She squeezed even tighter. ‘Having you home is the best present I could ask for.’ She finally let go of him. ‘I swear you look more grown up every time I see you.’
He groaned.
Noah bounced Eva on his hip. ‘Is this what I have to look forward to with this one?’
‘Yep,’ smiled Maya. ‘I’ll tell you now that it’s a bumpy road, parenthood. But you’ll love it.’
Geraldine appeared next and wasted no time scooping Eva into her arms. ‘Hello, little one.’
‘Haven’t you had enough of her yet?’ Noah laughed.
‘Never. And I thought you two might need some time.’
Isaac looked from Maya to Noah and back again and blushed a little when he realised what was going on. He’d always done that, he hated it, but Maya didn’t. Because no matter how much he grew up, it told her that her little boy was still in there somewhere.
‘And who is this?’ Geraldine asked, addressing Eva as though she could answer who the strapping young adult male was.
Maya introduced Geraldine to Isaac.
Geraldine grinned. ‘Ah, so I’ve just put my foot in it, I assume.’
Isaac began to laugh. ‘Not at all. Mum’s love life is her business. And I can see my grandad, so I’ll go say hi. He’s helping the crew pack everything away.’
Maya spun round. Sure enough, Nigel was talking to the Whistlestop River Freewheelers, helping them put away their banners and fold up the table. She felt her breath catch. Her dad. Here. Her dad. Proud. Getting involved in the job he’d never seemed to be interested in.
Isaac went over to his grandad and Geraldine took charge of Eva.
Noah stepped closer. ‘So, your love life, eh?’
‘I can’t believe he said that.’
‘I can.’ She didn’t have to look up into his eyes to know his focus was fully on her when he said, ‘Alone at last.’
‘Apart from a few dozen or so people…’ She finally looked up into those eyes that sent flutters of nerves and excitement cascading through her.
He reached for her hand and his fingers slotted between hers. ‘I heard you that night, you know.’
‘What night?’
‘The night I told you about Justine and the phone call. We were at mine and you went to check on Eva.’
She remembered. He’d heard her?
When she looked down at the ground, he put his opposite hand beneath her chin and tilted it upwards. ‘So you think I’m kind and wonderful?’ He was smiling.
‘Yeah, yeah, okay, no need to go on about it.’
‘Do you still think I’m those things?’
‘I do.’
‘I’m glad. If you’re up for it, I think we need to go on a date, find out a lot more about each other.’
‘That sounds like a plan.’
‘Is tonight too soon?’
She gulped. ‘Tonight is perfect. But I feel I should warn you that I’m so tired, I might not be able to keep my eyes open.’
