‘No, and for that I’m glad. And Jonah might’ve enjoyed the sofa cover saga if he’d been there.’
Maeve seemed hesitant. ‘I do hope he hasn’t been in the way.’
‘What? He’s helping!’
‘You’re sure?’
‘I really am.’
‘He loves helping Leo too.’
Nina wasn’t sure how to interpret her tone, there was a hestitation there. ‘Leo doesn’t mind either. He really doesn’t.’ And when Maeve said nothing she added, ‘He isn’t letting Jonah in the water, if he says he won’t, he won’t.’
Maeve shook her head as though ridding herself of her worries. ‘I’m sorry, I’m worrying, that’s all, part of being a mum.’
‘I’m sure it is.’
‘So the cabin is coming along?’
‘I can’t believe it’s all taking shape so quickly. I still needto shop for accessories today which seems a luxury compared to scrubbing, cleaning and painting.’
Maeve mentioned a few places that might have what Nina was looking for accessories-wise as she’d been buying things for her flat since she arrived. ‘And if you’re going for the nautical theme try that new shop on the corner near the supermarket, they’ve got some lovely little seaside prints in beautiful frames.’
‘Thanks for the tip. Oh, and I’ve decided to organise a little party for Walt.’
‘Is it his birthday coming up?’
‘No, but now the cabin is redecorated it feels right to have a bit of a gathering there. I want to do it for him and I’ll get pizzas – Grandad loves a Hawaiian.’
‘Great choice. But it’s sad though, a final party.’
‘Sad, but Grandad is pragmatic.’ Although Maeve had planted a small seed of doubt to add to the other seeds that had already been sown. She was just doing her best not to let them grow too much. ‘Oh God, do you think I’ll upset him by putting on a party?’
‘Don’t be daft. He’ll recognise it as the kind gesture it’s meant to be. Let me know when, and I’ll be there. You could put up white and blue balloons to keep the nautical theme.’
‘Great idea,’ Nina smiled. ‘And it’s tomorrow night, is that too short notice?’
‘I’ll see if I can get my parents to look after Jonah.’
‘Don’t do that, the more the merrier, he’s very welcome. He can tell Grandad all about the bits that he painted in the cabin. Go on, bring him, I need to say thank you for helping, so he can have as much pizza as he likes.’
Maeve began to laugh. ‘I’ll warn you now, he’ll beasking for chicken wings as well as pizza, since he tried those from the shop just up from the cabin he’s addicted to them.’
‘Chicken wings can be arranged too,’ Nina smiled.
Maeve scraped the top of her chocolate froth off with her spoon. ‘Doesn’t all of this talk make you want to hold on to the cabin?’
All Nina had to do was look at her.
‘And there’s no way you could?’ Maeve asked.
‘Not really.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know, maybe it’s for the best if I don’t keep it. It’s less of a tie, it’ll be empty a lot of the time. It’s not like I have a family to bring down here.’
‘You might do one day.’
‘It’s been good to have Jonah there, see another kid enjoying the cabin. He likes the stepping stones, I always did too.’ She’d watched him leap across the stepping stones plenty of times, welcome at either cabin whenever he liked or was allowed.
‘Has he been to Leo’s cabin too? You know, if he’s jumping across the stepping stones?’
