Charlie glances up at him and I’m surprised to see that his lips have formed a straight line.
‘I didn’t mean to make you feel bad!’ I exclaim at him. ‘I’m fine! It’s fun! Thank you!’ I gush at the waitress as she places my latte in front of me. ‘Christ, I’m just going to go and sit over there, all right?’
Charlie grins at me and the tension dissipates.
‘How are you today, April?’ I smile at her from across the table. Her brow knits together and she holds her arms out to me, making a sound of annoyance. Oops, what have I done?
‘No, you have to stay in your highchair,’ Charlie says to her. ‘Your pancakes will be here soon.’
‘Snap,’ I chirp. ‘Are you having pancakes too?’ I ask her cheerily.
‘Urrrn!’ She really wants to get out.
‘Here they come!’ Charlie says with relief as the waitress appears, laden down with plates. ‘Just wait a minute while I cut them up,’ he chides his daughter.
As Charlie attends to April, Adam chats to me.
‘Got any plans for today?’
‘I was thinking about going to Heligan.’
‘Oh, yeah?’ He tucks into his fry-up. ‘Just felt like a day out?’
‘Yes, but it’s also for the book.’
‘Nicki’s book?’
I nod at him, unable to answer with my mouth full. I wonder if Charlie has told him I’m writing my own book as well. ‘I need to visit a few places for research,’ I add.
‘Like where?’
I look up at the ceiling, thinking. ‘Tintagel—’
‘That’s not far from me,’ Adam interrupts.
‘Where do you live?’ I ask, distracted from replying.
‘Bude.’
‘I had a boyfriend who came from Bude,’ I say as Charlie returns his attention to us. Beau, the guy I coincidentally started writing a blog about last night.
‘Surfer?’ Adam asks.
‘He was, actually.’ Bude has some great surfing beaches. ‘Do you surf?’ I ask him. He looks like a surfer.
‘Course.’
I glance at Charlie. ‘How about you?’
‘Not so much any more.’
Aah, but heusedto! Another Morris similarity confirmed.
‘Now he’s a boring dad,’ Adam comments drily.
Charlie stares at him. ‘I can’t believe I actually missed you when you were in India.’
Adam chuckles and carries on eating.
