“It was. But roping poor, innocent Monty in to help? Disgraceful!” He passed Carrie the bottle of wine.
“What can I say, I was desperate! How else was I supposed to get your attention?”
“Oh, you got my attention,” said Michael, with a smile.
“I’m glad it worked,” Carrie said, shyly. She took a sip from the bottle.
“This might sound a little strange but... when Layla and I are hanging out with you and Poppy, just cooking or whatever, it feels like how things are meant to be, or at least how I’d envisaged I’d like my life to be if that makes sense.”
“It does,” said Carrie, fiddling with the neck of the bottle. “It’s easy and fun and it’s so good to feel like there’s someone who’s got my back and who I can talk about stuff with.”
She passed the bottle to Michael without meeting his eyes.
“Yeah, and it helps that Layla thinks you’re the best thing since sliced bread,”
Carrie laughed. “Poppy adores you.”
“Honestly, who can blame her.” Michael took a sip. “I don’t think you necessarily have to be a biological father in order to be a good dad to a child. Peter taught me that. I’m not trying to replace Tony. He’s Poppy’s father and I respect that. But I really would like to be a big part of her life and for you to have the same with Layla, who frankly worships you already. Being with you feels like what I was trying to achieve with Georgia, but... it just wasn’t right. I was trying to force something. As soon as you and I started hanging out together... it was like, this is how it’s supposed to be, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” said Carrie. “And I know that things are complicated...”
“Well, as far as I can see you’ve done a pretty good job of uncomplicating things,” Michael said.
“But Layla... after what she went through at the beginning of the summer... I understand you worrying about dating anyone after that.”
“Carrie, Layla trusts you completely and she’s actually told me I needed to stop messing around and ask you out.”
Carrie realised she was holding her breath.
“So, are you going to?” she finally asked. “I mean I’m pretty sure Poppy would have absolutely no objection.”
Michael smiled. They stopped walking, and he propped the wine bottle up in the sand before taking Carrie’s hands in his.
“Putting our kids aside for a moment, I’m in love with you, Carrie,” he said, looking her right in the eyes. “Possibly from the moment my embarrassment of a dog stole your bra, but definitely for quite some time. So yeah, I’d quite like it if we could go on a date sometime.”
“I’d really like that,” said Carrie. “Especially because I’m in love with you too. But I do think that you should at least kiss me now. I did buy you a drink after all.”
Michael laughed and took her in his arms. He smiled as he leaned down and his lips touched hers, sending electricity coursing through Carrie. It had never felt like this with anyone else before. His kiss was almost painstakingly tender, like he was wanting to make the absolute most of the moment, savouring it as it deepened.
Finally they broke apart, aware that there were other people still on the beach.
“We’d better get back,” said Michael, resting his forehead against hers. “Layla won’t be pleased we’re holding up her birthday cake.”
“So, we’re doing this? Properly? You and me?” Carrie asked. “With all the exes and children, and kittens, and an interfering aunt involved?”
“Absolutely,” said Michael. He tilted her chin up gently and kissed her until she understood that there really wasn’t anything that could keep them apart and their life together was going to be wonderful.
Epilogue
One Year later
“Michael, darling, come away from the window. You’re not going to make her get back any sooner,” said Carrie, going over and rubbing him on the back.
“It’s her first driving lesson, anything could happen,” he said, anxiously, not moving from his spot at the front of the bookshop where he’d been positioned for the last twenty minutes with Monty holding vigil beside him, much to the confusion of the customers who came in.
“She’ll be fine. Dylan will look after her.”
“And why she chose Dylan to take her out for her first drive on her seventeenth birthday, I don’t know,” he continued grumpily.
