And as a dad, he couldn’t ask for much more than that.
As they waited for their plates to be cleared and let their dinner go down, talk turned to Beau’s mum.
‘What do you really think of Conrad?’ Hudson decided there was no point trying to dress up the question; he may as well be direct.
‘He’s not so bad.’
‘Is that only because he let you off?’ Hudson leaned out of the way when one of the bar staff came to take his plate.
‘I suppose it’s part of it. I think I’m getting used to him. Mum’s last boyfriend was awful. It was obvious he didn’t expect to have to tolerate kids – whatever age they were.’
‘I hope Carys squealed loudly when he was there.’
Beau laughed. ‘Actually, she did. I swear that’s why he went running for the hills.’
‘Does Conrad treat your mum okay?’ It wasn’t his business who Lucinda dated but he still cared and he’d heard what Conrad was like.
‘He does. They seem happy. He works a lot, so does she.’
‘Maybe they’re a good match in that way.’
‘Have you ever thought of dating anyone?’
His beer didn’t quite go down smoothly and he coughed. ‘Sometimes, but there’s too much going on.’
‘I don’t mind, if you want to.’
‘Wouldn’t it depend who it was?’
‘Well, yeah. They’d have to like kids.’ He had more to say. ‘You and Nadia seem close.’
‘Nadia?’
‘Ask her out; I think she’d say yes.’
It felt weird, having this conversation, but he appreciated it. ‘Who knows, maybe I will. Now that I have your approval.’
‘You’ll need Carys’s too.’
Hudson laughed loudly. ‘As long as she gets a cuddle, Carys is happy and I don’t think her squealing will chase Nadia away either.’ He tried to read his son’s expression. ‘You’d really be okay with it?’
‘Sure.’
‘Well, thanks.’
‘You mean for being okay that my dad actually gets a life.’
‘Hey… less making out I’m a sad case.’
‘Just do me a favour, Dad.’ He set down his second Coke after a generous swig. ‘If you date her, or anyone else, don’t give me any details.’
He clinked his glass against Beau’s. ‘Deal.’
The drizzle that had started as they made their way to the pub had turned into a downpour that made them linger inside a while longer. They had a game of darts, which Beau won, three games of pool, which Hudson won, and they made use of the pub’s pack of cards.
‘The rain has stopped,’ said Beau when he came out of the bathroom.
‘Shall we make a run for it now in case it starts again?’
