“What do you talk to Rayah about?”
Rayah inspected a lock of Sadie’s hair, paranoid as always about nits. There was often an outbreak straight after the holidays, although if there was anything crawling in her hair, it would have been smothered in glue. She also needed to distract herself while she waited for Jonny to answer.
“Lots of things. Our friends, her day at work, what you lot need for dinner.”
“Some stuff you know she knows about. Dad?”
Rayah braced herself.
“Is she going to be your girlfriend? I’d really like you to have a girlfriend.” He said the words really quickly as if he wasn’t sure he could actually get them out.
“Why do you want me to have a girlfriend?”
Smooth diversion, Jonny. She gave him points for slickness.
“Because I think you need to have a friend who’s for you and not just for us and I don’t want you to be lonely.” He sounded a lot younger than eleven. Rayah wanted to go in and wrap him in a huge hug, but she wasn’t sure that was the right move given she shouldn’t be listening.
“Rayah said you were worried about me being lonely. I’m really not. I have you lot of hellions and lots of friends and a job that I love. I don’t need to have a girlfriend to not be lonely. You don’t have to worry, Charlie. That’s my job.”
“But you would’ve had mum and you haven’t.”
“I know. But I have a lot of other really good stuff. I’m really happy.”
“You’re happier when Rayah’s around. I know you went out with Milo’s mum but you’re different with Rayah. And she’s really pretty.”
Rayah smiled. That was cute.
“Do you want her to be my girlfriend or yours?”
“Eww! That’s icky. She’s way too old. I want her to be yours. She stayed last night and you didn’t sleep in your bed and Sadie told me this morning that she’d seen you kiss under the mistletoe.”
“Christmas tradition. Did you not have mistletoe at your school disco?”
Rayah really appreciated how he was swerving the early questions but at some point, Charlie was going to get wise to it.
“The teachers put some up but the girls tried chasing us round with it. That was when me and Milo went outside to play football.”
“Smart move. But at some point, it’ll be you chasing girls. Trust me.”
“I don’t know how to talk to girls. Why weren’t you in your bed last night? I got up in the night because Harry was talking in his sleep and your bed was empty.”
Rayah paused with her combing. This was a tricky one as he wouldn’t lie to Charlie but the truth wasn’t suitable.
“I stayed up late with Rayah and ended up falling asleep downstairs.”
Perfect answer.
“Do you mind Rayah staying even when she isn’t babysitting you?”
Rayah heard the sizzle of a pan.
“No, it’s fun. I’d like it if she was your girlfriend. I like her more than Milo’s mum, and that’s not ‘cause I don’t like Milo’s mum, she’s really nice, but Rayah looks at your differently.”
Holy shit.
“How does Rayah look at me?”
“Like she looks at that man who plays Thor in the films.”
