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Looking at the children, I felt a lump in my throat. They were so beautiful. How could Olivia––? I shook my head to rid it of such negative thoughts.

‘Can I have a hug then?’

They both came to me and hugged my legs. Glancing towards Dawn, it was obvious that she was affected too.

‘I think they like you,’ she whispered.

A shadow fell across the doorway. Looking up I saw Adrian. He hadn’t changed; he was quite tall–beefy in fact–dark haired and hazel eyed. He was considered quite a catch for Dawn. He used to play rugby and had the muscles and broken nose to prove it.

‘Hello, Samantha,’ he said, a slight frown on his face as he took in someone he had last seen wearing a suit and tie.

‘Hi, Adrian,’ I said, standing up.

And now the story continues…

‘Come on, children,’ I said taking my eyes away from Adrian’s rather strange look, ‘let’s go in.’

I followed Dawn who had gone charging ahead with children who had run in after her. I could hear Adrian behind me. I didn’t want to look at him. I was confused and did not know how to take the look that he had given me.

Dawn and the children were in the kitchen; the children–still a bit shy of me–were hanging off her skirt.

‘Right,’ I said, trying to get a grip, ‘who wants a lolly on a hot day like this?’

‘Meee, please!’ said Timothy and Hayley almost together, automatically coming out of their shell at the promise of goodies.

‘Come on then, let’s raid the freezer!’

The kids, all thoughts of shyness overcome by the thoughts of lollies followed me to the freezer and after a few minutes, they were happily licking away and oblivious to anything else.

‘Tea, coffee, or something stronger?’ I said to Dawn.

‘Tea would be nice,’ said Dawn.

‘Erm, Adrian?’ I said not really looking at him.

‘Tea would be nice.’

‘Okay; two teas coming up. Why don’t you take the children into the sitting room, I’ll be there in a jiffy.’

‘Come on, kids,’ said Adrian,’ let’s go and sit down.’

I was busy with cups and saucers, kettle and such like and jumped slightly at a touch on my elbow.

‘Samantha?’

I looked up, tears in my eyes. ‘What, Dawn?’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘H…he hates me.’ I sniffed.

‘Who?’

‘Adrian. I saw that look he gave me–’

‘–What look?’

‘A sort of a “can’t believe what I’m seeing”, look.’

‘Do you really believe that?’

‘Yes.’

She looked a bit stern. I knew that look. It was one she had when we were young where she was going to have a go at me. ‘What utter rubbish. Wait here…oh and it’s one lump for him and two for me,’ she said as an afterthought as she left the room.

I carried on being busy, crashing crockery and generally making a bit of a mess of things. A bit like my life really; I couldn’t make my marriage work and I had made a mess of trying to get to know my brother-in-law–

‘Samantha.’

I dropped a cup on the floor. It shattered into little pieces. I felt sick to my stomach and there was Adrian, seeing me at my worst. I was willing to bet my makeup was running down my face.

‘I—I’ve broken it now!’

He held my arms.

‘Look at me, please.’

I looked up and saw his face. He didn’t look horrified.

‘Sam, I’m sorry if I have done something wrong––’

‘It—it’s not you, it’s me. I expected that everything would be all right. That the children and you would l—like me and that I could have a family again. I shouldn’t expect everyone to think I’m n—normal.’

‘Please stop crying, you silly goose. I think you’re lovely and sweet. There was always something about you that I couldn’t pin down. Sit down here.’

He plonked me down on a kitchen stool and sat next to me. He held on to my hand and I thought that it was rather nice of him to do that. Perhaps he didn’t think I was such a bad person after all.

‘Right; I’m sorry if I gave the wrong impression when you opened the door to us. I admit I was curious as to how you would look. Dawn told me that you were very pretty but all I could see in my mind’s eye was Tom in a dress. I know it was stupid of me, but that’s the only way I remember you–as Tom. When I saw you, I couldn’t believe it. There you were, standing there with gorgeous long hair, slim and shapely legs, wearing a dress that seemed like it was made for you; makeup that really brought out your looks and an impression that you had only ever been a woman and never a man and I, for once, was speechless.’

I looked into his eyes. As an artist, I knew a lot about eyes. They are the windows of the soul. I could see that he was telling me the truth and I was so happy inside that my fears and worries had been groundless.

‘So, I don’t look like a drag artist?’

He laughed and pulled me up.

‘You are a silly goose! You are very pretty and feminine and you know it.’ he said as he gave me a wonderful hug!

I cleaned up the broken cup while Adrian finished off making the teas; then we both went into the sitting room. By the red juice marks around two certain faces, I saw that the lollies had been an instant hit.

‘All okay?’ Dawn asked.

‘Yes. It was just me being silly.’

‘Nothing new there, Samantha.’

‘Pig,’ I said, poking out my tongue at her. That set off Tim and Hayley and we all laughed out loud.

After things had settled down a bit and we had drunk our teas. I took them on a short tour of my cottage. There were general oohs and aahs as I showed them around. Then I showed them my studio with the lovely views of the cove and then the kids started jumping up and down when they saw the beaches.

‘Can we go to the beach, Mummy, please!’

‘I want a bucket and spade.’

‘Can I make a sand castle?’

‘I want to swim,’

‘STOP!’ Dawn had held up her hand and the children just stood there, looking at their mother with a slightly worried look on their faces.

‘Right, you two; we’re here to see your auntie and nothing else. If, and I repeat, IF you’re very, very good and do as you are told, we might, and I repeat, might go to the beach for a while later, but only if you are the best boy and girl in the world and don’t drive me bonkers; understood?’

‘Yes, mummy.’

‘All right, mummy, but––’

‘–No buts, Hayley. That’s the deal, take it or leave it.’

Tim and Hayley looked at each other and made some sort of unsaid agreement with their eyebrows and then just nodded.

‘Right, we’ll see if you can be good for five minutes.’

‘Children, would you like to do some drawing and see who can do the nicest picture of the beach?’

‘Yes please, auntie,’ replied Hayley who appeared to be the leader of the gang.

‘Right then, come and sit at the table and using this paper and these pencils let’s see what you can draw for us.’

They rushed over, sat down and were soon engrossed in their task, leaving us adults to sit and drink our tea in peace.

‘It’s lovely here,’ sighed Dawn, looking across the cove and out to sea. ‘I told you Adrian, didn’t I? It’s a gorgeous spot.’

‘I know love, but the price of houses would be horrendous here and I don’t think we could afford somewhere in a place like this.’ He looked rather sad.

‘Look, Adrian, I know someone who might help and just finding out prices wouldn’t do any harm, would it? I’ve seen a few for sale signs up, what with the credit crunch and everything, there are more properties about than you think.’

‘Go on, Ade, let her talk to her friend.’

‘Oh, all right then.’ He sighed. ‘How can I resist two lovely women!’

Dawn and I looked at each other and giggled and then I picked up my phone and speed dialled.

‘Hi Millie, it’s Sam…yes, you too. Look, I have my sister and brother-in-law here and they want to know how horrendously expensive houses are here. Can I pass you over to Adrian? Okay, chow.’

I passed my mobile to Adrian and he was soon into property-speak, leaving Dawn and I to talk as we looked out over the balcony at the lively seaside scene below.

‘Oh, it’s a marvellous place you have here Samantha. You’re so lucky, I’d love to live in a place like this rather than on a boring “eighties” estate in the middle of town.’

‘Yes, it would be wonderful to have you near. The local primary school is small and has a great reputation so the kids will be okay. I’ve made lots of friends very quickly and I’m sure you would as well. And, of course you’d have a babysitter who was local and very reasonably priced.’

‘Who?’ she said looking puzzled.

‘Me of course!’

We both laughed and then chatted some more, while Adrian got deeper and deeper into the clutches of Millie. I had seen her work and she could sell sand to the Saudis, so I had little doubt that she would come up with the ideal place for them to look at.

I left Dawn to drink in the view and her dreams of moving while I went over to Hayley and Timothy. I was interested in how far they had got in their depiction of the quintessential seaside view. I was surprised as they both did quite a good job. Alright it was a bit Lowry with a seaside flavour, all matchstick men and matchstick cats and dogs, but still, they had done very well. *

Adrian got off the phone and came over. Dawn joined us and we all said how well the children had done with their drawings.

‘Right,’ I said,’ let’s see who can do the nicest drawing of my cottage.’

Like a pair of Van Gogh’s on steroids, they were soon feverishly drawing their next masterpieces leaving us olds to talk property.

‘What did Millie say?’ I asked.

‘She seemed to think that she had at least three ideal properties that we would be mad to not see,’ said Adrian. ‘She’s a bit intense,’ he added.

‘Yes, she is a bit full frontal, but she wouldn’t sell you something awful. She knows her stuff.’

‘Well,’ said Adrian, ‘she’s sending me through some details and will be arranging some viewings next week. I’ll find out what we can get for a quick sale of our place and that will give us an idea as to how much we can afford.’

‘That’s great; it would be lovely to move here, Ade,’ sighed Dawn.

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,’ he said giving her a bit of a hug.

We sat in the other side of the room from the children so we could talk without being overheard. I was amazed that Hayley and Tim were so engrossed in what they were doing and supposed that artistic nature can be in the blood. Anyway, while there was relative peace and quiet, Dawn and Adrian sort of quizzed me about what had been going on in my life.

‘Well.’ I said, ‘everything has been happening so fast…’

I told them everything that had happened to me in the short time that I had lived here–Jocasta and David taking me under their wing; Katie and her efforts to thwart the evil Olivia and Nigel; Millie finding me a lovely home and gallery…and then, as the children were still busy, I took a deep breath and told them about Abby.

They both listened in silence and I wasn’t sure how they were going to take it.

‘I love Abby and I want to spend the rest of my life with her, but we aren’t silly kids and we know that we have to be careful and not hurt one another, so we are taking one step at a time.’

They were quiet for a moment and then looked at each other. Dawn looked at the children and then leaned closer.

‘So, how good is she in bed?’

‘Dawn!’

That broke any perceived ice I felt. They accepted me and my relationship for what it was and I was so glad that they didn’t have any hang-ups over it.

The day went very well. We all praised Hayley and Tim for their drawings and, to this day, they have pride of place in my studio.

Later on, as promised, we went to the beach and everyone had their fix of sand. Being an old sweat, I wasn’t that interested in sand and beaches. I was a local now and I was feeling a bit blasé about it all. Hayley and Timothy changed all that when they roped me in to make sandcastles with them. Then I was buried up to my neck in sand and that was an experience I hadn’t had since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

All too soon it was time for them to go. I hugged Dawn and Adrian and then got wet kisses from Hayley and Timothy and then, a bit tearfully, I was waiving them goodbye. I wasn’t too upset though as I was going to see them again next weekend when they came house hunting and also I was looking forward to introducing them to Abby…talking of which––

I sat down on a bench overlooking the harbour and rang her.

‘Hi, Abby, it’s me.’

‘Hello, you. How did it go?’

‘Oh, better than I thought. I was worrying about nothing. They all accepted me and we had a lovely time. They’re dying to meet you and are coming back next weekend to view some properties and hopefully see you.’

‘Oh that’s great. I’ve been so worried; I haven’t been able to throw a good pot all day.’

‘Where are you love?’

‘Still working, but I’ll be finished here soon. What about a pasty and drink at the Toad and Tart in about thirty minutes?’

‘Sounds great. Look, I’m on the bench opposite the post office, I’ll wait for you here.’

‘Okay, love, see you in a bit.’

I put my phone back in my bag and just sat there smiling to myself. Life was good.

After a few minutes, I sensed someone sitting down beside me. I looked at him. He was quite tall, good looking, with dark hair. He smiled gently at me and I smiled back and then looked away. I wasn’t into men and anyway, even if I was, I was taken.

‘Lovely day,’ he said.

‘Mmm,’ I said, not wanting to encourage him.

‘Nigel sends his regards.’

My head snapped around.

‘W—what?’

He looked at me and then I noticed his steely grey eyes.

‘Nigel asked me to give you a message. He’s not very happy about how things have turned out. He feels that you haven’t quite got the message. He asked me to clarify things for you.’

‘What do you mean?’

My heart was doing flip flops and I was breaking out into a sweat. I felt so vulnerable sitting there, and didn’t know whether to scream, run or just wait and hear what this person had to say. In the end I had no choice as he gripped my arm tightly.

‘Don’t scream or shout, Tom. We don’t want a scene, do we?’

He was still talking as if I was a friendly acquaintance and anyone looking at us would think that nothing was wrong. Fear made me dumb so I couldn’t speak, let alone do anything else.

‘Nigel feels that it would be best for you, Olivia and the baby for you to return home. He believes that you don’t really know your own mind and when you’ve had time to reflect, you’ll realise that it makes sense for you to return to the real world. This is the only time that you will have this advice. You have two days to think things over and come to your senses, after that, things might get a little–difficult. I’ll leave you now. Oh, and by the way, tell anyone about this conversation and things might start happening. Goodbye, Tom–oh, I like those children; Dawn’s aren’t they?’

He got up and left. At no time had he raised his voice or shown any outward signs of aggression, but I knew he meant every single word he had said and that was what started me shaking.

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To Be Continued...

*At the seaside by L S Lowry

Please leave comments...thanks! ~Sue

My thanks go to the brilliant and lovely Gabi for editing and pulling the story into shape.