‘Ooh, can we have Indian food?’ Cora asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
‘We can,’ Lyle grinned.
‘Yes! Archie likes Indian food. He’s been to India, you know!’ Grace said.
‘Has he indeed?’ Lyle asked with a hint of annoyance.
‘So… Cora, what would you like for your birthday?’ Caitlin cut in before Grace could talk about Archie further.
‘Well… I’ve asked for…’
The list felt endless. And as she listened to Cora reeling off her wishes, Caitlin hoped that the jewellery box she had bought her would be okay, but considering the lengthy tome of requirements Caitlin feared Cora may, in fact, need a jewellery trailer.
‘…And some diamond earrings to top it all off.’
Lyle huffed out a long breath. ‘Well, I’m quite relieved. I thought you were going to be greedy!’ He laughed.
* * *
At the end of the evening, Caitlin walked Lyle to the door as the girls dashed out and across to the inlet, where the lights were glinting on the calm water. It was a chilly July evening, but the glow from the lights strung around the inlet made it feel somehow warmer.
‘So, we’ll see you on Saturday. Lots to celebrate.’
‘Well, yes, Cora will be thirteen.’
‘Ah… but not just that.’ He leaned to pull her into his arms. ‘There are other exciting surprises afoot,’ he whispered into her ear, making her shiver.
She hoped that, whatever it was, he wouldn’t overshadow Cora’s birthday.
‘Can’t wait,’ she replied. Although deep inside something didn’t feel quite right. She was unsettled. She could only hope that the feeling was unfounded.
* * *
Sitting in the garden at Jules’ house as Evin and Grace played with Cleo and Chewie, Caitlin sipped at her glass of chilled white wine.
‘I just want Cora to have a lovely birthday like Grace had. And I’m worried that whatever it is he wants to celebrate will pull the focus away from her,’ Caitlin said to her friend.
‘What do you think it is? You don’t think he’s going to ask you to move in with them or something, do you?’ Jules asked with a wide-eyed look of shock.
After the barrage of flowers and his intensity, Caitlin couldn’t be sure, but the thought vexed her. ‘I honestly have no idea. Although I doubt it. We’ve only be seeing each other a matter of weeks. Surely he wouldn’t.’
‘But you said he’s very affectionate and he gets jealous over Archie. Maybe this, along with buying out the florists, would be his way of marking his territory.’ She shrugged and sipped her wine.
‘I’m not a patch of grass he can just pee on though, Jules. I’m not comfortable with him thinking he needs to do that. And I’m not sure I want to be with someone who thinks that way.’
Jules held up a hand. ‘Hey, I could be totally wrong. It might be a new car or something like that.’
Caitlin sighed and pondered this for a moment. ‘I don’t know. He made it sound like something big. Something important. Otherwise, why would he want to tell us on Cora’s birthday?’
‘Maybe he has bought Cora a pony or something?’
Caitlin shook her head. ‘No, he’s bought her some diamond studs. Personally, I think that’s a bit over the top for a thirteen-year-old but…’
Jules widened her eyes. ‘Hmm, it is really. I’m sure I was still playing with Barbie dolls at that age.’
‘I think I was still into matchbox cars.’ Caitlin giggled. ‘I wasn’t into dolls at all.’
‘Changing the subject completely, have you seen Archie since the incident at the hall?’ Jules asked.
