“Her reading’s really coming on. That’s definitely a good thing.” He unfastened the buttons on his shirt cuffs, pushing up the sleeves to expose his forearms.
Forearm porn was a thing, and these forearms were a perfect example of it. Corded, the right dusting of dark hair, hands that looked like they knew what manual work looked like as well as marking schoolwork. He was living next door already, but I hadn’t actually seen much of him yet, I figured that would change when the summer holidays started.
“I’m proud of her. She’s coped well with everything the last week’s thrown at her.” It was an easy thing to say because I was. My little girl was all that was good in the world and I adored the person she was becoming. “How are you settling in next door?”
He shrugged, a dimple showing that I hadn’t seen before. “Okay. Beryl’s taste in furnishings is eclectic, but it’s more comfortable than the schoolhouse. That’s pretty much a disaster. I started to look round it properly last night and I don’t think some of those rooms have even been used in the last couple of decades.” His smile was wry. “It’s the summer project, making at least a few of the rooms habitable so I can move back in before Beryl returns. I also lost too much money to Roe Holland at cards last night, so I’m sore right now. My manly pride is dented.”
“I’ve heard that a few times about Roe.” My heart was thumping in my chest, the tiniest thought circling round my head, something stupid, I shouldn’t say it because I’d been knocked back, kind of, once already. “If you want a change of scenery, I was going to barbecue tonight – do you want to come round? I’m not sure what the protocol is on you socialising with parents, but the offer’s there.” The words were out there, and that somehow stabilised my pulse to a just about not needing medical intervention rate. If he said no, I’d put him back in the neat and tidy book boyfriend box once and for all.
If he said yes – I’d continue to panic, but he probably just wanted a friendship anyway.
“Are you asking because you feel sorry for me or because you have too much food?” He looked boyishly shy.
“A bit of both. I love barbecuing, but Miss Fussy Eater over there will only have sausages, so I end up with too much waste and well, too muchwaist.” I patted my stomach.
His dimple appeared again. “I think you can afford to eat what you want. But if you’re offering food which doesn’t come out of the microwave and I’m not ordering it off a menu, I’m in. I can’t go to the Puffin Inn again – it’s starting to look problematic so feel sorry for me all you like.”
Feeling sorry wasn’t what I was actually wanting to feel right now. Those forearms were screaming at me still.
“Barbecue it is then. Say six o’clock?” That would give me time to tidy the house, shower and marinate the meat I’d bought, and maybe google how to not have a heart-attack when your daughter’s hot head teacher came round for dinner.
“Six is great. What shall I bring?” His eyes were intense, his smile entertained.
I wondered if he’d read my penchant for his forearms – I did keep looking at them.
“Dessert. And beer if you want a beer. I only have standard stuff in and I don’t know how good it is.” Although I would be pouring myself a glass of wine as soon as I got in. “I’m not a beer fan. Not sweet enough.” I was starting to ramble, glancing to check where Mia was. She’d gotten tired of waiting for Heidi and was standing with another of their friends.
Thankfully, Heidi ran over, book in hand. “Mummy, can I read you my story when we get home? Or can we go for ice cream at Amelie’s?” She looked almost rabid at the prospect of ice cream.
I ruffled her hair, wondering how she was going to take this nugget of information that her head teacher was having dinner with us. Probably like she did most things; in her stride.
“Mr Caddick is sharing our barbecue tonight, so let’s have ice cream after tea. Is that okay?”
Heidi looked at Mr Caddick and nodded. “Can we ask Mrs MacGreggor as well?” That was Heidi’s teacher from reception, an old battle-axe who had a soft centre that she let kids see once every blue moon. For some reason, Heidi really liked her.
“I think Mrs MacGreggor has gone to see her daughter this weekend.” He looked over at mine and mouthed the next word. “Thankfully.”
I stifled a laugh. “I’d suggest coming to Beryl’s garden but Roe would say it lacks security. She does have a decent barbecue though.”
Heidi suddenly looked very serious. “Have you seen mad Annie’s house, the lady with all the cats?”
“Mad Annie?” He looked really amused now. “Who’s this mad Annie?”
“Heidi.” I managed to make my voice stern. “We talked about calling her that.”
Heidi looked cross, which meant she felt embarrassed. Still, she shouldn’t be naming people that in front of anyone.
“She’s a mad cat lady and she lives behind Beryl. But she’s very nice. Mummy, can we buy some ice cream to take home from Amelie’s?”
This was diversion at its best.
“As long as it’s chocolate.”
Heidi did a little jump. “Do you like chocolate ice cream, Mr Caddick?”
There was a quick conversation between them, where he managed to get Heidi to describe ice cream and extend her sentences, which made me smile at how teachery he was being.
“Let’s let Mr Caddick go and do what he needs to do, and we’ll see him later.” I put my hand on Heidi’s shoulder, wondering if I’d done the right thing in inviting him, wondering if he’d said yes because it wasn’t just me and him, so I couldn’t construe it as a date like he’d said on Tuesday.
