Page 3

‘And climb?’ Ben continued. ‘She climbed up a set of steps into a trampoline. A trampoline! Do you know how hard it is to get a small child off a trampoline? Every time I took a step towards her, she bounced into the air. Of course, she found it hysterical.’

Holly had to laugh. She wouldn’t have done if it had been her in the situation, but Hope had come back in one piece with no noticeable bumps and bruises, and that was what mattered.

‘I don’t know if it’s going to be better or worse when she’s walking,’ Ben said, as he pulled a changing bag off his shoulder and dropped it in the doorway.

‘Worse, definitely worse,’ Holly said with certainty. ‘That’s when she can fall over and really hurt herself. Nope, I’m happy with fast crawling.’ Switching Hope onto one side so that she could sit on her hip, Holly leaned down and picked up the changing bag. ‘Well, I’m glad Hope had a good time. And I’m sure she’s going to get lots of fuss this evening. Talking of which, I’d better get her ready for Grandad’s birthday party. Mum wanted me to be there early to help get things ready.’

Ben smiled.

‘Sure. Well, I won’t keep you. And let me know if you need me to bring anything. Drinks or nibbles or anything. Georgia and I are really looking forward to it.’

Holly tipped her head to the side, not sure she had heard him properly.

‘You and Georgia?’ she repeated. ‘You’re coming to Dad’s party?’

It was Ben’s turn to look confused as a frown line appeared between his brows. ‘I thought your mum would have mentioned it. She invited us to come. You know, as part of the family.’

3

Holly didn’t know why she was surprised. Of course this was something her mother would do. Not maliciously. No, Wendy didn’t have a malicious bone in her body, but Holly and Ben still got on well, and co-parented Hope with such ease that Wendy had obviously decided that Holly wanted him invited to all family events. And now Ben and Georgia were a thing, the invitations clearly extended to her too. Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad now and then, but this was a family event – and Evan was attending. Suddenly, Holly’s stress reached a whole new level.

‘You didn’t know?’ Ben said apologetically. ‘It’s fine. We don’t need to come. It’s not a problem.’

‘Of course you need to,’ Holly said. ‘Mum will never forgive me if you don’t. And there’s nothing to apologise for. It’s not your fault. No, you have to come. It’ll be nice. It’ll be nice for me to see Georgina again.’

‘Georgia,’ Ben corrected.

‘Yes, sorry. I know. I know that. It will be lovely to see Georgia again. That’s what I meant.’

Holly tried to sound as genuine as she could. She really didn’t have a problem with Ben dating Georgia, but there was something about having another woman in Hope’s life. That was where the jealousy struck. It was ridiculous and Holly knew it. Hope was her baby girl and nothing would change that. But some days, Holly couldn’t help but feel that with the perfect Georgia on the scene, she would be scarily easy to replace.

Swallowing back her paranoia, she forced herself to smile. ‘This will be good. It’ll be a chance for me to get to know Georgia more,’ she said, trying to convince herself as much as Ben.

‘Honestly, Holly?—’

‘No, you have to come. That’s the end of it. It’ll be nice.’ Her throat tightened as she debated whether to say the next words. But she had to. After all, Ben was going to find out sooner or later. ‘I guess it’ll be nice for you to meet Evan too.’

‘Evan is going to be there?’

It was the same level of surprise that Holly had shown only moments before, but now it had shifted to Ben. Given how Evan was only staying for one night – and that Holly had planned on warming Evan up to her life in the Cotswolds before she introduced him to the father of her child – she hadn’t mentioned his whistlestop visit to Ben. Thankfully, Ben seemed to accept the news far quicker than Holly had Georgia’s invitation.

‘Well, that’ll be great then,’ he said, his smile a fraction too broad. ‘I get to meet Evan. Evan and Georgia. It all sounds perfect.’

The pair looked at each other, a mirror image with both their lips pressed tightly together into straight lines. Holly wondered what she was supposed to say next when Ben broke the silence.

‘I promise we won’t stay long. Just long enough for your mum and dad to know we came.’

Holly let out a loud sigh of relief.

‘That would be perfect. Thank you.’

Ben laughed. ‘No problem. Now, Hope, give Daddy a kiss goodbye. And I’ll see you later, okay? Bye bye.’

Ben offered Hope an exaggerated wave before turning to leave.

‘Ben! Look!’ Holly shouted. As Ben turned back, his eyes fell on his daughter. Hope was still in Holly’s arms, her hand swinging up and down as she imitated Ben’s wave. ‘She’s doing it, she’s doing it!’ Holly said, jumping up and down with such vigour that Hope immediately stopped waving again.

‘Did you wave, Hope?’ Ben rushed back over. ‘Did you wave to Daddy? Can you do that again?’