Page 144 of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Her heart thudded; so he had got the invitation. But had decided against coming. Mike moved closer to her; he must have known what she was feeling. She looked at him sadly. We tried, Dad, she wanted to tell him. At least we tried.

‘I was,’ she said in a small voice.

‘Oh dear,’ Beatrice frowned. ‘Have we missed it? Adam, darling, I’m sorry, this is all my fault.’

Clare blinked at her, looked at Adam. ‘So you were coming?’

‘Yes,’ Adam began before his mum jumped in.

‘Of course we were!’ said Beatrice. ‘My granddaughter’s first birthday party? Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’

‘Except that apparently we did,’ said Adam softly, holding Clare’s gaze. ‘And I’m sorry.’

‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Clare. ‘You were going to come, that’s what counts.’

‘The thing is, I’m back in Bath now and Angel’s gone away. It was only when her neighbour came in to feed the cat that she found the invite,’ he explained. ‘Angel relayed the message to me this morning, but I’d promised to pick mum up from the airport. Then she insisted on getting Ivy a present and here we are.’

‘Here we are,’ Clare repeated. Her heart had edged past thudding and was full on galloping now.

He’d come. He’d only got the message this morning and yet he’d come. With his mother. She gave herself a shake; she didn’t know yet whether he was coming just to see Ivy or Ivy and Clare. But she had to find out before she embarrassed herself. She tried and failed to read his expression. Did he have feelings for her, as she did for him?

‘Well, I’m sorry, but I couldn’t turn up empty-handed, could I? Has all the cake gone?’ Beatrice asked.

Clare shook her head. Never knowingly under-catered, that was one of Liz’s mottos.

‘Excellent! Then the party’s not over. Besides, Ivy hasn’t had her gifts yet.’ Beatrice turned towards the car. ‘Come on, everyone, chop-chop.’

‘We need to talk,’ said Adam and Clare at exactly the same time.

Beatrice’s shoulders sagged. ‘Can’t it wait? It’s just that I’ve been dying for a wee for the last five miles and, at my age, that’s quite a feat. I’m not sure I can hold it much longer.’

‘Oh God.’ Adam pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘TMI, Mother.’

‘Don’t be silly,’ she said in a no-nonsense tone. ‘You’re a father now, you need to get used to these things.’

‘Might I make a suggestion?’ said Mike. ‘Beatrice, why don’t you hop in with me and I’ll take you to the party. Leave these youngsters to talk.’

‘Perfect!’ Beatrice grabbed her bag from Adam’s car and dived straight into the Range Rover. ‘And if the worst comes to the worst, I’ve got my She-Wee with me and I’m a terrific aim.’

‘Good to know,’ Mike said bravely.

Mike and Beatrice pulled out into the traffic and headed back towards Salcombe.

‘Alone at last,’ said Adam theatrically, but his beautiful blue-green eyes were smiling.

‘Indeed,’ Clare swallowed, aware her voice was trembling with nerves.

‘I had my suspicions,’ said Adam. ‘But I didn’t dare say anything in case I was wrong.’

‘About Ivy being yours?’

He nodded. ‘There was quite a big clue in the name.’

She bit her lip; she’d always wondered about the wisdom of naming their baby after the place she’d been conceived. ‘The Ivy Hotel and Spa where we met. Too cheesy?’

‘It suits her.’ He took a step closer. ‘It’s lovely. Although I’m glad I didn’t meet you in the Winking Prawn.’

Clare tipped her head back and laughed. ‘Me too.’