Page 105 of Catching Trouble

“Nevertheless, there’s a retired teacher here in Furze. I’m sure she’ll be happy to cast her eye over it once you’re finished.” I pulled her closer. “And your Maman wants to spend some time with you. She suggested taking you back to Nice with her tonight.”

Sophie groaned.

I shook my head with a chuckle. “I’m surprised you don’t want to go. Think of all the fancy boutiques you could visit. You could leave with a whole new wardrobe. Then, when you come back, you can spend another two weeks here before I take you back home.”

Her lips bowed. “Will you take me back on your bike?”

“No. Maybe when you’re older. If I even suggested it your Maman would refuse to let you visit ever again. I’m not willing to risk it.”

Sophie wriggled out from under my arm, leaning forward to stroke her kitten. “You will look after Bean, won’t you? He might get lonely.”

“He needs to get used to you not being around when you go back to school.”

Sophie slumped back against the cushions, bringing the back of her hands to her eyes. “Do I have to go back there?”

My heart skipped. “Is it bad?”

“No, not really. But I like it here.”

I pulled her in for another hug. “That’s just as well, because that’s another thing your mother and I spoke about. We agreed you’ll visit more often and I’ll go to Paris to see you, too.”

She scrambled out of my arms, coming to sit up on her knees. “And Chloe?”

“Pardon?”

She shook her head, placing her hands on her hips. With the look on her face, she resembled a general inspecting her troops. “Oh Papa, don’t tell me you haven’t realised.”

“Realised what?”

“That youlikeher.”

I shrugged. “Yes, we’ve become friends, but…”

Sophie threw her arms heavenward. “Oh, Papa!”

“What?”

“You more than like her!”

“What makes you say that?” Was I really that transparent?

“I may be twelve, but I’ve seenThe Princess Diaries. I see the way you look at her. And this is the first time I’ve ever seen you laugh more times than I have fingers.”

Even her blunt appraisal couldn’t dampen the buzz growing in my chest.

“That’s not true. I laugh all the time.”

She lifted one of her eyebrows.

“Okay. Maybe,” I muttered.

She sucked in a breath, her face alight. “Maybe you like Chloe?”

I shook my head. “No. I was talking about laughing.” I paused, running my fingers through my hair. “But, let’s just say I did like her—in aPrincess Diarieskind of way. Do you think she likes me?”

I couldn’t resist the question. I had nobody except the fish to talk about Chloe to. Sea bass and bream weren’t the best conversationalists.

“Papa! Shereallylikes you. Nobody else could put up with you being so grumpy all the time.”