“I did miss you,” she said. It was the truth. She’d felt lonely without him here yesterday. She’d even gone for a walk to ease her restlessness, before knuckling down to her writing.
“I wanted to thank you for the way you looked out for Eiley,” he said. “You really helped her on Saturday.”
Harper shrugged. “If she needs anything, I’m here.” Which reminded her. She was due back at the preschool tomorrow morning. Another thing she would have to give up soon if she agreed to the interview. Sixteen days was all she had, and before then, she had to make a decision. “I’ll ask her if she fancies a coffee or something after playgroup tomorrow. If you think she’d like it.”
“I think she’d love it.”
He sighed, seeming not to notice when the kettle came to a boil. “I was thinking a lot about what you said. About my woodwork.”
At this, she finally jumped back into her own body, eyes widening eagerly. “Oh? Have you finally realised I am right about everything all the time?”
Fraser offered her a deadpan stare, but he struggled to keep a straight face, so maybe he really had changed his mind. She twisted just to admire her fairy figurine,placed proudly on the shelf of her beautiful desk.
“It’s the autumn festival in the village this weekend,” he said instead of admitting that she was, in fact, right about everything all the time.
“Do you think there will be PSLs?” she enquired. One thing she had not yet grown used to was the lack of seasonal drinks on Belbarrow’s café and tearoom menus. Her last decent beverage had been from the coffee truck next to the Fairy Trail, and she didn’t know how to get there on foot.
“What the hell is a PSL?” asked Fraser.
“Pumpkin spice latte. It’s not autumn without them. There’s a café near my house called Coco Cups, andoof!” She licked her lips for emphasis. “So good. I sometimes worked from home just to set up camp at one of their tables. I need pumpkin spice set up in an IV, I think. With whipped cream. Although, then I’d miss the taste, and maybe the whipped cream would clog the IV—”
“There was a point to my earlier sentence. When you’re ready to hear it.” He crossed his arms patiently, eyes glittering with amusement. “Take your time.”
Of course she was babbling. Because she was nervous. And because she thought that maybe if she was too quiet, he’d sense something was wrong, and then she’d have to tell him.
“Apologies. Go on.”
“Thank you.” He cleared the gravel from his throat. “The autumn festival is this weekend, and I signed up for a stall to sell my figurines.”
“Oh my god!”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to go all out with my furniture, yet. It takes a lot more work and resources. But… you were right about the fairies. The kids loved the trail so much yesterday. Sky wanted to take the fairy house home with him. And after our conversations last week, in the shed and with Eiley... I’ve realised that I would never, ever want Brook, Sky, and Archie to grow up the way I did. Thinking they’re not good enough, or that they can’t make art because they’re boys. I want to surprise them all. Tell them that Uncle Fraser made them.”
“That’s really lovely, Fraser,” Harper said softly. “They’re going to love it – but it shouldn’t just be for them. I hope you’re doing this for you, too.”
He gave a small nod, mouth dimpling at the corners. “I am.”
“Oh, I can’t wait!”
“Don’t get too excited. I might back out before then. I’m still nervous.”
“Understandably, but this could be so special!” She clapped her hands together. “I’msoexcited! We can make posters and I can help bring people to your table!”
“I don’t want to make a big deal out of—”
“Oh my goodness, what if we made a huge sign? ‘Fraser’s Fairies’—”
“Now that just sounds weird.”
“— And I can find decorations. It will be like autumn sneezed all over your stall!”
“Gross.”
“Wait there!” She pushed him onto the couch, leaving him sprawled on his back in surprise. “I have so much planned already!”
When she hadn’t been writing yesterday, she’d been planning. For Andy’s reopening, but mostly for Fraser, in the event he changed his mind.
She’d had a feeling he would.
