Page 29 of The Dating Ban (Mind the Corbin Brothers #1)

Hopalong and the Queen

Theo

I ’ve been looking forward to this week away from work, but now, instead of enjoying a few days of just me and Lucy, I’m worrying about Ivy.

My eyes drift to the kitchen window as I unpack the food into the fridge. Dark clouds are gathering in the distance.

She’ll be fine. The trouble with Ivy is that she never says when she’s not fine.

I know she was putting on a brave face when I dropped her off at the campsite but I could see the doubt in her eyes.

As much as she protests, she’s not exactly the outdoorsy type.

She grew up in London, and I’ve no doubt she can handle whatever the city throws at her, but alone in a little tent? That’s different.

“Daddy, I found a new friend!”

Lucy’s voice pipes up behind me. I turn to see her standing in the doorway, her small hand stretched out, palm flat. A tiny, unsteady moth clings to her skin.

“I think it’s ill,” she frowns .

I don’t need to be an expert to see that one of its wings is broken.

“Ladybug, I think its wing is hurt.” I kneel beside her, watching the little creature hobble about on her hand.

“Oh. I’ll call him Hopalong,” she grins, and I don’t have the heart to tell her that Hopalong won’t be hopping for long.

“That’s a lovely name. Maybe take him outside and put him next to the roses in the flower box,” I suggest gently.

“Okay,” she says and skips off.

Through the window, I watch as she carefully places the moth on the soil, her lips moving in quiet conversation. I can’t hear what she’s saying, but knowing Lucy, she’s probably reassuring him that everything will be alright.

I love how peaceful it is out here, just farmland and open space. No roads, no traffic, no other people. The only way in is a long gravel path leading from the farm that manages the cottage.

Up here, Lucy can play outside without me having to worry. There’s nothing around that could harm her.

“Madam Lucy, how about some afternoon tea?” I say in my best posh voice as I step onto the patio.

“Yes!” she shouts, then quickly adds, “please,” when I raise an eyebrow.

“Good manners,” I nod approvingly. “Strawberry or raspberry tea?”

Lucy loves a proper afternoon tea, so I made sure to bring some cakes from the shop, and I’ll put together a few sandwiches in a minute.

“Strawberry, please!” she squeals, running up the steps after me.

She climbs onto the bar stool by the kitchen island .

“Is Ivy coming over for tea?” she asks, snatching a piece of ham from the open packed I was just about to use for our sandwiches.

“No, Ladybug, she’ll be having dinner in her tent, remember?”

“Oh.” Lucy looks disappointed, then brightens. “Can we save her some cake? This one has strawberries. Ivy likes strawberries. Maybe she’ll visit us.”

I look from the tiny cream cake with a few strawberries perched on it to Lucy and back at the cake.

How could I say no to that? Under Lu’s watchful eyes, I place the little round cake into a plastic pot and store it in the fridge.

Lucy beams at me before tucking into her own cake, humming happily between bites.

I take a sip of my tea, putting on my most serious voice. “Ah yes, a fine vintage. The delicate notes of… strawberry and… very serious sweetness.”

Lucy giggles. “Mine tastes like yummy!”

“Ah, the finest flavour,” I nod. “And what do you think of the cake, madam?”

She takes an exaggerated bite, chewing thoughtfully. “Hmm… it’s good. But it needs more…” She taps her chin like she’s thinking very hard. “More cream. And more strawberries. And more cake.”

I gasp. “More cake? But then we’d have too much cake!”

Lucy shakes her head, looking at me like I’m completely ridiculous. “Daddy, there’s no such thing as too much cake.”

I sit back, pretending to be shocked. “No such thing? My whole life has been a lie!”

She bursts into giggles, nearly spilling her tea. Wiping her chin with the back of her hand, she sits up straighter and sticks out her pinky, grinning.

“Look, Daddy! Fancy!”

I nod solemnly. “Very fancy. You, madam, are the fanciest lady in all the land.”

She beams. “I am Queen Lucy of Cake Land.”

“Well then, Queen Lucy,” I bow my head. “Would Your Majesty like a ham and cheese sandwich and maybe another cup of tea?”

“Yes, please!” She slides her cup over to me. “And make it extra fun.”

“Ah, extra fun tea, coming right up.” I drop the tea bag with some added drama into the mug and then pour water over it with an exaggerated flourish, making her giggle again.

As I pass Lucy her tea, a low rumble rolls through the sky. Distant but heavy, the kind that lingers in the air.

I glance towards the window. The dark clouds that had been gathering earlier have thickened, swallowing what’s left of the blue sky. The wind stirs the trees at the edge of the field, their branches swaying. It’s coming in fast.

Lucy doesn’t notice at first. She’s too busy dunking a biscuit into her tea, watching as it soaks up the liquid before quickly popping it into her mouth. But when another rumble follows, louder this time, she pauses.

I try to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine.

I picture her out there, alone in that tiny tent that didn’t look like the sturdiest model on the market. I quite like thunderstorms but not when I am camping in a field and I doubt Ivy will enjoy it much. I just wish there was reception at the camping ground so I could check in with her .

The wind suddenly picks up, whistling around the cottage. The door to the patio rattles in its frame, making Lucy jump.

I stand up, crossing the room to shut it properly. As I slide it closed, a flash of lightning flickers in the distance, illuminating the storm clouds for a split second before plunging everything back into grey. The air feels thick, charged.

Lucy has gone quiet.

“Daddy?” Her voice is small. “Is it gonna be a big storm?”

I turn back to her, forcing an easy smile. “Might be, Lu. But we’re all cosy in here, aren’t we?”

She nods, but her fingers tighten around her tea cup. Another clap of thunder rumbles through the sky, and she flinches.

Time for a distraction.

“You know,” I say, settling back into my seat, “when I was little, I used to think thunder was just the clouds playing a big game of bowling.”

Lucy blinks at me. “Bowling?”

“Yep. Every time you hear thunder, that’s a cloud getting a strike.”

She looks out the window, considering this. Another deep, rolling boom shakes the air.

“Oh,” she says, eyes wide. “That was a big one. Do you think the clouds are really good at bowling?”

“Definitely. I reckon that one just won the championship.”

She giggles, some of the tension in her shoulders easing. I drum my fingers on the table like a little drumroll. “And now, let’s see if they can do it again… ”

We sit for a moment, listening. The wind howls, the trees rustle, and then—another crack of thunder, closer this time.

Lucy gasps. “They did it!”

I grin. “Told you. Best bowlers in the sky.”

She still glances at the window, but at least now there’s a hint of excitement behind her nerves. I place some of the small ham sandwiches I made on her plate, keeping my voice light.

“Shall we have a competition? You guess how many more strikes they’ll get before bedtime.”

She nods eagerly. “Five!”

“Five? That’s a bold bet, Your Majesty,” I tease, tapping my chin. “I say three.”

Lucy picks up a sandwich, but before taking a bite, she looks up at me with wide, serious eyes.

“Daddy… does Ivy have an umbrella?”

I pause, caught off guard by the question. “An umbrella?”

She nods, glancing out at the rain that’s now pattering against the windows. The storm is rolling in quickly, the sky darkening even more.

I smile, keeping my voice steady. “She’s got her tent to keep her dry, sweetheart. And I’m sure she packed her wellies and her rain jacket. She’ll be nice and snug.”

Lucy still looks doubtful. “But what if the rain gets in the tent?”

I lean forward, lowering my voice like I’m telling her a big secret. “Did you know tents are like giant raincoats for camping? They’re made to keep the rain out. And Ivy’s a very clever woman—if a little bit stubborn. She’ll have made sure everything is safe and dry. ”

Lucy considers this, her little nose scrunching as she thinks it over. “Hmm. Okay,” she says at last. But she still doesn’t look entirely convinced.

Another roll of thunder shakes the sky, and she quickly shoves the rest of her sandwich into her mouth, as if the act of chewing might help her feel braver. I reach for my own sandwich and take an exaggerated bite, making a big deal out of chewing thoughtfully.

“Mmm,” I say, smacking my lips. “This might just be the finest ham and cheese sandwich in all the land. Fit for a queen, even.”

Lucy swallows and grins, playing along. “That’s because Queen Lucy only eats the best food.”

“Of course,” I nod seriously. “How silly of me to forget.”

She giggles, and just like that, the worry in her eyes fades—at least for now.

I glance at the window again, watching the wind whip across the fields. The storm is well and truly here now. The flashes of lightning are getting closer, the thunder rolling louder. And somewhere out there, Ivy is sitting in her little tent, braving it alone.

I really hope she’s dry.