He turned to study her, and in that moment Star realised how much she wanted Damian to see her, and how hard she’d worked.
Skylar pulled on Damian’s hand, drawing him towards a house he hadn’t entered in seven years. Damian followed, helpless to deny the excitement only a six-year-old could muster. “Come on, Mummy. Aunty Laura and I have made a cake. We can celebrate how hard you have worked.”
Laura appeared at the door, her face set in a frown, which didn’t quite work with the smear of flour gracing her cheek.
“Damian, what an unexpected …”she said, raising her eyebrows at Star.
“Surprise?” he finished for her, shooting Star a pointed look. “It seems like it’s a day of surprises.” Damian turned back to Laura. “How are you Laura? You’re looking well.”
Grinning, she stepped forwards and pulled Damian in for a hug. “Good to see you, Damian, it’s been too long,” she said. “I’m twenty weeks pregnant and a lot better than I was, had you asked me a few weeks ago.”
Damian gave his congratulations as he followed Skylar and Laura into the kitchen, Skylar’s hand still clasped in his. Star’s heart sank. This was too cosy; too many memories were flooding her system. Her brain was too tired to handle this shift in events. The fun times they’d all had, the parties, the love they’d shared. Now he was winning her daughter over. She knew questions would come, and she wasn’t ready to answer them yet. It’s not like Skylar was a secret.
“Sorry about the mess – we were just finishing up our baking project.”
“I see you still have the list of rules,” Damian acknowledged the list on the walls.
“Uncle Toby is very strict about the kitchen rules,” Skylar said.
Damian made no comment, although Star swore his jaw tighten at Toby’s name.
“I remember your mummy and Aunty Laura insisting on the kitchen rules,” Damian said to Skylar.
“You knew Mummy before?” Skylar asked, and Star’s heart skipped a beat.
“I did – I knew your mummy a long time ago.” Star watched as her daughter’s face took on a look of intrigue, and groaned internally. She knew she was never going to hear the end of this. Skylar was fascinated with the past.
Star released her breath in a silent hiss, needing to change the subject before it ventured into territory best left untouched.
“So where is this cake you were telling us about? We don’t want to hold Damian up – he was kind enough to give me a lift home, but it’s late and he needs to get home himself.” Star knew she was waffling, but couldn’t help it.
Skylar pulled Damian further into the room and pointed to the cake on the table.
“Wow, that looks delicious,” Damian said, crouching down to Skylar’s height, “Am I allowed some?”
Spinning to face Laura, Skylar gave her a pleading look.
“Of course. It’s your cake, Skylar,” Laura said, moving forwards, having grabbed the carving knife off the sideboard. “Why don’t you get some plates?”
Skylar finally let go of Damian’s hand and ran to the cupboard, counting out the plates carefully, before returning them to Laura.
Damian took an enthusiastic bite. “This is delicious! You are a fantastic baker! How old did you say you were?”
Beaming with pride, Skylar said, “I’m six.”
Damian froze, his gaze finding Star’s across the kitchen. It was a look that demanded answers. “Well, I can’t believe someone of six can make such delicious cake,” he said, sending Skylar a thousand-watt smile.
“I also bake cookies,” she said.
Damian gave Skylar a quizzical look. “You didn’t happen to bake some cookies for Pam, did you?”
Skylar grinned. “I did. Did you have one?”
“Well, she told me that they were made by a very special young lady and I had to convince her to share, but she did let me have one.”
Star’s heart sank as she watched Damian ensnare her daughter’s heart.
“Mummy, can we make some cookies for Damian? Pleeease!”