‘What?’
‘For a job.’
‘Daniel! That’s marvellous. So that means you’re going to stay!’
‘I guess it does.’
‘You’ve got a job?’
Kate and Dan both turned around to see Jen emerging from the kitchen. They hadn’t heard her arrive.
Dan groaned, as he heard someone shout and a door close with a crash. Lucy appeared behind Jen.
‘What’s going on?’ asked Lucy.
’Nothing,’ said Dan quickly.
‘Dan’s got a job.’ Jen turned to Lucy. ‘Did you know anything about this?’
‘No!’ said Lucy. ‘How come you haven’t told me?’
‘Because I haven’t got a job. I’ve got a job interview.’ He scowled.
‘Same thing. You always get what you go for.’
‘Not always,’ muttered Dan.
‘That’s great,’ said Lucy, ‘isn’t it Mum? We’re slowly collecting our family back where they belong.’
‘Just need to persuade Ellie to return permanently, and Matt,’ said Jen. ‘I haven’t seen him in years.’
‘Nor have any of us,’ said Kate with a sigh. ‘I thought Ellie might stay, but no such luck.’
Lucy grinned at Dan. ‘No pressure, Dan.’
‘Just to be clear, having a job interview doesn’t mean I’m going to stay here forever,’ said Dan.
The girls looked at each other and laughed.
Smiling, Kate leaned forward and patted his hand. ‘Just ignore them. You do whatever is right for you. So tell us about the job.’
He shot a dark look at his sisters who’d already been diverted and gone to join Liam and George.
‘It’s working for an independent policy consultancy. Their clients include anyone who works for the public interest, and it’s the consultants’ job to advocate for their interest with the government.’
‘So, to be clear, you’re still working in government, but now you’re working for the public, rather than big corporations.’
‘That about sums it up.’
Dan stood up and Kate looked up at his handsome face, framed by blonde hair which was longer now than when he’d first arrived home. He glanced at his sisters, at Liam and George, at Sam, and then out to sea. She hoped he’d stay. Not only for her, but for him. Because her gut feeling was telling her loud and clear that he needed to be here, with family, at home.
‘I’m off now, Mum. I’ll see you later.’
She squeezed his hand which he’d rested on her shoulder. ‘Just remember — go with your gut feeling when trying to figure out who you can trust.’
He nodded and she watched him walk away. She smiled to herself as she thought of him as a toddler, faltering steps in the right direction.
He’d be OK. She got up, collected some more drinks and walked out into the bright sunlight of the garden.
