Noting Ollie’s startled face as a lorikeet swooped down, landing on Steve’s hand to peck at the nectar in the cup he was holding, Laura quickly crouched to reassure him. ‘It’s okay, Ollie,’ she said, looking into his eyes, which were flecked with worry. ‘It’s just a parrot. See its pretty rainbow colours?’
Ollie nodded uncertainly, glancing up at the bird and then back to Laura. He stepped swiftly into her arms as the lorikeet took off again with a raucous screech.
A man next to them chuckled as Ollie followed the bird’s progress across the top of the foliage. ‘Don’t you worry, young man,’ he said jovially. ‘Your mummy will fight them off for you.’
‘Course I will.’ Laura smiled and gave Ollie a squeeze.
Steve looked at her curiously, she noted, as he bent to pick the little boy up. ‘Hey, it’s all right, mate,’ he assured him. ‘These birds are tame. They won’t hurt you.’ Ollie still looked uncertain, his big blue eyes brimming with tears.
‘Shall we?’ Laura gestured towards the exit.
‘Good idea.’ Hoisting Ollie higher in his arms, Steve headed that way. ‘He thought you were his mum,’ he commented as they walked.
She noticed his questioning glance sideways. He was probably wondering why she hadn’t corrected the man. ‘That’s because we look like a family,’ she said, sliding an arm around his waist. ‘It’s a natural assumption to make. I thought it was easier not to try to explain.’
‘I suppose.’ He nodded thoughtfully.
‘Maybe the Lorikeet Lookout wasn’t the best plan after watching the birds of prey display,’ she suggested as they emerged.
‘Yeah, you’re probably right,’ he agreed. ‘He’s only three, after all.’
‘Four,’ Ollie piped up, trying very hard to put on a brave face now he considered they were safe. Laura had to smile at that.
‘Almost.’ Steve laughed, chucked him under the chin and set him back down on his feet. ‘How about we go and meet the farmyard animals instead?’ he asked, taking hold of his hand.
‘What kind of animals?’ Ollie asked, a concerned furrow forming on his brow.
‘Ooh, lots,’ Laura said. ‘Chickens and geese and cows. They have guinea pigs and rabbits, too.’
‘Do they have baby rabbits?’ His eyes growing wide, Ollie brightened considerably.
‘I believe they do.’ She smiled and checked the zoo schedule, and then her watch. ‘If we hurry, we’ll just make it.’
After meeting all the animals in the Farm and Barn, including an abundance of baby rabbits, with which Ollie was delighted, followed by a visit to Kidzoone, where he was congratulated on his very realistic loo roll model of a baby giraffe, he got to pick their next stop: the adventure playground, inevitably.
Once they’d found their way there, Laura eyed the various apparatus worriedly. ‘Do you think he might be a bit too young for some of this?’ she whispered sideways to Steve.
‘Nah. He’s been on most of this stuff at the local park. We have a system, don’t we, Ollie?’ he assured her. ‘He wobbles, I hold him.’ Giving her a reassuring wink, he swept up Ollie, who was raring to go, and headed for the monkey bars.
Watching them, Laura almost had palpitations, but Steve was so good with him, never letting him take a step that was beyond his ability and making sure to shadow and support him. She almost had complete heart failure when, once back on the ground, Ollie pointed gleefully to the long green chute attached to one of the wooden climbing frames, shouted, ‘Slide next, Daddy,’ and made a dash for it.
Steve helped him up, making sure he was steady, and was ready for him as he emerged from the end of it, thank God.
‘He can’t come to much harm in there.’ Laura nodded towards the sandpit Ollie was happily making sandcastles in minutes later. Sitting on the bench, she finally allowed herself to relax as she watched him. ‘Unless you want to join him anyway, just in case?’ She eyed Steve with wry amusement; he’d obviously enjoyed their adventures in the playground as much as Ollie had.
‘No, I’m good.’ Giving her a mischievous smile, Steve moved closer, sliding his arm around her. ‘It’s a tough choice, but I think I’d rather sit here with you than make sandcastles, although I’m red hot at them, obviously, me being a builder.’
‘Obviously. You’re a big kid, do you know that?’ Laughing, Laura turned her face up to him as he leaned towards her.
‘About that photograph in the bedroom,’ he started, then stopped, his gaze shooting towards Ollie.
‘Oh my God!’ Her heart leaping into her mouth as Ollie let out a squeal, she shot up and flew to where he’d fallen trying to climb out of the sandpit, Steve close behind her. ‘It’s all right. It’s all right, sweetheart,’ she said, dropping down beside him to assess the damage. ‘He’s cut his knee,’ she said, her alarmed gaze going to the blood dripping from his leg and plopping starkly into the sand.
‘It hurts.’ Pale with shock, his face creased with pain, Ollie was doing his best not to cry, and failing.
Laura hugged him close as the tears rolled wetly down his cheeks. ‘It’s all right, baby, I’ve got you,’ she whispered. ‘I willneverlet anyone hurt you again, I promise.’
Seventeen
