“There we go,” he says quietly, sitting back on his heels to watch the flames take hold. “Fire.”
“You seem very pleased with yourself.”
“I made fire with my hands, Frey. This is basically caveman levels of achievement.”
I laugh. “Well done. I’m very impressed.”
“You should be.”
The fire grows steadily, flames curling up around the larger pieces of wood as the instructors start calling the kids over.
“Right everyone!” one of the teachers shouts. “Hotdogs!”
The children appear instantly. Theo arrives first, skidding to a stop beside the pit.
“FIRE!”
“Yes,” I say. “Be careful.”
Rory hands him a long stick with a hotdog carefully skewered on the end. “Hold it over the flames,” he instructs. “Not in them.”
Theo nods with intense concentration.
Around us the rest of the class gathers in a messy circle, sticks extended, hotdogs hovering over the fire while teachers and parents move around offering gentle corrections.
“Turn it slowly.”
“Not that close.”
“Yes, it will explode if you do that.”
Rory crouches beside Isla to help her adjust her stick. “Like this,” he says, guiding her hand slightly so the hotdog rotates evenly.
She grins up at him. “Am I doing it right?”
“Perfect.”
I watch them for a moment. He’s patient with them. Just naturally calm, answering questions, helping when needed, letting them figure things out without hovering.
Theo looks ridiculously proud of his hotdog. “Mum look!”
“I’m looking.”
“Rory helped me not burn it.”
“Good teamwork.”
Rory glances up at me briefly and something passes between us. And for a second my brain produces a thought that is so unhelpful I almost physically shake my head to get rid of it. We would have been good together. Him crouched beside Theo and Isla. Me standing here watching them. The four of us in the glow of the firelight like something from a family photograph. I swallow and look away quickly.
The hotdogs eventually disappear into buns and the children scatter again under the big oak tree while the instructors start preparing the next stage.
“S’mores!” someone announces.
The excitement returns instantly. Marshmallows appear along with chocolate and biscuits.
Rory hands me a stick. “You’re participating this time.”
“I thought I was supervising.”
