‘But why did it drag on for years?’
Shrugging, Noah nibbles at a muffin. ‘My dad was a proud man back then and didn’t like the fact your dad had nearly knocked him out.’
Noah pulls me to him, and I rest my head against his broad chest. ‘We have to talk to your dad, Alice.’
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN
‘I’ll go see Dad tonight,’ I say to Noah, as we walk hand in hand, back across the beach after work. Earlier we’d talked about us both walking over to Dad’s to have a clear-the-air discussion. The more I thought about it, the more I felt uncomfortable, and it didn’t feel fair on Dad. He is going to have a big enough shock when I announce Noah and me are together. ‘Let me do this on my own.’
‘Are you sure?’ He gives my hand a gentle squeeze.
‘Yes, I want to try and get him to talk about Mum. I think it will be easier if I do it.’ The idea of taking Noah scares me as Dad is probably going to get very angry.
‘Will Lucas be with you?’
I shake my head. ‘Pete’s picking him up from school and taking him back to stay over.’
Noah pulls me to a stop. His arms circle my waist, and he pulls me closer. ‘Are you going to show me your new flat first then?’
I arch my eyebrows suggestively. ‘You could stay over tonight. Lucas is away.’
‘Where would I sleep?’ He smiles and plants a series of tiny kisses on my neck. ‘Your sofa?’
With a giggle I say, ‘You can… but it’s a small sofa.’
‘Okay,’ he says, with a playful wink, ‘the sofa it is.’ His boyish smile makes me light-headed.
‘Why don’t I message you when I am back from Dad’s, and you can come over and I’ll show you around, plus… sort out that sofa for you.’
‘It’s a deal.’
It feels like a long walk to Dad’s house. My palms are already sweaty, and my heart is beating like a drum against my ribcage.
He opens the door and welcomes me in. ‘This is a nice surprise, Alice. Come in.’
Bean is excited to see me and starts barking. I give him a good scratch behind his ears. ‘How are you, Dad?’
We walk into the kitchen. Dad’s kitchen always feels warm and inviting. It’s like stepping back in time as he’s had the same cupboards and units for years. ‘I have some news,’ says Dad, making me flinch. ‘I’ve been laid off from the supermarket.’
‘What? Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry.’
He shrugs and pours water into his kettle. ‘I’m all right. Do you fancy a cuppa?’
Once he has made us two mugs of tea we sit opposite each other at the dinner table.
‘I’ll have to look for another little job,’ he says, with a sigh. ‘I don’t know whether anyone will employ me at my age.’
I cover his hand with mine. ‘Of course they will, Dad. You’re amazing.’
He shrugs. ‘I never really enjoyed the supermarket, if I am honest. Lately I’ve been thinking about baking, but I don’t want to go back to running my own bakery.’ He stares at his hands. ‘I like making things. Shelf stacking and sitting on the supermarket till never gave me an opportunity to make something.’
I smile at him. ‘Lucas and I are always willing to be your cake testers.’
We both laugh. He looks at me. ‘So, what’s going on with you? How’s the new place and more importantly – how many ice creams has my grandson consumed?’
‘The flat is lovely,’ I say. ‘Lucas and I like watching TV together on an evening and the yellow beach hut shower unit has proved a big hit with Lucas. He has two showers a day now. You remember how hard it was to get him to have one a few months ago?’
Dad chuckles. ‘I love him so much. He did cause havoc here when you both lived with me but since you’ve gone, the house has felt empty. I miss hearing Lucas singing and shouting.’ He takes a sip of his tea. ‘I’m sensing you have come to tell me something, Alice.’
