‘Oh, has she gone off them?’
‘No, butIhave. I made a last-minute tweak to today’s menu. This is a completely sausage-free zone.’
‘I’m sure you’ll get over it,’ Lou said.
‘I probably will.’ He sighed. ‘But not just yet. I don’t think my heart could take it. And whatever about Bo, I certainly don’t want to be responsible for serving them up to anyone else’s children.’
‘So you’re starting your new job next week?’ Trina asked her as Aidan drifted away.
‘Yeah. I’m looking forward to it.’ She was far more excited than she should be about working more closely with Aidan.
‘How’s the house clearing going?’ Sheena asked her.
‘Good. Actually, I found a photograph that I think might be my father’s christening.’ Lou picked up her bag and dug out the photo. She handed it to Sheena.
‘Oh, yes. It probably is. That’s definitely Noreen holding the baby and as far as I know she didn’t have any other children in her life. At least, I never heard her mention any. Is this the one you’re going to get framed?’
‘Maybe. I found a couple of Noreen standing outside the cottage that I thought would be nice. But I’d like to have one of her and my dad together. It’s a pity he’s just a baby in this, though, and you can’t tell it’s him. But I’m going to keep looking.’
The party was fun, and it felt very warm and cosy in Aidan’s flat, drinking wine and grazing on nibbles while the wind howled outside and rain battered the windows. Lou spent a very pleasant afternoon watching the kids playing games and being entertained by Cara and Finn, who seemed to have endless reserves of energy and great rapport with the children, while she chatted with her friends. The food was plentiful and delicious. There were mini pizzas, pinwheel sandwiches, chicken nuggets, stuffed potato skins, empanadas, mini sliders and plates of nachos. It was all home-made and seemed to just keep coming.
When it was time for cake, the lights were dimmed and Aidan lit the candles, then carried the cake to the table and placedit in front of Bo as everyone gathered around to sing ‘Happy Birthday’.
Lou looked around at all the smiling, happy faces as she joined in the singing. There was so much love in this room, all directed at this little girl. Aidan was so lucky. She wished she could give Jack this. She blinked away the unexpected tears that welled in her eyes, hoping no one would notice. But everyone was focused on Bo – and if they did see, they’d just put it down to sentimentality, getting caught up in the moment. She wasn’t the sort of person who cried at weddings or Christmas ads on TV, or anything much, really – but no one here would know that.
‘Are you okay, pet?’ Sheena whispered in her ear as Bo blew out her candles.
Lou hadn’t been aware of Sheena beside her. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’ She gave her a reassuring smile. ‘I was just thinking how lucky Bo and Aidan are to have this – to have all of you.’
Sheena smiled sympathetically. ‘It must be tough having no family. It’s hard enough being a single parent. Even with all of us behind him, it’s been no picnic for Aidan.’
‘Itishard at times, but I don’t mind for myself. I just wish I could give Jack more of a family life.’
‘Well, you’ve done a terrific job,’ Sheena said, putting an arm around Lou’s shoulders. ‘Jack’s such a lovely boy. We’re all very fond of him.’
Lou found tears springing to her eyes again. She didn’t know what was wrong with her today. But she wasn’t used to people praising her parenting skills and it meant a lot.
‘Is my mother upsetting you?’ Aidan frowned, approaching them. ‘I know what she’s like.’ He smiled fondly at Sheena. ‘Lay off Lou, Mum.’
‘I was only telling her what a great mother she is,’ Sheena said defensively.
‘Well, no one can argue with that.’ Lou was stunned by the warmth of the smile he gave her.
When the cake had been cut, Lou and Sheena returned to the kitchen island to eat theirs.
‘Actually, there was something I wanted to run by you,’ Sheena said to Lou. ‘Bo’s coming to stay with me and Liam for the weekend in a couple of weeks, and we’re planning to go to Aqua Dome on the Saturday. I was wondering if Jack would like to come along? If you’d be okay with that, of course.’
‘Oh, I’m sure he’d love that. And I’m fine with it – if it’s not too much trouble.’
‘Jack’s no trouble. And it’ll be more fun for Bo if he’s there.’
‘Well, that would be great, thanks. I’ll run it by Jack, but I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.’ Sheena and Liam were so kind, and she’d love to have them in Jack’s life. It might make up to him in some small way for having no grandparents of his own. ‘What sort of time?’ she asked. ‘I can drive him over to you in the morning before lunch service.’
‘Oh, don’t worry about that,’ Sheena said, waving a hand. ‘I’ll pick him up and drop him home in the evening.’
‘Did I hear you mention Aqua Dome, Sheena?’ Victoria asked, sliding onto a stool beside Lou with a plate of cake.
‘Yes, I’m taking Bo and Jack when we next have Bo for the weekend.’
