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They’d reached the parking lot. The rocky ground was covered in sand, blown up from the beach on the other side of the building. She reversed her small car into a space, craning over her shoulder to make sure she didn’t drive into the tall brick wall behind her. “No, he doesn’t have any children. He likes children, though. He’s really looking forward to meeting you.”
“Is he tall?” Nick asked. “I can’t remember what he looks like.”
So many questions. But how often did she introduce Nick to a stranger – and to a strange man, at that? He was at the age where he was fascinated by men in general, and in the concept of fathers. He knew he didn’t have one, but he didn’t know why. And she knew that sometimes he felt left out.
“He’s really tall. When he was a kid he used to climb the big old tree by the wall. It used to drive his mom crazy.” And now it drove her crazy.
“He sounds like fun.” He blinked, a smile curling at his lips.
She put the car into park and released her belt. “Well there’s only one way to find out if he’s any fun or not, right?” She got out of the car and Nick pulled his door open, unbuckling himself before he jumped down to the gravel. “Let’s go say hi.”
* * *
Aiden was sitting at a table on the deck, next to wooden steps leading down to the beach. The Sunday lunchtime crowd were out in full force – on the sand, as well as in the restaurant above. The air around him buzzed with conversation, as the smell of ozone mingled with the Italian food the harried waiters were carrying out, their huge silver trays balanced in the palms of their hands.
“This one’s your table. Mr. Black is already here.”
He looked up to see Brooke and Nick standing in front of him, along with the waiter. Instinctively, he got up and walked around the table, shaking first Brooke’s hand, before looking down at her son.
She was dressed casually, a pair of slim jeans and a silk tank, her hair tied up, revealing her slender neck. The same neck he used to kiss, tease, and press his nose against to inhale her, as if she was all he needed to breathe.
Breathe. Yeah, that would be a good idea.
“Nick, this is Aiden.” Brooke smiled down at her son. “I told you he was tall,” she said in a mock whisper. She looked back at him and it felt like the sun had come out all over again.
The boy took Aiden’s proffered hand. “It’s good to meet you again, sir.”
Aiden tried not to laugh at the boy’s serious expression. “My name’s Aiden, no need for sirs.”
Nick smiled, although he still looked wary. As though he was afraid of making the wrong move. Aiden found himself wanting to reassure him, to tell him it was okay. How many times had he been in Nick’s position – afraid of saying the wrong thing?
“I asked for a table by the beach,” he said, nodding his head at their seats. “In case you get bored of sitting with us for too long.”
“He’s used to it, aren’t you, Nick?” Brooke gave him a small smile, before looking back at Aiden. “No grandson of Martin Newton would be allowed to run around the tables.”
True story. Aiden remembered Martin Newton’s iron rules all too well.
“Anyway, Delmonicos is our favourite,” Brooke carried on, helping Nick scoot in his chair. As soon as she was done, Aiden pulled her chair out for her. She looked up at him in surprise. What was she expecting? That he would leave her to it?
“Why’s that?”
“They’re really great with Nick’s food allergy. It can be a pain sometimes, eating out. But they’re really flexible here. They know even a sniff of a peanut brings him out in hives.”
“You have a peanut allergy?” Aiden felt his chest tighten. He should have asked her about allergies. He’d heard horror stories of kids not being able to breathe from reactions to peanuts.
“Yes, si— I mean Aiden.” Nick nodded. “But it’s okay. I don’t have to go to the hospital too much.”
He turned his head back to Brooke, who was sliding the children’s menu in front of Nick. She looked so calm, so composed. When she looked up, catching his eye, she smiled at him, and it made his heart stutter.
“I’m glad to hear it.” His voice was gruff. “Hospitals are no fun.” He could still smell the one where his mother died. The sharp stab of bleach lingered in his nostrils long after he last walked through the sliding doors.
“It’s pretty much under control,” Brooke said, opening her own menu. “He’s great – he knows what to look out for, and what to avoid. But sometimes those nuts can be sneaky little things. You’ll find them in the strangest places, that’s when we end up in the ER.”
“At least they have a Playstation there,” Nick said. “And Mom’s allowed to stay with me if I have to sleep there.”
It sounded awful. And expensive, even if her parents covered those costs. A flash of guilt hit him, as he realized how he could have helped them all these years. If she wasn’t already high enough up there, Brooke rose a few rungs higher in his estimation. Her ears had to be popping by now.
“What job do you do, Aiden?” Nick asked, bored of talking about his allergy.
