Page 134 of One for the Road
The only time I spoke was to thank him as he dropped us off at the foot of the high street, the closest he could get us to the front door of Brown’s.
“Anytime, Lang,” he said, then he sped off without a backward glance.
Teddy and I made it two steps up the cobblestone path before she shoved Bluebell bunny into my hands.
“You don’t want to carry her?” I asked.
She stopped walking and turned to me. “Bluebell bunny makes people brave. I think you need her more than I do.”
“For the baking competition?” I couldn’t resist tugging her into a hug, even though we were strapped for time. “I love you so much, sweet girl, you know that, right? You have the biggest heart.” How did I get lucky enough to have such a perfect kid?
She shook her head, face as serious as ever. “Not for the competition. For Ali.”
My blood froze. It was the last thing I expected her to say. “What do you mean?”
She glanced down at her sparkly blue trainers. “I know you’re fighting. That’s why he doesn’t hang out with us anymore.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” I lowered into a crouch. “We aren’t fighting, I promise.”
“Then why don’t you want him to be our friend?” My throat burned as her eyes filled with tears. This was hurting her, and it was all my fault.
“It’s not that . . .” I broke off and tried again. “It’s hard for me to explain but, sometimes, adult relationships can be complicated—”
“Don’t treat me like a baby.” She stamped her foot. “Ali said nothing is too complicated for kids, but adults just explain things badly. I get to decide.”
I was absolutely butchering this.
I took a breath, ran my hands over her shoulders. “I’m sorry, you’re right. I was treating you that way. The truth is, I’m scared a time might come when Ali doesn’t want to hang out with us anymore. Because he might go away and get new friends, and I want us to be okay if that happens.”
Her nose wrinkled. “Why would he get new friends?”
I hope he doesn’t,my heart whispered. “Because he’s a grown-up. And when you’re a grown-up, sometimes relationships change.”
“Like you and Daddy?” Her voice held more curiosity than sadness.
“Sort of,” I said, not quite committing. “Ali has a lot of friends in Glasgow, and a job he cared about.”Even though it made him miserable. “One day he might decide to go back.”
“I don’t think it will happen; he doesn’t like his friends in Glasgow as much as us.” I laughed; I couldn’t help it. “I wouldn’t stop playing with Ava and Emily if they had to move. I’d want to spend all of my time with them.”
Despite the niggling wound in my chest, I smiled. If only adult relationships were so easy.
Teddy pressed Bluebell bunny against my stomach. “Bluebell bunny will make you less scared.” Then she pulled back from me, continuing up the path. “Can I have hot chocolate today?”
“You can have whatever you want.”
“Yes!” She pumped her fist, the conversation already forgotten.
“Do I need to send yer home?” Jess’s voice yanked me from my daydream later that morning.
“What?” I jolted. Blinking.
“That’s the second coffee yer’ve made wrong in the last hour. I’ll have to start docking milk wastage from yer wages.”
Shit. That was a big dollop of foamy milk atop what was supposed to be an Americano.
“Sorry, sorry. I’ll buy it and drink it myself.” I set it aside, quickly grinding some fresh beans. “I’m just . . . tired, I guess. I slept badly last night.” As soon as the machine finished pouring the fresh coffee, I pushed the lid onto the takeout cup and handed it over to the customer – a manwith a cheerful smile and a Boston Celtics baseball cap – along with his change.
“Sorry for the wait.” I smiled apologetically.
