Amanda Brooke - The Child’s Secret

While her husband was deep in conversation with Anna as they headed towards the car park, Laura trailed behind with Sam. Her daughter wasn’t the only one who could suffer from stage fright and, as they walked, Laura struggled to think of something to say to break the awkward silence. She knew very little about this man who wouldn’t realize how much he had turned her family around and she wanted to know more.

Sam had a powerful frame that could have made him appear intimidating, but looking at his face she didn’t think he was the type who would raise a hand in anger, not at all. A woman would feel protected in his arms and it had been a long time since Laura had felt like that with Finn. Her husband was a good man deep down, but there were times when his moods became so dark that he could see nothing but his own pain, and that was how it had been since he had lost his job at the builders’ merchants. Sam McIntyre might only think he had put in a good word to get Finn a job but he had been a shining light in their lives and Laura wished she could find the courage to tell him.

‘Thank—’ she began but Sam had also started to speak.

‘Did I get Jasmine into trouble—’ he began then stopped. ‘Sorry, what were you saying?’

‘Nothing,’ she said with a shake of the head. ‘I – I just wanted to say thank you for helping Finn get the job.’

‘Ach, it was nothing, honestly.’

There was another pause and Laura could feel herself becoming flustered. It wasn’t so much his deep voice that she was drawn to, but its gentleness, although she had the good sense not to close the distance she was deliberately keeping between them. ‘You asked about getting Jasmine into trouble?’

‘By filling her head with stories about the Wishing Tree.’

‘She has her head in the clouds most of the time and her dad thinks she needs pulling down to earth now and again, but it’s not an easy task,’ Laura said with a smile as a picture of her little Munchkin came to mind.

‘I’m guessing you didn’t know about the meal tonight,’ he said.

‘Oh, don’t worry about it. Finn does it all the time. It’s hard to keep up with him sometimes.’

Hearing his name, Finn turned around. ‘We were trying to decide where to go. How does Italian grab you?’

‘Fine by me,’ Sam said.

‘I don’t mind,’ Laura added, ‘I had something earlier so I’ll probably only pick at my food anyway.’ An expert at spotting the annoyance hidden behind the smile her husband was giving her for Sam’s benefit, she tried to sound a little more enthusiastic. ‘I’m sure I’ll have an appetite once I smell all that garlic, just don’t blame me if I end up like a big Italian Mamma.’

Sam gave her a self-conscious smile as if he wouldn’t want her to read his thoughts. ‘I can’t imagine that happening.’

An arm went around Laura’s waist and Finn pulled her away. ‘We’ll meet you there, shall we?’ he asked as Sam unlocked his Land Rover, and after confirming the restaurant and the route, they all set off.

It was Laura who drove and with the restaurant only a few minutes away Finn was quick with his questions. ‘So what do you think about Sam, then?’

‘I think they make a very nice couple,’ Laura said, choosing her words carefully. Her husband’s insecurities weren’t only restricted to his job prospects and it didn’t take much for Finn to convince himself that someone had designs on her. It made Laura especially cautious about even looking at another man, let alone having an opinion about one.

‘He’s a bit old for Anna, though, don’t you think? She could have the pick of them all but you can’t blame a man for trying and he does seem like a decent bloke.’

‘I’ve hardly said two words to him,’ Laura said, ‘although he must have had a good eye to spot you in the pub and know straight away what a good worker you can be.’

‘Yes, he definitely has a keen eye,’ Finn said, giving her leg a squeeze as Laura parked the car outside the restaurant.

They were the first to arrive and Finn ordered drinks even as the waiter was leading them to their table. Laura didn’t want to spoil Finn’s mood but she needed to say something before the others joined them. She took a deep breath and then, almost casually, said, ‘You need to be on your best behaviour tonight, Finn. Sam might be able to put in another good word with his friend to extend your contract beyond the summer.’

‘Why do you think I’m doing this?’ he said and they both smiled, Laura hiding her anxiety almost as well as Finn his irritation.

When Sam and Anna walked in, the waiter was arriving with the drinks.

‘Sorry, I’m driving,’ Sam told Finn when he saw the beer.

‘You can have one, surely,’ Finn persisted, pushing the pint across the table until it was within touching distance.

‘Honestly, no,’ Sam said firmly. ‘I’d rather not.’ He pushed it back in Finn’s direction and out of temptation’s reach.

Finn shrugged. ‘Can’t you get Anna to drive?’

Anna was already lifting her glass of wine to her lips. ‘Even if I was on his insurance, which I’m not,’ she said with a meaningful look at her boyfriend, ‘I deserve this and I’m not giving it up for anyone.’ She took a gulp and rolled her eyes in pleasure.

‘You’ll have to get this one trained up pretty sharpish, Sam,’ Finn said.

Anna spluttered her drink. ‘Excuse me! We’re not domestic animals and I hope you weren’t suggesting that’s what women are.’

‘No, I was simply trying to get a reaction from you,’ Finn said with a widening smile. ‘And it worked.’

While Finn and Anna had their faux stand-off, Laura exchanged a look with Sam who was sitting diagonally opposite. It was only the briefest of connections, nothing that would risk Finn’s attention, but it was enough to get the measure of Sam. He hadn’t shared Finn’s joke and she suspected he had a very different view of the world to her husband. His green eyes had a softness and depth that made Laura envy Anna, and even when she looked away she could still feel the warmth of his attention, or perhaps she only longed for it.

‘Joking aside, it would make sense if I went on your insurance,’ Anna was saying. ‘I could share the driving when we go to the caravan in Wales. Sam! Are you even listening?’

‘What? No, Anna, there’s no point in being on my insurance. It’s only an hour’s drive,’ he said.

‘You’re going on holiday?’ Finn asked. ‘I can’t remember the last time we went on one, can you, Laura?’

A smile appeared on Laura’s face as she summoned up the memory. ‘It would have been that trip to Ireland. Jasmine was only a toddler at the time,’ she said.

‘Yeah, a lifetime ago,’ he said.

‘Don’t get too jealous, it’s not a holiday,’ Sam told them. ‘I’m doing some work for a friend of a friend and I promised Anna I’d take her there for the day to measure up the job.’

‘He never stops,’ Anna added. ‘He deserves a break.’

‘Unlike you teachers,’ Finn said playfully. ‘You have it made, don’t you? I wish I had six weeks off over the summer.’

‘You’ve just had plenty of time off, even if it wasn’t your choice,’ Laura reminded him. ‘And you complained nonstop about being at home all day, Finn.’

Finn was nodding. ‘Yeah, I hated it, which brings us nicely to why we’re here. Even though you’re only on orange juice, Sam, I’d still like to make a toast,’ he said and waited for them to raise their glasses. ‘Here’s to my new best mate, Sam McIntyre, who got me out of a hole and back into work.’ He was laughing as they all took a sip of their drinks. ‘Although right now that’s exactly what I am doing – digging holes.’