‘Yep, and that’s not easy or pleasant sometimes. But it is what it is.’
Nadia had the fingers of one hand looped through the handle of her mug as she shifted it across the table but didn’t lift it up.
‘Okay, out with it: there’s something on your mind.’ He reached for her free hand but she quickly clasped her mug with both hands and his heart sank. ‘I thought things with us were good, that it might even be the start of something. Was I wrong to think that?’
‘You weren’t wrong. But… I’m paranoid about getting in the middle of anything, with your family.’
‘In the middle? You mean with me and Lucinda?’ When she nodded, he reminded her, ‘We’re divorced, happily divorced.’
‘It’s not just Lucinda to consider though, is it? Watching Archie with Giles and Bella today, they’re a little family. So were you four at one time and you still need to be in so many ways.’
‘Believe me, we’re better off apart than we were together. It’s upset things, made them unsteady, especially for Beau, but not in the long run. Staying together for them would’ve been the worst thing we could’ve done. There’s no going back and Beau knows that; it’s why he suggested I start dating.’
‘But did he really mean it? Is he ready for it? I know you, Hudson; you put your kids first and rightly so. I don’t want to be the one to come between you.’
‘Is that why you came: because you think you’re going to be a problem with the kids?’
‘I can’t stop thinking about it.’
They were interrupted by another knock at the door. ‘This will be Beau, I expect.’
Nadia got up. ‘I’ll leave you to it; you’ve got enough on your plate. We can talk another time.’
But Hudson wasn’t going to let her make a dash for it. Instead, he took her by the hand before she sensed what he was going to do and went to open the front door, not the easiest with only one hand free.
‘Forgot my?—’
‘Key, yes, I know.’
‘Hey, Nadia.’ Beau briefly looked at their hands and then closed the door behind him. ‘I’m starving.’ He headed for the kitchen.
Nadia still didn’t seem convinced that this was a good idea.
‘Hudson, I?—’
He stubbornly kept hold of her hand and led them back into the kitchen.
Beau closed the fridge, having given it a scan, and clocked their hands entwined again. ‘Are you two going out somewhere? Want me to look after Carys?’
Hudson let go of Nadia’s hand now he didn’t think she was about to run off and she sat at the table.
‘We’re just catching up; no plans to go out tonight. But I wouldn’t mind taking Nadia for dinner at the weekend if you’re up for a spot of babysitting?’
‘Sure,’ Beau replied, his head in the pantry this time.
‘You sit down,’ Hudson suggested to his son. ‘I can make you an omelette.’ And then to Nadia, ‘He’s a teen; all he sees is what he can grab, not ingredients he can put together to make something halfway nutritious.’
Beau rolled his eyes but thanked his dad. ‘Do we have mushrooms?’
‘We do.’
Hudson didn’t miss Beau’s attempt to grab a cereal bar from the pantry without him noticing.
‘What? This will keep me going. The omelette won’t be instant.’
And Hudson didn’t miss Beau’s cheeky grin towards Nadia either. Maybe Beau, without directly being asked the question, could put a stop to Nadia’s fears. Otherwise she might never go out on a date with him and he so wanted a chance with her.
‘Can I ask you a question?’ Beau said and when Hudson looked round, he realised it hadn’t been directed at him.
