Jules Wake - Notting Hill in the Snow

‘When someone else has cooked for me, I’m not complaining. And the bacon looks delicious.’

‘That’s cos Daddy threw the first lot away.’

There were little burnt bits all over the second batch of bacon.

‘Can I make a suggestion?’

Nate looked suspicious but nodded.

‘You might find it easier if there was less multitasking.’

He wrinkled his nose. ‘You got me. I was checking work emails. Bad habit. I really ought to switch my phone off at the weekends.’

‘You should, Daddy. It’s boring.’ She sounded very grown-up.

He grinned and ruffled her hair. ‘Point taken, pumpkin.’

Despite the food not being Cordon Bleu standard, it wasn’t that bad and there were three clean plates.

When I rose to help clear up, Nate shook his head. ‘No, you stay there. You’re the guest.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘It’s all going in the dish—’ He was interrupted by his phone and he glanced down at the screen.

‘Daddy …’ Grace’s warning tone made me smile.

He tilted an eyebrow. ‘What if it’s one of your friend’s mummies?’

‘You can answer it.’ Her regal nod made me duck my head to hide my amusement.

‘Hi. Yes, we’re fine. I’m not sure. Let me check with her.’ He broke off the conversation and spoke to Grace. ‘It’s Sophie’s mummy. Do you want to go round there for lunch and to play?’

Grace jumped off her chair. ‘Yes, please. Can I take my LOL dolls? Sophie has the house.’ Grace turned to me with shining eyes. ‘The real house. It’s awesome.’ Her eyes widened. ‘Awesome sauce.’

‘Really?’ I widened my eyes to match. Thanks to my cousins’ daughters, I knew what LOL dolls were and had bought a fair few over the last couple of years for birthdays and Christmases, which reminded me, I needed to make a start on my shopping. Christmas was creeping up and I’d done nothing yet.

Nate finished making the arrangements while Grace darted off to round up her dolls.

I sat back in my seat, tiredness catching up with me, and couldn’t hold back a yawn.

‘More coffee?’ asked Nate, bringing the cafetière to the table.

‘I think I’m going to need it.’

‘Would you like me to take you to the hospital? You look knackered.’

I laughed at him. ‘Luckily, you prefaced that well; otherwise I might be insulted.’

‘Sorry, what I meant was, You look a little tired – would it help if I gave you a lift to the hospital?’

‘That’s really kind of you.’ I hesitated for a moment out of some misplaced politeness. ‘I’d be really grateful.’

‘If you like, I could wait and take your mum home, save you getting a taxi.’

‘Now that really is above and beyond. I don’t think I could ask you to do that. You know what hospitals are like; there’s probably going to be a lot of hanging around.’

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