This time, it’s a train set. Joel claps his hands in delight, then he and Donald vanish into the next room to set it up.
‘How are things?’ Julia asks.
The rich aroma of roasting beef fills the air; warm, savoury, and mouth-watering. My stomach tightens in anticipation. The scent alone is enough to make me salivate.
‘Smells wonderful,’ I say.
She smiles and pours coffee into two mugs. ‘Joel seems happy,’ she says.
‘Does he?’ I murmur. ‘Danny says the school is concerned about how he’s coping. They want to talk to him after the holiday.’
‘Why, what’s wrong?’ she asks worriedly.
‘They think he seems too happy for a child who has recently lost his mother.’
‘It probably hasn’t sunk in yet,’ she suggests.
She places a hand gently on mine, taking me by surprise. ‘We’re so grateful you bring him to see us.’
I turn my head away so she won’t see my tears. ‘I wish it wasn’t like this. I know Danny makes mistakes, but I don’t think he means to,’ I say.
‘And Donald is too stubborn.’
I smile and slowly slide my hand from under hers. It doesn’t take much to make me cry these days.
‘He might have a buyer for the house,’ I say. ‘So far, they’ve all been vultures, but this one seems like a real possibility. Danny’s showing them around this afternoon.’
‘You don’t think he’ll sell the apartment, too?’ she asks, her face creasing with anxiety.
‘He hasn’t said anything,’ I reply. Not that Daniel tells me everything.
‘Donald thinks he might sell both and move away… and that we might not see Joel anymore.’
Now it’s her turn to cry.
‘No,’ I say quickly, taking her hand this time. ‘I’d never let that happen. I want to see Joel. I promise I’ll always bring him.’
‘You’re a lovely girl,’ she says, squeezing my hand. ‘You both went through so much when that little girl died.’
My heart skips a beat, like it always does when Lila is mentioned. I still can’t shake the fear that Jo’s kidnapping and murder had something to do with her death.
Just then, Donald and Joel burst into the kitchen, demanding that we see the train set in action.
‘It’s pretty brilliant,’ Donald beams.
It is, too. Very elaborate and expensive.
***
Lunch is delicious and Joel thoroughly enjoys playing with his new toy. But all too soon it is time to leave.
‘Right, I’ve got a deal to clinch. Do you two need a lift to Oxford?’ Donald asks.
‘No thanks, I drove,’ I say.
We hug them goodbye. Julia’s embrace is warm, and I feel her gratitude in it.
‘Thank you,’ she whispers.
