Summer at the Heartbreak Cafe: Summer Sweet Romance (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 0) by Melissa Hill Page A

gave the boys to total strangers?”
    “Aren’t they your neighbours though?” Ella said. “Summer visitors at the cottages always end up mixing while on a stay here. Nothing selfish about that.”
    “Yes, but look at how content and happy the boys look with them out there? They’re never like that with me,” Grace sniffed.
    Ella smiled reassuringly and contemplated telling Grace her true thoughts. Someone needed to talk to this woman otherwise she would drive herself crazy.
    “Love, you can’t think like that. It’s nothing personal. They’re enjoying the novelty of having someone else take care of them in a different place. They are typical kids; all they want is food, a little discipline and the space to play.”
    “But I do all that for them, don’t I?” Grace said.
    “Yes, but based on what I’ve seen, you’re such a bundle of nerves with them, it’s almost like … like they’re not your kids,” Ella said. She didn't want to be harsh, but this woman was obviously struggling, and she needed to help her put things in perspective.
    Grace looked at her startled. “Of course they’re mine.”
    Ella smiled. “I know that, but you’re so worried about them all the time, it’s almost like they’ve been foisted on you.”
    Grace sighed. “Well, right from the beginning when we first found out we were having twins, all anybody told me was how much more difficult and troublesome things were going to be. And I suppose that’s always how I’ve viewed them, as a lot of additional hassle.” She sighed. “To be honest, I’ve never really handled them all by myself like this. There’s always been the nanny, and Kevin of course. He’s great with them. You’re right though - sometimes even I feel like they are strangers.”
    “Well, why don’t you try to get know them better then?” Ella said, but she could see Grace’s mind had already wandered.
    “If only Kevin could manage to come down even for a couple of days…Maybe if I tell him how tired I am…” She stood up. “In the meantime I’d better go and rescue Marianne and Donal - I’m sure they’re exhausted.” She gave a nervous laugh.
    Ella shook her head.
    Evidently, Grace had convinced herself a long time ago that her twins were nothing but trouble, and it seemed there was no persuading her otherwise.

14
    M id-morning , the café was quieter again. Nina was standing behind the counter catching her breath after the lunchtime rush.
    “Penny for your thoughts?” Ella asked, having noticed that her friend seemed very preoccupied lately.
    Nina smiled. “They are definitely not worth that much.”
    “How is your dad?” she asked casually.
    “He’s great - watching Patrick today actually.”
    “It’s so cute how much he adores him.”
    “How much they adore each other. Which is a turn up for the books…” Nina added with a mirthless laugh, obviously thinking about how her pregnancy had initially been very difficult for her father to process and had caused major upheavals in both their lives.
    Thankfully their relationship had come on in leaps and bounds since Patrick was born.
    Ella was concerned though. Nina was typically a jolly person but lately she seemed more subdued. “Are you OK? You’ve been kind of quiet these days.”
    The younger woman looked at her and smiled brightly. “I’m fine, everything’s just fine,” she said, and picked up a cloth for wiping the tables.
    Ella shrugged. If Nina had something to share she guessed she would do so when she was good and ready.
    She went outside to the patio area, to see if any customers needed attending to. There was a couple lingering beneath a parasol on one of the tables, and Marianne was still sitting at another - now minus Grace’s boys from earlier, and indeed her husband.
    To Ella’s surprise, Marianne was crying, although it seemed she was trying hard not to. Walking quickly, she went over and slid onto the chair next to hers.
    “Are you OK sweetheart?” she asked.