“Yeah, I had a quick dip before I came in.” She gestured to the chair she’d been sitting in. “Take that one so you can monitor things.”
He smiled his appreciation as he sat. “Where’s your mum?”
“She’s visiting a friend.”
Lara was talking, her hands gesturing like they did when she was excited. So far, so good.
“Darcy?”
Faith still stood, her eyebrows raised as if she’d asked him a question.
“Sorry?”
“Can I get you a drink or something to eat?”
His stomach wouldn’t handle food right now, but there was a bottle of water on the table. “Water’s fine.”
She sat across from him and twisted so she could also watch Lara. “She looks OK.”
“Yeah.” He should be pleased, but had she been pining for her mother, and he hadn’t known about it? Was he wrong not to have made an effort to keep in touch with Sofia?
“You want to talk about it?” Faith asked, pouring him a glass of water.
“I’ll cope.” His eyes didn’t leave his daughter. Couldn’t risk missing her sign.
Faith chuckled. “Maybe a little less intensity with your staring, Darcy. The tourists will think you’re a stalker.”
It took a second for her words to sink in, and then he glanced at her. Her smile was sympathetic. “It’s a little creepy.”
His cheeks heated. “She arranged a signal with me. If she taps her fist three times, then she needs rescuing.”
Faith nodded. “OK. How about we both keep watch then?” She shifted the table and shuffled her chair so she could see Lara without turning.
Her support warmed him. He had lost touch with most of his school friends after Lara had been born, as they’d either moved away or they hadn’t wanted him hanging around with a new baby. He’d received all of his support from his family.
Lara was chatting to her brothers. Todd responded, but Trevor stared out the window at the ocean.
“Are they her brothers?” Faith asked.
He blinked. “Step-brothers. Josh is Sofia’s new husband.” Josh sat back listening but not taking part in the conversation, though when Lara got going, it was hard to get a word in edgewise. He looked like a decent enough bloke. Had that kind of refined wealthy look about him with the Ralph Lauren polo shirt and boater shoes. Would he think Lara was too common for his family?
“Darcy, chill.”
He glanced at Faith. “What?”
“You have a million thoughts going over your face. Whatever the last one was, it wasn’t nice. You practically burnt a hole through Josh.”
He rubbed his face. “Sorry, I’m a little stressed.”
She covered his hand with hers. “It’s understandable, but you need to have faith in your relationship with your daughter. It’s strong and her having other family won’t change that.”
He wished he could be as certain as she was.
The waitress brought over an iced coffee and a large slice of carrot cake. Faith thanked her and asked Darcy, “Want some?” She held out her fork with some cake on it.
His stomach had settled a little. “Sure.” He leaned forward, opened his mouth and she put the cake inside. The intimacy of the action struck him, and he stared at her as he tasted the delicious moist cake. They barely knew each other, but it felt so natural.
She broke the eye contact and cut herself a piece of cake. “Is it good?” As if to answer her own question, she tasted the cake and shut her eyes as her lips closed around the fork that had just been in his mouth. He shifted, unable to look away from her. He could visualise those lips on him. He dragged his gaze away. The sight of his daughter across the café doused all of his inappropriate thoughts. Lara still chatted, but her hands clutched the milkshake glass in front of her and her shoulders were hunched.
