Page 51 of The Summer Escape

“I like the cups, Mummy,” Ellie said. “That one’s got a puffin on it like we saw.”

“They’re gorgeous,” Beth replied. “Just don’t touch them.”

Focused on finding his brother, Trystan wandered towards the workshop. Surprise flashed in Lowen’s features when he walked out from the back. He tipped his chin at Beth before returning his attention to Trystan.

“I didn’t know you were coming over today.”

“I messaged you.”

“You said youmightcome. I didn’t know it was definite.”

Trystan shook his head, annoyed. “I messaged you this morning to say I was about to set off.”

“I didn’t see that.” He glanced around as though looking for his phone. “I’ve got loads of work on at the moment.”

“You always have,” Trystan said, not managing to disguise his bitterness and worrying that bringing Beth and Ellie along had been a bad idea.

“Jenny emailed me, asking for a set of dishes for her new place. You two are definitely over then?”

“Yeah. I told you that months ago.”

“I didn’t know if you’d finally get around to proposing and everything would be fixed.”

“Obviously not,” he said in a low growl, then turned to Beth, who was lingering behind him. When he introduced her, Lowen’s eyebrows rose.

“Sorry. I didn’t realise you were together.” He winced. “Together in the shop, I mean.”

“Mummy,” Ellie said. “Can I have this cup with the puffin on it?”

She had it in her hands as she walked over to them, and Beth lurched for it when it slipped through her fingers. It had no chance against the stone floor and broke into two large pieces and several smaller ones.

“I told you not to touch!” Beth hissed, which immediately brought tears to Ellie’s eyes.

“It’s okay,” Lowen said, but was drowned out by Ellie’s crying.

Beth glanced up at him apologetically. “I’ll pay for it.”

“It’s broken,” Ellie wailed.

“It’s okay,” Beth soothed. “It was an accident.”

“But it’s broken.”

“Choose another one,” Trystan told her.

“I’m so sorry,” Beth said, picking up the pieces.

Lowen shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s only a mug; there are plenty more.”

“I’ll pay for it,” Beth said again, as she wiped tears from Ellie’s cheeks. “You can choose another one too.”

“You don’t need to pay for it,” Lowen said as they went to look for another one.

Ellie’s crying got louder as Beth suggested other mugs she might like. It seemed the one she’d broken was the only one she wanted. Since they were handmade, they were all slightly different, and that was the only one with a puffin on it. The crying showed no signs of abating and nothing Beth or Trystan said helped.

Eventually, Lowen appeared and crouched beside Ellie. She stared at him for a moment then cried even more. “Sorry, I broke the cup,” she said with a loud sniff.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said softly. “I can make another one.”