Trystan gave him a pointed look. “I’m fairly sure the original plan was for you to stay until Monday.”
“I could fly back alone,” Keira offered. “I’d need to take your car from the airport, but I could come back and pick you up on Monday.”
He gave a firm shake of the head, feeling he was losing control of the situation. “No. We’ll fly back together.”
“I’d really love it if you both stayed,” Mirren said. “That can be my birthday present since you seemed to forget to give me anything.”
“I brought you a present,” Noah said. “It’s still at the cottage.”
“This can be an extra present then.”
Trystan leaned towards Keira. “In case you haven’t noticed, Mum is pretty good at getting her own way. You may as well give in now.”
“I’d actually really like to stay longer,” Keira said, turning to Noah.
He’d only realised after he’d invited Keira to come with him that it would conveniently get him out of Saturday’s event. And it was only when he’d had an excuse to get out of it that he’d realised how much he didn’t want to take part. Especially not with Keira around.
With her looking at him so encouragingly, he didn’t feel he had much of a choice.
“I guess we could.”
Mirren beamed. “That’s settled then. You’ll love the gig race, Keira.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” Keira said. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to borrow some clothes?”
Seren was looking intently at Noah, giving him the unnerving feeling that she knew exactly what was going on in his head. Slowly, she turned to Keira. “Of course. I’ll bring some stuff over in the morning.”
“Thank you.”
“We should talk strategy for tomorrow,” Kit said, resting his elbows on the table. “Do you want to row, Keira? I roped in a mate to come in our gig, but I can always tell him we have enough now.”
She snorted a laugh. “No way. I was only planning on watching. I’d rather fly home again than embarrass myself rowing.”
“It’s only a bit of fun tomorrow,” Mirren told her, which directly contradicted the gnawing sensation in Noah’s gut that told him it would be anything but fun. “It’s the family day so it’s not a competitive event. At least not in theory. But it’s fine just to watch. Whatever you want.”
“I’ll stick to spectating.”
Kit eagerly launched into talking about tactics for the race, and Keira peppered him with questions. The longer the conversation went on, the greater the tightness in Noah’s chest became. Not long ago he’d have been buzzing with excitement before a family gig race, but it wasn’t the same since his dad had died. Now the races were a heart-wrenching reminder of who was missing from their boat and their lives.
Two years after losing him so suddenly, Noah should really have dealt with his grief, but wherever possible he opted for avoiding facing up to the loss. The year in Bristol had been a great way to avoid the daily reminders of his dad, but it hadn’t made things any easier.
“Are you okay?” Keira whispered, drawing him from his trance.
“Fine. Just tired. Do you want to head home?”
“Okay.”
“I can drive you,” Trystan said, jumping in on the conversation. “Don’t want you getting in trouble with the law again.”
Noah rolled his eyes. “I was seventeen, and I still argue I was perfectly fine to drive a golf cart for the five-minute drive home. I was hardly over the limit.”
“I’m always the designated driver,” Trystan told Keira as he stood. “Unlike my brothers, I’m fun without alcohol.”
“You’re also the pub’s worst customer,” Seren told him.
He raised his eyebrows. “How many times do I have to tell you not to shame people for not drinking?”
“I work in a pub,” she said. “I can’t help it.”