‘Will you please have some patience!’ Natty shot back.
Jake smiled up at the ceiling. ‘Women!’ He shook his head and turned his attention to the cooker, moving the omelette gently around the pan.
Faye and Natty emerged, looking suitably cross with eachother. He wondered if they went through the same routine every morning. He tried to hide the smile on his face as Natty ran over.
Faye dragged a seat from under the table and sat down. ‘What’s cooking?’
Natty said, ‘See? I told you there would be a surprise when you came downstairs, Mummy.’
Jake looked sheepishly at Faye. He avoided eye contact, feeling embarrassed that he’d been eyeing her up while she was standing there, half-naked, in a towel. But by god, she had looked gorgeous.
Jake undid his top shirt button. ‘Is it me, or is it hot in here?’
Faye said, ‘I don’t think it’s hot in here, but then again, my hair is still wet.’
Jake gave her a sideways glance. She was combing it through. All he could picture was her in that infernal towel.
‘Why don’t you go upstairs and blow-dry your hair?’ Jake suggested, hoping she would.
‘Nah, I’m going to let it dry au naturelle.’
Jake would rather she hadn’t used the wordsau naturelle. It only served to make him picture the towel falling to her feet, leaving her standing there naked.
He winced.For god’s sake, get a grip!he told himself silently.
‘Everything all right, Jake?’ Faye asked.
‘Oh, er … yes … fine.’ He avoided looking at her until the omelettes and hash browns were cooked.
‘What’s that smell?’ Natty asked.
Jake glanced over his shoulder at Natty, who was sitting with her mum at their small Formica table in the kitchen. ‘This omelette is my own speciality. It has a little something added – hope you like it.’
‘What is it?’ Natty said enthusiastically.
‘Omelette a la Lea & Perrins.’ Jake slipped a portion on to a plate in front of Natty.
Natty sniffed the air. ‘Smells yummy.’
‘It is yummy,’ said Jake as he served Faye a portion.
‘Thanks, Jake.’
‘You’re welcome.’ Jake sat down at the table next to Natty.
They ate.
Natty hummed and ate.
‘Don’t hum while you eat, honey,’ said Faye.
‘I wasn’t humming.’
Natty hummed and ate.
Jake smiled across the table at Faye.
Faye glanced at Jake, giving him a silent warning not to encourage Natty. Jake didn’t say a word, although he did find the humming quite funny, and rather endearing. Jake wondered what his and Eleanor’s child would have been like, and how their lives would have changed as first-time parents.
