Page 23 of September’s Tide (Island Tales #2)
Chapter Sixteen
“Admiring our view?”
David turned to find Valerie approaching, a tray balanced in her hands, laden with coffee cups and saucers, a tall white pot patterned with old-fashioned roses, a sugar bowl, and a jug of milk. He moved quickly to take it from her, setting it down gently on the coffee table.
Valerie’s smile widened. “I do like a man with manners.” Her eyes, so unmistakably Taylor’s, gleamed with quiet amusement. David felt a flush crawl up his neck. Manners had been drilled into him early by his mother, and he supposed they stuck harder than most things.
As he walked to the bay window, the clink of china told him she’d begun pouring. He gazed out at the garden again. “You have a beautiful home, Valerie.” He imagined a much-younger Taylor running across the grass, climbing the gnarled oak, that battered old swing squealing under his weight.
She came to stand beside him and passed him a cup, the scent of coffee rising to tease his nostrils.
“We love it here. We bought the place when Joseph—our eldest—was only four.” She nodded toward the mantel.
David followed her glance to the photos lined neatly along the shelf.
He noticed a tall man with a soft expression, in his mid-thirties perhaps.
“Joseph’s based in Edinburgh now. He gets down here two or three times a year. You just missed him, actually.”
She stepped forward and picked up another photo in a silver frame. “And this is Mary, our other daughter. She and her husband Chris live in Llandudno. That’s a lovely part of North Wales. They’re overdue a visit, if you ask me.” Her voice held a note of longing.
David took the picture from her, noting Mary’s cheerful face, her husband’s arm slung proudly around her. “All the chicks have flown the nest, huh?”
Valerie’s smile was wistful. “Exactly. It’s strange, having a quiet house again. At least Brian’s been staying with us lately. It’s been nice having one of them back, even if he might not agree.” She laughed quietly.
“I’m sure he appreciates it more than he lets on,” David reassured her. Another flicker of that familiar parental approval crossed her face, and it warmed him.
“I only hope his new place isn’t too far.” She glanced toward the kitchen. “We do like to keep them close, if we can.”
David chuckled. “That’s something I’ve noticed about this island. Taylor was talking the other day about going ‘all the way to Newport’ , and I thought it must be some epic trek across counties. Turns out it’s a twenty-minute drive.”
Valerie laughed, clearly amused. “Yes, we do tend to make a fuss over short distances. Not quite like New York, I imagine?”
He gave her a look. “Not quite.”
She took the photo back, returning it with care to its original place. Then she lingered at the final one, a solo portrait of Taylor, smiling slightly, his hair windswept, that unmistakable sparkle in his eyes. Valerie stroked a finger across the edge of the frame.
“Your baby, right?”
She jerked her head up, her eyes shining. “Yes. Always has been, and I suspect always will be. Though I don’t think he sees it that way.”
David chuckled. “I hate to tell you, but he could be forty with three kids and he’d still be your baby.”
She gave a knowing smile, her eyes never leaving the photo. “You like him.”
It wasn’t a question. David didn’t pretend to misunderstand.
“Yes.” He answered honestly, simply. Taylor made him laugh, made him feel relaxed in a way few people did. He was sweet, sincere, and frustratingly beautiful.
Valerie’s smile softened. “Has he shown you his poetry?”
David blinked. “Taylor writes poetry?”
She nodded, crossing to the bookcase beside the hearth. “He started writing it a few years back. He’s always been a little embarrassed by it. He doesn’t like to talk about it much.” She ran her fingers along the spines, searching.
David was stunned. In two weeks, Taylor hadn’t breathed a word.
“He never said anything.”
Valerie’s smile turned mischievous. “Brian had a little collection printed for us last year. Nothing fancy, just so we had them.” She plucked a slim, spiral-bound volume from the shelf and turned to him. “You can borrow this, if you like.”
David took it carefully. The cover simply read: Taylor Monroe – a poetry collection . It hit him unexpectedly hard, seeing Taylor’s name there, somehow so intimate, almost vulnerable. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t offer if I weren’t.” She returned to her seat. “How long are you staying on the island?”
“A little over two more weeks.” He tucked the little book reverently into his jacket pocket. “Should I tell Taylor I’ve got this?”
Valerie’s cheeks pinked. “Best not. He’d only squirm.”
David’s brow furrowed. “Then how do I return it?”
“Oh, I’m sure we’ll see each other again.” She sipped her coffee, her eyes twinkling. “Besides, you haven’t met my mother-in-law yet.”
David gave a mock grimace. “Ah, yes. Taylor mentioned her.”
That sent Valerie off into a peal of laughter. “I can imagine. She’s staying with my sister-in-law Pauline in Yarmouth. She needed a change of scene. Brian can be a bit much for her.” Valerie chuckled.
“Yarmouth’s lovely,” David mused. “We spent a day there last week. I’ll tell Taylor I’ve got an invite.”
At the sound of laughter coming from the hallway, David tucked the poetry book deeper into his pocket. He patted it.
“Thanks for this, Valerie. Really.”
She leaned in slightly, her voice lower. “I warn you, though. It might make you see Taylor in a different light.”
David smiled. “I’ll take that risk.”
And truth be told? He was already halfway there.
“So, little brother.” Brian took the dried plate from Taylor and slotted it into the cupboard. “That’s him, huh?”
Taylor snorted. “Nope. Totally different American. I picked this one up at the airport just for a laugh.” He rolled his eyes and grabbed a coffee mug from the rack. “Yes, of course that’s him.”
Brian grinned. “Well, clearly good taste runs in the family. I mean, look at Deb and Ciaran—absolute stunners. And now David.”
Taylor paused mid-wipe. “Wait, you think David’s a stunner?”
Brian shrugged, looking smug. “Okay, maybe not red-carpet-ready, but yeah, he’s attractive.
Rugged. Thoughtful. A bit of silver fox action happening.
” He preened. “And yeah, I’m secure enough to say it.
” He gave Taylor a knowing sideways glance.
“And you think he’s attractive too. Don’t bother pretending. ”
Taylor rolled his eyes again. “Why would I lie?”
“I have to ask, though...” Brian leaned in, glancing theatrically toward the kitchen door. “How old is he? Is he, like… Dad’s age?”
Taylor stared. “Jesus, Brian. Dad’s pushing sixty. Does David look sixty to you?”
“I don’t know,” Brian said breezily. “Maybe he’s seventy-three and a vampire. Or he’s got a creepy portrait hidden in the attic like Dorian Gray. You know, in that film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .”
Taylor blinked. “You think my boyfriend is either undead or a morally bankrupt immortal with a cursed painting? Those are your go-to theories?”
Brian’s eyes gleamed. “I work with what I’ve got. It was a spur-of-the-moment observation.”
“He’s forty-six,” Taylor muttered. “Happy now?”
Brian grinned. “Oh, I’m very happy. Actually, I’m way more than happy.”
Taylor narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”
Brian’s grin widened. “You seriously can’t see it, can you?”
“See what , you idiot?”
“Taylor,” their mum said as she entered the kitchen, “don’t call your brother an idiot.”
“But he is ?—”
“He’s your brother,” she said with a pointed look. “Which means he deserves a baseline level of respect. Even if he’s being a little... trying.” Her lips twitched.
Taylor sighed and shoved the tea towel into Brian’s hands. “Here. You finish drying. I need to leave before I commit fratricide.”
He strode into the lounge, still bristling with annoyance, only to find David laughing with his dad, both of them relaxed, smiling like old friends. The sight cooled him instantly.
Brian’s full of crap. He’s just trying to get under my skin.
And it had definitely worked.
David looked up as Taylor entered, and his whole face lit up. “Hey,” he said, his eyes warm. “Your dad’s been telling me all about your childhood adventures.”
Taylor groaned inwardly. He scanned the room with suspicion.
“What are you looking for?” his dad asked, amused.
“The baby photo albums,” Taylor said warily. “Just wondering if we’ve hit that phase yet.”
“Oh!” Mum said brightly, appearing behind him like some sort of nostalgic ninja. “That’s a great idea. David, you’d love them. He was such a gorgeous baby.”
Taylor turned slowly to David, shooting him a silent plea.
Don’t you dare say yes.
David caught the look and offered a faintly apologetic smile. “I’m sure he was. But honestly, I think he looks better now. Maybe we could save that for another visit?”
Bless him.
Relief washed through Taylor like a tidal wave. He made a mental note to thank David properly.
Preferably somewhere private.
And far, far away from his family.