‘You have to promise to dance with my mum at the party.’ Angel wore a deadpan expression. ‘Proper dancing, not just stepping from side to side. She likes Maroon 5.’
‘Yeah, I know that, although I think it’s only the lead singer she’s really interested in.’
‘Doyouhave any tattoos? Adam Levine has loads!’
‘Not yet. But it could be a look for the future.’ He smiled. ‘So… dancing. I guess, if that’s the price for your help then I can do that.’
‘Really?!’ Angel’s eyes lit up.
‘Did you think I was going to say no? I’m desperate here, Angel. And dancing with your mom is going to be fun.’
‘You haven’t seen her dance,’ Angel said, laughing. ‘OK, what do you need?’
‘I need to see that logo and the new slogan.’
‘You know it’s top secret, right?’
‘I promise I won’t show another soul.’
Angel nodded then and reached for her sketch pad. As Oliver reached out for it, she held on tight, as if she wasn’t ready to let go. ‘Mum said you helped to find my dad.’
Oliver swallowed. He hadn’t been prepared for that and a tingling sensation started to creep over him. He finally nodded. ‘Yes, I did.’
Angel put down the pad and threw her arms around Oliver’s neck. She was clinging on so tight, he almost couldn’t breathe.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
Tears pricked his eyes at her show of affection and he hugged her close. ‘You’re welcome,’ he replied.
‘I thought you’d got lost.’ Hayley patted the orange, sequinned cushion next to her on the chenille sofa as Oliver came back into the living room. ‘You didn’t read that book again, did you?’
‘No, but she did show me her special dictionary.’ Oliver sat down.
‘I swear I am going to burn that thing.’
He smiled. ‘She’s one bright kid.’
‘Yes, she is,’ Hayley replied, pride in her tone. ‘So, what did you talk about?’
‘I can’t tell you that.’
‘I hate secrets!’
‘And apparently, you have a mustard allergy.’
‘It isn’t an allergy, it’s an intolerance and I hate intolerances so I ignore it. God, what else has she told you?’
‘You once lost your shoe on Brighton beach and you were chased by bees and donkeys on the very same day when you went for a picnic.’
‘That’s the very last time I leave you two alone. Ever.’
Oliver laughed and Hayley smiled at the way his body reacted to it. After the day he’d had, it was nice to see him looking a little more relaxed. But there was an elephant in the room, prodding her hard with its tusks.
‘When will you find out?’
That had killed the laughter. She swallowed, regretful at her timing, but it had been on her mind all day. She knew her sentence needed no further explanation as she saw Oliver fall still.
‘It’s supposed to take weeks.’ He swallowed. ‘I paid to get it back in twenty-four hours.’
