‘It is. And it does — for the moment anyway. If that’s all right with you?’
‘More than all right,’ said Kate, linking her arm through his and tugging him against her. He put his arm around her and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
‘Then I’ll give notice on my apartment and move in as soon as possible.’
‘Oh, it will be so lovely to have you home again. Until you get yourself settled in some other way, of course,’ she added.
He knew what she meant. ‘Or until you want me gone.’
She frowned. ‘Why would I want that?’
‘I don’t know. You might meet someone you want to share your life with who isn’t your son or daughter.’
The frown deepened.
‘Come on, Mum, you know what I mean. Dad died years ago. I’m sure there would be lots of people who would love to share your life, if you were open to it.’
She shot him a dark look. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked indignantly, colour rising in her cheeks.
He wished he hadn’t spoken, but it was too late now. ‘I mean that Dad wouldn’t want you to be lonely.’
‘I didn’t say I was lonely’ — she looked away as if forming her thoughts — ‘just alone. And I’m not interested in replacing your father.’
‘Mum,’ he said in his best persuasive voice, ‘I didn’t say anything about replacing Dad. God knows, I can’t imagine anyone doing that. I just mean’ — he shrugged — ‘a friendship.’ Silence lengthened. ‘With a man.’ Another long silence. ‘An intimate friendship,’ he added in case his meaning was still unclear.
She turned to him with wide eyes. ‘Daniel MacLeod! What on earth has got into you?’
‘Nothing, I just?—’
She held up her hand. ‘Stop right there. I don’t want to hear another word on the subject. Unless’ — she said, her face brightening with mischief — ‘you wish to tell me what happened in Washington? What friendship turned sour to make you return home with the air of a defeated man?’
It was his turn to glare at his mother. ‘No. I don’t wish.’
‘Good,’ said Kate with the air of a woman who’d won an argument. ‘Then I think we’ll agree never to broach this subject between us again.’
‘Agreed. But, of course, you don’t have to broach it yourself, do you? You have your secret weapons — my sisters.’
She laughed. ‘Coffee?’ she said with a sweet smile.
‘Great, thanks,’ he said with a sigh.
There was nothing he could do. His mother had won again — like she always did. But if she could use his sisters, then maybe he could too, for the same purpose. Except they’d know how to talk to their mother more persuasively. He’d talk to Jen. She’d have a more subtle approach than either Lucy or him.
‘How’s Lucy after the other night?’ Dan asked as he rifled through a biscuit tin, before selecting a homemade Anzac biscuit, studded with chocolate drops. ‘She looked pretty shaken up.’
‘I know. Poor girl. I think she really likes the man. I feel guilty because it was my idea to invite him to a family barbecue. I thought it might help him understand our community better.’
‘Make him see that he’s dealing with real people,’ Dan added with a grunt. ‘Yeah, well, I think he knew that and didn’t care.’
Kate glanced at him. ‘You sound as if you don’t like him.’
‘That’s because I don’t. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.’
‘Lucky then that there won’t be any throwing.’
He smiled. ‘Don’t worry, Mum, I’m not about to descend into a physical fight with Oliver Perry-Warnes. He’s not worth it. I’ll keep the fight restricted to words. Like Augi. She was amazing the other night, the way she got to the heart of the matter and saw right through him.’ As he munched on his biscuit, his gaze fixed on the sea where he’d been with Augi, he reflected once more on how impressive she’d been. More than impressive.
It was only when he realised there was silence that he turned to see his mother looking at him strangely. ‘Daniel,’ she said quietly, ‘I hope you’re not getting any odd ideas about Augi.’
