“Oh.” Stella gave him an odd look, her eyes drifting down to his and Ari’s linked hands. Whatever she was thinking she kept firmly to herself.
“You’re playing Dad now then, are you? That’s terribly interesting. Very well. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Mummy.” Reine stepped forwards, swinging her little arms around Ari’s waist. She looked up at Tom with excited eyes. Ari must have seen, for she at once let go of Tom’s hand — he felt a flash of disappointment when her fingers disentangled from his own.
“Thanks for this, Stella,” Ari said. “I know how busy you are.”
“Oh, I cleared my calendar, don’t you worry,” Stella said with a shrug. “Car-wreck weddings are a delight, you know. And this one has been an almighty smash that I wouldn’t miss.”
“Well, that’s good to hear, thank you, and—” Before Tom could finish the sentence, Stella reached into her pocket and held up her phone. At close range she snapped a photo, the flash momentarily blinding him.
“Will you please stop doing that?” Tom hissed, clutching a hand to his eyes, mindful of his language.
“Why?” Stella asked blankly. “I’m going to exhibit you, my darling oaf. You’ll be the talk of the town when these photos hit the canvas. Honestly, it’s the most exciting thing. I haven’t been this inspired since myDecaying Plantseries, only in place of rotting vegetables I now have you.”
“I don’t remember agreeing to that—” Tom began, but Stella put her finger over his lips.
“Hush now, Jawline, my erstwhile rotting carrot. There’s no agreement needed in art. Besides, you have parenting to do now.”
“Yes, but—”
“It’s been a pleasure as always, Small,” Stella said, ignoring him completely now, and turning to Reine. “But don’t eat all my Leibniz.”
“Bye, Stellie,” Reine sang out cheerfully, and Tom watched as the tall woman left the clearing, her hands in her pockets, her head held high.
“Right,” Ari said, and there was a nervous energy about her that Tom could feel radiating around them. “Right.”
Tom suddenly felt nervous too. Even more nervous than when Stella had been with them.
“Ari, you don’t have to do this right now, you know,” he offered, but Ari shook her head.
“No. I really do.”
Tom watched as Ari sank to her knees in front of their little girl, taking one of Reine’s chocolate-covered hands.
“Reine, do you know who this man is?”
“Yes. He’s Tom,” answered Reine, who suddenly looked shy. “And I think... I think he might be my father?”
The young uncertainty in her voice made Tom wince. He looked at Ari, who nodded shortly, giving him permission.
“Yeah,” he added, sinking to his knees next to Ari. “Yeah, I am. And I’m going to be around a lot more from this point on. Is that okay with you?”
Reine looked first at Ari, and Tom knew she was silently touching base with her mother. Ari nodded silently again, and with that Reine offered Tom a shy smile.
“Yes. Yes, that’s okay.”
They spent the afternoon in the clearing, finding sticks and leaves. Tom walked with Reine and Ari through the woods he knew so well, pointing out all the interesting turns and paths he remembered from his own childhood. He took Reine to his old den and felt a rush of gratitude when Ari sat outside, feigning tired legs. He knew she was simply giving him time with hisdaughter, and he relished the half hour he had alone with the little girl, who took a real interest in his old collection of childhood treasures.
When they walked back to the house, hungry and tired, Tom couldn’t remember ever being so happy. Actually, he could. He’d last felt this light and free in Europe, when he’d been with Ari. She was the thing that lightened his soul best, he realised. He stopped suddenly, staring down at her in shocked recognition.
“What is it?” Ari asked in concern, but Tom shook his head, scared of frightening her with the intensity of his feelings.
“Nothing, it’s just...” He watched as Ari brushed a strand of stray hair away from her face, looking at him curiously.
“I know it’s been a long time, but with you, nothing is ever justnothing. What’s going on?”
Tom gave her a soft smile. “You know what you were saying earlier, about the queen of diamonds card being beautiful?”
