Nemmie frowns. ‘When the tide is in or out?’
Sav laughs. ‘Definitely out.’
Mum calls from the rug. ‘Work and leisure are entirely different, and we already know Lando.’
Sav adds, ‘He’s on the spot; he’s willing…’
This is my last chance to derail this. ‘But is he?’
Lando gives a cough. ‘Given that all the other suggestions are wildly unsuitable… I am.’ He raises an eyebrow. ‘Or should that be “I do”?’
I’m not sure he was ready for the kids hurling themselves onto him. They couldn’t have been any more hysterical if he’d just scored the winning goal in the FA Cup in the last second of extra time. However willing he pretends he is, he hasn’t got a clue what’s heading his way.
37
The doorstep at Smugglers End, The Harbourside, St Aidan, Cornwall
Home truths and a suitable arrangement
Monday
It’s typical of Sav that he had no time to stick around once his personal mission next door was over. Even the offer of warm Mars bar brownie couldn’t stop him rushing Lando off to something more pressing down the coast. Obviously that was the best outcome for me, but Lando was visibly gutted to be forgoing anything that delicious.
Also, the biggest blag of the afternoon was Sav claiming that Martha had been cooped up all afternoon and wouldn’t want to spend another two hours in his teensy car, and so she’d be staying with us rather than going with them. I mean, the kids loved lounging on the sofa with her, but it’s still about Sav ducking his responsibilities. And somehow, without Sav’s intervention, the kids’ quest to hitch me up to the nearest unsuitable husband might have fizzled out before teatime, where now it’s exploded into a full-blown, ongoing obsession.
Which is another reason why I don’t mind dropping Martha off at Smugglers End once the kids are settled in bed. At least this way I can set Lando straight without the entire extended family joining in.
He answers my knock so quickly that he could have been waiting in the hall, so I push Martha’s lead towards him and fire, ‘It’s lovely to see Martha– she’s had her tea– but you can’t keep dumping her on us; it’s not fair on Mum or on Martha.’
Lando’s shoulders rise and fall again. ‘Poor Martha, it isn’t her fault people can’t handle her.’ He flips the silky bit of her ear through his fingers. ‘She deserves so much more than she’s getting with Sav. He’s too preoccupied to put in the time with her, and I’m not always around to fill in.’
I’m hardening my position, if not to Martha, definitely to Sav. ‘We’ll always do our best to help out, but Sav has got to take responsibility.’
Lando takes her lead from me. ‘I’ll pass that on.’
‘Martha is adorable, but if she doesn’t get consistency and firm boundaries now, she’ll get completely out of hand.’ I can’t resist a final comment. ‘A lot like her owner.’
Lando blows out his cheeks. ‘Sav has great qualities. You miss them because you’re too close.’
I let out a splutter. ‘The man’s a wrecking ball; I can’t see past the demolition dust. And we’re too busy hating each other, especially now I know about the DNA stunt.’
Lando’s voice goes deeper. ‘You know he’s your fiercest defender?’
My laugh explodes. ‘You’re joking me!’
He holds his gaze. ‘He wouldn’t let me or anyone else anywhere near you.’
I frown. ‘Back in the day or more recently?’
Lando shrugs. ‘He’s always kept a barricade around you because he cares and he wants to keep you safe.’
This is so far away from anything I’d imagined.
‘Did you want to be near?’
His mouth twists. ‘What do you think?’
There’s a twang in my chest, and my heart is thumping so hard Lando has to be able to hear it. But if we’re having a deep and significant moment, it’s fifteen years too late for me. Thank you, Sav.
