Archie puts his finger on his chin and pretends to be thinking. “Can I have some chocolate buttons?”
Theo laughs. “Before you go to sleep?”
Archie nods. “With a glass of milk.”
Theo rolls his eyes and smiles.
“I’ll come with you,” I say.
We set off down the stairs. I’m desperate to apologize but there’s something else I have to say first.
“It might be an idea if you had a word with Callum and Mabel,” I begin, once we’re in the temporary kitchen. “I think they’re feeling guilty about what happened, especially Callum.”
Theo opens the fridge and pours a glass of milk. “Well, I do want to talk to them about following rules.”
“Yeah, and that’s fine, obviously—you’re their dad. Just do me a favor and make sure Callum knows you love him. He feels bad about letting you down.”
Theo closes the fridge door. “OK, understood. And thanks for the tip-off.” He puts the glass of milk down. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s up with you?”
“Theo, I’m so sorry!” I blurt out.
Theo wrinkles his forehead. “For what?”
“I know you’re pissed off with me. And you’ve every right to be.”
“Ads, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not pissed off with you in the slightest.”
“But if I’d been looking after the kids like I was supposed to, they wouldn’t have gone up to the castle.”
Theo shakes his head. “I ask the older kids to keep an eye on Archie all the time. These things happen. Honestly, it’s not an issue. And I think Archie quite enjoyed his adventure. He’s feeling like a brave soldier and can’t wait to show the builders his crutches.”
I draw in a long breath and let it out. I can feel my anxiety clearing. “OK, as long as you’re sure.”
“I am sure. And I love you.” Theo pushes himself off the table and comes closer to kiss me.
A grin splits my face.
“But that’ll have to do you for now,” Theo says, grabbing a bag of chocolate buttons. “Before Archie goes to sleep, we’ve got to call Kate.”
“It was bad enough when he gave Archie a haircut that made him look like a thug,” Kate barks over the speakerphone.
“Ilikethat haircut!” I’m about to say.
But Theo intervenes. “Archie loves that haircut. And I’m the one who said he could have it.”
Kate scoffs. “Yes, of course. As usual, it’s got nothing to do with Adam.”
Theo and I are sitting on the patio, as Kate said she wanted to speak to us alone. It’s dark so we’ve switched on the new lights the builders have fitted onto the front of the house. The phone’s lying on the table between us.
“Anyway, this has gone far enough,” Kate steams on. “I won’t stand for it any longer.”
“Won’t stand for what?” asks Theo.
“Your boyfriend’s irresponsible approach to childcare!”
I reach down and scratch my mosquito bite. I tell myself not to get wound up, with a reminder of what Kate’s been through.
“I’mresponsible for the kids,” Theo argues, calmly but firmly. “And I had to work today. Just like you’ve had to work all summer. That’s why you couldn’t look after them, remember?”
