‘Ah.’
They wandered through to the living room, where Grace was in her usual spot, cuddled up on the sofa with Cleo watching a movie. The dog’s tail began to wag frantically when she spotted Sophie. Ooh, a small person! They give good cuddles, she must have thought.
Grace sat up immediately. ‘Hi, you must be Sophie. I’m Grace. I think you and I are going to be good friends.’
Caitlin’s heart was fit to burst as she watched Grace hold out her hand and Sophie take it.
Grace patted the sofa. ‘Want to come and watch this movie with me? It’s about a boy who lives in a train station in Paris.’
Sophie clambered onto the sofa beside Grace and immediately reached out to pet Cleo.
Grace told her, ‘This is my doggie. She’s called Cleo and she’s a Yorkie Poo.’
Something magical happened then. Sophie giggled. ‘Yorkie Poo, that’s funny,’ she said in a sweet little voice as Cleo licked her hand.
‘It is funny, isn’t it?’ Grace replied with a quick glance at her mum, a huge smile on her face.
Caitlin’s hand shot up to her mouth and when she turned to Archie, his eyes were glistening. He moved his attention from Sophie to Caitlin and mouthed the words, ‘Thank you’. Caitlin reached out and squeezed his hand.
He placed his other hand on top of hers and whispered, ‘I really mean it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.’ His gaze expressed his genuine gratitude, even though it was Grace who had made the miracle happen.
‘Come on, let me make you a cuppa and we’ll leave the girls to their film.’ They walked through to the sunny kitchen and Archie sat while Caitlin made a pot of tea. ‘I gather the first meeting was tricky then?’
Archie inhaled slowly and exhaled in a huff. ‘You could say that. Bless the poor wee bairn. She’s been through so much in the last few weeks that I don’t even think it’s all hit her yet. Then for a strange man to come into her life and claim to be her dad… well, it’s enough to push anyone over the edge. She screamed when her foster mum introduced me. I panicked at that point and almost came home. I didn’t want to put her through any more trauma. But… being with me is the best thing for her. The foster parents said so. And at least I’m not taking her out of her country. She’s still in Scotland, like she was with her mum. I think I could be in for a long and hard time of it. But we’ll get there.’
‘I know you will. I’ve seen your determination. And the way you look at her already. She definitely looks like you too.’
Archie beamed at her words. ‘You think so? I can only see Jackie.’
‘She has your eyes and nose for sure,’ Caitlin insisted.
He laughed. ‘Poor kid.’
‘What’s next for you two then?’
‘Tomorrow I contact the local council about registering her for school to start after summer. I need to register her with the doctors, contact the social worker so she can come out and check on her. And figure out what she likes to eat.’
Caitlin placed the pot of tea on the table and grabbed a couple of mugs from the mug tree. ‘What did she think of her room?’
Archie frowned. ‘I think she liked it, but she hasn’t really spoken to me. I’m just getting nods at the moment. The first time I’ve heard her talking properly is when she spoke to Grace.’
‘Give her time. She’ll get there. I’m sure she will.’
‘Aye, I was wondering about inviting a few folks round for a barbecue. Reid and his lad, you and Grace maybe. Just so she can get to know some of my friends and see some friendly faces. Do you think that would work?’
Caitlin was concerned about the girl being overcrowded. ‘I’d maybe leave it a week or so. Just until she knows you better. Let her realise she can trust you first before you start thrusting her into being centre of attention. Maybe introduce her to Rosabeth?’
‘Oh aye, Rosabeth. I’d almost forgotten about her. I should message her and let her know what’s going on, eh?’
Caitlin was surprised he hadn’t imparted news of his recent fatherhood yet. ‘Might be a good idea. She will be one of the new constants in Sophie’s life.’ Hearing herself say the words made something twinge inside of her. She gulped her tea to push down whatever it was. ‘Oh. Morag is setting me up with a delivery driver called Bram,’ she announced out of the blue.
Archie’s brows lifted. ‘Really? Oh right. Great… great. Let me know how it goes.’
‘Same with Rosabeth.’
‘Aye, absolutely.’
* * *
