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Anya had a nightmare. She mouthed the words over her daughter’s head.
‘There was a monster.’ Anya turned to him, her dark eyes serious.
‘And what happened? He can’t have eaten you, because you’re right here,’ Alistair replied.
‘I shouted and shouted. And Mummy came and bashed him.’
‘It was just a shadow on the curtain, sweetie.’ Raina laughed, sitting down at the table.
Anya turned to him, stretching over to whisper in his ear, ‘It was a real monster. Mummy frightened him and he jumped out of the window.’
‘I’m sure she did. Mummy’s terribly brave. And pretty frightening when she wants to be.’ He heard Raina’s snort of laughter.
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Good thing she’s on our side, eh?’
Anya considered the question carefully. ‘Yes. It’s a good thing.’
How on earth had he not heard the commotion? Perhaps he had and didn’t remember getting up, but Alistair was pretty sure he’d slept like a baby. Monster-free, all night.
Then he realised. If he slept on his right side, then he was to all intents and purposes completely deaf, his hearing aid on the bedside cabinet and his good ear buried in the pillow. And he’d woken on his right side this morning...
So much for the newfound feeling that maybe he could have risen to the challenge that Raina had. He couldn’t even be there to fend off shadows on the curtains and help calm Anya’s fears.
‘Toast?’ Raina’s voice came to his rescue. ‘Or would you prefer cereal?’
‘Toast, thank you.’ He grinned up at her as she reached into one of the kitchen cabinets and put a jar of peanut butter on the table. She’d remembered... ‘I haven’t had peanut butter and toast in ages.’
‘You’ll need a good breakfast. You never know when you’re going to find yourself on monster duty.’
‘I’ll give it a go. If they look too scary I might just have to call you in.’ He smiled at Anya. ‘Your mum’s the best monster-fighter I know.’
Anya nodded. She knew that already. And Alistair knew already that, try as he may, he’d never make the kind of parent that Raina did.
* * *
Raina had done the washing up and then found herself at a loose end. Alistair was absorbed once more in the business of playing with Anya, and it appeared that she could take the day off. But she couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do more than watch him.
Anya had shown him the garden, the things they’d planted together, and the tree where the fairies lived. The butterfly bush, and the bird table. He’d played football with her on the grass, and Anya had copied his victory dance when she’d managed to get the ball past him and score a goal. Raina sipped her tea, relaxing in the sunshine. It all looked exhausting.
And he seemed to be getting somewhere. The games all led to one moment. The one where he sat with her on the sitting-room floor, passing a small squishy ball from one hand to the other and gently dropping it into Anya’s lap. The two of them talked for a while, and then Alistair reached for the box that had lain unnoticed on the floor next to the sofa.
He took out the prosthetic, talking to her all the time. Anya shook her head and he put it down on the floor, out of sight. They batted the ball back and forth between them and he tried again. This time Anya picked up the prosthetic, using it as a scoop to send the ball flying back in his direction. Alistair retrieved it and sat down with her again.
He was so patient. So kind. Raina held her breath as he rolled the soft fabric liner onto her arm, and carefully fitted the prosthetic over it, activating the suction pad. Then he took the ball and held it out to her.
She didn’t know what to do. Anya had managed with one hand so long that she didn’t understand that she could throw the ball better using two. Alistair gently helped her, curling his hands around her arms, showing her how to pick the ball up.
‘That’s really good, Anya. Shall we show Mummy?’ He looked up at her and Raina wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes.
‘What have you got to show me?’ Raina got up out of her chair and sat down cross-legged on the floor.
Alistair helped Anya to pick the ball up and roll it across the floor. Raina retrieved it and rolled it back and Anya reached for it with one hand. Alistair guided her other arm forward, and she picked the ball up.
Raina could only watch, her throat blocked with emotion. Alistair stepped in with a little encouragement. ‘Nice one, Anya. Let’s see if we can score a goal, shall we?’
Her first try landed right in Raina’s lap, so there was no opportunity to let the ball past her. Alistair gave an exaggerated groan of disappointment. ‘Well done. We’ll get her the next time.’
