sixty, tops. And he doesn’t seem unwell, just not very sociable or very proactive about his garden.’
‘He probably just wants his peace and quiet,’ Sam said.
‘Maybe.’ Moira sighed. ‘But I can’t help worrying a bit. I hear all sorts of noises from the house. Sounds like he’s knocking down walls. Very strange.’
Clara pulled a face at Sam. ‘That doesn’t sound good.’
‘Anyway, enough of my gossip.’ His mum checked her watch. ‘I should get the dinner on.’
Sam and Clara got up too and helped her in the kitchen, still chatting about the neighbours, Dominic and Astrid, and some of the goings on at school.
Later, they all ate together at the dining table in the back of the living room.
After dinner, they spent ages playing Uno until it was time for Alisha and Mina to start getting ready for bed.
‘We should get going too.’ Sam checked his phone.
‘Say goodbye, you two,’ his mum said to the girls, nudging them gently in Sam and Clara’s direction. ‘Before you go up for your showers.’
Mina wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist. ‘Night, Uncle Sam. Will you be here tomorrow?’
‘Not tomorrow, munchkin.’ He ruffled her hair. ‘We’ve got Dominic’s wedding to go to.’
Mina looked at Clara. ‘Are you going to the wedding too?’
Clara gave her a warm smile. ‘Yes, I am.’
‘Do you have a nice dress?’
‘I do.’
‘I’ll take photos,’ Sam said. ‘And send them to Grandma, so you can both see what it looks like.’
With final hugs all around, Sam and Clara said their goodbyes and made their way back to the car, walking side by side across the green in front of the house. Sam turned and looked back, waving at the upstairs window.
‘Your family’s amazing.’ Clara got into the driver’s seat of the car. ‘I love them so much.’
He shook his head. ‘Is there anyone you don’t love?’
She pulled a side pout. ‘I’m sure there’s someone somewhere.’
It had been a lovely day, and their recollections about everything that had happened got them back to the cottage.
‘I don’t know about you,’ Sam said as they got out of the car. ‘But I’m not staying up too late.’
‘Same.’ Clara handed him his car keys. ‘That was a lovely but tiring day.’
‘Faking it is hard work.’
‘But a laugh.’
Inside, they sat for a bit, chuckling at the recollections and at some of the pictures Clara had taken of Sam playing football with the girls.