‘Good point,’ he mused, standing up and flexing shoulders. ‘Ah well, I’ll figure it out. They’ve given me a few days to think it over.’
‘For someone trying to make a serious life choice, you seem relaxed.’
‘No point getting wound up about it. I’ll weigh up the pros and cons, either take the job or not, and won’t have any regrets because my decision will be what’s right for me at this point.’
‘You make it sound so easy.’ Grudging admiration in tone.
‘Why overcomplicate things? Distil it down to a choice. Yes, or no?’
As he spoke, a mild breeze stirred the air, and the citrus fragrance of my rainbow roses swept over us. Inhaled, feeling peaceful, even though conversation made me think of the missed calls had been ignoring. ‘What if I was facing a tough decision, but didn’t know what to do, and ran out of time?’
His blue eyes were steady but compassionate. ‘Then you’ve made your choice by not deciding before the deadline.’
Gulped. ‘What if it’s something I’m scared of, but I force myself to do it, and it turns out wrong?’What if he gets let off, and finds me?
Ethan hesitated, before reaching out and brushing his fingers against mine again, wanting to comfort but not crowd me. ‘But Tori, what if it turns out right?’ Stepped back. ‘I should go. I’ll come by one evening to look at the stuff for the refurb scheme.’ Picked jacket up and smiled. ‘Nice roses, by the way. Clever to get them to do that. The vibrant shades suit you perfectly.’
Left me sitting on wall staring after him. Have felt grey for so long, but Ethan only notices my colours.
Maybe thereissome kind of inexplicable magic here, if he sees me that way.
CHAPTER 27
Harley
See the Best in People
‘Right kiddo, let’s do this.’ Harley helps Rosie clamber down from the van. It’s Saturday, and they’re dropping cake donations off at the Happy Café. Kirsten messaged last night with a plea:Rosie’s badgering me relentlessly to ride in your van again. Free tomorrow?Smiling, he found himself replyingOK.A moment later, she responded,Thanks. This is what you get for doing the school run! X
The kiss turned his smile onto a full-on beam, before catching himself. Stop it.
‘It’s Princess Rosalie, today, remember?’ Now, the little girl’s indignant voice scatters his thoughts as she takes his hand. Her chin lifts to prevent the plastic silver tiara, encrusted with pink jewels, slipping off. It’s a good match for the white fur-trimmed cloak she’s wearing over a blue chiffon dress with puffy sleeves.
‘Sorry, Your Majesty, how could I forget?’
‘I’m a princess, so it’s Your Highness,’ she corrects. ‘You need to watchCinderella. Ooh, we can watch it at your flat tonight,and I’ll show you how my cloak lights up in the dark.’ She turns around, face shining with excitement. ‘Mummy, can you make red velvet cake? Pleeeeeaasssseeee?’
Throwing Kirsten a pleading look, he sees her bright blue eyes dancing with mirth. ‘Cinderella?’ he echoes faintly. ‘I’m not sure?—’
‘Och, what a lovely little family.’ An elderly woman with lilac-rinsed hair remarks in a Scottish accent as she leaves the Upston House café, beige leather handbag hanging from one arm. ‘Clover and I were just saying so.’
‘Clover, huh?’ Harley remarks. She knows he and Kirsten aren’t a couple, but has let this stranger believe it anyway.
Kirsten’s face flushes, and she turns to open the van doors, probably mortified by the idea of being married to and sharing a child with him.
Rather than drawing it out by explaining Clover’s meddling, and risk embarrassing the nice woman, Harley simply responds, ‘That’s kind of you. Have a good day.’
Wow, progress,his heart donor remarks in his head.Thanks,he responds wryly.
‘And you. Cheerio now.’ The old woman nods with a farewell smile, before wandering off down the driveway.
Glancing at Rosie, he asks, ‘Assume you’re not too high and mighty to carry cakes?’
‘Nooo. Disney princesses are helpful.’ Diving into the van, she emerges with the smallest box and skips off towards the white, elegant building.
‘Sorry,’ Harley tells Kirsten as they follow, laden with cakes, ‘easier to let her believe it, rather than trying to explain Clover’s scheming.’ Or because the idea of them as a family wasn’t so terrible? Huh.
Her eyes flicker away, ‘’S fine. But I was surprised you were okay with it. I mean, if someone overheard, it could be splashedacross the papers you’re apparently married again, with a child in tow.’
