‘It was only a few swigs.’
He wasn’t stupid, it was more than a few swigs by the way Kyle was acting. He could hold his sentences together but he had an edge of agitation fuelled by the alcohol and Amelia wouldn’t be fooled.
Nathan took out his phone and pinged a text to his daughter. He’d be more comfortable getting this kid home now. ‘Come on,’ he said to Kyle.
He tried to get Kyle talking as they walked their way from the inn, past iconic buildings and sights filled with festive cheer, but the boy would only grunt or grace him with monosyllabic replies and so Nathan gave up.
They grabbed strong black coffees and drank as they walked, Nathan keeping his eye on Kyle in the crowds in case he tried to give him the slip, and soon enough they’d bypassed Madison Square Park and were outside the brownstone.
‘I can take it from here,’ Kyle insisted. ‘You don’t need to deliver me to the door again.’
‘I’m not going to mention the vodka, but I want to make sure you’re in the apartment, that Amelia isn’t going nuts with worry.’
‘What’s it to you if she is?’ He kicked the brick wall outside the brownstone. He smacked his fist up against it. And he turned to run off down the steps but Nathan was too quick for him and caught him by his jacket.
‘Settle down,’ he said more than once. ‘Upstairs, now.’
Inside, as they followed the stairs up the first flight, Kyle sniffed. ‘I respect her you know.’
Amelia? Scarlett? It didn’t really matter, because they were already at Amelia’s door and she came straight out when they knocked.
‘Kyle, where have you been?’ She pulled him into a reluctant hug. ‘I was going out of my mind with worry.’ She looked to Nathan. ‘What happened this time?’
‘Chill,’ said Kyle. ‘I went to see Scarlett, not that he let me get anywhere near.’
‘Probably because you were drinking that bottle of vodka. Weren’t you?’ she demanded, relief replaced by frustration. ‘I’m not stupid, and you even left the cupboard door open after you took it – kind of a giveaway.’
‘Whatever.’ He stomped into his bedroom and slammed the door.
She looked at Nathan. ‘I don’t have the energy for this tonight. I’ll let him calm down.’
‘What are you doing home? I thought tonight was the big date night?’
‘It was.’ She didn’t elaborate. ‘I appreciate you bringing him home for me. I’m not sure I could’ve coped with scouring the streets of New York the night before Christmas Eve.’
‘He was waiting at the inn when we got back there.’
‘I don’t get it. He was fine this afternoon, wouldn’t have answered back to either of us. Seemed intent on proving himself, in fact. And when I texted to say I’d left money for takeaway he replied telling me to have a good time.’
He followed her inside when she walked over to the sofa and slumped down. It was then he noticed the blotchy cheeks and redness around her eyes. ‘He overheard you on the phone. To Connie.’
She looked towards the small corridor down which were the bedrooms, where Kyle was now. Then she looked back at Nathan. ‘What did he hear?’
‘Enough.’
She walked over to the window and stood looking outside. The hum of traffic was soothing in a way, like those sounds that are noisy at first but soon become a comfort.
‘Is it true? Is she throwing him out?’
She turned towards him. ‘What makes him think that? She’s moving and is having trouble finding somewhere else. I said I’d watch out for Kyle and he can stay with me until she’s settled.’
‘So she’s not throwing him out?’
‘Definitely not. But she is going to need me to help her, which is why she wants to be closer to where I live.’
‘Don’t you help out enough already?’
‘Don’t you start,’ she muttered. ‘Sorry,’ she added quickly enough. ‘I didn’t mean to snap.’
