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My eyebrows lift. She lowers her gaze. “Mum,” I say softly. “Have you met someone?”
She clears her throat. “Sort of.”
“What’s his name?”
“Mike. He’s a widower—his wife passed away from breast cancer a few years ago. He has a couple of grownup kids. He teaches at the high school as well. Nothing’s happened,” she says hastily, “we’ve just met for coffee a few times, but…” Her brows draw together.
My throat tightens. “Mum, you know I don’t mind if you date another man, right?”
Her eyes glisten. “I don’t want you to think I don’t still love your dad…”
“I know you still love him, but it’s been three years, and you’re not even sixty yet. You’re going to live until you’re a hundred! You don’t want to be on your own for forty years.”
She presses her fingers to her lips, and I go up to her and put my arms around her. We have a big hug, until the bathroom door opens and Finn comes out on his crutches, eyebrows rising to see us both there.
We break apart, laughing and sniffing. “Good night, love,” Mum says, kissing Finn’s forehead. She goes into the bathroom.
Finn gives me an amused look. “What was that about?”
“We’re being soppy.”
“Well, duh.”
“Come on, you. Bedtime.” I usher him into his room.
“You just want to be alone with Alex,” he says.
“Absolutely, I do, so I’d be grateful if you got a move on.”
He leans his crutches up against the wall. “Have you kissed him yet?”
“Yes.”
His face lights up. “Really? Excellent.”
“I’m glad you approve. Now, will you get in bed?”
He slides under the covers. “Are you going to make out?”
I stare at him.
He rolls his eyes. “You know I know about sex, right?”
“No, Finn…” I can hardly breathe. “You walked over to the bed.”
He blinks, then looks down at the duvet. “Oh.” A smile breaks out on his face. “Yeah, I guess I did.”
We stare at each other with growing delight.
“Have you done that before?” I ask, my voice just a whisper.
“We’ve been doing some different exercises, but no. That’s my first time without the crutches.”
I sit on the side of his bed and take his hand in mine. “That’s the best Christmas present I could ever have.”
“I don’t know,” he says mischievously, “I’ll be interested to see what Alex gives you.”
“Finn!”
