He laughed. ‘Get where exactly?’
‘The life you deserve.’
‘Hmm, well, I’m sure life can be just as lovely without partners or kids.’
‘Of course, but I always saw you with a family of your own. It suits you.’
‘Let’s not get carried away. This is pretty new to us.’ He knew full well he’d already discussed buying a house with Beth, but Lottie didn’t need to know all their plans just yet.
‘When you told me you’d got together, I wanted to throw a party, I was that excited.’
‘Yes, I remember.’ He smiled, reliving her squeal in the shop.
‘Do you want some handy hints and tips from moi?’
‘Not really.’ He shook his head at her as they moved forward in the queue. ‘But go on then, seeing how you’re fit to burst.’
Lottie shrugged. ‘Just keep things simple,’ she said, giggling.
‘That’s it? That’s your big relationship tip?’
‘Yes. Love isn’t complicated. People are. So if you just make sure you face everything together without adding complications, things should run smoothly.’
Spencer laughed. ‘Good to know.’ He tried to ignore the stir in his stomach as he thought about the paternity test he had done. Had he complicated things? Probably. ‘I take it things with you and Sam are going well,’ he added.
‘Everything is wonderful.’ Her dreamy eyes told him that was true.
‘Go and find him then before you start missing him already.’
Lottie poked her tongue out, then headed off.
Spencer glanced at All Saints Church close by. In all the times he’d arranged flowers in there for someone’s wedding, not once had he ever imagined himself standing at the altar.It was Lottie, with her whimsical outlook on love, making the idea of marriage appear. He laughed to himself at how much had changed for him, and all because he’d decided to become a different man.
Archie started gurgling and groaning as they neared the front of the queue, no doubt wanting his own feed.
‘Hang on just a minute,’ Spencer told him softly.
Archie started crying, his voice sounding as loud as the rest of the festival.
‘Hey, hey, it’s all right, little man.’ Spencer picked him up for a cuddle.
Archie sounded even more frustrated, showing a whole river of tears as his little face flushed.
Spencer stroked over his back in small circles until he started to settle. ‘We might think about opera singing lessons for you, son.’ He pulled him off his shoulder to peer into his watery eyes, then kissed his head. ‘You’ve got yourself all heated now, haven’t you?’
Archie sighed, making Spencer laugh.
With a pram to navigate and a baby occupying one arm, it was quite the struggle moving forward on the grass, especially as a wheel hit a dip, but luckily a woman who was waiting her turn in the queue rushed to help.
‘Oh, thanks. He didn’t want me to put him down.’
She laughed. ‘Probably because he couldn’t see anything in there. Mine’s the same. Nosey.’
Spencer laughed as he met Archie’s eyes. ‘Right, when we get home, we’ll swap this carrycot for your upright number. You’re ready now.’
Archie leaned forward, trying to eat Spencer’s nose.
‘Let’s put you back down and turn your music on for a bit while I get your mum’s snacks, then I’ll carry you again, deal?’
