Page 36 of The Weekend Getaway

“There’s a race?” Keira asked.

“A gig race,” Trystan replied, which did nothing to clarify what they were talking about.

“Boats,” Seren explained. “It’s a rowing race.”

“That sounds fun. And it’s before we fly?” she asked Noah.

“No.” He looked to Trystan. “I’m not racing either. We’re flying out at lunchtime.”

“Since when?” Mirren asked. “I thought you were staying until Monday.”

“Keira has to be back at work on Monday.”

“Sorry,” Keira said. “I didn’t realise I was messing up your plans. Could we change the flight to Sunday? Then you can be here for the race.”

“There aren’t any flights on Sundays,” Noah told her.

Kit rested his forearms on the table. “You could go on the Scillonian.”

“The ferry goes to Penzance,” Noah said. “Which isn’t very helpful when my car’s at Exeter Airport.”

Lowen planted a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “I might not see you tomorrow then.”

“Probably not.” Noah stood and hugged him and he was all set to leave when Mirren called him back.

“I need a photo,” she said. “We’re never all together. Let’s get a quick photo. Please.”

“I can take it,” Keira offered.

“No,” Mirren protested. “You should be in it.”

Keira shook her head. “I don’t want you to look at the picture a few years from now and wonder who the random woman is.”

“Serious relationship then, is it?” Kit asked, jokily.

Keira felt heat creep to her cheeks, but thankfully Noah only looked amused. “I meant hypothetically.”

“Use my camera,” Seren said, stretching across the table to pass her phone.

“Everyone squeeze in and smile.” Keira held the phone up, then glanced over the top of it. “Did anyone hear me say you should smile?”

“Good luck getting everyone smiling.” Mirren clicked her tongue. “I don’t think I have one family photo where someone doesn’t look as though they’re there under duress. That or Kit’s pulling weird faces.”

“That’s just his face,” Seren quipped. “He can’t help it.”

Keira snapped a couple of photos, then peered at the screen. “I’m sure I can get a better one than that.”

“It’ll do,” Lowen said in a tone that suggested he was keen to leave.

“Wait a second.” Keira took a couple of steps backwards, then one more. Panic swept through her as the hem of her dress snagged under her heel. She flailed for what felt like forever, then managed to right herself by grabbing onto the back of a chair.

Nervously, she looked back at Noah’s family. “I see!” she said, eyebrows shooting up. “All I had to do was fall over to get you all to smile?” Before any of them could move she raised the camera and snapped away. “Happy to keep you all amused. There should be a good one on there,” she said, handing the phone back.

“It was nice to meet you.” Lowen tried and failed to keep a straight face as he stepped in front of her. “That’s a nice dress. You might just want to …” He made a sweeping motion across his chest.

Glancing down, Keira snatched at the front of her dress, manoeuvring it back into place. “Oh my god! I’m really sorry.”

Kit leaned on the table as he laughed. “I only saw bra not boobs. So as far as pre-dinner entertainment goes, it was pretty tame.”