Rob laughed, raising his eyebrows as he looked at Oliver. “Is that so?”
“Don’t encourage her,” Oliver muttered as he passed Rob on his way to the hall to get his shoes.
“Yes,” Betty answered, not having heard him. “They’ve taken to spending the weekends together, and he and Oliver fetched me this lovely tree earlier.”
“It’s a beauty.” Rob sounded genuinely impressed, as well he might. Oliver had taken ages searching for the perfect tree and another few hours helping Betty to decorate it.
But it was worth every minute to see the happiness in her eyes every time she looked at it.
When their voices became suspiciously quiet, too quiet for Oliver to make out as he bent to tie his laces, he figured they were up to no good and hurried back into the living room. “What are you two whispering about?” He focused his accusatory glare on Rob. “Hmm?”
Rob gave a slight shake of his head, then said, “I was just telling Betty we should recordStrictlyso you can watch it with her in the morning.”
“Yeah,” Oliver answered, frowning at his brother but turning it quickly into a smile when Betty looked up at him. “That sounds great. You won’t mind watching it again, will you, Betty?”
Her answering laughter made his smile ten times more real. “No, dear. You know full well I won’t.”
“Right then, it’s a date.” He bent to kiss her cheek—“See you in the morning.”—then stood and smoothed out his shirt.
“You look lovely.” Betty beamed up at him. “Ed’s a lucky man.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t bother telling her they weren’t together. She’d obviously made up her mind, and if Oliver got his way, she’d be right. At least for a while, anyway.
Rob followed him out to the back door, cats meowing around his feet, making him almost stumble.
“Steady.” Oliver smirked as one of them took a swipe at him, then his expression sobered. “What was all that about?”
The sigh Rob let out had Oliver tensing. Voice not much more than a whisper, he said, “She was asking if we’d looked into getting her some home help yet.”
Oliver flinched, a stab of hurt cutting into him at the idea he wasn’t doing enough for her.
“Hey.” Rob reached out to grip his shoulder. “Don’t get that look, she wasn’t moaning about you. She’s worried you’re spending all your time taking care of her and missing out on life.” He added air quotes to the last bit, and Oliver could almost hear it in Betty’s voice. It wasn’t the first time she’d mentioned it. “And I happen to agree with her.”
That, Oliver hadn’t been expecting, and his mouth fell open.
“You spend all your time here.” He cast a fleeting look next door. “Or most of it.”
“I go out.”
“On a Friday night. Other than that you’re always here, spending time with Betty—which she loves, don’t get me wrong—but she worries she’s keeping you from living your own life.”
“I love spending time with her.”
“I know.”
Oliver huffed, feeling oddly defensive. “And I go out more than just a Friday night.”
“To Ed’s.” Rob agreed. “Betty’s told me.” He sighed again, and Oliver knew he wasn’t going to like the next bit. “But he’s moving as soon as they sell the bungalow, and then where will you be?”
Oliver shrugged, not wanting to think about that just yet.
“You moving in with Betty was only supposed to be short term. While you save for a deposit and we find her some decent home help.” He crossed his arms, fixing Oliver with a look that reminded him an awful lot of their mum. “How’s the deposit looking?”
Great. His savings were accruing nicely.
Another shrug, but Rob saw right through him judging by the knowing look he gave him.
“Look,” he said, giving Oliver’s shoulder a squeeze before letting go. “All we have to do is look into it. Nothing’s going to happen until the new year anyway, so what harm will it do just checking a few things out?”
