‘Of course he will.’ Joe held her close. ‘It’s pretty obvious he loves his dad, and vice versa.’
Sarah nodded, but still she couldn’t shake the uneasiness that had crept through her when Steve had said that Laura had found meeting her traumatic. ‘Why do you think she said that?’ she asked. ‘That I’d given her a hard time?’
She’d thought they’d got along well, all things considered. Why on earth would Laura tell Steve that they hadn’t?
Seven
Laura
‘All done?’ Laura asked, turning from the dishwasher as Steve came down after bathing Ollie.
‘All done – and I think I’m just about done in.’ Steve rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he came across to her. ‘We had a pillow fight. Ollie won.’
Noting his hair was damp and in complete disarray, Laura laughed. ‘You look it. He’s a bundle of energy, isn’t he?’
‘Definitely that.’ Steve smiled fondly. ‘He’s a good kid, though.’
Laura reached to smooth his fringe from his forehead. ‘You’ve missed him, haven’t you?’
‘And some,’ he admitted gruffly. ‘Thanks for doing this, Laura.’
‘What?’ She widened her eyes in surprise. ‘I haven’t done much, apart from feeding him.’
‘Playing with him, making time for him.’ Steve pulled her into his arms. ‘Having him here. It means a lot.’
‘How could a girl resist when he’s a little replica of his father?’ She brushed his lips softly with hers.
‘But cuter.’ Steve smiled and kissed her nose.
‘Obviously.’ Laura had to agree with that. Ollie had that cheeky little-boy smile that could melt hearts. He’d melted hers as soon as she’d set eyes on him. She hadn’t quite been able to believe her eyes as she’d watched Steve, whom she’d only ever spoken to in passing, walking from his car to the hospice with him. She’d guessed he was his son immediately. With his blonde colouring, the boy had been a little replica of him.
After she’d seen Ollie that first time, she’d begun to visit Annie more often, growing as fond of the old woman as Annie had become of her. The window of Annie’s room, where she’d positioned her armchairs, looked out onto the street, allowing them to indulge in Annie’s favourite pastime of people-watching. Laura’s visits would conveniently coincide with Steve and Ollie’s arrival. When she’d heard that Steve’s father had deteriorated and that he’d made the decision not to bring Ollie again, she’d summoned up her courage and made an effort to speak to him. She’d soon learned his marriage was in trouble, and a kernel of panic had begun to take root inside her. The child would be a casualty. How could he not be? As she’d come to know Steve better, realising that he was steadfast and reliable, that he had a certain degree of humility, it had been easy to envisage a relationship with him. She felt safe with him. In turn, she vowed that she would keep his child safe, that she would be there for Ollie, provide him with the love and affection she herself had never had. It was as if fate had played a hand in bringing him to her. She wouldn’t let him down.
Holding Steve’s gaze, she smiled warmly. ‘Have you read him his bedtime story?’
‘Shoot!’ He looked alarmed. ‘No, I forgot. I’d better go back up. He’ll never settle otherwise.’
‘Did you remember to put the night light I bought him in his room?’ she asked as he about-faced. ‘I left it on our dressing table.’
‘Damn.’ Steve stopped in his tracks. ‘No. I forgot that as well.’
‘Too busy pillow-fighting,’ Laura chastised him playfully. ‘Would you like me to read him his story? You could pour us a well-earned drink while I do. I bought us a nice Cabernet Sauvignon as a treat.’ Closing the dishwasher, she headed across the kitchen.
‘He’d like that,’ Steve said as she selected a bottle from the wine rack. ‘You’re obviously a hit.’
‘Well, that’s a relief.’ Laura handed him the wine. ‘Hopefully he’ll report favourably back to Sarah.’
‘Yeah … sorry about all that.’ Steve shrugged apologetically. ‘She was only looking out for Ollie, but if I’d known she was going to give you the third degree … I still can’t believe she did that while she’s letting some bloke I know nothing about come and go as he pleases.’
‘It’s not a problem,’ Laura assured him. ‘I would never have told you about it if I’d known you would worry. It’s true she did give me a bit of a hard time, but Ollie’s here, that’s all that matters. And I’m sure Sarah wouldn’t let anyone she didn’t trust implicitly be around him. Having met her, I imagine she’ll know everything there is to know about the man.’
‘Yeah, probably,’ Steve agreed with a sigh. ‘I suppose she was just doing what mothers naturally do.’
‘You can’t blame her for that.’ Giving him another reassuring smile, Laura turned to the door.
Steve caught her hand. ‘Dinner was a hit, too.’ He smiled appreciatively back and pressed her fingers to his lips. ‘I’ve never seen him clean his plate before. I think he’s going to love coming here.’
‘I hope so,’ Laura said, meaning it. She was desperate for Ollie to look forward to coming to see her, to learn to love her. ‘As long as Sarah doesn’t think I’m trying to outdo her.’ She’d already made Ollie promise not to mention the extra home-made cookie she’d slipped him. Bearing in mind his sugar intake, she probably shouldn’t have done, but how was she to resist those huge beguiling eyes?
