‘We’ll share.’ He tipped half of his food into the fourth bowl. ‘There’s some garlic bread in the freezer, I’ll stick it in the oven.’
So here they were again, the four of them at his table and sharing a meal. None of this had been in Ella’s plan when she’d arrived at Halesmere. Not walking home from school hand in hand with Arlo or dancing with Lily, and then against Max as though Ella’s life depended on it. She didn’t want it to feel like home quite as much as it did, didn’t want to hear the merry playlist Lily had forgotten to turn off or see the Christmas tree flickering as he thanked her for the meal and told her how much he appreciated it after a long day at work. The children were weary and starting to squabble and Max put the television on as he quickly cleared up.
‘I have to go.’ Ella collected her coat and Prim raised a hopeful head. ‘I’ll walk you again another day,’ she told the dog quietly, and Prim seemed to understand, head going to rest on her paws, huge eyes still staring.
‘But Ella, you said you were staying until I go to bed.’ Arlo’s voice was a wail and he spun round to glare at her. ‘You can’t go yet, we’re watchingIn the Night Gardenand I want you to stay.’
‘I’m sorry, Arlo.’ She hated disappointing him. ‘I meant that I would stay until your dad got home and I’ve already been here much longer than that. You need some time with your dad before bed.’
‘That’s not fair.’ Arlo stuck out his bottom lip. ‘I want you to read me my tractor story.’
‘Hey buddy, I’ve got a better idea.’ Max held out a hand and the little boy looked hopeful. ‘Why don’t we all walk Ella back to the house? Then you can say goodnight to her, and we’ll make sure she’s safely home, okay?’
She had to drop her head so Max wouldn’t see the rush of surprise and pleasure on her face. He might only be suggesting it to appease Arlo and have Ella leave without causing a scene. But then again, he might be offering because he knew she didn’t want to have to let herself into the big, dark house on her own. She blinked the emotion away, and a quick glance at Max was enough to know it was the latter as she read the understanding in his expression.
It took a few minutes to bundle the children back into coats, then they raced across the gravel to the house with Prim, excited by this new evening adventure. Ella opened the door and Max reached for the switch, chasing the darkness away and replacing it with welcome light.
‘Don’t disappear you two, we won’t be long. It’s bedtime,’ he warned the children as they took off upstairs.
‘Well done, I think you managed to avert Arlo from having a proper strop.’ She wondered if Max would notice the note of cheerfulness she forced into her words. She didn’t want them to go, but she couldn’t let him realise that for even a moment.
‘He’s tired, needs his bed.’ Prim nudged his hand and he stroked her head, his gaze steady on Ella’s, all traces of the fun they’d shared earlier gone.
‘Me too,’ she joked. ‘It’s been a busy day.’
‘Thank you for collecting them from school. Was everything okay?’
‘Fine, I enjoyed it and Prim certainly did too.’
Prim whined, plonking a paw on Max’s feet and staring up at him, as though asking why they were still standing around in the hall instead of settling somewhere more comfortable and preferably in front of a fire.
‘So you’d be okay to do it again three days next week? I always pick them on Mondays and Fridays unless something urgent comes up and I can’t.’
‘Of course. It’s partly why I’m here and I’m happy to help.’ Ella tilted her head, trying to identify what Lily and Arlo were doing from the noise they were making. ‘I think they’re bouncing on the beds.’
‘Oi you two!’ Max roared up the stairs. ‘No bouncing, you’ll ruin the mattress. Come on, we’re going.’
‘Was that your best lion impression?’ Ella saw his grin.
‘I’ve been known to do better.’ He ran a self-conscious hand through his blond hair. ‘Thank you, for everything tonight.’
‘My pleasure. I had fun; I think they did too.’
‘They definitely did, I could see that the moment I came through the door.’ The children were still shrieking, but Max ignored them to fix his gaze on hers. ‘It felt like home when I saw you all. Felt like family, laughing together.’
There was a yell from upstairs and Ella pulled herself free from the surprise hovering in his eyes. She hadn’t needed words to show him she’d sensed it too, had loved being with them, and sharing that time made it even harder to face being alone in this house until morning. But she needed to be rational and not allow a false hope to replace good sense. His children couldn’t be hurt again, and she had no wish for a casual fling with someone whose heart was still sore when her own life was so uncertain.
Lily had reached the bottom stair. She was crying, holding out a hand as she ran to Max. He scooped her up as Arlo thundered after her, protesting that it wasn’t his fault she’d fallen over, and Max gave Ella a long look as she closed the door behind them.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Ella had to knock three times on Noelle’s door above Max’s office before she opened it.
‘Ellachérie, how lovely. What brings you here?’ One hand was covered in charcoal, and she tilted her head. ‘Maxence is behaving himself,oui?’
‘You invited me to come and see your studio. Yesterday, when we spoke in the courtyard. We arranged it for this morning.’ If Noelle was busy, then at least Ella could get some work done. She had plenty to do; the college had replied to her email and requested a meeting. There were a couple more food producers she wanted to visit, too, and last night she’d started planning the supper menu, wide awake, thoughts of Max and that look in his eyes as he’d left with the children still lingering.
‘Are you sure?’ Noelle raised elegant brows. ‘I remember we spoke about you seeing the studio, but I don’t recall inviting you this morning.’
