‘Go ahead,’ said Nadia.
‘I have to arrange work experience next year. I was wondering, would I be able to come in and do it with The Skylarks?’
Hudson beat the eggs with a fork but rather than a stab of resentment that Beau hadn’t asked him, he listened to his son talk with Nadia about the side of The Skylarks that Hudson wasn’t involved in. He wanted to be out in the field, he said, not just because of the action, but to save lives.
As Hudson prepared an omelette, Nadia answered more questions about the charity. They talked about her nursing degree, her days as a nurse, about the extra qualifications to be a critical care paramedic with the air ambulance, about the experience some of the team had joined up with.
Hudson tilted the pan and let the finished omelette slide onto the plate he’d set in front of his son.
‘I’m sure Brad or Bess or any of The Skylarks would talk to you more,’ said Nadia, comfortable in his son’s company. ‘I’ll look into getting you a week’s work experience. We’ve never had a student in before, but you’ve shown how hard working you are on a voluntary basis. I can’t see why it wouldn’t work.’
As Beau ate, he talked more at the dinner table than he had in a long while and Hudson enjoyed watching the interaction between him and Nadia.
When Beau eventually went off to watch TV, Hudson pulled out a chair. ‘Thanks for that.’
‘For what?’
‘The way you talk to him. It’s nice – it’s like there’s a mutual respect.’
‘He’s earned it.’
‘He has. Now, are you going to tell me why you tried to run off before, just because Beau came home?’
She was far more relaxed. ‘I didn’t want him to be put out that I was here. I mean it when I say I’m worried. What if he didn’t really mean what he said about you dating?’
‘I think he meant it. And now you’ve sat with him, perhaps he’s convinced you too?’
‘I think he might have done.’
‘Well, that’s progress.’
‘I needed to see it for myself. And a few days ago, I saw Lucinda at the supermarket with Conrad. She seemed happy with him. Seeing her with someone else reminded me that life goes on and even though you will always be linked to her, you deserve the same kind of happiness.’
‘Lucinda’s romantic relationships are her business now but I’m glad she seemed happy. She isn’t exactly likely to tell me. She’ll always be the mother of my children; you’re right that we’ll always be linked. But that really is it, I promise you.’
‘I guess I’m worried about making a mess of this… us.’
He got up, looked out of the window. ‘No sign of rain yet; how about we take Beau up on his offer and go for a walk?’
He went in to clear it with Beau, who was fine with the arrangement and his main concern was whether there were any choc ices in the freezer.
‘Plenty, but just one, okay.’
‘I’m not twelve, Dad.’
They left Beau in charge and headed out of the front door, down the garden path and turned left. The moody sky hovered above; another rumble of thunder came. A neighbour called out a hello and urged them to hurry to wherever they were going before they got wet.
‘Feel better?’ he asked Nadia as he took her hand.
‘Better?’
‘Being out of my house. Away from my kids so we can have a moment together.’
‘I do feel better; this was a good idea.’
‘I think so too.’ He loved the feel of her hand in his as they walked, turned the corner which would take them all the way down to the river.
‘Was that…?’ She held out her hand, testing for raindrops.
