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Nate smiled. ‘I was on an early shift this morning, so I have the afternoon off. I thought it would be nice to spend some time together.’ He glanced at William. He was showing Ray how to thread some beads, which Ray appeared to be finding difficult. Nate guessed he was preoccupied with Sarah’s hot date later. He could tell by the way Ray kept glancing at her.
Maisie was explaining to Mabel and Marjorie how it was done; showing them the amber and the additional beads they used to make the necklaces and bracelets pretty. ‘This is our production line,’ said Maisie, sounding quite grown-up. She pointed at the small sanding wheel used to shape the amber, the cotton buffing wheel used to polish it, and the Dremel tool used to drill a hole right through the amber for threading.
‘Children have to be careful using those tools – that’s why we need an adult to help us. Isn’t that right, William?’
William was in the middle of threading some beads. He nodded.
Nate smiled at the children. He turned to Lili. ‘I thought it would be nice to have some time on our own without … distractions.’ He eyed her. ‘Don’t you think?’
Lili knew what he was getting at. So far, the only times they had been together were with the children – and Bella the dog.
Lili nodded, staring at the large bunch of flowers. ‘Have you got a minute? I just want to take these upstairs and put them in a vase of water.’
‘Sure.’
Lili was about to head upstairs when she had a thought. What if they were going somewhere posh for lunch? Although Nate hadn’t dressed up – he was wearing dark chinos and a pale blue shirt, with a navy jumper flung over his shoulders – his smart-causal outfit would get him into a restaurant. Lili, on the other hand, had just slipped on a pair of light blue jeans, which were a bit threadbare around the knees – not because it was fashionable, but because she’d spent a lot of time in them, outdoors, gardening. The checked red and white shirt she was wearing had seen better days too. It had been through far too many washes, which had stripped some of its colour.
‘Um, I have no idea where we are going. Do I need to change?’
Nate looked her up and down and grinned. ‘No – not at all.’
Lili eyed him. It was a stupid question to ask a guy. It didn’t matter where they were going, she’d get the same,yeah – you’re fine,with no clue how humiliated she’d feel if she walked into a posh restaurant feeling like a scarecrow.
As if guessing what she was thinking, Nate said, ‘No, really, you’re fine. In fact, I’d suggest bringing a warm jumper or jacket, and perhaps a scarf and hat.’
‘A scarf and hat?’ Was he joking?
Nate caught the look on her face. He grinned. ‘No, I’m not joking.’
Lili had a worrying thought. ‘I hope you haven’t planned something ridiculous, like jetting off to the North Pole?’ It was one thing Maisie spending an afternoon with Ray and William, but she couldn’t go away on an extended trip. That just wouldn’t be right, leaving her for any length of time. Hannah suddenly came to mind. She wondered how she could leave her daughter for weeks on end. Hannah knew Maisie was in safe hands – but didn’t she miss her?
Lili glanced at Maisie happily getting on with the job at hand. She knew why Maisie didn’t miss her mum. She guessed it wasn’t really her mother she didn’t miss, but all the crap in her life; her mum’s boyfriends and being ignored, and essentially looking after herself. Lili realised that when Maisie was with her, she didn’t have to act like a mini adult; Lili took care of the adult stuff, so Maisie could concentrate on the business of being a child. Sometimes, although she acted as though she didn’t like the rules; bedtime at seven and teatime at five-thirty, she knew Maisie secretly relished the routines she didn’t get at home.
‘No, we are not going to the North Pole. If you must know, I’m taking you to Southwold.’
‘Southwold – as in the town up the road?’
‘Yes.’
‘So, why on earth would I need to bring—?’
Nate put a finger to her lips.
Lili caught sight of Mabel nudging Marjorie, two sets of eyes on her.
Nate dropped his finger. ‘So, I’ll wait outside in the car.’
