Chapter 38
‘What’s this in aid of?’ asked Luke, as Nick climbed into the van and placed two of Margot’s finest coffees on the dashboard.
‘What? Can’t I buy my mate a coffee from time to time? Consider it a thank you for all you’ve done for me.’
‘Ah, cheers, mate.’ Luke bumped his takeaway container against Nick’s.
‘And,’ said Nick, ‘I was hoping we could have a chat before work.’
Luke set his coffee back on the dashboard. ‘I guessed you were up to something. You’ve never bought me coffee before.’
‘I have,’ said Nick.
‘Name one time,’ said Luke.
Nick racked his brain for all of three seconds before giving up. ‘My parents are back,’ he said.
‘Ah.’ Understanding gleamed in Luke’s eyes. ‘The great David and Elaine Andrews have returned to Saffron Bay. So that’s why you’re out of the house so early, is it?’
Nick groaned. ‘Honestly, mate, they couldn’t have come at a worse time. If they’d stuck to their original plan, by the time they got home from their cruise, Emily would have been with Carla and I could have found the right moment to tell them about her. As it was, she had a nightmare and turned up in the living room, crying and upset, and that was their first introduction to their new granddaughter.’
‘Shit.’
‘Exactly.’
‘I’m guessing they didn’t take the news well?’
Nick grinned at Luke. ‘What makes you think that? They were delighted to be grandparents. They said it was like all their Christmases had come at once.’
Luke’s sympathy turned to disbelief. ‘Wow, that’s a turn-up for the books. I wouldn’t have believed David and Elaine had it in them.’
Nick snorted. ‘I’m joking, of course.’
‘Ah.’ Luke nodded. ‘Makes more sense.’ He lifted his cooling coffee. ‘If you need any help talking to them, you know they love me.’
‘Yeah,’ said Nick. ‘You’re the son they wish they’d had.’
‘Do you need some time off today to speak to them?’
‘Nah,’ said Nick. ‘It’s best I’m out of the house. There’ll be plenty of time to speak to them tonight, over a very awkward dinner, no doubt. Anyway, that’s not the only thing that happened last night.’
‘There’s more?’ said Luke. ‘Bloody hell, what’s happened to you? You go for years doing absolutely nothing, your life never changing, and then suddenly you’ve got kids appearing out of nowhere, you’re shocking your parents, you’ve got a job…’ He tipped his head to the side. ‘What’s happened now? Time travel? You’re a Russian spy? You’ve won the lottery?’
‘I kissed Kitty.’ Nick decided there was no point beating around the bush.
‘Oh.’ Luke’s eyes widened. ‘And how was it?’
‘Amazing.’
‘Then why do you look so miserable?’
Nick took the lid off his coffee and blew on it to cool it. ‘Because she said it was a mistake. That it can’t happen again.’
‘Ah.’ Luke grinned. ‘So she can’t have enjoyed it as much as you did. Maybe you’re losing your touch?’
‘I didn’t get the chance to ask her if she was enjoying herself at the time. My parents walked in… in the middle of it.’
‘In the middle of what, exactly?’ Luke’s grin widened.
