‘Things got a bit intense with your granddad around,’ I said lightly. ‘There was only so muchCash or Crashhe could handle.’ As if the only issue was a maddening quiz show presented by a man with an orangey tan.
‘Eddie pretends he’s barely noticed that his dad’s not around,’ I tell Oliver now, when he asks how things areat home. ‘But I know he needs him. This enormous thing’s about to happen in his life and Frank isn’t there.’
‘And Eddie won’t go and see him?’
I shake my head. ‘No, he flatly refuses. Says his dad should be coming to seehim.’
‘D’you think Frank just can’t cope with it all?’ Oliver suggests. We are side by side on a bench now, clutching coffees in the shade of a sycamore tree. It felt entirely natural to spill it all out.
‘I don’t know what he’s thinking,’ I reply.
Oliver nods. ‘And this stage is meant to be easier?’ he says lightly.
‘When the kids are all grown, you mean?’ Despite everything, I smile. He has a way of lightening things.
‘Yeah. You know – when we’re supposed to have it all figured out?’
I chuckle. ‘That’s what it says in the book.’
‘Oh, what book’s that?’
‘A kind of self-help guide I found in the library.The Empty-Nester’s Handbook. Apparently we’re meant to be embarking on a thrilling new chapter right now.’
‘Oh, right.’ He laughs wryly, then looks at me. ‘There’s a baby coming, though.’
‘Yes.’ I nod. ‘That is pretty thrilling, isn’t it?’
‘It is,’ Oliver agrees.
‘You’re going to be a great-uncle!’
‘Jesus,’ he manages, and as we stroll back through the park I reflect that life really is thrilling; at least, this little part of it. And even though Frank is living in a derelict food truck, and I’ve found myself living with my father and son and every damn day I have to pick up wet towels from the bathroom floor, today feels pretty special. Because I sense that I’ve found a new friend and that, somehow, he seems to get it.
‘I don’t think we’ll make it to the museum now,’ Oliver remarks.
I smile at him. ‘I don’t know where the time’s gone. Sorry I’ve gone on about Frank …’
‘Not at all,’ he says emphatically. ‘What were you going to do? Say everything’s fine?’
‘You’d have known it wasn’t.’
‘Yes, I would.’ Oliver seems to hesitate, then adds, ‘I’ll be over your way again in the next couple of weeks. We’re doing a full survey on the site …’
‘For the beavers?’
‘Yeah. I was going to suggest meeting up, if you’d like to? Maybe I could pop into your library, explore this natural history collection of yours?’
‘Oh, yes! Please do. It’d be great to see you.’
He seems to study my face. ‘Are you sure? It sounds as if you have an awful lot on your plate right now.’
‘No, that’d be lovely,’ I say firmly. ‘And y’know, me and Frank will probably have things sorted by then.’
‘I do hope so.’
‘Thanks, Oliver. I mean it,’ I add firmly. ‘It’s been good to chat today. I can’t really talk to Eddie about anything personal, and me and Dad … well, we get along fine. But it’s not really his thing. Listening, I mean. Or feelings …’
Oliver chuckles. ‘Sometimes it’s just good to be out of the situation for a little while.’
