‘Well, thank you, I think. But that doesn’t mean anything.’
‘It does.’
‘Yeah, in a last-century attractive-people-are-duty-bound-to-procreate kind of way. And we’re not in the last century, we’re living in a time where as long as all choices are consensual then anything goes. And my choice is not to date.’
‘Well, you’re not doing very well at that, are you? Oh, this cake is delicious. If you marry Claudia is she going to stop me coming around every day?’
‘If you don’t shut up about ClaudiaI’mgoing to stop you coming around every day.’
‘Um… Alex, the children are very quiet. Should we be worried?’
‘That’s a good point. See, I can’t have a relationship – the one female I have in my life takes every minute of every day. How on earth is there room for any more?’
‘Yeah, for all my teasing, that’s exactly how I feel. I kind of need to get to grips with the parenting thing and make sure Sam gets the best of me – that seems a lot more important than dating right now.’
‘Right. Exactly, so you do understand. That’s what I’m saying.’ Alex got up from the table and wandered over to the kitchen window. ‘Oh, look, they’re fine. No trouble at all. Still playing teddy Olympics.’
Sylvie pushed her chair back and came and stood by his side, having to squidge up quite close to be at the correct angle to seeSam and Ellie. Alex didn’t move, but seemed happy with her squidging.
‘Is Ellie in the tree? Should she be?’
‘Oh, yeah, that’s fine. She does it all the time. I know it looks like laissez-faire parenting but I’m actually teaching her to manage risk and assess situations.’
‘Is that what it is?’ She smiled up at him, aware of her closeness and really wishing in that moment that she was Claudia and that Alexwaslooking for something. In this moment, she’d probably take anything. Just standing next to him, he seemed so big, so masculine, and she had always been so attracted to big and masculine. And then on top of that he was him, and shereallyrather liked him.
‘That’s exactly what it is. Look how happy they are.’ And without seemingly even thinking he popped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in. ‘See, it’s perfect.’ And he wasn’t far wrong. Sylvie found herself thinking she could stay like this for ever and used every ounce of self-control not to breathe him in. That way danger lay. Plus, what if he thought she was trying to sniff him? That would just be weird. Why was breathing normally suddenly so difficult?
She thought she heard a funny scraping noise behind her, but nothing was going to get her to break this squeeze up now. You had to take the tiny pleasures in life where you could find them.
‘Coo-ee, only me. Thought I’d let myself in. Oh. Oh, dearie me, no, no, no, no!’
Chapter Fourteen
Alex’s head spun around as he heard Marion walking through his dining room. Seriously?
‘I thought I’d let myself in, it was on the latch. Hello, Susie, how are you doing?’
‘Hello, Marion, it’s Sylvie. Very well, thank you. How nice to see you.’
‘Um, Marion. Hello?’ Alex stared at Marion with disbelief. He knew things were different in the country to living in London, but still, letting oneself in?
‘Hello, darling. It occurred to me that with the boys’ schedule for this evening – Rufus has karate and Rupert and Rafe will be going to diving club – it made much more sense for me to come and get Ellie now. Do you have a bag ready for her?’
‘I can see. But I don’t have to be in Truro for another two hours. I thought I was dropping Ellie to you.’
‘Well, that was the plan, but as I say the boys’ schedules meant this was far the better option. Now, pyjamas, toothbrush, any special bear or book and we’ll be off. Then you’ve got plenty of time to get ready at your leisure. See, much better. I’ll just take Ellie now.’ Marion beamed at Alex, pleased that she was so helpful before smoothing down her skirt and beaming at him again. Alex wondered if the full-force beam had some kind of magical power because he felt compelled to go upstairs and pack a bag immediately. But something deep within him fought back and made his feet resist.
‘Marion, I haven’t fed her yet.’ Yes, he still had some self-determination left in him, fading but fighting.
‘Not to worry. I had planned to give her supper along with my boys. Friday is sushi night. It’s so important they are exposed to all cultures, isn’t it?’
‘Well, that’s very kind of you.’ There was no way in the world Ellie was going to happily eat raw fish. He quickly looked to Sylvie.
‘Marion, it sounds like you’ve got an awful lot on, why don’t I take Ellie? I had actually nipped in to suggest a sleepover, Alex. Sam has been relentless in asking and I think they hatched up a plan at school. So if I step in, Marion, then you can see to your boys, and not worry about another. Four is an awful lot of children to be dealing with. What do you say?’
‘No, I don’t think so. I’ll have Ellie, it’s all arranged. Thank you. I understand you applied for a spot as one of my new ladies, didn’t you? Well, I fear it’s only fair to warn you, we do haveveryexacting standards.’ Alex watched as Marion looked Sylvie up and down as if she was lucky she was speaking to her, and then finished the look with a dismissive nod that managed to convey an awful lot in a very short space of time. What was that all about? Marion had many faults but he hadn’t seen her do that before. Sylvie clearly didn’t give a shit and looked at her straight back.
She might be slight in build but that girl had some balls. She had managed to stand firmer against Marion than he had. Feeling emboldened, he decided he had had enough of dancing to Marion’s tune. He wouldn’t refuse to go on this date – he would follow through as anything else at this late juncture would be rude – but here, with Sylvie at his side, and the thought of Ellie spending the night with the Marksharp boys, that was a hill he was prepared to die on.
