‘Novel?’ she says as I lift her door handle and push it open.
‘You’ll see.’ I turn to open my own door and spy Dad’s grinning face through the glass.
Here goes...
The door lifts up. ‘It’s about time, you kids.’
Kids? Really?
‘Hey, Pop.’
I clamber down and give him a hug, pounding his back as he does mine and whispering, ‘Behave, okay?’
His eyes flash mischievously. ‘Always.’
‘Er...gentlemen?’ Coco’s voice is faint as she leans through the cockpit. ‘Fancy giving a lady a hand?’
I start to move, but Dad’s like lightning as he heads around the plane. ‘I’ve got this, son.’
I laugh. ‘Never seen you move so fast!’
He shoots me a look and I hear Coco’s tantalising giggle.
Yes, he’s going to love her, all right.
I climb back into the plane to get the luggage as I hear Dad introduce himself.
‘Peter Livingston—at your service.’
She laughs a little more. ‘Coco Lauren. It’s a pleasure to meet you.’
She climbs down, with his aid, and I meet them a few moments later, plane locked up and bags in hand. He’s telling her about the other plane in the hangar—his Cessna, the one I learned to fly in.
‘She’s old, but perfectly adequate, and she’ll give that flash Cirrus a flight for its money.’ He jerks his thumb at my Cirrus and laughs. ‘It’s all fur coat and no knickers, that one.’
‘Dad!’
Coco is in giggles, and I swear I’m blushing. Bloody hell.
‘You can’t say that.’
‘You can’t say anything these days... It’s a wonder we’re not all mute!’
She actually snorts now, and I’m about to bollock him and demand he shut it entirely, but my eyes land on her and I’m rooted. She’s glowing. Radiant. Everything I wanted her to be by taking her away, and we’ve only been here five minutes.
Dad catches my eye and smiles. There’s so much to read in his expression. Approval is high up there and it swells within me too, to the point that I have to clear my throat to speak.
‘Can we at least get to the house before you scare her off for good?’
His smile simply grows. ‘Sure can—the Land Rover’s just outside. Not afraid of dogs are you, Ms Lauren?’
‘Coco, please—and, no, I love dogs.’
‘They’re going to love you.’
Dad moves off. Coco gives me a glowing smile and follows in his footsteps, and I’m still rooted, staring after them. It feels so right, having her here. All I need now is my brother, Jake, to turn up and the family circle will be complete.
The thought brings with it such warmth, such contentment. I know what it is because I’ve felt it before. There was the time before we lost Mum, and there was the time with Jess, but this is different—more profound, more real. And if it’s this strong, then surely she feels it too? Surely it can survive the truth?