Page 39 of All Yours

‘Who’s that?’ Millie asked, watching the scene unfold. He could understand the question. Robyn was windswept, rosy and perfectly gorgeous. She wore her blue coat and her wavy auburn hair was more autumnal than the remaining few leaves in the trees.

‘Robyn’s here!’ George shouted and Fox saw Millie’s eyes widen.

‘Hi,’ Fox said and he could feel the smile on his face. Robyn smiled tentatively, flashing a look at Millie. ‘Sorry, this is Millie.’ Fox indicated the other woman. ‘My sister-in-law,’ he clarified.

‘Ah! Nice to meet you!’ Robyn extended her free hand, the one that George wasn’t hanging off. ‘The boys have told me so much about their favourite auntie.’

Millie grinned.

‘I feel like I know you already too! I hear you had fun on the Halloween circuit last night.’

Was he imagining it or was there a touch more colour on Red’s cheeks? She glanced his way before she answered.

‘Actually, it was a lot more fun than I’d thought it would be.’

Fox stifled a laugh.

‘Can you do the slide with me?’ George piped up and Millie’s smile softened.

‘Come on then . . .’ she said, putting her coffee cup down on the bench and standing up.

‘No, I mean Robyn.’ George shook his head. ‘Do the slide thing.’ He tugged at her hands again.

‘George, Robyn isn’t working today,’ Millie said. ‘I’m sure she—’

‘I don’t mind,’ Robyn said, rolling her eyes at George. ‘Come on then.’ George whooped and took her hand, leading her away as she called back over her shoulder to Fox, ‘I’ll bring them back in a minute!’

Reggie carefully turned the buggy around to follow but paused in front of his aunt.

‘This is Willow, Aunt Millie.’ He tucked the blanket down to show the baby’s face. ‘She was my witch’s cat. Dad said she was the best little kitty, didn’t you, Dad?’ Without stopping for an answer, he wheeled the buggy after the others, leaving Fox and Millie alone for a few moments, watching them play together when they reached the slide.

‘You didn’t tell me she looked like that,’ Millie said. Fox looked over to find her studying him.

‘I didn’t think it was important.’ He shrugged. ‘It was you who told me the only thing that mattered was that the kids liked her.’

‘They certainly seem to.’

Millie nodded at the slide, where George slid off the end into Robyn’s arms, who swung him around in a circle as he squealed.

Reggie danced round them, awaiting his turn.

‘As long as they know it’s a short-term thing, remember,’ Millie said. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t let the kids get too attached. How are they going to feel when she leaves? They’ve already had a lot of loss in their lives. However great she is, she’s only temporary.’

Fox felt his mood slide. He knew that too.

Chapter Twenty-One

Robyn

Willow would not stop crying. It had been going on for two days and two nights and Robyn was exhausted. She had tried everything, but the baby would not be soothed.

By Wednesday morning, Robyn dragged herself out of bed for a shower and turned the temperature to cold in an effort to bring herself round.

The boys had been sympathetic to the whimpering Willow at first. But by Tuesday, they ran past as quickly as they could and this morning, at breakfast, George stomped round the kitchen with his fingers in his ears.

‘Come and eat, boys,’ Robyn encouraged.

‘Can you take her batteries out?’ Reggie asked.