Page 83 of When We Are Old

“I’m not a 'me' though am I? I’m a 'we', and the other half of my package comes with foot stamping and temper tantrums.”

Jack barrelled into the kitchen. “Dad, I need a poo, can you wipe?”

Ronnie sagged against me with a gentle laugh that melted my bones to mush.

“Bud, I thought we talked about the wiping. You need to try.” I shook my head, burying my face into Ronnie’s hair.

She shook against me, holding in her laugh. “Don’t worry, Hannah didn’t wipe until she was nearly eight.”

“I heard that.” Hannah hollered down the stairs.

Wow. She had good hearing. That put paid to my evening plans for Ronnie, damn it.

“Jack, go. I’ll be there in a moment. I’m in a very important conversation that doesn’t involve arse-wiping.”

Ronnie snorted and as he left I caught her chin in my fingers and lifted her face to mine. “Too many nights I’ve wanted you here with me, Veronica Childs. Now you are here, forgive me if I’m greedy and want them all.”

Her lips parted slightly, her expression turning blank as she absorbed my testament. “Let’s see how you feel by next weekend.”

“Nothing will change my mind. I promise.”

“Nothing?”

“Nope. Nothing.”

The stairs thundered just as Jack shouted from the bathroom.

“Ugh. Why don’t they close the door when they are on the loo?” Hannah slouched into the kitchen like a stoned sloth.

“Hannah.” Ronnie extricated herself from my grasp, but I clasped her hand, so we were still in some way entangled. “It’s not for us to say. Just because we do things one way doesn’t mean any other way is wrong.”

I quirked an eyebrow. “Did your mother teach you that?”

Ronnie flushed. “Well no.”

“Thought not.” Grabbing her tight I squeezed the life out of her—literally. She gasped for breath and tried to wiggle free, giggling.

“Muu-uu-uum. I need to go to the shops.” Hannah studied the ceiling.

“What for?” I asked, playing with Ronnie and not letting her slip out of my hold. Her struggle against my grip was probably more stimulating that it needed to be, and I turned slightly, less any evidence showed through my jeans.

“Nothing.”

“We’ve got everything here. We did that big shop yesterday,” I said.

Hannah’s cheeks flushed.

“Oh. Okay.” Ronnie tiptoed and kissed my cheek. “I’ll have to pop to the shops with her.”

“What? Why?”

Had I missed a large chunk of conversation?

“Dad!”

“Oh for fu—dge’s sake.”

Hannah smirked, the first crack in her face of stone I’d seen all day. “Come on, Mum. Ange texted me. I said we could meet her while she’s on lunch.”