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She nods, smiling. “In that case, all is not lost.”
I shrug my shoulders, pushing myself off of the wall. “I get that it means I know where she works, but I won’t have to collect Nash from school until Friday… which is an age away.”
“My,” she says, letting out a deep sigh. “You have got it bad.”
“Yeah, I have.”
She rests her hand on my arm. “So bad, you can’t see the obvious answer that’s staring you in the face.”
“What obvious answer?” I look down at her, waiting, my pulse beating loudly in my ears.
“It might not be your usual routine to collect Nash from school on a Tuesday afternoon, but who says you can’t break with tradition?”
“You mean…”
“I mean, your ex wife seems to be busy at the moment,” she says. “So busy, she asked you to take Nash to school this morning. I doubt she’d object if you offered to pick him up for her this afternoon… do you?”
I can’t help smiling.
“Has anyone ever told you how devious you are?”
“I used to teach English to unruly teenagers. Devious is my middle name.”
She chuckles and ducks behind me, heading for the back of the shop and the door to the rear lobby.
I watch her go, shaking my head, and although I’m not sure I like the idea of contriving another meeting with the Kindergarten teacher in quite such a duplicitous manner, what’s a man to do?
Besides, Katie doesn’t seem to see a problem with it, so why should I?
I pull out my phone and, rather than calling Sabrina and risk her asking too many questions, I send a text message.
— Would it help if I collected Nash from school this afternoon? I can bring him back to your place, or keep him with me until you’re ready to collect him.
Knowing Sabrina, she’ll be in a meeting, or up to her eyes in paint charts and fabric samples, so I put my phone away and serve a couple of customers, surprised when it beeps within ten minutes.
— That all depends on whether you’re gonna pick a fight with me about Dean living here.
I can’t help sighing. My motives may be selfish, but I’m doing Sabrina a favor – or offering to – and she still can’t just say ‘yes’, or ‘no’, without making something out of it.
Sure, I’m not happy about the situation with Dean. I still think she should have told me what was going on, rather than leaving him to do it, but why does she have to make it sound like it’s my fault we’re where we are now?
— I thought you were busy today. I’m trying to be helpful.
Okay, so that’s not strictly true. I’m trying to help myself, too. But the point is, I’m sick of Sabrina’s attitude.
I half expect her to come back and tell me not to bother. It would be typical of her. She’s clearly got a lot of work on at the moment, but I swear she’d cut off her own nose if she could spite me.
I stare at my phone, jumping out of my skin when it beeps, and I read her message.
— Okay. Thank you.
— You didn’t say if you want me to bring him back to your place or keep him here with me.
— Bring him home.
I guess a second ‘thank you’ would have been too much to hope for, and I don’t bother replying. I put my phone away and lean against the cash desk, wondering what I’ll say to the Kindergarten teacher… always assuming I’ll get to see her.
What if I don’t?
