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When 4 p.m. came, Dylan helped clear up. “I’ll just head off to the gym for a while. I’ve convinced Michael to come for leg day.”

“Go easy on him,” said Lucy.

“I can’t promise. He comes so infrequently, I feel I need to be brutal when he does.”

“Maybe that’s why he doesn’t join you very often,” Lucy suggested.

“You could be right there,” he admitted. “But it’s also kind of fun.”

“Fair enough.”

“I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”

“Cool. I’ll go for my walk before you get back. I wouldn’t be so cruel as to make you join me with wobbly legs.”

“I don’t mind coming, if you’d like some company. It can be part of my cool down.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’d rather get it done early.”

“Stick to well-lit places, yeah?”

“It’s Castle Cove,” Lucy pointed out.

“Even so. It’s dark. Humour me.”

“OK,” Lucy promised.

Dylan left and Lucy got wrapped up warm. She grabbed her phone, purse, and a shopping bag. It was drizzling a little and she debated getting in the car, but Dylan would be disappointed in her, and she couldn’t lie to him when he asked how her walk had gone. Besides, he was right, getting fresh air and some steps in every day was doing her and the baby good.

She walked down to the supermarket and bought the fanciest bottle of non-alcoholic bubbly she could find, and a bunch of Christmas party food.

By the time Dylan returned from the gym, drinks were poured in Lucy’s swankiest glasses and she was putting the goodies she’d bought into the oven.

“What’s all this?” he said, coming into the kitchen.

“This is a mini celebration,” she explained. “For you having your offer accepted.”

“This is so nice of you,” Dylan said. “Very sneaky as well. I can’t believe you went to this trouble.”

“Of course, I did. You’re important. It’s like a little party for two.”

“With proper party food,” he said, happily, spotting the packages of food on the side.

“Exactly.” Lucy handed him a drink and picked up her own. “To you and your beautiful house,” she said and they clinked glasses. “I’m really glad you’re going to be close by,” she added. “I’ve kind of gotten used to you being around.”

“Me too,” Dylan said quietly. He looked like he was going to say something else, but seemed to think better of it.

“Shall we dig in?” Lucy said brightly.

“Absolutely,” Dylan said, his face lighting back up as he began helping himself to food.

Chapter 25

Lucy couldn’t help a little chuckle as she saw Michael hobbling through the coffee shop door the following morning. It seemed Dylan had really put the poor guy through his paces. It was no wonder Michael didn’t join his friend at the gym very often.

“Hi,” she said cheerfully. “Was he mean to you?” she asked, inclining her head to Dylan in the corner, so absorbed in his work that he hadn’t noticed him come in.

“It was no more than I deserved,” Michael said, nobly. Dylan looked up at his friend’s voice and held up a finger to signal he’d be free in a moment. “He’s actually really great to train with. The problem is that I try to keep up with him.”