Head On (Strength And Love)(34)

“I won’t be too long. An hour and a half to two hours tops, I reckon.”

“Good luck.” Ethan scoops Katie up in his arms and carries her into the lounge. He glances over his shoulder at me. “Can you grab the bedding I keep for her? It’s in the study. There’s a sofa, and the seat lifts to reveal a storage area. There’s a duvet and two pillows in there, and a small blanket.”

I go and do as he asks, finding it all easily enough. The blanket is tiny, like a baby blanket, and the corners are all frayed. I carry it back with me, and Ethan takes the duvet and places it on the sofa. It’s a double so once he’s placed Katie on it, he wraps what’s left of it over her, and tucks it in. She looks like a little bug all snug. He lifts her head and gently places the pillows under her. Then he hands her the blanket. She grabs it and brings it up to her face in her tiny fists and rubs her nose with it inhaling.

“Do you think you can bear to take some sips of water if I bring you some in?”

She nods and he heads into the kitchen. I follow him. His phone buzzes as he’s pottering about getting glasses down. He answers it and presses the speaker button.

“Hey, Wolfy.”

I recognise Luka’s voice.

“Fancy a pint?”

“No can do, mate. Got Katie here. She’s sick.”

“Migraine?”

Ethan nods, and then seems to realise Luka can’t hear that and says, “Yep, one of her migraines.”

“No worries. I understand. Hey, is that fit little thing still there?”

Ethan snatches the phone up and jabs at the speaker button, his face flushes a touch, and it makes me smile. He rarely seems bothered by things.

“Yeah, if you’re referring to Isla, she’s still here. Look, I’ve got to go. I’m getting Katie a drink. I’ll call you later in the week, yeah.”

He hangs up. “Wanker.” The word is almost a whisper, but I hear it and laugh some more.

“Don’t be hard on him,” I say, wanting to needle him a bit. “He’s a nice guy. And he seemed understanding enough about you staying in to look after your niece.”

Ethan grunts. “Give the guy a humanitarian award. Anyway, Luka’s in a similar boat to me. He lives with his sister, and she’s got a three-year-old daughter. Dad fucked off and left them both, so Luka does his fair share of baby-sitting, too.”

“Is that one of the reasons you’re good friends?”

He’s filled the glass and is heading to the door, but he pauses. “Nope, our friendship was forged a long time ago.” And then he goes to take the drink to Katie.

After he’s given her a drink, Ethan says he’s going to sit with her and read, keep an eye on her, so I offer to walk the dogs. He orders me to stay near the house in that bossy way of his, but I have no desire to stray too far anyway.

We’ve been around the field four times and the dogs are finally tired out, their tongues lolling as they run around me in circles, half-heartedly chasing one another every now and again. I let them in the door to the kitchen, where they all rush over to the water bowls in the corner.

I head into the hallway and see the door to the lounge is open a crack, so I go and poke my head in, to tell Ethan I am back. What I see stops me in my tracks. Katie is groaning over a bowl, and Ethan is rubbing her back with one hand as the other holds her hair back away from her face, and he’s singing to her softly as she rocks back and forth.

“I hate being sick, Uncle Ethan.” She’s crying as she talks, and he wipes her tears away before going back to holding her hair.

“I know you do, sweet pea. But fighting it makes it harder. Try to let it come if you can. There’s no need to be scared. I’m here.”

“But what if it chokes me?” She hiccups as she finishes talking.

“It won’t choke you, honeybee. And I’m here. You know I’m a certified lifesaver, right?”

She looks at him and sniffs. “What’s that mean?”

“It means I can save lives. Especially from choking.”

“Really?”

He gives her a jokey-stern look. “Have I ever lied to you?”

She shakes her head.

“It’s gone away a bit now,” she says.

“Lie back down then, and see if you can close your eyes for a bit.” He covers her up as she flops back on the pillow, and sits on the floor by the sofa.

He goes back to reading his book but as he’s reading he’s singing and I realise he’s singing Bridge Over Troubled Water.

“Love this song, Uncle Ethan.”

“I know, sweet pea.” He resumes his singing.

His voice isn’t the best. It’s not dire or anything, but he’s not going to be on X-Factor anytime soon, but something about the whole scene touches me. I blink back tears and move away from the door, creeping down the hallway and up the stairs. I’m still tearful when I reach the guest room.

I’ve just seen a side to Ethan I honestly wouldn’t have thought existed. And it’s made me yearn for things I can never have. I imagine him singing to me like that if I were sick, and I start crying for real.

I don’t want to make this into more than it is, as that way lies heartbreak, but I’m getting feelings for the man. I can’t deny it any longer.