“Could I? I’ve never done it before and it looks like fun.”
“It’s a lot of fun, Mummy.” Ellie said, as she struggled to reach the taps in the deep stainless-steel sink.
Trystan lifted her up while Lowen set Beth up at the pottery wheel. She was just as entertaining to watch as Ellie had been.
“Thank you so much,” she said to Lowen when she’d thrown a mug that she was adorably proud of. “Can you say thank you?” she prompted Ellie.
“Thank you.” Ellie took Lowen’s hand and swung on his arm. “Can we come back and visit you again another day?”
“Maybe,” he said, looking uncertainly down at her, as though remembering that he didn’t like visitors. “You might have lots of other things to do.”
“I’m going to go on Kit’s train again,” Ellie told him.
“That sounds like a great idea.”
“I’ve been on it four times.”
He smiled down at her. “That’s a lot.”
“I’m sure Kit’s sick of having us along,” Beth said. “But Ellie loves it.”
Together, they all wandered back through the shop and out of the front door.
“I hope the weather stays nice for your holiday,” Lowen said, lingering in the doorway.
“Thanks again.” Beth gave him a quick hug and Trystan did the same.
“Nice to see you,” Trystan said, which earned him a curt nod before Lowen disappeared inside.
“He seems lovely,” Beth commented as they set off along the beach. “Definitely not as outgoing as the rest of the Trenearys, but he has a quiet charm about him. You and he look quite alike.”
“No, we don’t!” Trystan scoffed, slightly offended by the comparison. A few years ago they’d had a similar build and features, but Lowen had let himself go and looked more like he was approaching fifty than forty.
“You do,” Beth insisted. “It’s the eyes. You have the same eyes.”
“Maybe. Anyway, who’s hungry?”
“I am,” Ellie shouted. “Are we having a picnic?”
“No.” Trystan felt her delicate fingers curl around his. “We’ll eat at the hotel. It’s not far away.”
“I’ve got very little legs,” Ellie huffed. “You’re making me walk too much.”
“It’s not far, I promise. Look, you can see it up there on the hill. And the faster you walk, the quicker we’ll be there.”
“Walking faster will make me more tired,” she told him adamantly.
“How about a shoulder ride?”
“What’s that?”
He couldn’t help but smile. “I can carry you on my shoulders.”
“Okay,” she said, looking slightly dubious.
“Ready?” he said as he hoisted her up.
“I’m as big as a giant,” she said, clinging to his head a little too tightly as he set off across the sand.