Page 41 of The Summer Escape

“I guess we’ll still be on holiday, so we won’t be able to.”

“The only other thing is that we need to arrange for the doctor to visit to review your father’s medications. But it’s best if you’re here for that, so I guess we’d need to hold off on that for now.”

“Do I really need to be there in person? I’m happy to speak to the doctor over the phone.”

“It’s possible, but if the doctor needs to change any of the medicines we really need you here to discuss that and sign off on it.”

“Would a video call suffice?” she asked, pacing the patio.

“Not if changes are needed to his medications. Then you’d need to be here in person. That’s the protocol. There are safeguarding measures we need to adhere to. I’m sure you understand.”

“Yes. Sure.” Beth’s voice was strained as she spoke through gritted teeth. “Why don’t you arrange for the doctor to visit, and if anything needs to be changed,thenwe can discuss a time for me to be there. Would that work?”

“Yes. We can do that,” the woman said, her voice surprisingly calm considering Beth’s hostile tone. “I appreciate this is a difficult situation, and I know it’s been a difficult time for you. You have my sympathies.”

“I needed a break,” she said, sinking onto the nearest chair and feeling like the worst daughter in the world. “Is it so bad for me to want a holiday?”

“Of course not,” Maureen said. “Let me set up the doctor’s visit and we’ll go from there.”

“Thank you,” she whispered before ending the call.

Ellie called out to her, wanting her to look at the bubbles she was blowing with the bubble mixture Mirren had given her. Forcing a smile, Beth watched her jumping to pop them as they floated around her, spilling bubble mixture from the tube in the process.

The phone call played on her mind. It was difficult to relax and enjoy the scenery now, when all she could think about was what a terrible daughter she was. Whether her dad knew who Beth was or not was irrelevant; he was her responsibility. She’d left him so she could indulge in some extended holiday which she’d convinced herself she was owed.

She was forty years old and acting like a carefree teenager. Staring out to sea, she realised she needed to start acting like the responsible adult she was supposed to be.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Beth hadn’t seen Trystan approach. Startled, she jerked her head up from her phone to be met by his smiling face.

“What are you engrossed in?” he asked, tipping his head towards her phone.

She set it face down on the patio table. “Nothing.” Actually, she’d been checking her options for getting back to Plymouth and trying to decide on the best course of action.

“Is my mum here?”

“No …” It took her a moment to remember where Mirren was. “She went to Bryher for the day.”

“I’d have come over earlier if I’d realised.” He quirked an eyebrow and pulled a chair over to sit beside Beth. After glancing at Ellie at the other side of the garden, he put a hand on top of Beth’s in her lap. “I was thinking maybe we could do something this evening. There’s a quiz at the pub. Noah and Keira are going, so I thought we could join them if you fancy it?”

“I can’t ask your mum to look after Ellie,” she said, her whole body tensing.

“You won’t need to. I’ll just mention it in front of her and she’ll insist you come too.”

Pulling her hand away from his, she sat up straighter. “I can’t go to the pub with you.”

“Okay. We don’t need to go to the pub. We can go for a walk … or hang out at my place?”

She rubbed at her forehead. “I can’t leave my daughter to sneak off and have sex with you.”

His brow wrinkled. “That’s not what I—”

“I think I gave you the wrong idea. The other night I’d had some wine and I was feeling vulnerable …”

His hand rested on her knee as he looked at her in confusion. “That’s not what happened.”

“Please stop,” she hissed through gritted teeth.