Page 51 of Always Be My Pumpkin

‘I’m going to miss you so much’ is all he says, but it’s enough to split my heart wide open.

I’m going to miss you even more. But I don’t tell him that. I tip back my head, tweak his nose, and shrug. ‘Seriously, Anderson, you have to toughen up.’

‘I hope they’ve apologised to Pat,’ I say as I pour steaming tomato soup into bowls. We decided to have lunch after all as the sight of Moll and Barty was enough to kill off any horny feelings for a while. I set a bowl in front of Flynn and take the seat across the table. ‘It is his property, after all.’

Then I remember Pat said he’d signed all the paperwork. ‘Although, it’s not really, is it? If he sold the shop to the council, it’s Gertrude and me they should be apologising to. Or Gemma, at least.’

Flynn blinks, jerks back his head. ‘Huh?’

‘Well, okay, maybe it’s not finalised completely.’ I ignore the blank stare he’s giving me, eyes wide as though he’s worried I’m losing it. He’s not far off when it comes to me and him, but as far as the library is concerned my mind is crystal clear.

‘But it won’t take long. And you know, it’s not your responsibility to clean the wall. You should call the council and they can send one of their workers to finish the job.’

‘Gracie.’ Flynn leans forward, elbows on the table, eyes narrowing with a look of concern. ‘Pat sold his house to the council, not the shop. I thought he explained that when he told you and Gertrude about the library plans. He’s still hoping I’ll take over the shop.’

My jaw drops as I realise Pat never actually said it was the shop that he sold to the council. I just assumed.

Flynn swallows. ‘The property should have been Mom’s, and I need to talk to her before I can decide if I should take it on.’ He puts his hand over mine. ‘But you know I want to stay with you, for you, if you want me to. Don’t you?’

He dips his head like he’s waiting for my answer, but I’m winded, chest tight, brain whirring with a million muddled questions. Does he really still want to stay, or is that what he thought before his mam told him about Natalie? How she wants to see him, talk to him. How she’s back.

‘You’re right,’ I manage to say, finally. ‘You do need to talk to your mother before you decide what to do.’ I take a deep breath and let it out. ‘And you really, really need to talk to Natalie before you make any promises about moving back here.’

He looks confused but I get it. He’s thinking of the old Gracie, the one obsessed with holding on to the people she cares about. The Gracie still broken from the thought that her dad might have chosen to leave. But I’m not that needy little girl any more. I’m choosing not to be.

‘I don’t need you to stay, Flynn. I’ll be fine.’ I keep my voice steady. ‘It’ll be good for me to stand on my own feet, get a place of my own. I’ve been focusing on other people for too long.’

He shakes his head and goes to interrupt, but I lift my chin and hold firm.

‘And if I get my promotion, I’ll want to focus on work.’ What I’m really saying, what I’m trying to convince myself of, is that I won’t have time to wallow if he gets back with Natalie and decides to stay in Cricket Falls.

Flynn stares across the table, eyes fixed on mine, and I’m waiting for his nod of agreement, the sigh of relief on his breath, when there’s a rap on the door and we both flinch.

‘Sorry to bother you.’ Tim pushes the door open and steps in. ‘Flynn, would you mind coming and talking some sense into that uncle of yours.’

Flynn blinks. ‘Sure. What’s up? Is everything okay?’

Tim sighs heavily. ‘He took a notion to finish cleaning that mess off the wall for you. I was holding the ladder, trying to persuade him to give up before the rain started. Anyway, Finbarr turned up with Moll and Barty in the back of his car just as Pat was climbing down. And of course, Finbarr honked the horn, like he always does.’

Flynn and I share a tight smile.

‘That man can’t go anywhere without announcing himself.’ Tim flicks up his eyes. ‘Pat turned too fast and fell, and I think he might have sprained his ankle.’

We all wince.

‘And he bumped his head, which is even more of a worry. He’s resting on a chair inside the shed. Finbarr’s with him now.’

‘We need to get him to the hospital.’ Flynn jumps to his feet, grabs his jacket from the hook by the door. ‘I can drive your car, if you like.’

Tim nods. It’s clear he’s too shaken to drive.

‘I’ll come too.’

Tim shakes his head. ‘We could be hours, Gracie. If we can persuade him to go.’

‘He’s going,’ Flynn says firmly. Then he turns to me. ‘Tim’s right. We could be all night if A & E is busy.’

‘I don’t mind.’