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“Yes. Look.” She turned the screen in her hand so he could see it over her shoulder.
Pixie peered at him, pointing with a chubby finger.
In the background Sean could see one of Nan’s cat-printed sweatshirts. Nan was holding the phone and had Pixie on her knee, so they could all join in. Nan smiled big time when she saw him joining in with Rowan.
“Tell Sean what you did today.”
Pixie stared and put a hand to her mouth as if she’d gone shy.
“We went to the beach, didn’t we?” Nan encouraged.
“Did you see any gulls?” Sean asked, remembering Pixie’s fascination with them.
Pixie nodded.
“How many?”
“Lots,” she replied.
Rowan seemed pleased, so he chatted on until Pixie yawned.
“Say night-night to Sean,” Rowan suggested.
“Nighties, Sean.” Pixie giggled.
Sean was surprised when Pixie said his name, and it struck him hard, so much so he was unable to respond. He managed to wave his fingertips, swallowing down the emotion ramping up inside him. This wasn’t what he’d planned. It was so much better.
“Bye, bye,” Rowan continued, “nighty-night. See you in the morning. Thanks Nan.” She closed the call down and looked at him from under her lashes.
Sean smiled. “Thank you for letting me join in.”
She peered at him, her expression deeply thoughtful, and then threw the phone on the bed and burst out crying, quickly covering her eyes with her palms.
“Hey.” Sean put his arm around her shoulders, drawing her closer against him.
She sobbed for a little while, then sniffed and scrubbed her eyes. “I miss her so much.”
“It’s my fault, I made you stay here.”
“I wanted to. I do want us to talk.”
Hope sprang in Sean’s chest. Finally, she’d met him half way.
She met his gaze, blinking away the tears, still looking into his eyes as she did so, then glanced again at the phone, as if regretting the call was over. “It’s silly, I know it is, because Nan and Gladys will look after her.”
“She’s every bit as beautiful as you.”
She gave him another watery smile.
The urge to ask overcame all his better judgment. “When were you going to tell me…?”
Immediately, she looked wary. “Tell you what?”
“That Pixie is mine?”
Her eyes widened her mouth opening in horror. “You knew?”
“Yes.”
