Despite Kiera being so warm and welcoming, I still felt awkward around her. I knew it would take time to be fully at ease in her company. When we were kids, I didn’t really take the time to get to know her because it was public knowledge that she had a crush on Quinn, and I instinctually disliked her for it.
As an adult, I could see she was a truly lovely person who felt deep regret for the way things played out when we were kids. There was clearly nothing but platonic affection between her and Quinn, and she seemed to be totally in love with her husband. Watching her with Heather and Angus only made me like her more. Even in the height of stress, having filled their car to the brim with Heather’s belongings and making sure she had everything she needed, Kiera was patient with Angus’s constant prattling, whining, and generally getting in her way.
It became obvious that this was Angus’s way of dealing with the idea of his sister leaving, and I loved that Kiera recognized it and showed him nothing but motherly kindness and affection.
She reminded me of my mum.
I wondered if that was the kind of mum I’d be too. I could only hope to be.
What if … what if Quinn didn’t want to have another child?
We probably should have discussed that before deciding to jump with both feet into this relationship!
“You okay?” Quinn asked, frowning at me as he clipped on his seat belt.
Since Kiera and Gary’s car was filled with Heather’s stuff, Heather and Angus were traveling in Quinn’s truck with us.
Therefore, I pasted on a smile and nodded.
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as if he knew I was lying, but he didn’t push it. Instead, he let the kids argue for ten minutes about what we were going to listen to before he made a decision and told them to lump it or leave it.
They decided to both leave it, sticking in their earbuds to listen to whatever was on their respective phones.
“Not exactly the drive I had in mind,” Quinn muttered, flicking Heather a look in the rearview mirror.
I squeezed his arm in reassurance, pushing my own worries to the side to focus on him.
We had to stop at a service station to let Angus pee, and I got a moment alone with Heather where I subtly suggested she engage in conversation with her father before he helped her move out into the big wide world.
She took the hint, and for the next half of the drive, she chatted away to Quinn about her schedule, about her and Hazel’s plans to meet up every weekend to keep their romance alive. Quinn also suggested she bring Hazel back to Leth Sholas on their winter break and Heather perked up at the idea. “She does want to visit. Would that really be okay?”
“Of course. I’d quite like to meet her, you know.”
“It’s a deal! She’s dying to meet you too, Taran.”
“Really?” I turned to look back at Heather.
“Absolutely. I told her you like the same books as us and that you were the operational director for Food4Everyone. She thinks you’re legit.”
I grinned, cheeks warm with pleasure. “Do you hear that, Quinn? I’m legit.”
“I’ve known that for years.”
“Ugh, Dad. You’re so cheesy these days.”
He flicked me a droll look. “You’re legit, but I’m cheesy.”
I snorted. “Apparently so.”
An hour later, when we parked outside Heather’s accommodation, she unclipped her seat belt just as Quinn turned off the engine. She wrapped her arms around his neck from behind and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’re legit too, Dad.”
Quinn curled his hand around hers and brought her palm to his lips in reply.
I had to look away from the emotion on both Heather and her father’s faces, or I’d burst into tears right there and then.
“This is rubbish,” Angus announced, his features scrunched up in disgust as he stared around Heather’s small dorm room.
It was the exact opposite of my thoughts. My first-year accommodation had been a damp, old midcentury building and was so depressing, I’d covered every inch of the walls with posters, even though it was against the rules.
