It took a while for the words to sink in, though.
“Put this on. You don’t want to get cold.”
Erik was already wrapping the scarf around Sonny’s neck by the time I realised what was happening. He stood close and fussed with it, making sure Sonny was wrapped up warm.
Sonny just stood there and stared down at Erik as though he couldn’t work out what was happening, either.
“There,” said Erik at last. “Much better.”
He licked his red lips, making them shine.
Sonny said, “Won’t you be cold?”
“No.” Erik pulled the roll-neck of his sweater up. “This’ll keep me warm.”
Sonny pressed a hand to his borrowed scarf. His words were faint. “Okay.”
“Shall we?” asked Erik, and gestured at the lake. There were a few people skating round, a gaggle of children all slipping and falling and squealing with laughter, and a couple skating in a slow, steady loop, arm in arm.
I found myself between Erik and Sonny as we walked. I left my crutches in the car, apparently suddenly over-confident that I’d be fine between them.
As we walked, Sonny breathed out, “It’s so pretty here, right?”
He was taking in the scene with a soft little smile on his face, as though remembering all the times we’d been there together as children, and was swept up in the romance of being here again while the snowy hill sparkled in the late afternoon sun and the icy lake shone like a blade. I desperately wanted to hold his hand. Because he was right, itwaspretty here.
“Yes,” I croaked.
Erik said nothing, and I wondered whether he was just giving me and Sonny some room. Ihadsaid it was a date, after all.
We reached the lake and Erik said, “Shall we skate now? Then you two can leave when you’re ready and take a walk or something. I’ll be here, on the lake.”
He met my eyes as he said it, and I understood what he was saying.You and Sonny can go for your romantic walk. I’ll be nearby in case you need me.
I nodded. “Yes, that sounds great.”
Erik smiled and nodded. He looked around for a bench and we headed over there. Already, I was glad to be able to sit down, even though I’d only walked from the car.
As I eased onto the bench, Sonny plopped down beside me and put his skates on. He stood, wobbling on the path and laughing. “It’s been so long since I skated, it might be Erik holdingmeup.”
I smiled, couldn’t help it. Sonny wobbled closer to the lake and stepped onto the ice. He stayed near the edge, waiting for Erik, taking a few first long glides up and down.
Erik sat beside me and fastened his skates. As he bent his head down, he spoke. Nobody else would see him or hear him, except me. “Don’t sit in one position for too long. Move your body around so you don’t get stiff. It’s cold and this bench isn’t designed to support people’s backs.”
Even when he wasn’t working, he was working. Looking after my body.
I heard Sonny call, “Evening, Mr Parker.”
Looking up, I saw Sonny waving as he skated past the older man, who was corralling his grandchildren away from the lake again. As he passed me, he stopped.
“Evening, Declan. Back again, I see.”
“Yes, Mr Parker.”
“Enjoy your date with your young man, Declan. It’s a fair romantic spot, this.”
I opened my mouth but the words didn’t come out. Because my instinct had been to deny that I was on a date. Because Mr Parker had nodded at Erik when he’d spoken, as though I’d bought Erik on a date. I wanted to correct him and say we weren’t here together, not like that, but… weirdly, that felt like a lie. We had been here together, alone, and it had felt… well, date-like, if I were being honest.
Which is why I’d been freaking out ever since, obviously.
