Million Love Songs(71)

Then realise that I’ll have to go round to Mum’s to borrow a vase because I don’t possess one and I can’t really leave them standing in the sink.





Chapter Sixty-Two





A couple of days later, when I’m chucking the wilted roses in the bin, Joe calls me out of the blue and asks me to meet him for a coffee.

In truth, I’m reluctant to go as I’ll only like him again. However, as my default setting is to say ‘yes’, I’ve agreed to meet him before my brain can work out how to turn him down.

So later that day after we’ve both finished our shifts, we meet in the city centre at the Queen’s Court. Joe buys us iced coffees from the trendy stainless steel wagon that pops up in the summer months and we take up residence in the red-and-white-striped deckchairs set out to face the sun. It’s a beautiful day and this courtyard is a little grassy oasis in the busy shopping centre. There are a few other people dotted around – a young couple smooching, two elderly ladies with their shoes kicked off on a break from shopping, a family with a boisterous boy who’s charging around while they try to relax. Me and Joe.

We’re shy with each other, a bit stilted, conversation awkward. It’s fair to say that our last meeting wasn’t a resounding success and my subsequent phone message is clearly hanging in the air between us.

Still, I sit back and close my eyes for a second enjoying the rays on my face and the brain-freeze from my ice-laden coffee. I decided that I was going to be cool, aloof, but seeing Joe again has made my heart soften. He’s a good, solid guy and they don’t come around that much these days.

‘I’m sorry about our lunch with the kids,’ he says. ‘I was pretty sure you wouldn’t want to hear from me again. Then I got your message.’

‘Sorry about that, but I thought it was for the best.’

‘They were unspeakable,’ he says. ‘I’ve never been so mortified.’

‘It’s difficult for them,’ I say magnanimously, even though they were both little horrors. I understand why. Truly I do. I’d probably be the same in their circumstances. They want their dad all to themselves, not sharing him with some random woman. If they see him moving on, then it’s a dead cert that their mum will never come home. Sad. I get that.

‘I’ve missed you.’ He looks over at me and, tentatively, takes my hand. ‘I know that you said you’d had enough, but I’m not ready to give up yet. Do you want to keep pushing on and see if my monsters learn to love you? I know it’s not an easy ask, so it’s entirely your call.’

And I guess that this is a defining moment of our future relationship. Do I say yes and commit to Joe or stick to my guns and simply walk away? I don’t think that there can be any half measures. You can’t dabble with a guy who’s got kids. Not that I’m the dabbling kind anyway. Except with Mason. It’s probably fair to say that I’ve dabbled with him.

‘You’re hesitating,’ he says, anxiously.

‘What can I do to get in their good books, though? They made it pretty clear that I wasn’t welcome. How could I possibly break in? What do they like? I’m not really au fait with the World of the Teenager.’

‘That brings me to my idea.’ He sits up, animated. ‘Daisy turns thirteen next week and has just announced that she wants a party.’ Joe rolls his eyes. ‘Gina’s away with work – supposedly – and I thought it might be fun if we organised a party together.’

I must look vaguely horrified.

‘I know it’s short notice, but I seriously need help,’ he confesses. ‘I haven’t a clue what to do for a teenage girl and I don’t want to let her down. I’d like it to be something cool. Gina and I are still at the stage of competitive parenting. Plus, as Gina’s away for her birthday, I genuinely want to make it feel special.’

Chewing at my lip, I say, ‘I’m not sure that party planning is my forte.’

Joe holds up his hands. ‘No pressure. It was just an idea. I thought it might be a chance for you to get to know her better.’

It could be. He’s right. If I put on the party of the century for Daisy, then she might learn to like me. The only downside is that I’m totally rubbish at this kind of stuff. This could be my big opportunity, though. Shouldn’t I give it one last chance? Needless to say, I have some sort of mental aberration and, before I can fully examine the pitfalls, say, ‘Of course. Great idea. I’d love to do it.’

His face brightens instantly. ‘Thanks, Ruby. You don’t know how much that means to me.’

‘What sort of thing does she like?’

‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Joe admits, raking his hair. ‘Pink, girly stuff. Princesses. Usual thing.’

‘Anything more?’

He shrugs. ‘Can’t think of anything. The normal stuff.’

Very helpful. Sounds like I have my brief, though. I might be useless, but Charlie is good at this kind of thing. I’ll get her roped in too.

‘OK,’ I say. ‘I’ll give it a go.’ Already my mind is whirling with ideas. ‘How many guests?’

‘Ten, max. I don’t think I could cope with any more girls than that. Girls en masse are hell. Trust me, I’ve done this before.’