‘She doesn’t have to be your girlfriend for us to give her flowers. It’s a way of saying thank you. Like when we give Grandma flowers.’
‘Is she going to kiss me?’ When Sam presented Ethan’s mother with flowers, there was always a protracted phase of hugging and kissing before the blooms were whisked off to the kitchen to be arranged.
‘I wouldn’t think so. Just give her the flowers and then she’ll show you the puppies.’
‘Oh.’ Sam thought about it for a moment and then picked up the posy. ‘Okay.’
Ethan breathed a sigh of relief and climbed out of the car, opening the back door to release Sam from his car seat. His son scarpered up the front path, almost dropping the flowers as he stretched for the doorbell. Ethan lifted him up so he could reach, putting him back down on his feet before Sam could jab his finger on the bell a second time.
Sam shuffled impatiently on the doorstep, looking as if he was about to kick the front door in an attempt to gain entry. Ethan laid his hand on his son’s shoulder and the door opened. And then he forgot that he’d told himself that this visit was all about Sam, as his whole world suddenly upended.
Kate was wearing a thin, white cotton top with a green patterned border at the neck. It was practical and pretty, the kind of thing lots of women wore in the summer, but Kate made everything she wore seem special. Her hair curled around her shoulders, free of the pins and elastic bands that restrained it while she was at work. In the week since he’d seen her last, she seemed to have grown softer and prettier. Or maybe it was just that his memory wasn’t up to recreating her perfectly.
Sam stepped forward, thrusting the flowers at her. ‘From Dad.’
Thanks, mate. Kate flushed a little, the delicate red of her cheeks making Ethan wish for a moment that the arrangement of white roses and freesias were from him. She took the posy, reading the tag which dangled from the raffia binding.
‘It says here they’re from you, Sam. Did you write that?’
‘Yes. They’re from me.’ Sam seemed to think nothing of the abrupt volte face. ‘Where are the puppies?’
‘Come with me. They’re through here.’ Kate held out her hand and Sam took it, glancing back at Ethan as he followed them inside, closing the front door behind him.
She led the way through a small kitchen, neat and gleaming, the astringent smell of cleaning fluid still in the air despite the open window. An open door at the far end was barred by a child gate, and beyond that was a bright, airy room, the walls painted cream and the floor covered with newspaper and dog toys. In the corner was a high-sided wooden box.
Kate bent down to Sam. ‘We have to be very quiet and gentle with them. They’re only tiny and we don’t want to frighten them.’
Sam nodded, leaning towards Kate to whisper to her. ‘Can we go inside?’
‘Yes, of course we can.’ She swung open the child gate and led Sam into the room.
Ethan tried to ignore the four tiny forms curled up inside the box and lingered by the doorway, keeping his gaze on his son. Sam’s eyes were as wide as saucers, and he was tiptoeing up to the box, trying very hard to be quiet.
‘What do you think, Sam?’ Kate bent down next to him, one hand resting lightly on his back. Just the right amount of reassurance, yet still allowing Sam the space to explore this new experience.
‘They’re little...’ Sam was obviously considering the practicalities of taking one of the tiny creatures for a walk and playing ball with it.
‘Yes, they’re very small now, but they’re still growing. In a few weeks’ time they’ll be this big.’ She held her hands out.
‘That’s the right size.’
‘Yes, I think so too. Would you like to touch one of them?’
Sam twisted round, looking questioningly at Ethan, and he nodded. ‘Yes, that’s all right. Gently, so you don’t hurt them.’
Sam reached into the box, his fingertips touching the puppy closest to him. It roused from its sleep and gave a little whelping bark, and Sam snatched his hand away.
‘It’s all right. He’s just saying hello to you.’ Kate dangled her hand inside the box and the puppy responded, licking her fingers. Sam caught his breath, holding his hand out, and Kate moved her fingers next to his so that the puppy moved across to lick Sam’s hand.
‘Dad, look, he’s licking me.’ Sam’s face was shining with the kind of wonder that only a child had access to on a day-to-day basis.
‘Yes, that’s okay. Your dad can see.’
Kate was giving him a little space, allowing him to stand back, but suddenly Ethan didn’t want to. If Jeff had been here, he probably would have ambled up to the puppies and tried to get into the box with them.
Ethan stepped forward, catching the scent of flowers as he bent down next to Kate—bright and clean, with an undertone of something sensual, like a summer’s afternoon spent lying on a blanket in the middle of a meadow. And then she was gone, leaving him to talk to Sam and play with the puppies with him.
* * *