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“Alright,” I said. “But not far.” I handed her a tenner for some drinks, and she put her hand on her hip like she was the coolest kid in town. The Daisy effect.
“Thanks, Mum. We’ll stay off the hard stuff.” Cue the laughter.
At least she was smiling again.
They checked their makeup in the rearview mirror before they left, and my heart gave a weird pang. My little girl, far too grown up for comfort. I waved them off.
Tonya sighed. “When did she get so bloody old?”
“I was just thinking the same thing,” I said.
Ruby squeezed my hand. “Can I go with Buck? To find Dad?”
“Alright,” I said. “Be good though, stay out of his way. He’s working.”
“Yeah yeah, I do know,” she said.
I watched her leave, her little hand in Buck’s big one, telling him all about the wonder of life the universe and all the cars in it.
I was a million miles away when Tonya nudged my ribs. She handed me my drink from the car roof and I relented, let myself smile.
“Cheers,” I said, and downed the thing in one.
I was busy as fuck, getting cars tuned up ready to go, but not too busy to hoist Rubes up on my shoulders and point out the track when she came running. She was a ball of energy, her voice higher than usual, squealing at this and that, cars and drivers, and stalls of merchandise.
“Be a good girl and give me a hand, will you?” I said, and her face lit up.
I got her passing me tools, and she took it proper seriously, eyebrows pitted in concentration as I barked out orders.
I sent her off with Buck and Hugh when the event started, told them to keep an eye on her. Off she went, swinging off their arms as she skipped between them. My heart swelled up, so proud I could burst, and there amongst it was Jodie. She was everywhere, right the way through me.
I kept an eye out for her, but I didn’t spot her, not until I’d taken a break and slumped on the grass with a cold beer. I heard Tonya first, and her laugh told me she’d been drinking. My eyes followed the sound, and I caught a flash of cherry red amongst the crowd. My gut did that sappy flip.
They headed in my direction, talking and laughing, and didn’t see me until they were almost on top of me. Tonya saw me before Jodie did, and nudged Jodie in the arm.
I loved the way Jodie lit up when she saw it was me. The smile that crept across her face said too much, and I suspected she’d had a couple with Tonya.
“Hey,” she said.
“Alright,” I said.
I got to my feet, wiped oily hands on my jeans. I wanted to pull her close, wrap my arms around her and kiss her like she was mine, but I didn’t.
“Tent all set up?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, Buck helped.” She pointed to the field beyond. “We’re in the corner, just over there.”
I gestured to the opposite corner of the same field. “We’re over that way.”
“Great,” she said. “Well, I guess we’ll be… seeing you around…”
“Righto,” I said, then cursed myself. I stumbled over words, so many of them. Do you want a drink, Jo? A hotdog? Want to drink vodka with me until you’re sick behind the bandstand and I have to hold your hair back? I kissed you after, do you remember? Do you remember me carrying you back to the tent and holding you all night long?
She brushed her hair behind her ear. “We’ll be… um… around later, I guess… if you’re not too busy.”
“I’ll be around,” I said. “I’d like that, Jo.”
Tonya let out a laugh. “Jesus, you two. Maybe at this rate you’ll get together sometime in the next ten bloody years.”
Jodie’s cheeks flushed pink, and I stared at the grass, ran my hand through my hair. Ridiculous, this was fucking ridiculous. I felt like a fucking kid again, trying to work out whether the fuck she liked me or not.
“The girls,” Jodie said. “Have you seen them?”
“Rubes is with Buck and Hugh. Haven’t seen Mia.” I looked around the crowds. “Where is Mia?”
“Relax,” she said. “She’s with Daisy, I’m sure they’re fine.”
I couldn’t help but scowl. “There’s a lot of people here, Jo, a lot of people drinking, a lot of lads.”
She rolled her eyes. “She’ll be fine, Darren. She’s nearly a teenager, I’m sure she can get some Cokes and hotdogs and wander around with Daisy.”
I wasn’t so fucking sure, but I bit my tongue. She saw my reservations a mile off.
“I’ll find her,” she said. “Make sure she’s alright. Ok?”
“Alright,” I said. “Thanks.”
I spotted Jimmy O on the approach, Petey at his side. Jo saw them too. She waved to them, but made an exit, told me she’d see me later.
