My eyes narrowed at my son. “You invited me round for an impromptu dinner… which I know you stole from my freezer, by the way, but I appreciate the sentiment.”
Conner grabbed his chest like I’d stabbed him. “Ouch, Ma. I spent hours cooking that.”
“Hhhhmmmm. And now you're inviting me out to the cinema? Did you do something wrong and you're trying to soften me up before you tell me? Should I be worried?”
He took my hand, chuckling. “No. I promise. I've been behaving. I just want to know if you want to come with me.”
My lips curled upward. “I’d love to. Let me pop home and get changed and grab some chairs and a blanket. Meet me there?”
“Why don’t I meet you outside the park in about an hour? You just get changed and I’ll sort the rest.”
Okay, now I am suspicious.
“Everything?”
“You wound me with your words. I am a grown man who knows how to pack for an outdoor cinema trip.”
I shook my head, wondering if I should pack a backup bag.Just in case.
I linked arms with Conner as we walked through the gate into the large park in the town centre.
“Before we go in, can I say something, Ma?”
I turned to face him. “Always, Conner. Are you okay?”
He scuffed the toe of his boot over the stone-covered path. “I know I’ve said sorry about hitting Jax and stuff, but I just wanted to check… is what I said about you being desperate and that he’d dump you why you broke up?”
My brows furrowed, hearing the pain in his tone. “No. I promise.”
“Because I’m sorry. I was wrong. I had no right to say what I did. I hope I’m not the reason keeping you two apart because he loves you. I know he does. He was such a mess when I found him in that hotel.”
I winced because I’d heard all about the fireman who couldn’t cope with the pressure of his new role and had gone on a week-long bender and almost lost his job… a job I knew was his life.
“It’s more complicated than you realise,” I offered as a reply.
“His cancer? He told Callum and me a couple of weeks ago. I can’t believe he lived with that secret for more than half his life.” Before I could say anything, he lifted my arm and linked it with his again. “I want you to be happy, Ma. Whatever that looks like. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel anything else.”
I leaned my head on Conner’s shoulder as we walked. “Where’s Callum today? I’ve not seen him much lately.”
“He’s working again. For a suit-wearing accountant, he seems to love his job way too much.”
I laughed. “Erm, Conner, where’s all the ‘stuff’ you were bringing for us? We don’t even have anything to sit on.”
“It’s already in there. Did you think I’d forgotten? Rude!”
We carried on walking; the crowd growing the further we went.
“Oh, my god. What is going on? This place looks amazing, and it looks like everyone in the whole town is here. Conner...”
He held his hands in the air. “Don’t look at me. I’m just bringing you out for a much-needed night out. You’ve not smiled much recently and one thing us boys noticed since your divorce is how much happier and more confident you seem. We don’t ever want you to lose that again.” He winked.
“Conner?” I asked suspiciously.
“Helen.” I looked from Conner to my left, where the familiar voice had come from.
“Hi, Jax,” Conner replied for me.
He was dressed like he'd come straight from work, in his blue firefighter uniform, his cap on backward, and silver aviators covering his eyes, which I wanted to remove instantly so I could see all of him.
