‘You don’t think this is an opportune time to kiss and make up?’ Flynn asked. ‘Estelle sounded very excited about the new baby.’
Ally looked from Marie to Flynn. What was going on here? They knew each other well, but for Flynn to be telling Marie to sort her apparent problem with her mother could be stretching things too far. Time for a break from him. Taking Adam’s hand, she said, ‘Come on, let’s get you some food. I bet your tummy’s hungry.’
‘It’s always hungry.’
She glanced at Flynn as she reached the door and tripped. He was staring at her with disappointment in his eyes. ‘What?’ she demanded in a high-pitched voice.
He shook his head. ‘Nothing.’
Hadn’t she been telling herself what she and Flynn had going was only a short-term fling? If she needed proof, here it was.
In the kitchen Ally put together enough sandwiches for everyone. She got out plates and placed the food on them. Next she put the kettle on to make hot drinks all round. All the while she was trying to ignore that look she’d seen in Flynn’s eyes.
Adam chomped through two sandwiches in record time.
‘Slow down or you’ll get a tummyache.’
‘No, I won’t. My tummy’s strong.’ He banged his glass on the table.
Ally smiled tiredly at the ring of milk around his mouth and ignored the tug at her heart. ‘Wipe your face, you grub.’
Flynn strode into the kitchen and picked up one of the sandwiches, munched thoughtfully.
‘Dad, can I see the baby again?’
‘Of course you can. But be very careful if you touch him. He’s only little.’ Flynn watched his son run down the hall, a distant gleam in his eyes making Ally wonder what he was thinking. When Adam disappeared into Marie’s room he closed the kitchen door and she found out. ‘Marie’s very happy with how you handled the birth. Said you were calm and reassuring all the time.’
‘I’m a midwife, that’s what we do. It’s in the job description.’
‘What I don’t condone is my son’s presence in the house at the time. He shouldn’t have been with Marie from the moment she went into labour. Why couldn’t you have gone next door to see if Mrs James could look after him?’
‘One, there wasn’t a lot of time. Two, as I don’t know Mrs James, I’m hardly going to leave a small boy with her. Your small boy at that. You could’ve arranged for someone to come and collect him. You did get my message?’ Two could play this game.
‘Why didn’t you get Megan to arrange someone?’
‘It’s not my place to make demands of your receptionist.’
Flynn didn’t flinch. ‘What was Adam doing while you were occupied with Marie? You weren’t keeping a proper eye on him, were you?’
‘You know what? Adam isn’t my responsibility.’ She was repeating herself, but somehow she had to get through that thick skull. Except she suspected she was wasting her time. Maybe shouting at him might make him listen. But as she opened her mouth her annoyance faded. She didn’t want to fight with him.
‘But you were here. You could’ve taken a few moments to find a solution. Marie’s baby wasn’t going to arrive that quickly.’
Maybe he had a point, and she had made a mistake. ‘I’m sorry. I got here as soon as I could after Marie phoned to say she’d gone into labour. Everything was hectic and Adam was happy watching TV.’ But she should’ve thought more about Adam. Just went to show how unmotherly her instincts were. ‘I did my best in the situation. I explained to Adam what was happening and he was happy to bring towels and water to leave outside the bedroom door. Not once did he see anything he shouldn’t.’
‘He’s a little boy.’ Flynn wasn’t accepting her explanation. ‘He’d have heard her cries and groans. It’s not a massive house.’
‘He was safe. I didn’t put him in a position where he’d be scared, and I honestly don’t think he was.’ Her guilt increased. She should’ve thought more about Adam’s age, should’ve tried harder to find a solution. He might’ve heard things a young child was better off not hearing. What if he had nightmares about it? But he’d been excited to see Jacob, not frightened of the baby or Marie. But there was no denying she’d got it wrong. Apparently she should’ve seen to Adam before Marie.
Ally shivered. Forget thinking she might have her own baby. She wasn’t mother material. Having never had the parental guidance that would’ve made her see how she should’ve cared for Adam had shown through this afternoon. One thing was for sure, she wouldn’t be any better with her own.
At least she could be thankful that she’d had a reminder of that now and not after she’d given in to the yearning for her own baby that had begun growing inside her. She would not have her own children. That was final. She squashed that hope back where it belonged—in the dark, deep recesses of her mind, hopefully to stay there until she was too old to conceive.
Flynn waited until Marie’s mother arrived before he took Adam home. Talk about being a spare wheel. Ally and Marie talked and laughed a lot, getting on so well it reminded him of Anna with Marie. Ally had fussed over the baby while his mum had taken a shower, but handed Jacob back the moment Marie returned to her bedroom. She hadn’t been able to entirely hide the longing in her eyes.
Flynn had tried to deny the distress he’d seen in Ally’s face earlier. The distress that had changed to bewilderment and lastly guilt—brought on by him. The guilt had still been there whenever she’d looked at him, which was probably why she’d kept her head turned away as much as possible. He’d become the outsider in that house. Marie and Jacob and Adam had got all her attention. And he’d hated that. So he’d taken Adam and left. Like a spoilt child.
Now at home he swore—silently so Adam didn’t pick up any words he’d then be told off for using. Then he deliberately focused on his son and not the woman who had his gut in a knot and his head spinning. He really tried. Adam, my boy. I love you so much I’m being overprotective. But that’s better than not caring.
If ever there was a woman he could’ve expected to look out for Adam it was Ally. Not to mention Marie. He’d seen that stunned look on Marie’s face when he’d given Ally a hard time. Of course Marie would know how unusual it was for him to lose his cool.
He cracked an egg and broke the yolk. ‘Guess that means scrambled eggs and not poached.’ He found a glass jug and put the pan away. Broke in some more eggs, whisked them into a froth and added a dash of milk. ‘Adam, want to put the toast on?’
‘Okay, Dad.’ His boy stood on tiptoe at the pantry, reaching for the bread. ‘Why isn’t Ally sleeping over?’
Because your father’s been a fool. ‘She’s tired after helping Jacob be born.’
‘I like Jacob.’
Adam sounded perfectly happy, as if being around while a birth was going on was normal. And why wouldn’t it be? Ally had made sure Adam wasn’t affected by seeing anything untoward.
Flynn put the eggs into the microwave. Ally, I’m so sorry for my rant. It was my responsibility to look out for my son, not yours, or anyone else’s. Ever since Anna’s death he’d been determined to be the best dad he could to make up for Adam not having a mother. Hell, that’s why they lived on the island and he did the job he did. Yet today he’d been quick to lay the blame right at Ally’s feet for something that bothered him.
Sheba rubbed her nose against his thigh and he reached down to scratch behind her ears. ‘Hey, girl, I
’ve made a mess of things.’ Picking up his phone, he punched in Ally’s number. His call went straight to voice mail. ‘Ally, it’s Flynn. I’d like to talk to you tonight if you have a moment.’
But he knew that unless she was more forgiving than he deserved, she wouldn’t call. Action was required.
‘Adam, want to go and see Ally?’
The shout of ‘Yes!’ had him turning the microwave off and picking up his keys. ‘Let’s go.’
Despite the absence of the car in Kat’s drive, Flynn still knocked on the front door and called out. ‘Ally? Open up.’
Adam hopped out and added his entreaties but Ally wasn’t answering.
Flynn doubted she’d be hiding behind the curtains. That wasn’t her style. Ally wasn’t at home.
Back on the road Flynn headed to town to cruise past the restaurants and cafés. ‘There.’ He pointed to a car parked outside the Chinese takeaway and diner.
‘Yippee, we found her.’ Adam was out of the car before Flynn had the handbrake on.
‘Wait, Adam.’ Though Ally was less likely to turn away from his son, he had to do this right or there’d be no more nights with her in his bed, or meals at Giuseppe’s, or walks on the beach. There aren’t going to be many more anyway. She leaves at the end of next week. He wouldn’t think about that.
She sat in a corner, looking glum as she nodded her head to whatever music was playing through her earphones.
‘Ally, we came to see you.’
Her head shot up when Adam tapped her hand. ‘Hey.’ She smiled directly at his son. ‘Are you here for dinner?’ Did she have to look as though she really hoped they weren’t?
Flynn answered, ‘Only if it’s all right with you.’