Page 84 of C is for Comfort

He leans his head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry Lexi is being cold to you.”

I shrug. “I was expecting it.”

“Really?”

“Sure. You’re her dad. She doesn’t want to share you with anyone, let alone a guy she doesn’t know. She’ll come around.”

“I hope so.”

So do I.

We go to see the monkeys and the meerkats before finding a café for lunch. Unsurprisingly, the prices are overinflated. We get sandwiches and drinks. Lexi doesn’t talk to me at all over lunch, but she does chat with Robbie. The two of them keep up a continuous stream of chatter while we eat, although I’m pretty sure they’re not actually having the same conversation.

We spend the afternoon seeing the rest of the animals. By the time we’re done, all three kids are yawning.

“I was going to take these two out for dinner before heading home,” I say as we’re leaving the zoo. “Do you and Lexi want to join us?”

“I want to go home,” Lexi says.

“Dinner out sounds fun,” Corey says. “You can have pudding.”

“Home.”

Corey sighs and gives me ‘I’m sorry’ eyes.

“Maybe next time,” I say, trying not to be too disappointed.

I was hoping Lexi would want to have a sleepover with Robbie and Tabitha, and then Corey and I could spend a little more time together. Hopefully, I’ll have another opportunity to prove to Lexi that I’m not trying to steal her dad away from her.

I lean in to kiss Corey’s cheek. “Call me,” I whisper. “Or text.”

“I will,” Corey promises. “Thanks for today. It really was great. It was wonderful to meet you both,” he adds, turning to Tabitha and Robbie.

“And you,” Tabitha says.

“It was great!” Robbie enthuses, hugging Corey and then Lexi goodbye. “Can we have ice cream, Uncle Spence?”

“Would your mum let you have ice cream?”

“Yes,” Robbie says.

“No,” Tabitha says.

“Ice cream it is.” I wink at Corey while Robbie cheers. If only it was as easy to score points with Lexi. “I’ll see you again, Lexi.”

She stares at the ground.

“Lexi,” Corey says. “Don’t be rude.”

“Bye,” she says.

It’s fine, I mouth to Corey. “I’ll see you soon.” I squeeze his hand, not really wanting to let him go, but I have to.

I watch them head towards the tube station, quickly vanishing into the crowd of people leaving the zoo.

“Where do you want to eat?” I ask, holding Tabitha and Robbie’s hands.

“I want a burger,” Robbie says.