‘Okay.’ She jumped up and ran to her bedroom.
‘Thanks for minding Bo,’ he said again to his mum.
‘As I said, it’s no bother. You know I love doing it.’ Sheena looked at her son thoughtfully over the rim of her mug. ‘You know, I’m free to babysit any evening too.’
‘You’re already doing that.’ He’d always refused to allow his parents to end up raising their grandchildren, and it wasn’t something Sheena wanted herself. She had a busy life, and besides, she wanted her relationship with Bo to be that of grandmother rather than childminder. But she was always happy to fill in the gaps in childcare, and at the moment Bo’s nanny Elena was having an extended holiday in her native Moldova and wasn’t due back until mid-September. He was enormously grateful to have his parents and siblings taking up the slack with Bo when they were available, so she could enjoy the summer holiday at home before starting school in September.
‘I don’t just mean while you’re at work,’ Sheena said.
Aidan frowned. That only left Monday, when the restaurant was closed.
‘I mean on your night off – you know, if you had something on.’
‘Thanks, but you’re already doing more than enough, and it’s my only evening with Bo. Besides, what would I have on?’
‘You should go out more – take a break, have some fun.’
‘What do you think I should be doing? Going to the pub with the lads?’
‘Why not? You could meet someone. Go on a date now and then.’
Aidan smiled, rolling his eyes. ‘Not this again.’
‘I’m just saying.’
‘I don’t have time for that.’
‘Maybe you should make time. I just don’t like to see you alone.’
‘I’m not alone.’ He jerked his head towards Bo’s bedroom, where they could hear her trotting around, opening drawers and cupboards.
‘You know what I mean.’
‘You mean sex,’ he said, lowering his voice a little in case Bo overheard. ‘You want me to have sex?’ He hoped he could embarrass his mother into dropping the subject.
‘Well, yes,’ Sheena said, undeterred. ‘You’re a healthy young man in the prime of life. It’s only natural.’
‘Mum!’
‘But it’s not just about sex. You should have someone to love. You’re not getting any younger, you know. And time goes by in the blink of an eye.’
‘So I’d better get someone to grab me while I’m still hot?’
Sheena laughed. ‘You know that’s not what I’m saying. You’re such a lovely man, Aidan. Any girl would be lucky to have you.’
‘You’re a bit biased.’
‘Granted. But I’m not the only one who thinks so. Carmel was saying the same thing just the other day?—’
Aidan groaned. ‘Please tell me you haven’t been discussing my love life – or lack of same – with Carmel.’ His mother’s best friend Carmel was an author of bodice-ripper novels with romance on the brain – an occupational hazard, he supposed, in her line of work.
‘I wasn’t. She was the one who brought it up.’
‘Oh, great. It makes me feel so much better that the neighbours are talking about me too.’
‘You know we all want the best for you – Carmel included. We just want to see you happy.’
‘I am happy.’
