‘Wee mean likle. Waf takes me to the park forlooonng,’ Louis says, throwing out his arms.
‘Maybe Waf, was it?’ She looks at me for clarification, but before I can open my mouth, Mac cuts in. ‘Raph, he means. Raphaela here has been our lifesaver.’
‘It’s Ella,’ I murmur. ‘I think Louis and I would like that a lot.’
‘And don’t forget stinky Charles Rififi,’ Louis calls as he runs from the room.
‘That’s his wee dog.’ Mac’s voice is low as I follow Louis out.
‘I like her,’ Fin says quietly.
I don’t stop to clarify thatCharles Rififiis a him.
‘Wait, I have one more queshion,’ Louis says as I slide the second book away.
‘Just one more?’ I turn back, flipping off his lamp, the glow from his nightlight and the arc cutting in from the hallway the only thing illumination the room. I bend and straighten his bedding, tucking his favourite teddy bear under the covers with him.It’s not a teddy, Waf. It’s a bear. I goes woooar!
‘Go on, then. What number question is this tonight?’
Louis’s eyes roll to the ceiling as though the answer might be there. ‘Number eleventy-five million, I think.’
‘So.. . many... questions,’ I say as he holds out his arms. So I place my palms on either side of him and lower my head almost to his. ‘Eleventy-five million and one.’
‘Why have you got lines on your head tonight?’ he asks, taking my face in his hands.
‘Have I?’
‘Yep, and now they are worse,’ he says, mirroring my expression, his pudgy little fingers moving to smooth the lines.
‘Is that better?’ I ask, retracting my eyebrows into my hairline.
‘Now that looks silly.’ He giggles. ‘But don’t worry, Waf. You’re still very pretty with lines on your head.’
‘Why, thank you, kind sir.’
‘Do you think Waf is pretty, Daddy?’ My heart literally stops as Mac’s shadow falls over the room.
‘Ella is a prettiest of ladies, and we’re lucky to have her.’
I can’t look at him, so I keep my eyes on his son instead.I’m going to miss this little face in September.As Charles Rififi’s claws clatter on the wooden floor, I decide I won’t miss him. He jumps on the bed, circles twice, then flop into a fuzzy heap.
‘Night, night.’ I give Louis a quick peck on the head.
‘Night, night, Waf.’ I straighten to make my way out of the room.
At the doorway, Macs fingers are light on my arm, causing me to stop. ‘We need to talk,’ he says softly.
‘Sure.’ I nod. Because I’ve things I want to say, too. ‘But I’m going out in an hour.’
His expression clouds. ‘I thought.. . I thought we had things to iron out.’
‘We do,’ I agree, ‘but you had company, so I made other plans.’ For no other reason than once Louis was bathed and in bed, what else was I supposed to do? Take refuge in my tiny bedroom? Feel like a second-class citizen? The hired help?
Which is exactly what I am, I suppose.
‘Fin’s an old family friend.’ I smile, though I feel sad.For us both.
‘I could see that. Come on.’ I pat his arm. ‘Say your good nights. I’ll pour us a whisky.’
