The Potter's House (Isles of Scilly Book 4), page 11
“In what way?”
“I don’t know. He was looking at me in a really leery way.”
“Great. The one time I leave you alone and you get some weirdo harassing you.”
“He wasn’t harassing me, I just find him creepy. They said they know you.”
Lowen glanced behind her but couldn’t see anyone. “Who is it?”
“Ron and Sue? They said they’re related to you.”
He grimaced. “I’m not related to them. I’ve never even met them, but I guess they’re Keira’s parents. Noah said they’re a bit of a nightmare. I told him to send them over to visit to give him and Keira a break from them.” He stepped around her and into the shop. “Where are they?”
“They wanted to look at your workshop. I told them it’s off limits but the guy insisted he was family so you wouldn’t mind.”
Lowen had assumed Noah had been exaggerating about Keira’s parents, but maybe he hadn’t been. His eyes widened dramatically when he found Ron filling the kettle in the workshop while Sue sat at the pottery wheel, stroking Sandy who curled around her legs.
Clearing his throat loudly, Lowen expected them to be embarrassed at being caught making themselves at home in his workspace, but Ron only grinned at him.
“You must be Lowen!” he bellowed, then crossed the room and pumped his hand enthusiastically.
Sue twisted on the stool to look at him. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“You too.” He resisted the urge to wipe his hand on his shorts after being released from Ron’s clammy grip.
“It’s such a lovely place you’ve got,” Sue said.
“I think it’s weird,” Ron said with a wide smile. “Living out here all alone and spending your days making mugs and painting little birds and flowers on them. Funny way for a man to earn a living if you ask me.”
“I don’t think anyone did ask you,” Mia murmured beside Lowen.
“I think it’s lovely.” Sue smiled widely. “The pottery wheel makes me think of that scene in Ghost.”
Ron moved beside her, snaking his arms around her waist and loudly nuzzling her neck until she screeched with laughter and pushed him away.
“I thought we could re-enact the scene,” Ron said, shooting a leery wink at Lowen.
After exchanging a look of wide-eyed panic with Mia, Lowen moved to the kettle.
“I’d love to have a turn on the pottery wheel,” Sue said while he made drinks for them all. “Do you think I could have a little play? Keira was saying she’d had a go.”
Normally Lowen was more than happy to let people have a go on the pottery wheel, but it was with a definite sense of grudging that he set Sue up at the wheel. She found it hysterical to work with the wet clay, squealing in delight when she flicked grey water all over herself. She didn’t seem interested in making anything usable and Lowen tried not to dwell on the waste of clay and her disrespect for his craft.
“We usually take a lunch break about now,” he said after an agonising half hour with the pair of them obliterating lumps of clay and ignoring his attempts to guide them into creating something. Mia had taken herself off to serve customers and hadn’t returned. Not that he could blame her.
Ron patted his rotund stomach. “I’m getting peckish myself. Where’s good to eat around here?”
“The restaurant at the hotel does good food.” He felt a small pang of guilt at sending them in Maddie’s direction, but if he got rid of them he wasn’t too concerned.
“That’s a great idea,” Ron said. “It’ll give us more time to get to know each other.”
“Oh … Um.” Panic rose in Lowen’s throat. “Mia and I usually eat sandwiches here. Can’t leave the shop, you know.”
“I’m happy to man the shop.” Mia appeared in the archway with an evil glint in her eye. “You get yourself off for lunch with Ron and Sue. You should always take the opportunity to spend time with relatives.”
“We’re not exactly relatives.”
“Don’t be daft.” Ron slapped him on the back so hard that his bones rattled. “We’re family!”
“It’d be lovely to have lunch with you,” Sue said.
“Well …” Lowen couldn’t come up with an excuse quickly enough but decided if he was getting dragged out to lunch he wasn’t going to endure it alone. “I’d love to, but I’d feel terrible leaving Mia. We can shut up shop for an hour and all go.”
“I really don’t mind staying here,” Mia said through gritted teeth.
“Don’t be daft,” Lowen said, borrowing Ron’s turn of phrase. “You work so hard. You’ve earned a bit of time off.”
“I hate you,” she whispered as he gleefully steered her towards the door.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Shall we share a bottle of wine?” Sue said, elbowing Mia good-naturedly once they were seated at the table on the restaurant’s terrace.
Nervously, Mia caught Lowen’s eye. “I have to go back to work in a bit so I probably shouldn’t.”
“Nonsense,” Ron said, chuckling. “One glass of wine with lunch won’t hurt.” The young waitress appeared and he looked her up and down as he ordered a bottle of rosé. “And a couple of beers for us men,” he added. Turning in his seat, he slapped Lowen on the shoulder. “I know you have a girly job but I assume you at least drink like a man?”
The waitress raised her eyebrows dramatically while Lowen choked at the expression on Mia’s face. He was tempted to order wine just to make a point but couldn’t be bothered with the inevitable discussion. He didn’t really want to drink at all but felt as though it might be the best way to get through lunch without throttling the guy next to him.
“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” Mia said once the waitress had retreated.
They’d chosen a good day to visit. The bright blue sky was streaked with chalky cloud, and the gentle breeze was pleasantly warm.
“I don’t know how you get anything done,” Sue remarked. “I’d just sit and admire the view all day every day.”
Ron leaned back in his chair. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Blue sea, blue sky, a bit of sand. It’s the same wherever you look.”
“It’s beautiful wherever you look,” Mia said, frowning.
“If that’s what floats your boat. I’m a city man myself. Give me the rumble of traffic over the racket from those bloody birds any day.”
At the contempt on Mia’s face, Lowen stretched his leg out under the table and gave her foot a gentle tap with his own. He flashed her a fleeting look of mock horror which made her lips hitch to a smile.
The drinks arrived and they clinked their glasses together. After a few long gulps Ron licked his top lip. “This is the life, isn’t it? Can’t beat sitting in the sun with a cold beer.”
“How long are you over for?” Mia asked.
“We fly back tomorrow afternoon,” Sue replied. “The week has gone far too quickly.”
“I’ll be happy to get back,” Ron said. “Always good to sleep in your own bed after some time away, isn’t it?”
“If it wasn’t for your work I’d happily stay longer,” Sue said.
Lowen took a swig of his beer. “What do you do for work?” he asked Ron.
“Dustbin man,” he replied proudly, then tucked his chin to his chest as he belched.
“Do you enjoy it?” Lowen asked, not sure what else to say on the topic.
“Best job I’ve ever had. Proper hard work, it is. No one can say I’m afraid to get my hands dirty.”
Lowen held his hands in front of him, feeling defensive. “My hands are rarely clean.”
“That’s slightly disturbing,” Mia said.
He rolled his eyes. “I meant from the clay. I get my hands dirty in my job too.”
“It’s different though, isn’t it?” Ron said, with what Lowen could have sworn was sympathy in his eyes. “The thing about my job is that it makes a real difference to people’s lives. If the binmen went on strike all hell would break loose.”
“I suppose that’s true,” Lowen agreed.
“It’s good that you’re so enthusiastic about your job,” Mia told Ron earnestly.
“I think we need to be, don’t we, considering how much of our lives we spend working.”
“I really enjoy my job, too,” Lowen said, not sure why he still felt the need to defend himself.
“Good for you.” There was a definite air of condescension to Ron’s voice as he leaned further back in his chair, balancing on the back legs. “I’ll say this for you … even if it’s not a job you can brag about, at least you’re earning an honest wage. Not like these dole scroungers you hear about.”
Lowen caught Mia’s eye but looked away again quickly as he struggled to suppress his laughter. Looking for a distraction, he picked up a menu. “We should probably order.”
“A man after my own heart,” Ron said, patting his paunch. “Got to keep the old stomach happy.”
Alcohol made Ron’s brash persona easier to take, so Lowen didn’t bother to protest when Ron ordered them each another beer when the food arrived and then another after they’d eaten. Mia seemed to find the whole situation increasingly entertaining and led Ron from one controversial conversation to another.
“I’m going to ask for the bill,” Lowen finally said, glancing at Mia, whose cheeks were red from the sun and wine. “We should get back to work.”
She beamed back at him. “Yes, boss.”
“I suppose we should be getting off too,” Ron said, then pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket. “I’ve got the boat timetable written down here.”
“When’s the next boat?” Sue asked.
“Soon,” Ron told her, standing abruptly. “We’ll have to hurry.”
Lowen turned his wrist to look at his watch. “It leaves in half an hour. You’ll make that in plenty of time.”
“You don’t know what this one’s like with her dodgy knees.” He nudged Sue’s shoulder, indicating for her to get up. “Slow as a snail, she is. We need to leave now if we want to make it for the next boat.”
“You’re always rushing me,” Sue murmured as she stood. “I was having a lovely time. Can’t we get the next boat?”
“Keira will be waiting for us. It’s our last evening with our daughter. Got to make the most of it.” He grinned down at Lowen and Mia. “Pleasure to meet you both.”
“You too,” Lowen said, puzzled by Ron’s sudden desire to get away. Not that he was complaining. Lunch had been entertaining, but he wasn’t keen to drag it out any longer than necessary.
“Oh, the bill!” Ron said, rolling his eyes. “I almost forgot. Where is that waitress?” He glanced around but didn’t make any attempt to get the waitress’s attention as she walked away from a nearby table. “We’ll probably miss the boat at this rate.”
Sue patted his arm. “It doesn’t matter if we have to get the next boat.”
“It matters to me. I’d like to spend time with my daughter before we leave tomorrow. Who knows when we’ll see her next?”
Lowen frowned at the change in mood. “I can get the bill if you need to go quickly.”
“Isn’t that generous of you!” Ron said loudly. “I suppose we are family now. And family have to look out for each other. How about we pay next time?”
“Sure,” Lowen said.
“That’s very kind,” Sue told him.
“Come on.” Ron took her elbow and all but dragged her away, calling goodbye over his shoulder.
Mia’s flushed face broke into a smile. “Not too concerned about her dodgy knees now, is he?”
Turning in his chair to watch them leave, Lowen’s eyes widened. “Did he just say all that to avoid paying the bill?”
“I’m sure he genuinely wants to get back to spend time with Keira.” Mia’s voice was laced with mirth. “And he’s buying next time,” she added with a playful shrug.
Lowen covered his face with his hands. “He kept ordering more beers, knowing he was going to lump me with the bill.”
“Yep.” Mia snorted a laugh, then squirmed in her seat as a fit of giggles overcame her. “That was brilliant! The whole thing was hilarious.” She hiccupped, making herself laugh even more.
Shaking his head, Lowen asked the waitress for the bill while Mia took deep breaths to stop herself from laughing but cracked up again as soon as they left the restaurant.
“You’re drunk, aren’t you?” Lowen asked as they walked a path through the sand dunes, the prickly grass tickling their calves as they went.
“Yes!” She spread her arms out beside her, basking in the salty gusts whipping along the beach. “But only a bit and only because Ron kept topping my wine up.” She turned and walked backwards for a few wobbly steps. “You’re welcome, by the way!”
“For what?” he demanded, amused.
“For coming to lunch with you.”
“You’d have left me to fend for myself if I’d given you any choice.”
“True.” She wobbled as she took off one shoe and then the other without pausing her steps.
“And you had a good time.”
“Also true.” She veered closer to him, bumping her arm against his as she wobbled in the sand. “It cracked me up how offended Ron looked with the salad that came with his steak. He practically threw it onto Sue’s plate.”
Lowen chortled. “Some of the dressing splashed down her front.”
“I saw that! I couldn’t look at you for fear I’d get the giggles.”
“We shouldn’t laugh really,” Lowen said. “They’re Keira’s parents.”
“Don’t forget they’re your family too,” Mia said cheekily.
“They’re not.”
“They seem to think so.” She slowed her pace as they approached the studio. “I do feel sorry for Keira though. I will never think of my parents as embarrassing again.” She dug her toes into the sand. “Are you going to open up again this afternoon?”
He glanced at the old boathouse nestled between the low sand dunes. Work wasn’t appealing at all. “No. Although I probably should. It hasn’t exactly been a productive day. Thanks to you.”
“Why is it my fault?”
“Because you made me go jogging and swimming, and then you dragged lunch out by asking Ron a string of ridiculous questions.”
“The jogging and swimming were good for you and you know it. I’d argue a fun, boozy lunch probably did you good too.” She tilted her head to one side. “I noticed you trimmed your beard.”
When she tugged playfully on the hairs on his jaw, he swatted her away.
“Have you booked yourself in for a haircut too?” she asked.
“No.” Self-consciously, he pushed his hands through his hair. “You’re kind of mean.”
“I’m not.” She pressed a hand to her heart in a show of being wounded. “I’m being a good friend and giving you style advice.”
“Weird how it sounds like nagging.” He glanced up, distracted by a figure standing atop the dunes. Smiling, he raised a hand in greeting.
Pippa stood on the sand looking down the dunes to the beach below. Jealousy shouldn’t have been among her emotions but she had to admit that as she watched Mia and Lowen laughing and bumping shoulders, her first thoughts weren’t about Mia’s welfare. The dull ache in her chest was all about her own feelings for Lowen.
Maybe it was nothing though – the two of them strolling on the beach when they should have been working didn’t necessarily mean anything. That’s what she told herself until they stopped in the sand, facing each other and standing too close. Even then the clenching of her stomach might have been an overreaction. But when Mia reached up and touched Lowen’s face, Pippa felt a wave of nausea sweep over her.
When Lowen caught sight of her he raised an arm to wave and she froze for a moment before forcing her feet to move. She stumbled on the soft sand underfoot as she tried to figure out how to deal with the situation.
“Hello!” Mia called as she got close to them. “You should have come earlier. We had a boozy lunch and it was so much fun.”
Pippa’s teeth ground together. “Shouldn’t you be working?”
“Mia’s had me slacking off all day.” The twinkle in Lowen’s eyes when he looked at her was the same that had previously made her stomach flutter. Now she looked away, berating herself for ever thinking the look said more than it did.
“You weren’t slacking off,” Mia said, aiming a playful slap to his abdomen. “I’ve appointed myself his lifestyle coach.”
“That’s code for torturer,” Lowen remarked.
The flawless skin at Mia’s neck tightened as she craned to look up at him. “If it makes you feel better, I promise we’ll be more productive tomorrow.”
“I actually need you at the cafe tomorrow,” Pippa said.
“What?” Mia asked, as surprised by the words as Pippa was. She was winging it and felt out of her depth, but it wasn’t the worst idea.
“I have a ton of paperwork so I need you to work in the cafe with Harriet while I catch up with that.”
“Oh.” Mia’s face fell. “How come you didn’t say anything before?”
“I tend to put paperwork off for as long as possible.” That part wasn’t a lie. Looking at her accounts was a depressing exercise, so she tended to avoid it. “But I really need to get on with it. A day in the cafe won’t be so bad, will it?”
“I guess not.” Mia looked unconvinced.
“You can manage without her, can’t you?” Pippa asked Lowen. There was a hint of venom to her voice that she couldn’t disguise. “Especially if you can afford to spend so much time on boozy lunches.”
“That was just today,” he said, the twinkle vanishing from his eyes. “But if you need Mia in the cafe tomorrow that’s fine.”
“Good.” That at least bought her a bit of time to get her thoughts in order.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
After a fitful sleep, Pippa went to the cafe early on Friday and got everything set up, then left to go back up to the flat once Harriet had arrived. Upstairs, Mia was at the kitchen table, munching away on cereal.
