22
The next morning, Lou lingered in the schoolyard after dropping Jack off and joined Erin and Trina, who were chatting to Aidan.
‘Where’s Victoria?’ she asked, looking around.
‘She had to see the headmistress about something,’ Trina said, tilting her head to the school building. ‘She’ll be out shortly and we’re going for a coffee. Are you coming?’
‘Yeah, that’d be great.’ Lou smiled. She’d have an earlier start once she began working in the kitchen, so she might as well make the most of the opportunity while she had the time.
‘Well, I have to dash,’ Aidan said. ‘Lou, Jack’s doing the sports camp in Dunquin on Monday, isn’t he? We can give you a lift if you need one?’
‘Thanks, but I’ve just bought a car, so I’ll drive.’ She was simultaneously proud and disappointed. She’d miss driving with Aidan, sitting beside him in the car with their two kids in the back, one boy and one girl, like a perfect storybook family. She shook her head as if to dislodge the image. The fact that she was having such fanciful notions just went to show what a good thing it was that that wouldn’t be happening any more.
‘Oh, great. Well, if you change your mind, you’re welcome to come with us.’
‘Thanks.’ She was aware that her smile was stiff. She still felt a little off with Aidan after what she’d overheard him say the other day. He hadn’t changed towards her in any way. He was as friendly as ever to her face and there’d been no further indication that he had a problem with Jack and Bo spending so much time together. He hadn’t made any efforts to get them together outside of school either, though, and she wondered if that was deliberate and he was hoping to phase Jack out of Bo’s life gradually. It wasn’t as if play dates were a daily occurrence, so it was difficult to know.
But she shouldn’t be waiting around for him to arrange things. She could be proactive and suggest something herself. At least then she’d know where she stood with him.
‘Speak of the devil,’ Aidan said, smiling at Vicky as she joined them. ‘Well, bye, guys. And I’ll see you later,’ he said to Lou.
‘If I was paranoid, I’d think you were avoiding me,’ Victoria said, laughing.
‘Never!’ Aidan called over his shoulder as he walked away.
‘Right!’ Victoria clapped her hands. ‘Coffee! I’m gasping.’
‘So are we all looking forward to the mid-term break?’ Erin said when they were settled in Hazel’s café with coffee and sticky buns that Victoria had persuaded them all to order because ‘We’re on our holidays!’
‘Break my arse!’ Vicky said with a roll of her eyes. ‘Honestly, you look forward to the school holidays for so long and then when they come, they’re busier than ever. I mean, I’ll have to getup earlier than usual on Monday to go to that sports camp. So much for a nice lie-in.’
‘Yeah, no rest for the parents,’ Erin said, laughing.
‘And on Sunday we’re going to the bloody Aqua Dome in Tralee.’ Victoria sighed heavily. ‘Can’t wait!’
‘Oh God,’ Erin groaned. ‘Sooner you than me. I hate the Aqua Dome.’
Lou thought the Aqua Dome sounded fun, but she’d looked it up and it was pretty expensive.
‘Come back school, all is forgiven,’ Vicky said.
‘Speak for yourself.’ Lou smiled smugly. ‘I’m looking forward to a lovely long break from work, with the restaurant closed.’
‘And you’ll be starting as a cook when you go back, won’t you?’
‘Yeah. I’m looking forward to it. But I’ll have an earlier start for lunch prep, so there won’t be as much of this.’ She lifted her cup.
The other drawback was that she’d be working more closely with Aidan, and she had mixed feelings about that – on the one hand, excited; on the other hand, annoyed with herself for being excited.
‘So I’m going to make the most of it while I can and take it easy.’
‘You’re going to the sports camp on Monday, though, right?’ Trina asked her.
‘Yes, but I’ve nothing else on, apart from Halloween on Friday.’ Several of the parents from school were getting together to go trick-or-treating with the children. ‘You’re all welcome to come back to my house for some grub afterwards, if you like.’ She felt shy about extending the invitation, but she was making an effort to be more sociable and cultivate her friendships in Dingle.
To her relief, they seemed delighted at the offer, and Victoria and Trina accepted eagerly.
‘That’d be great.’
