‘Over to you, Gabi!’ Rosie started clapping, and the children followed on. Gabi shifted slightly in her seat and took a deep breath. Time to take to the high board and jump. She dropped her eyes to the book, and then leaned forward to bring her face to the children’s height.
‘Today’s story will make you gasp,’ she said, with a loud intake of breath which the children copied. ‘It will make you cheer!’ She raised her fists in the air and the children whooped. ‘And it might even make you scream!’ The children shrieked and several parents put their hands over their ears, while the cats all scarpered. Grinning, Gabi opened the book and cleared her throat. She was off.
Chapter Fourteen
Walker
‘Well, well. Gabi is a woman of many talents,’ said Alex, placing his empty beer bottle on the nearest table. ‘The kids loved it.’
‘I quite enjoyed it too,’ said Walker truthfully.
He was impressed. Gabi had them in the palm of her hand for every page. They couldn’t help but be swept along with the story, when Gabi read it as she did, acting out the words and using a French accent that made Alex and Etienne nod in appreciation when she read the words of the circus master.
Alex laughed and then cut it off abruptly as Amber bumped into him. She was head down, looking for something on the floor, and didn’t realise who she was standing in front of until she raised her head.
‘Hi. . .’ Alex stammered.
‘Oh. Hi,’ said Amber, a flash of something passing over her face. Walker didn’t bother saying hello as nobody was interested in him anyway.
He saw a tiny smile on Alex’s mouth.
‘How have you been?’ Alex asked.
‘Oh, you know. Busy. Working mum. No time to waste on stuff that doesn’t count.’
Alex flinched but then reached out to touch her wrist. She looked at the contact; they both did. Walker took a half-step back. He felt like he was right in the middle of something.
‘Do you fancy a coffee sometime?’ Alex pressed. ‘We could talk.’
Amber raised her ocean-coloured eyes and Walker almost whistled out loud. She was going to say yes, he could see it. Her face was full of emotion. She wanted to meet him; he’d put money on that. And it wasn’t even him that was the reformed gambler.
‘There’s nothing to say, Alex. . .’ Her halo of curls shimmered with a minute shake of her head, but her voice was soft.
‘I know you still feel it, Amber,’ Alex said. ‘I do too.’ Walker edged another half-step away and tried to give them some space. Jayden unfortunately had different ideas and when he spied them together, ran up and skidded to a halt between them. He looked first at his mum’s face and then Alex’s, ready to read their lips.
Amber snapped her hand away and her face changed. She glanced at Jayden and then back at Alex. Her eyes were now shooting bullets and Walker was glad he was out of the firing line.
‘No time, as I said, for things that don’t mean anything.’ This time, her voice was sharp. ‘Come on, Jayden.’ Amber tugged the boy by the hand and headed for the exit. Walker saw Jayden turn and put a hand up to Alex in goodbye and watched Alex wave sadly back.
‘Wow, I thought you were getting somewhere there. But she’s still really angry at you,’ Walker said.
Alex shrugged. ‘Told you, man.’ He heaved his guitar onto his back. ‘Anyway, gotta go to practice. See you later at home.’
Gabi arrived back in the circle as Alex left, her cheeks pink and her eyes bright.
‘I just got asked for my autograph!’ She laughed.
The guests were leaving around them and the gang followed suit. Fox had to take the boys home to bed. Isabella kissed Gabi goodbye and left, wrapped up in Etienne. The shop emptied in five minutes, leaving it strewn with glasses and snack bowls and napkins.
‘Stay, Gabi,’ Wren said from the counter, opening a bottle of wine. ‘We owe you a drink to say thank you. That was a five-star performance.’ She poured her a glass of wine and brought it over.
‘And Walker– you stay too,’ Rosie added, passing him a beer and leaning against his chest briefly. ‘I haven’t seen you for ages.’
‘I can help you clear up,’ he offered.
‘In a bit,’ Rosie said, pouring herself and Wren a large glass of water.
They all collapsed into the comfy chairs, discussing the evening and laughing about the kids’ questions at the end. Gabi had surprised them all, admitting to diving through windows, doing the high trapeze and getting shot out of a cannon.
