‘Me too. Bye, Lyle.’
When Lyle had left, Archie wandered back over and smiled warmly at Caitlin. ‘Am I to presume that your evening didn’t end up so bad after all?’
Caitlin chewed her bottom lip again, trying to stop the giveaway smile, but it was a futile action. ‘You could say that.’
‘All’s well that ends well, eh?’
‘Absolutely. Now can we get out of here please? I’m dying for a cup of tea.’
Archie laughed. ‘Sounds like a good plan to me.’
* * *
‘She’s been as good as gold,’ Ruby said when Caitlin arrived home. ‘She’s just gone to bed to read. So, how did your night go? Any fishes biting?’
Caitlin beamed. ‘I think I may have finally met the perfect man. He’s quite handsome, he’s a dad, so he understands pre-teens, he has a good, stable job and he doesn’t live a million miles away.’
‘Ah, so Cora and Grace may get to be sisters?’ Ruby asked with a knowing smile.
Caitlin rolled her eyes. ‘Ugh, has Grace been filling you in on the details?’
Ruby made a zipping motion across her mouth.
Caitlin laughed. ‘It’s like being in that movieParent Trapwith those two girls. They keep trying to push us together, and they’ve been discussing the kind of wedding we should have. Talk about jumping the gun. We haven’t even been on a date yet.’ Her insides flipped with giddy excitement at the thought of an actual date with Lyle.
‘It’s sweet though and at least you don’t have to worry about getting along with Cora or about the girls liking each other.’
‘Very true, I suppose. Got time for a cuppa before you go?’
Ruby grinned. ‘It would be rude not to. And I want to hear more about this dream man.’
‘Right, I’d better put the kettle on then.’
8
Caitlin was in the garden singing along to the radio the following morning when Grace came out, closely followed by Cleo.
‘You’re in a good mood, Mum.’
Caitlin turned to her daughter. ‘I am, lovey. What do you fancy doing today?’
‘Aren’t you going to tell me how things went last night?’
Caitlin knew for a fact that the girls would have already been talking nonstop about it. ‘Nothing to tell.’
Grace folded her arms across her chest. ‘I don’t believe that at all. Cora says her dad asked you out.’
Caitlin laughed out loud. ‘So, you don’t need me to tell you then!’
Grace grinned. ‘I wanted to hear your side.’
Caitlin ruffled her hair. ‘Well, just as Cora said, Lyle, Mr Budge, asked me out. He’s cooking for me next Saturday, but he mentioned he might contact me about going for a drink at the Coxswain in the week too.’
Grace clapped her hands together giddily. ‘Oooh, Mum, I think he really, really likes you.’
‘Well, let’s not run before we can walk, okay? I don’t want to get your hopes up. Just because two people like each other, it doesn’t mean they’re going to get married and live happily ever after.’
Grace pondered this for a moment. ‘Well, duh! Obvs. But… if you do get married, can me and Cora be bridesmaids? And can we wear violet dresses? Pink is too babyish and we’re almost thirteen now.’
