Page 11 of Never Tell Secrets

“King Ryan of England. I’m ten. Double digits now!” He declared proudly. Riley knelt and looked Ryan in the eye.

“Is that so?” I watched Riley’s eyes widen as he gazed into a pair of blues that were a replica of his own. My stomach turned over. I turned to my sister who looked like she was about toeither cry or pass out. I watched in awe as she smoothed her face into a smile before Ryan noticed.

“Ryan, go and put your shoes on please. Auntie Lo is taking you for your treat now.”

“Can I take my club?” He frowned, pointing it at her.

“Yes, just don't threaten anyone with it this time.” Ryan ran off to get his shoes and she fixed her gaze on me. “Can you keep him busy for a while please?”

“Of course, are you alr?—”

“Is he mine?” Riley cut in, his spine straight and stiff as he stared at my sister. I’d never seen him like this before. Easygoing Riley was gone. Natalie sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.

“I didn’t know how to find you. I tried…I’m sorry.” Her voice cracked, her eyes pleading with him to understand.

“Auntie Lo, come on!” Ryan stomped into the kitchen and grabbed my hand. Natalie wiped at a stray tear and turned away towards the window so Ryan wouldn’t see. I didn’t want to leave her like this.

“I’m fine, Lola,” she said over her shoulder, the tone in her voice telling me to get Ryan away from the drama. I did as she asked, my nerves jangling at the prospect of this latest bomb that had just hit my family.

I was killing two birds with one stone. That’s all it was. The two birds? I needed to keep Ryan occupied and I’d promised him a treat. The stone? A harmless visit to the cafe at Rosie’s.

Rosie still worked here of course and I couldn’t wait to see her again. Mark had left when his contract ended two years ago, I had no idea where he worked now. As for Bradley, I hadn’t hadthe stomach to keep track of him since I’d left. I had no idea what he was up to now.

My old cabin looked the same and a wave of nostalgia hit me. Before I could dwell too long, Ryan’s warrior cry split through the air as he charged for the cafe, his club raised high. I followed after him, offering an apologetic smile to the disturbed customers.

The cafe staff greeted me with warm smiles and hugs as well as a brownie for Ryan, a blueberry muffin for me, and a hot chocolate on the house. I picked at my muffin as Ryan spilled every detail of his plan for his pirate novel. I’d seen the storyboard in his room-it was pretty impressive.

I tried to listen, but my mind swam with a million other things. Alfie. My new project. Natalie and Riley.Jesus.Natalie andRiley? I looked at Ryan as he talked, really looked at him. The animation in his blue eyes as he talked about something he was so passionate about, the unconscious way he pushed his hair out of his eyes…yeah, I could definitely see it.

My poor sister, she must be losing it right now. I tried not to let my concern show on my face as I looked at my nephew whose world was about to be turned upside down. He was about to gain a father. I tried to fight the rising worry that I knew had way too much to do with my own daddy issues. Riley was good and steady, he wasn’t going to up and abandon Ryan, and besides, whatever came their way, Natalie would handle it. Nothing was getting to Ryan without her say so.

I put my swirling thoughts to the side and forced myself into this rare moment with my nephew who seemed to get bigger every time I saw him.

A while later, Ryan finished off the last of my hot chocolate and we said our goodbyes. Out in the Autumn wind I knelt and zipped up his jacket when he suddenly yelled, “Puppy!” and wriggled out of my grip just as a chubby, blonde labrador puppylanded in his lap. Ryan giggled as the animal squirmed. I looked up to find the owner when I heard a familiar voice.

“Lola!” Rosie glided to me, a whirl of bright patterned fabrics and chunky jewellery. I jumped up and fell into her warm embrace. She squeezed me tight before pulling away, her face beaming and tinged pink. “Darling, why didn’t you tell me you were coming? Is this little Ryan? No! He’s so tall!”

“Yes, this is my nephew. I’m sorry I didn’t call, my visit was a spur of the moment thing. I was going to come and find you after we ate but you got to me first! Who’s this?”

“Oh! This is my Violet!” She scooped up the puppy and squeezed her, kissing her face. “I’m afraid I lost my Daisy a few months ago.”

“Oh Rosie, I’m so sorry.” My heart twinged. Daisy had shared my lunch many times and had always been a shoulder to lean on when I needed it.

“Yes, so am I. She was such a good friend.” Tears brimmed in her eyes before she smiled them away. “I was feeling lonely so I went and picked this little angel up a week ago. Isn’t she perfect?”

“Please, can I hold her?” Ryan piped up, his hands outstretched, his club lying discarded at his feet.

“I’m not sure that’s a good?—”

“Oh, of course you can, dear!” Before I could protest, Rosie had placed the delicate Violet in Ryan’s unpredictable grasp. I watched, prepared to rescue her should Ryan suddenly get distracted and drop her, but to my surprise, he held her carefully. It was the steadiest I’d ever seen him and for once, I saw Natalie in him.

“Do you have much time?” Rosie asked.

“Some.” I had to keep Ryan busy for a while, but I also had to get back to London today. I figured I’d be catching the train, pretty sure that ride from Riley was off the table now.

“Wonderful. You can come help me like old times! And you can fill me in on everything as we work. Ryan can play with Violet.”

An hour later I hugged Rosie goodbye, on a promise to visit again soon. Ryan and I walked back through the maze of greenhouses, him full of everything Violet. He would definitely be asking his mum for a puppy when he got home.