The Girl Who Lied(51)

‘I hope you’ve got something on under there,’ said Erin as she kicked off her flip-flops.

‘It’s okay, you’re safe,’ said Kerry. ‘I’ve my shorts on. What about yourself? You got your bikini on under that dress?’

‘You must be joking, this is the Irish coast, not the Bahamas. I’ll just be paddling, thanks.’

The party of five made their way down to the water’s edge. The children rather more brave in their t-shirts and shorts, running on ahead and wading straight in.

‘Don’t go too deep,’ said Erin. ‘No further than your ankles.’

Kerry watched on as Erin held onto Molly and Storm’s hands and jumped the incoming waves with them. The little ones were loving it. Sophie, although that bit older at ten, was having just as much fun splashing about alongside them.

‘Come on, Kerry,’ said Erin. ‘You’ve not gone all chicken on us, have you?’ She turned and kicked some water in his direction, only to get some sent back her way.

‘You’re lucky you have the little ones with you, or you’d be in trouble,’ he said, coming to stand next to them. He held Storm’s other hand and they jumped the waves together, laughing when Kerry mistimed it and sent a huge splash of water over them.

It was nice seeing Erin laughing and so relaxed after the last time they had been together.

Later, sitting on the blanket, eating their picnic, Kerry found himself watching Erin as she sorted the children out, making sure they all had something to eat, that their hands were clean from sand, reapplying sun cream and generally making sure they were all catered for.

She caught him watching her a couple of times and he looked away, making out he was admiring the beach. On the third time, he didn’t look away.

She grinned at him, a small moment of self-consciousness settled on her face. ‘What?’ she said.

‘What?’ said Kerry innocently.

‘You know what. You keep looking at me.’ She sat back next to him. ‘You’re going to tell me I’ve got sand on my face or cake or something, aren’t you?’

‘No, I wasn’t, actually,’ said Kerry, rolling onto his front. ‘I was thinking how relaxed you looked. You’re a natural with the children.’

‘Hmm, maybe,’ she said, her smile dropping from her face. She looked out at the horizon and let out a small sigh.

‘You okay?’ said Kerry.

The smile returned. ‘Of course I am,’ she said, lying down next to him on her back. ‘Anyway, you’re pretty good with the kids yourself. And I have to admit, Joe is too.’

‘You sound surprised.’

‘I guess I saw him in a different light at the barbecue. More Joe the husband and dad, rather than Joe the boy who teased me relentlessly when we were kids.’

‘He’s all right, is Joe. Just likes a laugh, that’s all. He’s like his mum, Louise.’

‘I remember Louise.’ said Erin. ‘She always seemed good fun. I remember at Shane’s eighteenth birthday party, her and Max were giving it some on the dance floor.’

‘That sounds about right.’

‘Was your mum there that night?’ said Erin. ‘I mean, Shane’s her nephew, so presumably she came.’

Kerry sat up. ‘No. She didn’t go.’

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry. Ignore me.’ Her voice was tender.

Kerry gave her a small smile. ‘You’re not being nosey. It’s just, I didn’t get on well with my mum when I was a teenager.’

‘And now?’

‘We haven’t spoken for years. I can’t see us ever patching things up.’

Erin slipped her hand into his. ‘Is it really that bad?’

‘You know you didn’t want to talk about Ed and the barbecue…?’ He left the rest of the sentence unsaid. He lifted her hand and kissed it. There were lots of things Erin didn’t want to talk about. She’d understand.

She held his gaze. Her soft-green eyes looked intently into his, as if she could read not only his thoughts but his soul too.

Kerry moved his head closer to hers. For a moment he thought she was going to kiss him, but instead she rested her forehead against his. A feeling of mutual understanding passed between them.

Erin pulled away first. ‘Sandcastle competition anyone?’ She turned to the children. ‘Boys against girls?’

This was met by a resounding and excitable yes from the children.

Kerry took a moment to watch her organise everyone. There was something special about Erin Hurley. There was just one fly in the ointment. Dick-Ed. Still, there was time to work on that.

The afternoon went far too quickly and, before he knew it, Erin was looking at her watch, saying it was time to get them all back.