‘I know. She threw him at me.’
‘She didn’t tell me that part. Sorry. I should have hidden him.’
‘No worries. If you want to smuggle him home and hide him, you’re welcome. If not, he’s here any time you want to drop by.’
He hesitated before placing Wally back on his chair. ‘I’ll keep him here for my art lessons.’
I wished he could take his old friend home but I was equally glad that keeping him here gave an incentive for Aaron to return. And he’d just said he would be returning. Surely that had to indicate a thaw towards me.
‘Did you talk much?’ Tara asked as we took Doris for a walk round The Headland that evening.
‘Only about art. I tried a few questions but he either ignored me or gave me a really short answer. He’s clearlytorn between hating me for my alleged abandonment and wanting my help so there was this awkward undercurrent.’
‘If he comes regularly, I’m sure he’ll start opening up.’
‘That’s what I’m hoping for. It has to be at his pace but at least I know he’s going to be around for a few months so we have time to take it slowly.’
Surely that was enough time to find a way to ease his pain without dropping Ingrid and Declan in it.
‘And how are you finding it all?’ Tara asked.
‘A bit unsettling. I helped Erin and Lucy with their techniques and I always assumed I’d be able to do the same for Aaron one day. Now I’ve finally got that chance but I know how easy it’ll be to get carried away, forgetting that he’s not my son and that I don’t have the right to feel like a proud parent with each improvement he makes.’
Tara took my hand and pulled me towards the sea wall, out of anyone’s path.
‘Why don’t you have that right?’
‘Because I’m not his parent.’
‘Do you still feel like his dad?’
‘Completely.’
‘Then youarehis dad, no matter what biology says, in the same way that Kirsten and Tim are my parents even though we’re not blood relations. Being a parent isn’t just about biology. It’s about behaviour and it’s about love and you tick all the boxes.’
Tara’s support was gratefully received and nobody understood the importance of family who weren’t blood relations better than she did but the two scenarios were different. Aaron still had both of his biological parents and neither of them wanted me in his life so, much as I was loving the time spent with him, I hated that it was clandestine. I was trying to stay positivebut I couldn’t shake the feeling that, when Ingrid found out – which I was convinced she would at some point soon – me defying her wishes would have serious repercussions.
15
TARA
I’d loaded some white chocolate brownies into the oven early on Monday morning and was starting on the scones when a knock on the café door made me jump. I went to investigate and was surprised to see Carly outside, grinning and waving at me.
‘Sorry to turn up so early,’ she said after I let her in, ‘but I have news.’
‘You’ve found a venue?’
Carly and Liam had spent yesterday travelling round various wedding venues in the area with four back-to-back venue appointments lined up.
‘Yes. We’ve gone for your favourite – Fallowfield Grange.’
‘Aw, I’m so pleased.’
Fallowfield Grange was a manor house turned hotel not far from where Jed’s parents lived. I’d never been there myself but I’d heard positive reviews. After the Bay Trade meeting last Monday, Carly had come back to The Chocolate Pot for a hot chocolate and had taken me through the shortlist of venues online. I’d thought it looked more suited to her andLiam than some of the bigger, grander venues.
‘Have you set a date?’ I asked.
Carly bit her lip and scrunched up her nose. ‘Provisionally. It’s a bit earlier than planned. It’s this year.’
