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Entering their new home, Emily couldn’t contain herself. Daniel smiled with real satisfaction at his little girl’s delight. It was so good to see her happy and excited.
‘Daddy!’ she squealed as she ran into her new bedroom. It was a lot larger than her last one, but still decorated in her favourite ice pink, which she had chosen. The bed crown canopy hanging above her pink, quilted bed looked very princess-like, making Emily jump up and down.
‘Do you like it?’ he asked, folding his arms, sitting on the windowsill.
‘Yes, yes, yes!’ she claimed, her eyes darting round the room, taking it all in; a pretty kidney-shaped dressing table surrounded with pink gingham fabric, a pine wardrobe, book case and toy box. The wooden floorboards matched the rest of the house, with a large pink rug in the middle. A lump formed in Daniel’s throat at seeing his daughter’s reaction. She deserved this.
‘What about all the other rooms?’ He laughed. Emily had rushed straight to her bedroom and hardly taken any notice.
‘It’s all nice, Daddy.’ She beamed, then asked, ‘What about my old bedroom?’ Daniel paused. The question had taken him unawares, however innocently asked.
‘Emily, we won’t be going back there. This is our new home now.’ He looked at her carefully, gauging her response.
She looked out of the window, then back at him. ‘Mummy’s with the angels, isn’t she?’ she asked in a small voice.
Daniel had to clench his jaw. He went to pick her up and hugged her hard. ‘Yes, Sweet Pea, Mummy’s with the angels,’ he replied gruffly.
‘Can I see Christie?’ She wrapped her arms round his neck.
‘Of course you can. Let’s go now.’ He kissed the top of her head.
*
Christie had just finished in the kitchen, looking at the menus for the week, when Dermot stuck his head round the door.
‘Someone to see you, Christie!’ he called. Christie made her way to reception to see Emily and Daniel stood waiting for her.
‘Hi, Emily!’
Emily ran into her open arms. ‘Christie, Christie our new house is ready!’ she burst out.
‘I know, how exciting.’ Christie laughed.
‘Do you want to see it?’ asked Emily.
‘Oh—’
Daniel grinned. ‘We’d like you to come for dinner tonight, wouldn’t we, Emily?’
‘Yes!’
‘Then I’d love to.’ She tousled Emily’s hair.
‘Daddy says we can get a dog.’
Christie looked at Daniel and raised her eyebrow.
‘All in good time, Emily,’ he said. ‘Let’s settle in first.’
*
That evening the three of them sat cosily round the kitchen table. Daniel had made them Emily’s favourite: macaroni cheese. A feeling of contentment filled him as he cooked in his own new home. No more campervan stoves in a dark, cramped space, but a spacious, modern kitchen. His mum had kindly supplied him with the basic utensils and cooking dishes to help him out, till he was fully stocked.
Christie had brought a bottle of champagne to toast Keeper’s Cottage, along with a small cake for Emily, to celebrate. Daniel had popped the cork in the back garden, making Emily giggle as it flew across the treetops.
‘Here’s to Keeper’s Cottage!’ he called, raising the champagne bottle.
