Back to Willow (Back Series Book 1)

THIRTY-FOUR

December is finally here, and with it, proper cold, too.

It doesn’t snow here, since we are so close to the ocean. But it’s humid and windy—not that nice either. And the rain. Ugh, it’s been raining almost nonstop for the past week.

Thank god it’s Friday. That way, I can spend the weekend cuddling with Dylan if it keeps raining. We can make movie days out of it. Warm sofa, blankets, hot cocoa, popcorn, and movies are my favourites.

Since Nana just left to go on a weekend trip to southern Spain—where the temperature is more welcoming at this moment—with some of her friends, I decided to do a few extra hours during the week so I could have the weekend off. I am thankful that Shilah is this flexible; I guess she understands me a lot.

Hannah was young when they opened the place, and she always complains about the time they lost. She told me it went as bad as Hannah not recognizing her as a mother, and that is one of my biggest fears.

The fact that Dylan is very mature for his age and understanding helps me so much more, but nothing beats the ecstatic glow in his eyes this morning when I told him it would be just us for the weekend.

It’s well into the afternoon as I drive home from picking Dylan up from school. Just as I park, my phone rings, with Shilah’s name shining in the middle of the screen.

“Hey!” I put her on speaker as I put everything inside my backpack. “Everything alright?”

“Sweety,” she calls with a frantic voice, making me still. “I—Hannah is in the hospital, I—I need to go check up on her, but my husband can’t take care of the diner by himself.”

“I’ll go. I don’t have anyone to leave Dylan with, though. I’ll just have to bring him with me again,” I say sheepishly.

“Of course, darling. I am so, so sorry for this, but I—”

“No, no. Don’t worry…just go. I’ll be fifteen minutes, tops.”

Turning around, I look at a curious Dylan.

“Em, baby. Do you remember Shilah from Mummy’s work?” I ask, and he nods. “She had an emergency, and I need to go to work. You’re coming with me. Is that alright?”

He pouts slightly but nods without complaining, and I sigh in relief.

When I get to work, Shilah rushes out with a frantic wave, and I place Dylan in a little booth close to the counter and away from the exit so I can keep eyes on him while walking around. Xico is on edge, but with the amount of food he has to send out, I bet it will keep his mind off of it.

Until dinner time, the diner isn’t too busy. I can balance between taking people’s orders, serving them, and wrapping up, and then giving Dylan some attention. He mostly draws at first but then remembers some exercises he was given by the teacher. I pop in once in a while and help him with whichever question he might have.

Then, around seven in the evening, just as I am wrapping up a couple’s check, the bell chimes. The sound diverts my attention to the entrance, showing me no other than my professor walking in.

He gives me a shy smile, one I give back before pointing out a free booth for him.

“I’ll be right over,” I shout before heading to another calling customer.

It’s busy but not overwhelming.

Thank goodness, otherwise, today would be a complete mess.

After leaving Xico another couple’s order, I head to the counter to prepare their beer, just to notice it’s empty.

“Dylan, do not leave your table! Mum’s going to the kitchen for two minutes just to grab the beer keg,” I tell him.

He looks up at me from his papers and nods.A lot of the clients are regular customers, and there’s a lady right behind Dylan’s booth that already knows him, and I know she’s keeping an eye on him every time I get busier. She told me so when I placed her food in front of her.

It does help ease the worry that someone won’t just barge in and take my kid with them.

“Arthur,” Dylan screeches just as I finish placing the keg in place, making me pop my head up fast enough to see him wave over to Professor Adell.

Does he remember him still? It’s been, what? A month?

My teacher gives me a quizzical look, and I just shrug in return. I’m not going to force him to put up with my six-year-old if he doesn’t want to. He smiles, flashing me his pearly white teeth, before heading to Dylan’s table. What a surprise. Still, I sigh in relief, knowing that someone is now fully paying attention to him.

Walking over to them, I ask, trying to sound as professional as I can, “Good evening, what can I get you?”

Arthur chuckles at my awkwardness while Dylan beams at me before saying, “Mummy, Arthur helped me with my homework. I did my letters and my numbers correctly. Look!”

“Wow, baby! They’re so good,” I tell him. “Thank you, Arthur; you didn’t have to. I’ve been helping him here and there every time I have a bit of time.”

“Oh, it was nothing. He’s really intelligent and did almost everything on his own. I just gave him a few tips.” He smirks at my son.

It’s still weird to see him smile so much, even if they are just small ones. It suits him so much more than he could ever imagine.

“Have you decided what I can get you?”

“Yes, the usual, please. And bring something for Dylan—it’s on me.” Dylan’s eyes shine at Arthur’s words, making me laugh before answering him.

“Oh, no. Don’t worry. Shilah and Xico don’t charge me for his food, which is already being cooked by the way. But thank you, anyway. I’ll be back with your food soon.” He nods, and I turn to Dylan. “And, you, behave. Okay, baby?”

After Dylan’s enthusiastic nod, I go back to taking requests, serving people and cleaning tables after they’re done paying.

Another hour passes, with lots to do everywhere. The door rings so many times I lose count of all of the people coming in and leaving. One of them, though, freezes me to the spot for a few moments.

Walking in are Johanna and Liam. He opens the door for her, letting her in first before stepping into her side. When they settle by the entrance, looking around and locking eyes with me, they freeze. I can see the shock seep onto both of their faces.

Trying not to react in any specific way, I point out a free booth. Liam nods before extending his arm, signalling for Johanna to walk. They’re walking side by side, not holding hands or anything like that, but they’re close enough that their arms keep touching.

Liam and Johanna both knew I wasn’t supposed to be working tonight—nor this weekend.

He knows because he asked, trying to schedule something with Dylan and me this weekend. So, of course, I informed him that I was completely work-free this weekend. Johanna knows because I was adamant with Ethan and Hazel to not leave her out, despite everything. So, she was there when I told them about my plans to have some quality time with my son.

Neither of them told me about the other, so my knowledge of their plans was lacking. Until now. This has to be a date.

They could have chosen somewhere else to go, though.

God, my brain is a mess. I am a mess.

After a few awkward moments, I force a smile, hoping it doesn’t look like a grimace.

Doing the same thing I did with Arthur, I tell them, “I’ll be with you guys in a minute.”

I bring the bill to another table and clean one that had just cleared out when Dylan comes running to me.

“Mummy,” he whines, tugging on my leg. A clear request for me to crouch down, and I do. “I need to go potty,” he whispers to my ear.

Oh, man. The diner is still in full swing right now. Oh god.

Don’t panic.

“Can you wait a couple of minutes?” He nods. “Let me settle things here, and I’ll take you, okay?”

“Dylan?” Liam calls from behind me, making me turn to look at them both.

“Liam!” Dylan screeches, running up to him and jumping straight onto his chest.

With a “humpf” muttered on impact, Liam closes his arms around him, a content smile on his face with his eyes shut tight.

I decide to approach them slowly, to try and not let Dylan take too much of their time, but I slow my pace to a stop when I notice Johanna’s adoring expression while looking at Liam.

I put myself between them.

It hurts.I don’t know why, but it does...

Still, I shouldn’t have and I need to correct this.

“Dylan, let Liam and Jo eat in peace, baby. Go back to your table. I’ll help you back in a minute, please,” I plead.

This is already beyond awkward, having everyone here, it”s affecting me.

I’m on edge.

To help with the circus, Liam looks at me with a big frown, accentuating, even more, his confused expression.

“He can stay here with me. You’re working, who’s taking care of him?” Liam asks.

“Arthur!” Dylan chirps animatedly.

Great.

“My, uh, professor happened to stop by for dinner and saw me struggling. He, uh, offered to look out for him,” I stutter throughout the entire speech, even though it’s not necessarily a lie.

“Professor Prick?” Johanna asks, surprised.

Yeah, I had the same reaction back then...

“Why didn’t you call me? I would’ve taken him.” Liam’s frown deepens.

He thinks I don’t trust him.

I do.

If there was someone in my life I’d trust unconditionally besides my brother, it’s him.

“I didn’t have time. I was already picking him up from school when Shilah asked me to come here right away. And it’s not his first rodeo, so I just came here. Em, it’s a force of habit.”

My explanation softens his expression, helping him understand that it wasn’t anything against him, but still, it feels like I’m walking on thin ice.

Realising the amount of time I’m spending here with them I snap out of my panic and turn my attention to Dylan.

“Baby, go back to Arthur. Let me just hurry up so I can go and help you,” I mutter to him.

“He can stay here with me. I’ll help him with whatever he needs, and you can go back to working and not worry,” he fires out.

I appreciate his willingness to take him and help. Especially since—and despite the possibility of him being the father—they’ve bonded over these last couple of weeks. They’ve become oddly attached. Liam is very protective and defensive when it comes to Dylan, and while it’s been warming my heart so far, today, it troubles me.

It leaves me uneasy because, from the corner of my eye, I can see Jo’s face deflate. Whatever she was hoping to get from this dinner, it won’t be achieved with Dylan here, that’s for sure.

That’s why I assertively answer, “There’s no need. I already have someone to take care of him for the time being, and I don’t think my son interrupting your dinner would be the right thing to do. Come on, Dylan.”

Liam winces at my tone at the same time Dylan begrudgingly obeys what I said. When I look back at them, I ask, “What can I get you to drink?”

They order their drinks first, and then their food. In a matter of five minutes, I take care of the chaotic madness that was forming in the diner and ask Arthur to keep an eye while I help Dylan in the toilet.

It’s not that he needs a lot of help since he does most of it by himself by now, but I like to ensure he at least cleans his hands properly.

The last couple of hours drag slowly. A lot of glances are exchanged. Arthur sends me a few with a questioning glint in his eyes. He’s probably curious about Liam and Johanna, and Liam’s presence in Dylan’s life. While on the other hand, Liam sends me a lot of regretful ones.

I don’t know why, though. It’s not like he owes me an explanation.

I don’t even deserve one after what I did to him. But it still hurts, to see him possibly moving on, right in front of me.

They end up leaving not long after, and it’s only when they leave the diner that my body finally relaxes and time seems to go faster. When Xico and I successfully close the place, Dylan is fast asleep on Arthur’s chest, his cheek squashed over his shoulder, the sight making me chuckle.

For a sombre man with a troubled past, parenthood would suit him. And to see him not afraid to engage with children is attractive. Especially with mine.

What am I even thinking?

I snap out of the ridiculous thoughts and thank him for his invaluable help once again before saying goodnight and driving home.

As soon as I park in my driveway, though, my mood, which had lifted slightly at the sight of Arthur and Dylan, falls at the sight of a familiar figure waiting by my front door.