Chapter Eight

‘ Y ou be a good boy for Nana Elsie and Grampy Ian, won't you, Hudson?' Wendy gave her small son another hug before standing up.

Hudson nodded before picking up a little red metal car and carrying it over to Ian who was sitting in the armchair by the window of the flat above the bakery.

‘He will be. He always is, aren't you, Huddy?' Elsie ruffled his hair as she walked past him towards them. ‘You both enjoy yourselves at the pub quiz, won't you?'

Erin nodded as she finished plaiting her hair. ‘I'm looking forward to it. I've heard such a lot about the quiz.'

‘We usually have a good time.' Wendy grinned at her before stepping aside as footsteps came up behind them.

‘Hi, sorry I'm late.' Reaching the door, Daisy paused as she shifted her baby from one arm to the other, a huge nappy bag falling from her shoulder to her elbow.

‘Here, I'll take that for you.' Taking the nappy bag, Erin placed it on the coffee table before looking back at Daisy. ‘Aw, she's gorgeous.'

‘Thanks. This is Bonnie. She is gorgeous, but she's also an absolute horror at the moment.' Diane grimaced as she turned to Elsie and Ian. ‘She's teething and just won't settle, so I completely understand if you'd rather me or Ollie stay home with her.'

‘Nonsense.' Elsie stepped forward and took Bonnie from Daisy's arms. ‘Teething is all part and parcel of babyhood and me and Ian are here for all of it. Not just the easy bits.'

‘Thank you.' Daisy pulled out a small pink unicorn toy from the pocket of her cardigan before passing it across to Elsie. ‘You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Both of us. What with working at the restaurant and looking after Bonnie and Ollie working in the kitchen full-time, I don't think me and Ollie have been able to say more than two words to each this past week.'

‘Then that's all the more reason you need the night off.' Elsie glanced at Ian, who smiled at her, nodding and seemingly knowing what she was about to say. ‘You leave her here tonight and catch up on some sleep. We'll look after her.'

‘No, I couldn't.' Daisy bit down on her bottom lip.

‘Oh yes, you can.' Passing Bonnie across to Ian, Elsie drew Daisy in for a hug. ‘Take the time for yourselves. Me and Ian will love having her.'

Leaning her cheek against Elsie's shoulder, Daisy mumbled, ‘Thank you.'

‘No worries, love.' Elsie turned her attention to Wendy. ‘You too. We're happy to have Hudson.'

‘No, don't worry, I couldn't do that to you.' Wendy laughed.

‘Yes, you can. We've had them both on their own on numerous occasions and you'll be a good boy, won't you, Huddy?' Elsie called over her shoulder at Hudson who was leaning against Ian's knee, playing with Bonnie.

‘Okay, in that case, let's run before they change their minds.' Wendy grabbed Daisy's arm and pulled her towards the door.

‘Haha, good idea.' Daisy glanced over her shoulder. ‘Thanks again Elsie and Ian.'

‘Have fun,' Ian called back.

As Erin followed Daisy and Wendy down the stairs, she pulled out her mobile. She hadn't forgotten that it was Kyle's birthday today, although she was proud of herself for not checking his social media until now. Not that it had particularly been deliberate. They'd just been so busy at the bakery it had slipped her mind. She scrolled her apps as they walked through the bakery.

‘Erin?' Holding open the door, Wendy frowned.

‘Sorry, what was that?' Stepping outside onto the cobbles, she was glad of the slight breeze rolling in from the ocean after what had been a very warm day. ‘Thanks.'

‘Is Tim meeting us at the pub?' Wendy locked the door behind them.

Slipping her mobile into the pocket of her dress, Erin turned her attention to Wendy and Daisy. Kyle could wait. ‘Yes, he is. How about Connor and Ollie?'

‘Ah yes, they're already there. They met up for a drink and chat beforehand.' Daisy smiled.

‘It should be a good one tonight. Connor heard that Gerald, the pub landlord, has some exciting news to tell us all.'

‘Oh really? That's not like Gerald to be secretive.' Daisy frowned. ‘I wonder what that could be.'

‘No idea. Maybe he's decided to change the pub quiz prize or something.' Wendy shrugged.

‘Or get rid of the prize completely.' Daisy laughed.

‘Oh yes, now that would be very Gerald.' Wendy grinned as they turned up the hill. ‘You'll know what we mean when you meet him, Erin.'

Erin tapped her pocket, making sure her phone was still there. ‘He sounds fun.'

‘He is. Just more than a little stingy. I think it gives him a cold sweat when our team win as there's so many of us on the team, it's a lot of free drinks to give away.' Wendy shook her head.

‘Haha, yes, I'm actually surprised he's not capped the number of people in each team.' Daisy pointed towards the pub ahead of them. ‘That's Tim, isn't it?'

Looking towards where Daisy had pointed, Erin nodded. ‘Yep, that's him.'

‘We'll catch you up in there, then. We'll be at the table by the window.' Wendy waved towards one of the pub windows.

‘Yes, you won't miss us. And don't worry about grabbing a drink, Teresa will have the cocktails ready.' Daisy grinned as they walked inside.

Erin nodded before turning to Tim. ‘Hi.'

‘Hey. How's your day been?' Pushing himself off the table he was sitting at, Tim held his arms out for her.

Stepping forward, she sank into his embrace and frowned. As his arms wrapped around her, all she could think about was the conversation she'd had with Diane and Brooke earlier. ‘Great. Busy, but it's been fun getting to know the locals.'

‘They're a good bunch, aren't they?' Dropping his arms, Tim pulled open the door, waiting for her to go through first.

The air from the pub was heavy with the fragrance of stale beer and a mixture of sun cream and people's perfumes and aftershaves wafted around her as she walked inside. The pub was packed. Every table full, with groups of people hovering by the bar as well. The pub quiz must be a popular night. ‘How about you?'

Tim ran the palm of his hand over his face. ‘It's been okay, thanks.'

Pausing, she turned and looked at him. He was normally the positive one of the two of them. Something wasn't right. ‘Only okay? What's happened?'

‘I don't think you'd believe me if I told you.' Tim grimaced.

‘Of course I would. Try me.' She glanced across at the table by the window where the bakery family was sitting before taking his arm and pulling him towards a door with a Toilets sign above. Pulling it open, she let him walk ahead of her, grateful that it had opened up to a small hallway leading to some stairs up to the toilets rather than straight through to them. She closed the door behind them, shutting out the hubbub of the pub before turning to him. ‘What's going on? Something's happened.'

Tim looked down at the red, garish carpet before meeting her gaze. ‘Susie visited.'

Opening and closing her mouth, Erin tried to make sense of what Tim had just said. ‘Susie? She came all the way from London to see you? Was it planned? How did it go? Why...?'

Tim held his hand up, palm forward, slowing her questions. ‘No, it wasn't planned. It was a complete surprise when she I opened my front door, and she was standing there. Apparently, she's on some girlie holiday down this way and made a detour to see me.'

‘Oh right. That makes more sense.' Erin shook her head. ‘No, it doesn't, actually. You and Susie are over. You've been over for months. Why would she want to visit you?'

Tim shrugged and looked away. ‘She asked me if I'd get back with her.'

‘Okay.' Erin looked at him. He was jumpy. Not his usual confident self. ‘And are you?'

‘No! Mine and Susie's relationship didn't work then, and it won't work now. The reasons we split up are still there.'

‘Of course.' Yes, they were. Tim hadn't changed as a person, and she was sure Susie hadn't either. Although Susie had always been nice to her and had appeared to dote on Tim, and Erin had never been that sure why they'd broken up in the first place. Something he'd never really spoken about, even to Erin. ‘Do you want to go back to yours to chat or take a walk along the beach?'

Tim shook his head. ‘No, I'd rather forget about the whole thing and join in with the pub quiz.'

‘Yes, something to take your mind off it. Good idea.' She pulled open the door into the main room before glancing at him. ‘Though, you know I'm always here if you need to talk, right?'

‘I know.' Running his fingers through his hair, Tim nodded before following her.

Pausing, she glanced back at him as something occurred to her. ‘Had that been Susie on the phone last night, at the restaurant?'

‘Yes, she'd said she wanted to talk but I didn't realise she was down this way.'

‘Right.' Erin nodded. Why did she still have the distinct feeling he was hiding something from her?