“Hopefully I’ll have exciting updates for you later. I’ll try and keep you entertained.”
“You’re a great friend,” Mel said, as they ended the call.
Turning the handle on the gate, Keira noticed the sign announcing “Treneary House”. It sounded very grand, but the only thing intimidating as she wandered towards the terrace was the phenomenal view out to sea.
“Not a bad little breakfast spot, is it?” Seren remarked as she neared them.
“It’s unbelievable. Have you lived here long?” she asked Mirren as she sat down.
“We bought the place after Terry and I got married. So that’ll be thirty-five years now. We did a lot to the place over the years. It was pretty rundown when we bought it.”
Keira admired the modest stone house with the slate roof. “It’s beautiful.”
“I’m very lucky,” Mirren said, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Now, what about breakfast? Who wants bacon and eggs?”
“Me!” Seren said while Keira nodded eagerly. The early morning walk on the beach had left her ravenous.
“You were very generous letting Noah sleep in,” Mirren said. “I’d have shouted at him to get his lazy bum out of bed.”
Keira smiled lightly. “I’m sure he’ll be up soon.” She hoped he would anyway. While she didn’t want him to feel he had to look after her, she felt a slight pang of annoyance at being neglected. Hopefully it had nothing to do with her putting the brakes on things the previous evening.
* * *
Noah woke with a sinking feeling and knew instinctively that he’d slept too long. Sadly, he felt as though he’d barely slept at all. As soon as he’d got into bed the previous evening his mind had flipped into overdrive, with his thoughts all over the place and none of them good.
Frustrating as it was, he could see why Keira was keeping him at arm’s length. There was a ticking clock over their relationship and he couldn’t blame her for being realistic about their future. He was worried about it too, but when he was with her, he just didn’t care about what was to come.
Stretching as he sat up, he reached for his phone to find it was almost eleven. He should be out showing Keira the island, but instead he’d slept for most of the morning. That’s what you got for only falling asleep just before dawn.
At least he had two days to show Keira the sights …
Or he would have if it weren’t for the gig race that afternoon. The thought made his limbs feel heavy. Staying in bed would have been a pleasant option if Keira wasn’t waiting for him. On the landing, a quick glance up the attic stairs showed the door was wide open so she obviously hadn’t spent the morning in bed. There was no sign of her downstairs either, but a note on the kitchen counter told him she’d gone to his mum’s place.
His hasty shower didn’t wake him up as he’d hoped. If anything, he felt even more groggy as he set off up the lane. Looking ahead to the house, a memory of a race day from years ago jumped into his head: the house hectic with pre-race bustle and all of them hyped up by their dad’s enthusiasm and competitiveness.
He paused at the gate and heaved air into his lungs. Showing Keira around the island might be more than he could manage.
“Morning!” he chimed, feeling like an actor slipping into character as he wandered up to the terrace.
“You’re like a teenager, sleeping until midday,” his mum said as he took the chair beside Keira.
He forced his lips to a smile and realised he wasn’t a good enough actor. Being around people was too much. People making jokes at his expense waswaytoo much.
“I’m on holiday,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I was only teasing. Do you want breakfast? I made bacon and eggs for the girls, shall I put some on for you?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”
“You’ll need your strength for the race later.”
“I’ll get a coffee in a minute.”
“That’s not enough. I’ll make eggs, shall I?”
“Toast would be great, thanks.” He knew she wouldn’t stop until he put an order in, and toast was about all he could face.
“Did you sleep well?” Keira asked when his mum went inside.