Chapter 20
Dismissing the Christmas movie scene altogether, I wondered what was wrong with me. I’d always been an outsider. I liked being an outsider. Standing on the edge of other people’s lives felt comfortable. Being the centre of attention did not.
Seb, however, had no problem taking the stage. “Yee-hah!” he shouted over and again at the top of his voice. “Giddy up! Giddy up!” His horsemanship seemed to be attracting quite an audience.
“Looks like I won’t be putting my feet up tonight,” Lizzie said, amused by Seb’s antics just as much as everyone else. “It’s going to be a bit of a struggle getting him to bed later.”
A part of me envied the joy Lizzie’s son brought her. Another part didn’t. I might not have been a parent myself, but I knew the struggle people went through when raising children single-handed. “It must be difficult,” I replied. “Bringing him up on your own.”
“I can’t say it’s easy. We certainly have our hiccups.” Lizzie chuckled as she looked my way. “Something you saw for yourself the other day.” She turned her attention back to her son, her gaze softening as he rolled by once more. “But he’s worth it.”
As I took a sip of my coffee, my curiosity about their situation grew. “Tell me to mind my own business, but…”
“You’re wondering where his dad is?”
“Sorry,” I said, feeling myself blush. “I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m just being nosey.”
“He’s in Leeds,” Lizzie replied. “That’s where we’re from. Originally, the plan was for us all to move here. The three of us. I was to come first with Seb and settle him into school – which is what happened – while his dad worked out his notice, before starting a new job nearer to here. That bit didn’t happen.” She scoffed. “Apparently, country life wasn’t for him, after all. And unfortunately, neither were we.” She looked at me direct. “Let’s just say he finds the company of his secretary much more entertaining.”
I cringed, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut. The last thing I’d wanted to do was to stir up uncomfortable memories. “I really am sorry. I didn’t mean to–”
“Please,” Lizzie said. “Don’t worry about it.” She dismissed my concerns with a wave of her hand. “These things happen. We’re almost a year on and, let’s face it, I’m not the only single parent on the planet. There are millions of us.”
As much as I admired Lizzie’s stoicism, that didn’t make her job any easier. Every lone parent out there had my admiration.
“Seb and I are fine just the two of us,” Lizzie carried on.
“Mummy! Antonia!” Seb called out as he, again, galloped by.
Lizzie laughed. “Even if he does have more energy than I do.”
The carousel began to slow, signalling the end of Seb’s ride. However, before it had even come to a stop, the little boy was unbuckling his belt, climbing off his horse and onto his feet, almost giving his mother a heart attack by the look of things.
“Jesus,” Lizzie said, doing her best to get to her son before he hurt himself. “That boy’s going to be the death ofme, never mind himself.”
I let out a laugh and while Lizzie struggled to get on the carousel to rescue her son, I dug out a pen and piece of paper from my bag, before scribbling down my mobile number. “For you,” I said, upon her and Seb’s return. “I understand if you’re not comfortable with it, what with hardly knowing me. And I am only here until the new year. But if you get stuck in traffic again, or need any help with anything, please, give me a shout.”
Lizzie tilted her head and smiled. “Thank you,” she said, taking the paper from my hand. “That’s very kind of you.” She indicated her son, who continued to Yee-hah! on what was a now make-believe horse. “Although I do understand if you want to change your mind.”
I laughed. “Not at all.”
Lizzie paused for a moment, as if wanting to say something, but wasn’t quite sure if she should. “Actually…” She screwed up her face. “I know it’s short notice, but are you free one afternoon in the next couple of days?”
I looked at Seb. Still on his imaginary steed, he skipped round and round in a never-ending circle.
“It’s just that there’s something I’d really like to get my hands on before it sells out. And now school’s finished for the holidays.”
Seb started neighing and whinnying.
Watching him, a part of me wondered what I’d let myself in for, while another part insisted entertaining a seven-year-old couldn’t be that hard.
“I can ask his dad if you’re busy,” Lizzie said, clearly recognising my hesitation. “But it’s not his weekend and he prefers to stick to the schedule.” She lowered her voice, her tone suddenly mocking. “Or ratherLittle Miss Secretarydoes.”
At last, Seb came to a standstill. “You mean you want to buy my Christmas present,” he said, having obviously been listening. He shook his head, before turning his attention to me. “Mummy keeps pretending that Santa is real, even though I know he isn’t.”
“Santaisreal,” I said, feigning horror. “Keep talking like that and he won’t be coming down your chimney any time soon.”
The little boy looked from me to his mum. Taking in both our serious expressions, he appeared confused, as if no longer sure what to think. “But Samuel told me he isn’t.”
