She yawns. ‘Did you get the job?’
‘I don’t know. There is another interview yet. But it went well.’
She shifts across her bed, making space for me. It’s been a while since we’ve slipped back into our old routine.
‘Did you have a good time with Heather?’ I plump the cushion under my head.
‘Yeah. Burnt the cookies. She’s an awful cook.’
We’re quiet for a moment. Just the sound of her diffuser breathing out breaths of lavender. A gift from Alice after Perri’s party.
‘I can see why you liked her, you know, when you were at school.’
I don’t respond, just reach out and stroke her hair.
‘Did she break your heart?’
I think back to that moment. The way Georgia had been screaming in my arms. The way she didn’t look back as I followed her to the door, begging her to stay. Her answer:I can’t. It’s too much.
‘No. Not really. We were young… I was mostly angry. Sad. She never got to see the amazing kid you were.’
‘But she’s back now?’
‘Yes. She’s back.’ My eyes glance up to the anime poster on the wall that has replaced Peter Pan. She’d always preferred adventure stories. ‘George?’
‘Dad?’ she mimics.
‘About Edinburgh… Are you sure it’s what you want?’
She hesitates, then nods. ‘I… I really like it there.’
‘But visiting and living there… they’re two very different things. You’d be leaving your friends…’
‘I know. But Mu—Heather will be there. It’s nice. Having a mum around. I mean, I know Alice is back, but…’
‘Would it make a difference? If Alice was here to stay?’
She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.
‘I mean… maybe? But she’ll go again. Won’t she. Back to London when she’s written her article?’
‘It’s a possibility.’ Georgia watches me closely, as if she’s waiting for me to tell her more. ‘If she stayed, with—’ I clear my throat ‘—with us… would you still want to go to Scotland?’
Her voice is quiet. ‘I don’t know… Dad, do you like her? Heather, I mean.’
‘Sure. Yes, I like her.’
‘Do you want to kiss her?’ She flutters her eyelashes and the thirteen-year-old is back.
‘None of your business.’
‘That’s a yes.’ She laughs. Gone is the childish giggle. This one comes from deep inside her stomach. It reminds me of the way Alice laughs.
‘That’s an it’s-late-and-I’m-going-to-bed.’
I shift off the bed, click off her lamp, and kiss her forehead, the room sinking into darkness.
‘Dad?’ I pause by the door, just the street light outside letting in muted light. ‘Has something happened? With Alice?’
