Nancy walked into the reception area that afternoon to book a table for dinner that night. After consulting with the children, which had been challenging, they’d finally all agreed to eat at the buffet restaurant again as they did the pasta that Jack liked, the garlic ciabatta for Isla and Harriet was happy as long at the restaurant had gin. Everyone was a winner.
Nancy scanned the foyer whilst she waited for the woman at reception to complete her booking and was surprised to see Cameron sitting on the cushioned benches by the pool entrance, looking a bit stressed out. She watched him for a minute as he sat with one leg bent underneath him, tapping away at his phone. His face was crumpled with frustration and occasionally he would exhale in what seemed to be annoyance at whatever he was reading. Nancy figured he must be like Harriet and have work stuff that he had to keep doing whilst he was away. Nancy knew he was a single parent, but she also desperately wanted to know his backstory – he looked the type to be harbouring a complicated past.
‘That’s all done for you, booked for 5 p.m., just give your room number to the maître D’.’
‘Thanks.’ Nancy smiled as she took her card and began to leave but decided – on impulse – to turn around and say hi to Cameron. If he was busy she would just leave him to it.
She walked over to him and he must’ve been enthralled in what he was doing because he didn’t even notice her approaching until she said, ‘Hey!’
He snapped his head up in surprise. ‘Oh, hey.’ A smile spread across his face in welcome, but it looked strained. He had lines around his eyes – she hadn’t noticed those before – and there were noticeable bags under each eye. ‘How are you?’
‘I’m good. You?’
‘Yeah, not bad.’ She could see he wasn’t great.
‘How’s Jack doing? Is he enjoying the holiday?’ His phone vibrated, and she watched him try to glance at it discreetly, his temples bulging as he read whatever message had come through. He looked back at her and smiled again with the strained smile.
‘He’s OK, finding it a little stressful with the heat but he’s enjoying it, I think.’ He was finding it more than a little stressful, but Cameron didn’t need to know the ins and outs of her complicated family issues. ‘How about Aiden?’
‘Yeah, he’s good.’ He stood up. ‘Listen, I’m sorry but I have to rush off. It was really nice seeing you again. Have a good afternoon.’ And he didn’t even wait for her reply before walking off at speed towards the stairs leading up to the rooms.
Nancy walked back to Harriet and the children, Cameron’s quick exit playing on her mind. It was the second time he’d walked off abruptly now – maybe she needed to start taking the hint. Now she was feeling like a bit of an idiot for thinking he might be interested.
‘All booked?’ Harriet asked, and then spotted the frown on Nancy’s face. ‘What’s up?’
‘I just bumped into Cameron. Well, when I say bumped into, he was in the foyer on his phone so I went up to him and said hi.’
‘Ok, so why the frown, did he tell you he wasn’t interested?’
‘You make it sound like I was pestering him for a date! I’m only being friendly, I don’t want anything else.’
‘Yeah, likely story.’
‘Hari!’
‘What? He’s hot, he’s single, you’re single … I’m struggling to see the problem here.’
‘I am not looking to tie myself up in a relationship right now – I’ve got all the issues at home with Pete and things are going to be more stressful once we get home and we try to get Jack into a new routine with Pete involved, I don’t need the added complication.’ She was saying what her head was telling her – however, she couldn’t help but be a little disappointed that Cameron clearly wasn’t thinking about her the way she had started to realise she was thinking about him.
‘Holiday romance?’ Harriet pressed. Nancy raised her eyebrow. ‘Oh come on, I’m not saying you have to marry the guy, just that you deserve to let your hair down a bit. That’s all.’ She turned over and lay on her stomach, exposing her back for tanning.
‘I don’t need to let my hair down and have a holiday romance, I’m just trying to be a friend to him. His little boy was so sweet with Jack, it might be nice to try and encourage that relationship, that’s all.’
‘Uh-huh,’ Harriet replied and Nancy could hear the smile on her face even though she had buried it into the sun lounger.
‘Anyway … I went over and said hi but he seemed really stressed out and said a few words then made an excuse and left. Quite abruptly I might add!’
‘Maybe you’ve scared him off.’
‘Oh, if you’re going to be unhelpful then forget it.’ Nancy plonked her stuff down and began stripping off, revealing her swimsuit.
Harriet pulled her face up and rested on her elbows. ‘I’m not being unhelpful, I don’t know what you want me to say? He’s obviously having a bad day – just let him get on with it.’ Nancy ignored the comment. ‘I have exactly—’ Harriet looked at her watch which was resting on the floor next to her phone ‘—32 minutes until I have to make that conference call so I’m going to grab as much sun as possible.’