Bella Osborne - Wildflower Park – Part Four

Anna watched Hudson who had Arlo by the hand and was showing him round the ambulance. ‘Hudson, you’ll have to go with her.’

‘Me?’ His eyebrows shot up in alarm. ‘I’ll take the kids and you go.’ He held up Arlo’s hand.

Anna was torn. She tried to pass Petal to Hudson but she started to cry and clung to Anna. Anna’s expression conveyed exactly what needed to happen.

‘Okay,’ said Hudson, and he climbed in the back while the paramedics did final checks and started to close the doors.

Anna heard heavy breathing behind her. ‘Wait! I’m here, I’m … here …’ wheezed Dave, dashing towards the ambulance.

‘Plugging hell, Dave, talk about last minute,’ said Sophie, pulling the oxygen mask off her face but the look of relief was evident.

Dave motioned for Hudson to get out but he was already undoing his seatbelt. ‘Good luck, buddy,’ said Hudson, vacating the spot next to Sophie. She gave a weak wave as the doors shut. The siren whooped into life and the ambulance pulled away. Arlo was shouting and clapping excitedly and Petal was copying.

The siren ebbed away and they were left standing together in the dark. Hudson rubbed sweat from his forehead. ‘I had better return this,’ he said, motioning towards the wheelbarrow.

Anna frowned. ‘How the hell did you get a wheelbarrow over the wall?’

Hudson gave a mysterious smile. ‘Buy me a beer and I’ll tell you.’

‘I have coffee or hot chocolate.’

‘Hot chocolate!’ shouted Arlo. ‘Can I have marshmallows in mine, Anna?’

‘What do we say?’ asked Anna.

‘Now!’ shouted Arlo. Anna gave him a hard stare. ‘Please,’ said Arlo reluctantly.

She took him by the hand. ‘Come on, let’s get you both in the warm.’ And they followed Hudson and the wheelbarrow across the park.

Back in the warmth of Sophie’s kitchen, Anna made hot chocolate and sat Petal in her high chair with a sippy cup of warm milk. She sat down at the table near to Petal ready to retrieve her cup when she dropped it. Hudson took off his jacket and joined her.

‘You were a bit of a hero back there,’ she said, glancing at him over her steaming mug.

‘All part of the service, ma’am.’ He sounded more American than ever.

‘I’ve got to ask. Why were you even here tonight?’ Anna couldn’t phrase it any better.

Hudson coughed. ‘I feel bad about the whole New York thing. I thought I’d try and straighten things out between us. You said you’d be at the fireworks. It wasn’t hard to find you.’

‘Must have been fairly hard to get in though. It was strictly ticket only and it was sold out.’ The committee members had been on every entrance turning people away. Anna peered at him closely.

‘Ah. You got me. I jumped the railings.’

‘Jumped!’ Anna was startled.

‘No, no. I mean I climbed up and kinda fell down the other side.’ He broke eye contact and sipped his hot chocolate.

They were quiet for a bit – the only noise the vigorous sucking from Petal and her sippy cup.

‘How’s Maurice?’ asked Hudson.

‘He’s loving having his own door. He’s not happy about his balls going through the washing machine though.’

Hudson’s eyebrows raised quickly. ‘I wouldn’t be happy either.’

Anna gave him a sideways look. ‘They’re toy sponge balls. He chases them and they got caught up with a pile of washing.’

Hudson took a deep breath and Anna watched him. ‘There was something I wa—’

Anna’s phone sprang into life and she grabbed it up, surprised to see it was Liam calling. What did he want? She held a finger up to Hudson.

‘Hello?’

‘Hi, Anna. How are you?’

‘I’m fine thanks.’ She could do without the small talk. ‘What’s up?’

‘Does there need to be something up for me to call you?’

Hudson waved at her and indicated he was going to go; Anna shook her head. ‘Liam, I’m kind of busy …’

‘Anna, we really need to have a proper chat.’

‘About what?’

‘Us, Anna. We made a mistake. I made a mistake. I know I’ve said it before but I don’t think you realise how serious I am. I want you back.’ She couldn’t ignore the sorrow in his voice.

‘Look—’

‘Anna!’ shouted Arlo and Anna was out of the kitchen in a flash and into the living room.

‘Sorry, Liam. I’ve gotta go.’

Anna’s eyes frantically swept around the room but Arlo was sitting on the sofa with the TV on and everything looked fine. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Can you put the Zombies on. Pleeeeease.’ He grinned at her.

‘Nope. Kids’ TV or bed. Your choice.’

‘O-kay. T-V.’

As she reached the hall Hudson came out of the kitchen putting his jacket on. ‘What did Liam want?’

‘He wants to get back together,’ she said very matter-of-factly.

‘Right.’ Hudson pressed his lips together tightly.

‘It’s okay. You’re still my fake boyfriend.’

‘Phew.’ They both looked apprehensively at each other. ‘I’m going to make a move.’

‘Okay.’ Anna had hoped once she’d settled Arlo she’d have some adult company for what was likely to be a long night. ‘Actually, could you do me one more favour?’

‘Sure.’

‘I’ve not been home to feed Maurice and he’s going to be eating the furniture before long. Here’s my keys. His food is in the cupboard under the sink.’

‘No, problem. Do you need anything else? Nightwear? Toothbrush?’

She did but she didn’t want him looking through her stuff. ‘No, just the cat feeding would be great. Thanks.’

‘I won’t go snooping. Cross my heart.’ He gave her a butter-wouldn’t-melt look.

‘Okay. Toothbrush and there’s a washbag on the windowsill in the bathroom with most of my stuff. That’d be great. Thanks.’

Hudson was kicking himself as he left Sophie’s house. He had come with a clear mission for this evening and he had been derailed twice. Was it an omen? Was the universe trying to tell him something? He jogged round to Anna’s front door and let himself in. Maurice came to see him or more likely to point out that he hadn’t been fed.

‘Hey, Maurice. Sorry to hear about your balls, big guy.’ Hudson gave him a fuss and tried to encourage him to eat. Maurice sniffed the food and on deciding it wasn’t poisoned he began to eat. Hudson soon found the washbag and was double-checking the door was properly locked when he was aware someone was standing behind him.

He swung round and came face to face with Connor. ‘Hey, buddy, you gave me a start. You looking for Anna?’

‘Is she okay?’ Connor nodded at the floral washbag in Hudson’s hand.

‘Yeah, she’s fine. Sophie has gone into labour. Anna’s babysitting and she needed some stuff.’ He held up the washbag as evidence. ‘I’m taking it back now.’ Hudson checked the door again.

‘I’ll walk with you,’ said Connor, falling in step.

‘Did you and Anna have plans tonight?’ asked Hudson.

Connor puffed out his cheeks. ‘Look you seem like a decent bloke but just so we’re clear – me and Anna are in a relationship and things are going great. I’d be grateful if you’d respect that.’

Hudson’s eyebrows puckered. ‘Right. Of course.’

‘You don’t mind me mentioning it, do you?’

‘No. I mean …’ He wanted to say more but this wasn’t the right time and Connor certainly wasn’t the right person. ‘I’m pleased for you both.’ Hudson gave Connor a convivial pat on the shoulder.

‘Thanks. She’s something else, isn’t she?’

‘Yeah. You’ve got one of the best there.’ Hudson was relieved when they reached Sophie’s house. ‘You know, I don’t even need to come in. Here.’ He handed Connor the washbag and keys. ‘Tell her I’ll see at work. Night.’