I turn back to her, forcing an easy smile. “Might be, Lu. But we’re all cosy in here, aren’t we?”
She nods, but her fingers tighten around her tea cup. Another clap of thunder rumbles through the sky, and she flinches.
Time for a distraction.
“You know,” I say, settling back into my seat, “when I was little, I used to think thunder was just the clouds playing a big game of bowling.”
Lucy blinks at me. “Bowling?”
“Yep. Every time you hear thunder, that’s a cloud getting a strike.”
She looks out the window, considering this. Another deep, rolling boom shakes the air.
“Oh,” she says, eyes wide. “That was a big one. Do you think the clouds are really good at bowling?”
“Definitely. I reckon that one just won the championship.”
She giggles, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. I drum my fingers on the table like a little drumroll. “And now, let’s see if they can do it again…”
We sit for a moment, listening. The wind howls, the trees rustle, and then—another crack of thunder, closer this time.
Lucy gasps. “They did it!”
I grin. “Told you. Best bowlers in the sky.”
She still glances at the window, but at least now there’s a hint of excitement behind her nerves. I place some of the small ham sandwiches I made on her plate, keeping my voice light.
“Shall we have a competition? You guess how many more strikes they’ll get before bedtime.”
She nods eagerly. “Five!”
“Five? That’s a bold bet, Your Majesty,” I tease, tapping my chin. “I say three.”
Lucy picks up a sandwich, but before taking a bite, she looks up at me with wide, serious eyes.
“Daddy… does Ivy have an umbrella?”
I pause, caught off guard by the question. “An umbrella?”
She nods, glancing out at the rain that’s now pattering against the windows. The storm is rolling in quickly, the sky darkening even more.
I smile, keeping my voice steady. “She’s got her tent to keep her dry, sweetheart. And I’m sure she packed her wellies and her rain jacket. She’ll be nice and snug.”
Lucy still looks doubtful. “But what if the rain gets in the tent?”
I lean forward, lowering my voice like I’m telling her a big secret. “Did you know tents are like giant raincoats for camping? They’re made to keep the rain out. And Ivy’s a very clever woman—if a little bit stubborn. She’ll have made sure everything is safe and dry.”
Lucy considers this, her little nose scrunching as she thinks it over. “Hmm. Okay,” she says at last. But she still doesn’t look entirely convinced.
Another roll of thunder shakes the sky, and she quickly shoves the rest of her sandwich into her mouth, as if the act of chewing might help her feel braver. I reach for my own sandwich and take an exaggerated bite, making a big deal out of chewing thoughtfully.
“Mmm,” I say, smacking my lips. “This might just be the finest ham and cheese sandwich in all the land. Fit for a queen, even.”
Lucy swallows and grins, playing along. “That’s because Queen Lucy only eats the best food.”
“Of course,” I nod seriously. “How silly of me to forget.”
She giggles, and just like that, the worry in her eyes fades—at least for now.
