“What’ve you lot been up to today?” I asked, putting my hand out to spin Lando out of the way of a couple of customers. The shop was getting busier and there wasn’t really a lot of room for us to stand and chat without getting in everyone’s way. Outside didn’t look much quieter either. It was difficult to see from where I was stood, but it looked like all the colourful chairs and tables we put out every morning were full.
“Been down to the beach,” Dad said. “Lando and I went paddling, then we built a sandcastle.”
“Sandcastle!” Lando said with a giggle. “Then we squashed it!”
“Playing Godzilla then?” I asked.
“Something like that,” Matthew said, gently rocking the pram as Maggie stirred.
“We won’t keep you. Just wanted to pop in and say hi,” Dad said.
“And get ice cream,” Lando said as he tried to spin around me only to get casually wrangled by Matthew, who seemed to have more arms than an octopus. It was impressive. And reminded me I’d never have the patience to be a parent.
I’d happily keep on being the irresponsible uncle who popped up once or twice a year with new tattoos and trinkets from his travels.
And maybe… a beautiful man by his side.
“You should meet Darcy before you go,” I said, craning my neck to see if I could see into the kitchen from here. I couldn’t. But I suddenly had the urge to introduce him to everyone, and I didn’t want them to leave without knowing the amazing man behind this place.
“Oh, we don’t want to be a nuisance,” Dad said with a wave of his hand.
“It’s fine, hang on. And your ice cream is on me, I’ll tell Alfie.” I walked back towards the kitchen before either of them could object, letting Alfie know what I’d said so he could charge me later. Even though he’d probably tell me it was fine and on the house, because he was sweet like that.
I stuck my head around the kitchen door to see Darcy shutting the door of the freezer. “Darcy, can I borrow you?”
“Yeah, sure. Everything okay?” he asked as he adjusted the bottom of his apron.
“Yeah, my family is here and I want them to meet you,” I said. He looked shocked for a second and I suddenly realised what that might sound like. But before I could add anything, he’d schooled his face into a polite smile, putting on the public persona I’d seen every time he dealt with customers.
I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what. There were too many options and none at the same time. It didn’t help that I had no fucking clue what I was feeling. Things had changed so much but neither of us had said anything about it. I doubted Darcy had even admitted it to himself. I definitely hadn’t.
Not really.
All I could do was smile and lead Darcy into the shop, walking ahead of him without reaching back for his hand. My fingers itched and I balled my hand into a loose fist.
“Dad, Matthew, this is Darcy, who’s the awesome genius behind Lick It!,” I said as we approached them, trying to keep smiling despite the fact my insides were squirming weirdly. “Darcy, this my dad, and my brother, Matthew. The little chaos demon is Lando, and then we’ve got Maggie. Who’s asleep for once.”
“Don’t jinx it,” Matthew said, shooting me a withering look like I’d just cursed him. And sure enough, Maggie started to squeak and grumble.
Shit. Now I’d done it.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Darcy said as he reached out to shake my dad’s hand. “Owen’s told me a lot about you.”
“Oh aye? Getting me in trouble no doubt?” Dad asked, chuckling as he winked at Darcy. “Probably told yer I’m making him tear his hair out because I won’t sit still.”
“You won’t! That’s not lying.”
“Nowt wrong with me going for a walk, is there?”
“You don’t just go for a walk,” I said. “Getting hold of a wheelbarrow full of compost and taking it around the garden isn’t a walk!”
“I were walkin’ while doing it.” Dad shrugged. “And I didn’t have me stick. Barrow was the next best thing.”
“You see what I’m dealing with,” I said to Darcy, whose perfect smile had melted into something much more relaxed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“I’m fine. You two worry too much,” Dad said as he looked between me and Matthew, who seemed unwilling to get involved, especially as he had his hands full with a grumbling Maggie and screeching Lando. Or maybe he just didn’t want to have this argument again, which was fair enough because it’d happened a lot.
I knew Dad was on the mend, but he seemed to think he was back to business as usual, and I spent half my time trying to convince him that wasn’t how it worked. Just because he felt better didn’t mean he should be throwing himself back into things, because there was a good chance he’d undo his recovery and we’d be back to square one.
