Chapter Twenty-Five
Clara
Clara ran through her end-of-week routine on Friday.
Neither she nor Sam was hanging about as they were both going to spend the evening with his family before they headed back to Somerset the next day.
The week had absolutely flown by, and Clara had only managed brief catchups with Sam, though they’d been messaging loads.
Her favourite message had been one where he told her the news about Olive having a boyfriend and possibly wanting to stay in the area.
She held onto it like a talisman.
Even if Sam wanted more kids with someone else in the future, she couldn’t ignore how happy she was to know he was here with her in the here and now. And if there was a chance to prolong it, she would.
She packed up and headed into the corridor. Lissa’s voice rose above the stillness, all bright and boisterous. ‘And then he says to me, “If you’re directing a concert again, can I play a duck?”’
A familiar trio had gathered. Lissa in her electric-pink scarf, Adele looking sharp in a navy dress, and Mirren beside them with her golden hair falling out of a messy bun, giggling.
Clara tried to keep her pace steady. She’d just say goodbye and keep walking.
But Lissa spotted her instantly. ‘Clara! The legend herself. You joining us for a commiseration cuppa before we all run for the hills?’
‘Not today, thanks. I’ve got to dash.’
Mirren grinned. ‘Ooh, are you doing something nice?’
‘Just family stuff.’
Mirren nodded. ‘Sounds fun… well, I hope it is. If you had my family, you’d need a spreadsheet to keep track of them all.
I’ve got both parents remarried to people with kids of their own, then they had kids together…
and then the kids start having kids.’ She waggled her fingers like she was counting them. ‘Christmas is always interesting.’
‘Mine is nowhere near that complicated,’ Clara said.
‘So no dates?’ Lissa stage-whispered. ‘You have to tell us if it is. Teacher Code.’
Clara giggled, her mind instantly jumping back to Sam and the fake dates. ‘No, not that.’
Adele shook her head at Lissa. ‘Stop being so nosey.’
Lissa cackled. ‘Well, off you go and enjoy yourself.’
‘I will. And I hope you all have a lovely weekend too.’ Clara made her way down the corridor, and out through the double doors. The scent of rain lingered on the breeze, fresh and a little sharp. By the time she reached her car, a few raindrops had started.
She slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and let herself smile properly.
Secret or not, the idea of going to Sam’s house tonight made her feel light.
She went home first to collect Skye, then headed up to Clachnabronnachan.
There was a minor kerfuffle as Glenbriar High Street was blocked by a delivery truck that was trying to do a twenty-point turn and had got stuck.
When it finally cleared, Clara turned up the hill and made her way to Sam’s house.
When she got there, Moira met her at the door, arms open. ‘I’m so glad you’re here. Sam messaged. He’s just leaving Perth with the boys. Isn’t that great that their mum said they could come?’
‘Yeah. I’m so glad.’
‘She can be so controlling,’ Moira said. ‘But now that she has a boyfriend, she’ll be wanting whatever she can get for herself. That’s her selfish way. But if it means she’s staying here, I won’t complain.’
‘Yeah. It’ll be such a relief for Sam to not have to move again.’
‘Definitely. And I can tell he really likes this place – the house, his job… his friends.’ Moira beamed at Clara.
Claire came out the living room. ‘Hi, Clara. You survived another week at the school then?’
‘Thank Crunchie it’s Friday.’
Alisha launched herself around the kitchen door, nearly colliding with a chair and earning a look from her mum. ‘Is Uncle Sam here yet?’
‘Not yet.’
‘Skye!’ Alisha screamed, pouncing on the dog who rolled over straight away.
‘Alisha!’ Claire said. ‘Don’t shriek like that. You’ll scare her.’
‘Skye’s really chill,’ Clara said. ‘She doesn’t mind.’
Mina trailed in behind, clutching a notepad. ‘Can I draw Skye?’
‘Of course,’ Clara said. ‘Have you all had a good week?’
They told her about everything they’d done that week, while Moira made some coffee and pulled out some pots.
‘Dairvin Castle was very posh,’ Claire said.
‘Apparently it’s only open for a few weeks in the summer as the family doesn’t like too many visitors.
When we were on the tour, the countess actually came by.
She swooped in and told off an American man for calling it Glenbriar Castle.
The tour guide said most tourists call it that, and it’s a pet hate of the earl and countess. ’
Clara laughed. ‘Oh dear. The owners of the estate where my house is – the Chattan-Blythes – are related to the earl and countess, though I don’t really know how. All these old families are, I think.’
‘The history was very interesting.’ Moira turned on the stove. ‘Though I’ve already forgotten half of it.’
‘Why don’t you let me cook?’ Clara said. ‘You must be tired after such a busy week.’
‘I’d be happy with some help, but I don’t mind cooking. Years of practice.’
Clara and Claire mucked in helping, and not long after, the slam of a car door drew their attention.
‘Guess who’s back?’ Alisha shrieked.
Sam came in, saw Clara and grinned. ‘Hey.’
‘Uncle Sam.’ Mina ran up and hugged him. He lifted her off the floor and settled her on his hip like she was two, not six.
‘Hey, munchkin.’
Kaleb and Jacob were taking turns to hug their grandma. ‘I’m so happy to see you again before we leave,’ Moira said.
‘Are we eating outside?’ Alisha asked.
‘It’s too wet,’ Kaleb said. ‘It started chucking it down just as we came in.’
They all helped set the table with plates and glasses, bowls of salad and bread rolls, and the centrepiece – a huge Bolognese.
Sam slipped in beside Clara, and she beamed at him, feeling the rush of love in her heart.
The food vanished quickly. Kaleb and Jacob swapped stories with Mina and Alisha about school.
After second helpings and the promised pudding – chocolate brownie and ice cream – the evening slowed. As the kids drifted off to play a computer game on the TV, Sam and Claire started clearing plates, and Moira set out mugs for tea.
They had plenty of happy chat and laughs before Claire yawned. ‘I suppose I should get these two to bed.’ She checked the time on her phone. ‘I’ve been letting them stay up way past their bedtime, but it’s a long drive tomorrow.’
‘Oh gosh, it’s after nine o’clock.’ Clara sat up straight. ‘How has time passed so quickly? I should probably think about heading home.’
‘Why don’t you stay?’ Sam said.
‘Have you got another hidden bedroom?’ Claire said. ‘Or is she bunking in with you?’
Sam scrunched up his nose and looked away.
‘Are you two fake dating again?’ Claire waggled her eyebrows.
Clara’s eyes met Sam’s, and his cheeks coloured. Claire and his mum looked at each other.
‘No, we’re not,’ he said.
‘But we could share. As friends.’ She glanced up at Sam. ‘If you’re ok with that?’
‘Yeah, sure.’
Moira and Claire both kept calm expressions, but Clara guessed the minute they were alone, their tongues would be wagging at a hundred miles an hour. And could she blame them? She was the one who had an overnight bag in the car for just such occasions.
‘I hope you’ll stay,’ Moira said. ‘But only if it’s not a problem.’
It took a while to persuade the kids to go to bed, but once they were finally there, Clara and Sam said goodnight to Moira and Claire, and Clara followed Sam into his room, careful to close the door softly behind her. The sound of chatter from Mina and Alisha was still just audible.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she ran a hand over the soft cotton of the duvet as Sam pulled his t-shirt over his head. The sight of his toned back and the line of his waistband around his snatched waist made her brain short-circuit for a moment.
‘I hope this is ok,’ she whispered. ‘I really put my foot in it, didn’t I?’
Sam paused mid-motion, tossing his t-shirt onto the chair by the wardrobe. He turned to her, his smile wry and his blue eyes darker than usual.
‘I don’t even care.’ He stepped closer, his voice so deep and gravelly she almost melted on the spot. ‘I want you here.’
Her heart jumped. ‘Oh?’ She gave him a cheeky smile. ‘And why’s that?’
He crouched in front of her, his hands resting on her knees. ‘Because I miss you so much when you’re not here.’
Her breath hitched. She leaned forward slightly, their faces mere inches apart. ‘I assume we’re just planning on sleeping tonight… I mean, it’s a bit risky for anything else.’
‘We can do that, can’t we?’
‘Of course we can.’
They got into their nightclothes and climbed under the covers, staying carefully on separate sides of the bed.
‘But we can cuddle, can’t we?’ Clara raised her eyebrows.
‘Yeah. Cuddling is fine.’
She shuffled up to him and snuggled in, loving his arms around her. God, she’d missed this.
‘I never had a chance to talk to you properly about your birthday picnic,’ she said.
‘I loved the present you gave me.’
Smiling into his chest, she absorbed his heat. She’d bought him a new pair of binoculars after he’d told them in the staffroom that his had been broken in his last move. ‘I’m glad.’
‘You’re so good at listening and remembering. Thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’
He’d already thanked her before, but the words still added to her overall sense of wellbeing.
‘I hope I didn’t act like a fool around Kerr. Not that I still like him like that or anything. But sometimes I feel awkward and I don’t know what to say.’
Sam stroked her hair. ‘You handled it perfectly. It was a pretty awkward situation. Maybe it was lucky that it was only Kerr who saw us. Can you imagine if it had been some pupils?’
She huffed out a little laugh. ‘Oh gosh, yes.’
Sam’s fingers were still gently tracing lines through her hair.
Drowsiness swept through her. Her heavy eyes closed. As Sam kissed her forehead, blissful sleep fell over her.
‘I love you.’
She heard the words from afar. In Sam’s voice. Perhaps they were real. Perhaps a dream. Clara couldn’t tell, but they made her feel joyfully alive and happy.