‘Spill.’
‘Excuse me?’ I adopted my most innocent face.
‘You knew about this.’
‘About what?’ There was no way Isaac was falling for my act, but I could at least stall for time while I tried to work out what and how much spilling was required.
‘I can’t believe you didn’t tell me Connie was going on a date. WithMartin Bradgate. He’s a total… nerk!’
‘He seems okay.’ I shrugged. I’d seen him at football matches and a couple of practices, and the best description I could come up with was ‘nice enough’.
‘And you think “okay” is good enough for Connie?’ He tugged at his hair in exasperation. ‘Nothing about this is okay!’
‘Isaac, you need to chill. This isn’t some grand romance. He asked and she thought he would be a safe person to dip her toe back into dating with. It’s an early bird special at the Rocking Horse.’
‘Yes, but… why him? Isn’t he still working at the scrapyard? His wife left him for an insurance salesman. They’ve gotnothingin common.’
‘They’re both single parents raising eight-year-old boys with additional needs.’
‘Oh, well that’s great!’ Isaac grabbed a glass from the shelf then turned on the tap so hard it sprayed water all over his T-shirt. ‘She wants the one thing I can’t compete with.’
‘Isaac?’ Wilf appeared at the kitchen door. ‘I’ve racked up. You’ve had time for quite a lot of quick words.’
‘Okay, buddy. I was just getting a drink. Do you want one?’
‘No, thank you. I have my water bottle.’
‘She doesn’t want anything from Martin,’ I whispered, once Wilf had disappeared back outside. ‘Apart from a nice evening out. Have you considered that she chose him because there’s no chance of her or Wilf getting hurt, precisely because that’s all she wants?’
He narrowed his eyes. ‘She doesn’t really like him that much?’
‘I honestly don’t know. But I know that she’s starting to really like you. The non-arse Isaac who’s understanding about her situation, and there for her when she needs it, no pressure, no rush. The kind of man who won’t let his wounded emotions allow him to revert back to behaving like a petty old grouch.’
‘Screw that.’ Isaac slammed the glass back on the countertop. ‘I love you, sis, but as of now, you’re fired as my relationship coach. Nice, kind, patient Isaac has got me nowhere but babysitting while she’s outdipping her toewith a nerk!’
* * *
I made a point of being closest to the front door when it rang at quarter to eight, managing a quick ‘How did it go?’ before Wilf came hurtling out of the kitchen and down the corridor.
‘Good,’ Connie whispered, grabbing onto her son before momentum carried him out into the front garden.
‘Good?Goodgood, or nothing especially bad, good?’ I muttered out one side of my mouth as Wilf wriggled for freedom.
‘I don’t know. Fine, good.’
‘Good, as in good enough for a second date good?’
She gave a coy shrug as Isaac appeared. I gave him a quick glance, feeling a flood of relief at his expression.
‘Nice evening with your friend?’ he asked, with a cheery smile that only a twin would detect concealed a heart twisted in torment.
‘Yes, thanks. And thanks again for watching Wilf; I’m honestly so grateful.’
‘Not at all. You know I love spending time with him.’ He held out Wilf’s rucksack. ‘Well, apart from when he thrashes me at pool.’
‘You beat Isaac at pool?’ Connie helped Wilf shrug his rucksack on.
‘I did! I was stripes, and first I shot at the yellow and white ball but I missed it, so then Isaac went for the blue one…’
