Chapter Fourteen
MAC
‘Crashed and burned!’
I return to the table to the sound of Will’s exclamation and slow clapping.
‘How long has it been since you were last knocked back?’
‘Away with you,’ I chastise, taking my seat. ‘The girl works for me. I was just being friendly.’
‘I can see why,’ continues Will. ‘I’d get friendly with her, given half the chance. Really friendly.’
‘Knock it off,’ adds Keir. ‘You don’t mess with people’s staff.’
Staff. Is that what she is? And if so, does it make me a deviant to wonder what kind of underwear this particular staff member wears? Whether it’s cotton boy shorts or lace thongs, or if her taste in fashion extends to her underwear.
French knickers and garter belts. Heels, please say she’ll wear heels.
‘What did you invite him for, anyway?’ I say to Keir.
‘Because he’s the same age mentally as wee Louis here.’
At the sound of his name, my son raises his head. ‘Oui, Louis?’ he repeats in that little accent of his. Since Ella confirmed he was fluent in French, it has become a little easier to appreciate how difficult this all is for him. Not only has he lost his mother, but he’s gone from a household of women to living with me, and gone from using English only when outside his home to finding no outlet for his mother tongue.
At the thoughts, my stomach twists. In perusing Ella, would I be risking my son’s well-being? Fuck it. It’s probably too late now. If what I’ve just said doesn’t make her run for the fucking hills, there might be a chance. A chance for some kind of understanding.
‘Wee, notoui, son.’ I pat his curly head. Less curly and more mad, his hair is a little wild not having seen the spikey side of a brush today. Truthfully, I shy away from brushing his hair because it’s not much fun for either of us. I think I might need to man up. Or take him for a haircut.
‘Wee means small,’ interjects Sorcha, Keir’s little girl. ‘That’s what my daddy and Agnes say. The other wee you do in the potty.’
‘I don’t have a potty,’ replies Louis, a little indignant. ‘I am a big boy!’ he returns, puffing out his chest.
‘Of course, you are,’ answers Keir. ‘Anyone can see you’re a big man.’ Louis looks placated at the piece of flattery as a fleeting thought passes through my head. Are we all like that—men? Are our egos so easily smoothed? It’s a thought that dissipates without an answer as Will suggests the kids choose a flavour of ice cream for dessert.
‘Ice cream!’ they yell in unison, their chairs grating on the paving stones before they dash to press their hands and noses against the glass cabinet.
‘Did you leave your brains in your other pants? You can’t say things like that around bairns!’ Keir rebukes, turning to Will.
‘What? What did I say?’
‘Only that you’d like to fuck his au pair.’ Keir hooks a thumb in my direction.
‘Who wouldn’t? Look at her,’ Will says. ‘She’s drop-dead fucking gorgeous. And the conflict of interest lies with him. No’ wi’ me.’
‘Go anywhere near her and I’ll tear off your balls.’ There’s no malice in my tone, but plenty of promise.
‘Ah, so we’re getting to the bottom of it.’ Will leans back, folding his arms. ‘Mac daddy here’s got a thing for the girl.’
‘You’re a cock; you know that, right?’
‘I’m a cock that has you pegged, though.’
‘All this talk of cock and pegging is way too homoerotic for my tastes.’ Keir also folds his arms, though he leans away from the table as though disassociating himself. ‘Arse banditry doesn’t do it for me.’
‘She’s too young for either of us,’ I grate out.
‘Is she over twenty-one?’ In answer, I shrug warily. ‘Then what’s the problem?’
