Page 37 of Dead Serious Case 4 Professor Prometheus Plume

“Okay then.” Shirley’s eyes mist and she squeezes his hand. “I’m so glad you came.”

“I am too.” Danny stands and I follow, taking my coat when he hands it to me and slipping it on.

I stand back as Danny says goodbye to his siblings, stopping to hug Mark and Jack and promising Leigh he’d actually call this time. He waves to Ellen, who barely acknowledges him around the top edge of her book, and I wonder if she’s on the neurodivergent spectrum.

I don’t have time to ponder any of them further because Danny grasps my hand and leads me back into the hallway, but we stop short when we find Danny’s dad sitting on the bottom step of the stairs. I have to wonder how long he’s been sitting there and just how much he heard.

“Dad,” Danny says in surprise.

“Um.” Brian pushes himself up from the step and clears his throat. “Drive carefully, they’re reporting a storm heading in,” he says brusquely.

“I will.” Danny nods and they stare at each other for a moment until Danny suddenly releases my hand.

He steps forward and wraps his arms around his dad, hugging him tightly. Brian stiffens, and for a moment I think he’s going to pull away, but then, as if he’s not quite sure what to do, he slowly lifts his hands and rests them on Danny’s back before giving him a tentative hug back.

I can feel my eyes stinging as I watch Danny with his dad. Glancing over, I see Shirley lift her hand over her mouth and her eyes glisten with tears. Mark, Jack, and Leigh are piled into the doorway and watching with open mouths.

Wow. I guess they really aren’t a family of huggers. No wonder Danny doesn’t mind me being so tactile with him.

Finally, Brian pulls back and pats Danny awkwardly on the shoulder. “Mind the snow,” he says gruffly and then walks up the stairs and out of view.

My eyes widen. “Did he say snow?”

“It’s probably only going to be a light dusting,” Jack offers. “I wouldn’t worry.”

“Come on, we should get going.” Danny grabs my hand and tows me toward the door, like all of a sudden he can’t wait to get out of the house.

Once outside, we say our goodbyes again and wave, then cross the road back towards the car. The lights flicker as the doors unlock, but I pull Danny to a stop beside his door before he can open it and climb in.

Grasping the lapels of his heavy coat, I pull him in closer and look up into his eyes. “Are you alright, baby? Want me to drive?”

He takes a deep breath and leans in, pressing his forehead to mine. “I’m okay. I just need a minute.”

“Take as long as you need.” I cradle his face in my hands gently and trace his jaw with my thumbs.

“Thank you for being here with me,” he murmurs.

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else,” I tell him as he leans in and presses his lips to mine.

“Uncle Danny?” A voice interrupts and we pull apart to see Nick standing close by with his hands in his pockets. “Um… could I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure,” Danny says.

“I’ll wait in the car,” I tell them both.

“No, it’s okay, you can stay,” Nick says quickly. “I just… um…” He looks over his shoulder towards the house. Everyone has disappeared except for Leigh, who stands on the doorstep leaning against the doorframe as she watches us. She gives Nick two encouraging thumbs up.

“What is it, Nick?” Danny asks in that gentle rumble of his.

“I… I’m moving to London.”

“You are?”

Nick nods. “In the new year. I transferred to a college there. I’m training to be a nurse.”

“That’s great.” Danny beams at him and I watch as the tension in his shoulders drains. It’s quite clear to see that he looks up to Danny and wants his approval.

“Yeah?” Nick says with a small smile. “I mean, I haven’t really said anything to anyone. Mum and Gran know, but I don’t need to tell you how some of the others would react if they knew I was training for something they’d consider a woman’s job.”