Exiles (Aaron Falk #3)(9)

Falk had seen something flicker across Zara’s face at the mention of her new sister. It vanished quickly, if not completely. Kim hadn’t seemed to notice, turning to focus instead on a murmured voice off-screen.

“That Rohan there?” Charlie had cleared his throat. “Congratulations on the little one, mate.”

The image blurred momentarily as Kim tilted the phone toward the driver’s seat, where Rohan raised a hand in greeting.

“Thanks, mate.” The man’s voice was friendly enough but hushed. “Sorry, we had better keep it down though, if that’s all right.”

“Charlie.” Kim’s own tone was brisk as she turned the phone back on herself. “We’ll talk later, okay? I’ll see you and Zara soon, anyway.”

“Hang on, Kim, it’s actually about you coming by tonight.” Charlie had leaned in. “We’re not going to be around, sorry.”

There had been a pause. The only sound from the other end of the phone was the low hum of the car engine.

“Was that tonight?” Rohan asked.

“Yes. Rememb—?” The volume suddenly dropped, like Kim had put her hand over the phone. Another pause, and an indistinct exchange. “—stop in while you’re at the restaurant.”

Across the table, Rita had pulled herself up and passed baby Henry to Falk.

“Can you hold him while I go to the toilet?”

“Ah. Sure.” Henry was placed in Falk’s arms even as he answered. He’d sat up straighter in his chair and put his hand behind the kid’s unsteady little head because he remembered that’s what you were supposed to do. He’d tucked Henry to his chest, feeling the lift and fall of the tiny rhythmic breaths against his collar. It had been an unfamiliar experience. Nice, though, with the freshly laundered smell and the small, solid weight on his shoulder.

When he’d tuned back in to the phone conversation, it seemed to have ramped up a notch, Zara now talking fast.

“—and I’ve already said I’d meet them. So that’s okay, isn’t it?”

There had been no answer on the other end of the phone. Charlie was rubbing his chin, eyes on the screen.

“I mean…” Zara had glanced at her father. “Dad’s got to cover the festival stall, anyway.”

Charlie had nodded. “Yeah. You know how it gets. Opening-night rush.”

“So neither of you will be home tonight?” Kim said, after what felt like a long silence at the other end. “You’re both going out to the festival?”

“Yeah.” Charlie had nodded. A beat passed. “Sorry.”

“What about Rita and Greg?”

“All of us are going.”

“Oh.” A pause from the phone. “Okay—”

“Okay?” Zara had smiled. “Great, thanks, Mum.”

Falk couldn’t see Kim’s face, but it had been clear enough even to him that that wasn’t what she’d meant. Still, Zara had seen her chance and taken it. They all fell silent for a moment.

“Charlie.” There had been a new undercurrent in Kim’s voice when she spoke again. Falk didn’t know her normal tone well enough to place it, but if he’d had to guess, he would have said she sounded upset. “You and Zara can’t wait for me?”

Charlie was already shaking his head. “Look, Kim, not really. I’m sorry, but we’ll rearrange. I’ve got to do the stall. And Zara’s sixteen, she wants to hang out with her mates tonight. You remember what—”

“Yes, of course, I—” The words abruptly cut short, and there was a hush on both ends as the screen went dark. At first Falk thought Kim had again covered the phone with her hand, but as the seconds and silence ticked on, he’d wondered if the connection had dropped in a black spot.

Charlie had seemed uncertain, too. “You still there?”

The line had been quiet for another beat, then it had been Rohan’s voice that had edged through, louder now.

“Hello? Can you hear us now?” As soon as he heard them respond, he dropped his volume again. “Sorry, guys, this is all a bit hard with Zoe right here. Look, could we just agree Zara should go tonight? Have fun. We’ll work something out for another time.”

“Great. Okay.” Zara was more than happy to quit while she was ahead.

“I—” Kim started at the same time as Charlie had sighed and leaned forward in his chair.

“Hey, listen,” he’d said. “Why don’t you stop by the festival instead? We’ll all be there.”

“No, Dad, I’m supposed to be meeting—” Zara had started to whisper, and Charlie had motioned for her to pipe down.

“Well—” A pause. Kim had sounded reluctant, but then appeared to change her mind. “Yes. Okay, then. We’ll come to the festival.”

“I’m catching up with my parents tonight.” Rohan had clearly been less keen. “Dad’s got to go in for some more tests for something. But—” Another brief pause. “Yeah, we could maybe swing by.”

“All right.” There had been the smallest hesitation in Charlie’s answer, almost as though he hadn’t expected them to agree, but by the time Falk had glanced over, he’d been smiling again. “Good. Well, we’ll see you three there.”