Chapter Four #2
‘Just as well I’m not.’ They rounded a bend, heading down a slope closer to the riverbank.
Up ahead was the bridge known locally as the wobbly bridge – because of the way it swayed when people crossed it.
Emerging from the arch at the end of it was a young woman in a belted cream coat and trainers.
She was looking down, chatting to a fluffy little dog.
Sam had a moment of uncertainty before the woman looked up.
‘Clara.’ He came to a stop just in front of her, and Kaleb stopped too, almost knocking into him.
‘Oh my god, Sam, hi.’ She took hold of her glossy brown hair, bunched it up and tossed it over her shoulder.
‘Hi. I didn’t expect to see you.’ Though he knew she lived in a cottage on the Glenvorneth Estate near Glenbriar, so there was no reason why not.
‘I just nipped down to do some shopping, and I thought I’d walk Skye here for a change. I don’t think she was keen on the bridge though.’
‘It’s a bit unnerving, isn’t it?’ Sam ran his hand across his sweaty brow. ‘This is Kaleb, by the way. Jacob’s at a party, and we’re using the time to run.’
‘Hey.’ Kaleb raised his hand to wave, then shoved his floppy fringe off his face – it promptly fell back exactly where it had been.
‘Aw, lovely to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you from your dad.’ Clara beamed at him.
Kaleb smirked at Sam, then fake punched his arm. ‘That’s why he’s the top man.’
‘And this is Skye, is it?’ Sam bent down to pat the little white dog, tickling her under the chin.
‘Yes, aw, she loves that.’
Sam smiled as Skye nuzzled into his hand.
‘Your dad is wonderful,’ Clara went on, obviously talking to Kaleb. Already warm from the run, Sam wondered if his cheeks could get hotter. ‘You’re a lucky boy.’
Sam straightened up to see her patting Kaleb’s arm. Kaleb shared a look with him, obviously wondering if she knew the truth of their situation, but Sam said nothing. He’d never told anyone, though there must be people who knew through his ex, and possibly people the boys had told.
‘It’s nice to meet Skye in person.’ Sam smiled at Clara.
‘Such a sweet little thing.’ He bent down and patted Skye’s fluffy head once more.
‘Yes, you’re very sweet.’ When he straightened, he caught Clara’s eye.
‘Well, we’d better keep going. It’ll soon be time to go for Jacob. ’ He gave Kaleb a sideways glance.
Clara tilted her head, stepping forward. ‘Aw, don’t let me hold you up.’ She opened her arms and, before Sam could process what she was doing, leaned in for a hug. Instinctively, he returned it but kept it light, conscious of the sweat clinging to his shirt.
‘You too.’ He gave her a vague pat on the back.
‘It was so nice seeing you, my lovely.’ She gave him a quick squeeze before pulling back. ‘And you, Kaleb. Enjoy the rest of your run.’ She waved them off, Skye trotting beside her as they headed up the path.
Kaleb’s gaze burned into Sam, and when he looked over, there was an annoying smirk plastered across his son’s face.
‘What?’
‘Um… Who was that?’
‘Clara. She’s a teacher I work with.’
‘And she fancies you.’
‘No, she doesn’t.’ Sam started running again.
‘Totally does. She even called you “lovely”.’
Sam let out a short laugh. ‘That’s what she calls everyone. Trust me, she’s always like that.’
Kaleb shot him a sideways look. ‘Is she married?’
‘No.’ Sam gave a wry smile. ‘But she’s…’
‘What, in a relationship?’
Sam sighed. ‘Not exactly. She’s just out of a tough situation.’
‘Ah, a situationship. I get it.’
‘Not sure it was even that, to be honest. But it doesn’t matter anyway.’
‘Kind of does… Because if she’s free then—’
‘Then it’s nothing to do with me. That’s her business.’
‘But why? You need a date for that wedding you’re going to. Why not take her?’
Sam groaned. He’d shoved thoughts about the wedding firmly to the back of his mind while the inspection and the uncertainty around Olive’s job took centre stage, but Kaleb had a point.
During the Easter holidays, Sam was due back in Somerset for his friend Dominic’s wedding, and while he didn’t technically need a plus one, turning up alone held zero appeal.
Dominic, for a start, would be insufferable about it.
He always was. They’d been friends since school, and there was an old, unspoken dynamic between them that never quite died – Dominic was flirty, confident, perpetually partnered, and Sam was somehow always the spare part.
Dominic’s first wife was an ex-girlfriend of Sam’s, which didn’t help.
Not that there was bad blood about it. She and Sam had been school sweethearts but had been apart for years before she got together with Dominic.
What he felt now wasn’t jealousy exactly, but it stung all the same.
It would be easier to have someone beside him. To sidestep the jokes, the assumptions, the well-meaning questions.
The worst part was knowing how much he hated that it mattered. Being single wasn’t something he was usually bothered by, but at times like this, an awkwardness seeped into him.
‘I can’t take her. She’s a colleague.’
Kaleb snorted. ‘You’re hopeless.’
Sam rolled his eyes. ‘Probably.’
And wasn’t that the truth? There was little hope of him finding a steady relationship when he had no way of making plans that couldn’t be upended by Olive whenever she chose to.
Sam would never deny liking Clara – she was a wonderful person – in a purely platonic, colleague-to-colleague way.
If she happened to be attractive in other ways, then he had to ignore it, because she wasn’t for him – he was too unstable for her, too old, and too dull.
She needed someone who could shine as brightly as she did.
Another Kerr who would bring laughter and joy into her life.
And he hoped with all his heart that she would find that person… He meanwhile had to find a date for the wedding or reconcile himself to going alone – as usual. Which was looking more and more likely every day.