Two of a Mind by S M Stuart Page A

were now under control, Seth insisted that I draped his jumper around my shoulders as we started the short stroll to my house. Samuel came around the corner just as we reached the end of their drive.
    â€œHello, Dez,” he said. “Nice to see you out and about. How’re you doing?”
    â€œGood thanks, Mr Wa … Samuel.” We all laughed at my stuttered response and I warned Seth with a loaded glance that he wasn’t to mention my dizzy spell.
    â€œIt’ll take me a while to get used to calling you that,” I added, turning back to Samuel.
    â€œIt’s fine, love. You call me whatever you like, as long as it’s not late for my dinner!”
    â€œOh, Dad. That’s so lame!”
    â€œI know, Seth. I know.” Samuel grinned and winked at me, enjoying the mild embarrassment he was causing his son. “Take care, love. See you later, eh?”
    â€œYes. I’ll be round again tomorrow. And I’ll remember the ginger biscuits.” Much to Seth’s surprise, I took his hand and dragged him out of the drive. Samuel’s smile widened when he noticed the gesture.
    Now I see where Seth’s lovely smile comes from!

CHAPTER 15

    Ellingham: May 2089

    â€œShe looks adorable.”
    â€œYou’re just saying that because you’re her doting granddad!” Jade laughed. “But on this occasion, I’ll allow it.”
    Bethany continued to spin on the spot making her multi-layered skirt flare out almost parallel to the floor. Finally she was too dizzy to stand and collapsed on the floor, giggling uncontrollably.
    â€œCareful.” Jade picked up the breathless child. “You’ll make yourself sick and ruin the dress before we even get there.”
    â€œWe’d better be making tracks,” Matt said. “Eddie and Trish are meeting us at the church. We’ll see you there.” He gave his daughter and grand-daughter a proud hug.
    Laura watched from the doorway, enjoying the sight of the three generations in a warm embrace.
    â€œCome on,” she said. “You know how nervous Jonny is. He’ll need his godfather to give him a push towards the altar if he gets stage fright.”
    â€œPoor lad, I’d be nervous marrying into the Dévereux family too.”
    â€œBe nice. Little ears hear all,” Laura whispered, nodding towards Bethany who was now hopping from one foot onto the other, still full of energy and excitement.
    Luckily the eight-year old was busy admiring the sparkling sandals that her mother was holding. Too eager about the wedding to listen to Gramps. Being a bridesmaid was a very important job – Aunty Ce-Ce had told her so – and she wasn’t going to let Aunty Ce-Ce down. She frowned at her knee, recently grazed and now sporting a lovely, knobbly scab. Mummy had been so careful to keep her indoors for weeks ahead of the wedding but the day before yesterday Bethany ran to the gate to collect a parcel from the postman and promptly tripped on the gravel path. Her loud cries were more to divert Mummy’s cross response than from any real pain.
    â€œDon’t worry Betty-kins,” Jade now soothed, noticing her daughter’s sudden change of mood. “Your knee won’t be so noticeable under your fancy tights. We just need to be careful we don’t scrape off the scab, don’t we?”
    Jade struggled not to laugh at Bethany’s serious nodding then her breath caught as she noticed her child’s resemblance to her great-grandmother – still missed after all these years. Jade felt a sudden prod of guilt that she’d been too busy to follow through on her promise to help find out what Julia had been searching for.
    â€œMuuu-mmee!” Bethany’s whine brought Jade back to the present.
    â€œSorry, lovely,” she said and continued to smooth the lacy tights over her child’s wriggling legs.

    ***

    Despite the groom’s nerves everything followed