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“Yes, because he didn’t know. He found out when I did. He’s never lied to me,” she explains. She stares at me, her blue eyes looking so solemn. “I guess you didn’t either.”

“No, but I could have done more when I did find out.” I sigh. Does she want to know the details about the last two years? How much it tormented me—to know I had a child, but there were barriers I didn’t feel I could knock down? Will she view those barriers as things she would agree to be immovable, or will she see me as a coward? Did Delilah ever tell her that I sent money every month—cheques that she never deposited.

“Did Delilah or my mum ask you if you were going to stay for dinner tonight?” Maddie asks, seemingly oblivious to the roller-coaster of emotions I’m going through, or maybe too focused on her own.

“No, but it’s probably not a good idea,” I reply.

“I don’t see why not. Mum, Simon, Delilah, Uncles Felix and Caleb, and you. Sounds like a great dinner.” She flashes me a little grin.

“I’m sensing that you’re a mischievous troublemaker.” I laugh.

“Have you ever thought that maybe I want to make sure you spend more time with me? I mean, I know you’re only here because of the potential bone marrow thing, and if you get the results to say you’re not a match, or the doctors say I don’t need a transplant, you might just… leave.”

“Madeline. No. From the second I found out about you, I’ve wanted to get to know you. I’ve been waiting for my chance to start building a relationship with you. I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances, but I’m grateful for the chance to talk to you, and I have no intention of running away. Ever. For as long as you want me around, in whatever capacity you want me around, I’m going to be here,” I vow.

“But you won’t be here. You’ll have to go back home to America for the rest of your films,” she points out.

It’s something that is non-negotiable, and the first thing that Pippa decided to remind me of after she’d given me the lecture for keeping her in the dark about my so-called skeletons in the closet. My short-term future is tied to America. I need to be there to fulfil my contractual obligations. It’s too much of a financial penalty to try to get out of filming, not to mention that I’d torpedo my career, should I want to keep acting in movies.

My long-term future is different, though. I already have my plans to move back to the UK as soon as I’ve wrapped everything up for the films and my promotional commitments. Financially, I can live a comfortable life in the UK without needing to worry about work again, and I’m incredibly fortunate that I can make the decision, that I can choose to be close to Madeline.

It’s probably too much of a heavy topic to throw at her, to announce that I’m going to give up everything so I can be closer to her. Instead, I laugh.

“Have you ever heard of a thing called flights? I can shuttle back and forth during the gaps in filming, and when you’re better, you can come over for school holidays. Holidays in Hollywood, remember? As soon as I’m done filming this franchise, I’m going to move back to the UK. I’ll settle here. I’ll be around,” I promise.

“So, you’re definitely going to stick around?” She doesn’t look at me as she asks this question, and I’ll be damned if I don’t think of all the times Delilah used to do that.

“You have my word.”

“But not for tea? It won’t be long until dinner because everybody likes to make sure I eat my dinner early.”

“Sounds frustrating,” I comment.

“Smaller, more regular meals have helped when I’ve been sick, so I guess I can’t blame them for trying to do what’s best.” Maddie shrugs.

“Maybe me staying for tea isn’t the best idea. I can’t guarantee your uncle Felix won’t try to stab me with a steak knife,” I joke.

“Uncle Felix loves me. He’d never upset me,” she proclaims.

“You sound just like your mother.” The words tumble out before I can engage my brain. I watch Maddie tuck her hair behind her ears.

“Maybe.”

“So, thank you for the offer for dinner, but I’ll decline for tonight. I think I’m going to leave everybody in peace, go home, and read through that book Delilah gave me.” I gesture at the scrapbook that I left on the coffee table.

“I’m not a fan of that book, just so you know.”

“Well, maybe one day, we’ll have made our own photograph album,” I offer.

“That sounds like fun.”

“Did you say your dinner is almost ready?” I ask.

“Yep,” she quips.

“Then I’m going to leave you to it. Do you have a phone?” I have no idea if Verity is a strict parent who doesn’t believe in screen time, another piece of evidence that I’m over my head.

She rolls her eyes at me, making it clear I am out of my depths like I suspected.