Page 71 of The Summer Escape

“She’s still on holiday,” Beth told her.

She stared up at Beth. “You left her there?”

“I’m going back again later.” A pang of guilt hit her. Even a six-year-old could see it was an irresponsible thing to do.

“I still can’t believe you left her there,” Dee said.

“Don’t start! I feel bad enough as it is.”

“I wasn’t intending to make you feel bad.” Dee set a shopping bag on the counter, then raised a hand in the air. “I was going to high-five you. I think it’s great. I’m very proud of you.”

Beth’s hand tingled from slapping it against Dee’s. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re usually such a control freak about who looks after Ellie. You’re even uptight about me looking after her.”

“No, I’m not!” She paused the conversation while Ferne asked if she could go upstairs and play with Ellie’s things. Her footsteps banged on the stairs as she ran up there.

“You’re a total control freak.” Dee picked up the conversation when they were alone again, taking plates from the cupboard at the same time.

“I’m not a control freak, I just don’t like to inconvenience people.”

“So it’s not because you think no one can take care of Ellie as well as you can?”

“No.” She pulled her phone from her back pocket and felt a flutter of anticipation when she saw she had a message from Trystan. “I’m not worried about Ellie at all, I’m more worried about how Trystan will cope. He already told me he doesn’t want kids – a day with Ellie will probably only confirm that decision.” Clicking into the message, she was met with a photo of Trystan and Ellie with their heads together as they ate ice creams.

“I have so much to say, I’m not sure where to start. But first of all I’d like to know why you’re grinning at your phone.” When Beth turned the screen, Dee gasped and snatched it from her. “Bloody hell. I cannot believe this was your birthday present to yourself. Please tell me you’re getting me something similar for my birthday?”

“Stop objectifying him,” Beth complained half-heartedly.

“I can’t. He’s too hot.”

“He’s also sweet and kind and lovely.” She thought back to how upset he’d been about the situation with Lowen. “He’s sensitive.”

“Now you’re just showing off! He sounds perfect.”

“He kind of is.” It wasn’t as though she thought he was flawless, just that he was pretty perfect even with his flaws.

“What were you saying about him not wanting kids?” Dee went back to the task of putting pre-packed sandwiches on the plates and took them to the table. “That sounds as though you’ve been having some fairly deep conversations.”

“We have. He split up with his girlfriend because she wanted to get married and have kids, but he didn’t.”

“He’s good with Ellie, though?”

“What do you think?” Beth brought up the photo of the two of them again, partly as proof and partly because she wanted to look at it again. “I wouldn’t have left her with him if he wasn’t good with her, would I?”

“So why doesn’t he want kids?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”

“Maybe it’s babies he has an issue with. I can understand that. Babies are a nightmare.” For a moment, it seemed as though Dee might rehash Ferne’s first year and her intense battle with croup. Thankfully, she moved the conversation on quickly. “Ellie’s such a little angel though. Maybe Trystan will spend a day with her and change his mind about kids.”

“I know you don’t believe me, but Ellie’s hard work too. She might be pretty calm most of the time, but I think all kids are tiring.”

“It’s different when it’s not your own kid though. I bet Trystan will enjoy spending the day with Ellie.”

“She was in the kids’ club this morning with Kit, and Mirren will be around this afternoon, so I’m sure they’ll be fine.”

“Of course they will.”