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Cass almost choked with emotion. When she looked at Jack, he seemed to have something in his eye. ‘I miss you too, sweetie. You know you’re always my number one girl. And I’ll be back soon to give you big hugs.’
‘How big?’
‘As big as a bear. No, bigger than that. As big as our house.’
A little squeal of delight from Ellie. Cass imagined that Jack’s hugs were something to look forward to.
‘As big as our house...’
‘Yeah.’ Jack was grinning broadly now. ‘Be good for Auntie Sarah, won’t you.’
‘I’m always good.’ Ellie’s voice carried a
note of reproof.
‘Sure you are. Would you like to meet my new friend?’ He winked at Cass and her heart jolted so hard she almost fainted. ‘She’s a firefighter.’
‘She has a fire engine?’ Ellie was obviously quite taken with the idea.
‘Why don’t you ask her?’ Jack chuckled and handed the phone over to Cass.
A little girl was staring at her. Light brown curls and luminous brown eyes. She was the image of Jack.
‘Hi, Ellie. I’m Cassandra.’ She wondered whether Ellie was a bit young to get her tongue around the name. Child development wasn’t her forte. ‘All my friends call me Cass.’
‘You’re a fire lady? With a fire engine?’ Ellie was wriggling excitedly.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Do you have a ladder?’
‘Yes, more than one. And we have a hose, for putting out all the fires.’
‘Auntie Sarah...!’ Ellie clearly wanted to share this exciting news.
‘Yes, I heard. Tell Cassandra that you’ve seen a fire engine.’ The woman’s voice again, laughing.
‘I’ve seen a fire engine.’ Ellie turned the edges of her mouth down theatrically. ‘It was a long, long, long way away...’
Suddenly Cass knew exactly what to say to Ellie. ‘Tell you what. We’re having an Open Day at our fire station soon. We’re showing all the children around...’ She was about to add that Ellie would have to ask her father if she might come, but that seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
‘Yesss! Daddeee!’
Jack shot Cass a wry smile. ‘Do I get to come along too, Ellie?’
Cass thought she could almost see the little girl roll her eyes.
‘You have to take me, Daddy. I can’t drive...’
‘Ah, yes, of course. Looks like it’s the two of us, then. Say thank you to Cassandra.’
Jack leaned in, speaking over her shoulder, and Cass swallowed a gasp, suddenly aware that his body was very close.
‘Thank you, Cassandra.’
Ellie managed the name without even blinking, and Jack chuckled.
‘Time to say bye-bye now, sweetheart.’ Ellie responded by waving and blowing a kiss, then Jack took the phone from her to say his own goodnight to his daughter.
