Page 40 of My Summer of Magic Moments

‘Yes. Fine.’ Her voice came out high-pitched.

And now he was staring back at her … a little too intently. Were they going to go over old ground? Would it work out this time? And if things were going the way it looked like they very much were, she’d have to tell him this time. About her scars. So it would all be out in the open, so to speak, as her bra came off. Forewarned was forearmed and all that. But God Almighty, what would he think?

He leaned forward and softly, surprisingly, touched his nose against hers and then tilted his face so their lips brushed teasingly. Wow, that was sending shivers everywhere. Uh-oh, warning bells were clamouring, as well as the air-punch she was mentally making. Could this really be about to happen? Oh yes … The kiss deepened. Then she forgot to think and just let her lips take her to somewhere else. A longing swirled inside and her hand found its way to the soft curls of hair at the back of his neck.

Wow! As they pulled away, Claire recognized the music playing from the small speaker he’d brought out earlier. It was Coldplay, ‘The Scientist’.

‘Ah, I so love this song.’

And suddenly all she wanted to do in this world was dance. She stood up and swayed to and fro, as he watched her, softly smiling.

‘Would you care to dance?’ she enquired as if they were in a 50s dance hall. It would be so lovely to be in his arms, slowly moving to the rhythm of one of her favourite songs. It had been such a perfect night so far.

He looked a little taken aback. Then he smiled. ‘Yes, why not? Though I’ll warn you now, I’m not really much of a dancer.’ He stood up to join her and held her rather formally, one palm against hers and an arm round her back. It felt somewhat stiff.

‘Hang on … on the beach. I want to feel the sand under my feet.’ She had already kicked off her sandals and discarded them under the table before dessert. Ed was in flip-flops, which he slid out of.

‘Okay then,’ and he led her the few metres out through his garden gate down to the sands. ‘Better?’

It was darker out here, but she could see well enough to witness his wry grin that said he was going along with it just to please her.

‘Better.’

She felt his arms close round her, and they danced slowly to the remainder of the Coldplay song, then to the next, Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’, with the feel of the sand under their feet, the stars above them and the hush of the waves on the shore, his arms wound around her waist and her head nestled against his shoulder. It was chillier out here with the breeze from the sea, and he pulled her in even closer. It felt like she had come home.

As the music paused between tracks, they stood staring at each other in the half-light. He dipped his head towards her and she leaned up for the most exquisite kiss. Tender, passionate, stirring every sense in her body. Oh, what a night. And she had the feeling that it wasn’t going to end here.

As the kiss began to ease, reality moved in. Surely he wouldn’t back out this time?

Okay, okay, so she was going to have to tell him.

‘Ed …’ She pulled away, felt a trembling in her hands as they fell away from his neck. Oh, sweet Jesus, she’d never had to say this to anyone before. ‘Ed, umm … before this goes any further. That’s if this is going the way I think it’s going –’ She managed a nervous laugh. ‘Well, there’s something I have to tell you.’

‘Okay.’ He looked watchful. ‘Fire away.’

‘Well …’ God, this was so awkward. Nothing like killing the moment. But she knew she’d feel better if it was said. How he would react was another matter. ‘Well, you know I’ve not been well.’

‘Yes.’

‘Breast cancer.’

‘Yes … Oh God, you are okay, aren’t you?’ Fear rippled through his tone, his eyes still on her. ‘It hasn’t come back or anything, has it?’

‘No, no. Thank God. But it’s just … it’s left scars. Bad scars.’ There, it was said. She bumbled on. ‘The left breast. I don’t look normal there any more.’ She gulped back a knot in her throat. It wasn’t like this in romantic movies, where their bodies were perfect and they tumbled into bed and lived happily ever after. But there, she’d told him.

‘Oh, I see.’ Silence.

She didn’t know how to gauge his reaction. It looked like he was thinking, processing the information. ‘I didn’t want it to be a shock. If you want to change your mind …’

‘Hey, I’m not that shallow.’

‘No, but … Well, it’s not pretty, by any means.’

‘Okay.’

‘Sorry to kill the romance and all that.’ Her voice dipped. ‘It’s been worrying me.’

And suddenly his arms were round her once more, strong, protective – dare she hope … loving? ‘Hey,’ he said quietly, holding her close. She felt his hand rubbing her back in a slow, soothing motion and relaxed into him. A few moments later he pulled back to speak. ‘And I thought maybe you were going to be the one to run this time.’ He smiled with humour and understanding.