Chapter 38
38
Libby was pleased to find her dad in good spirits when he returned from the hospital after visiting Eddie with Ethan and Bob.
‘It’ll take time, of course, but I can see him back on the train before too long,’ announced Philip, when Ethan dropped him off.
‘That’s great news, Dad,’ replied Libby before looking at Ethan.
‘I’m here to convey an important message from my grandad. He wanted to say thank you for the box of chocolates.’
Libby shrugged her shoulders. ‘It wasn’t much, but I thought it might be something more tasty than hospital food.’
‘And possibly healthier too,’ added her dad, to Libby’s surprise. ‘I’ve been reading up on cocoa. It’s packed with antioxidants.’
Ethan grinned. ‘Perhaps you should have taken science more seriously, Libs, and become a doctor instead,’ he told her.
‘Perhaps not,’ said her dad, with a twinkle in his eye. ‘For the sake of the patients.’
‘Hey!’ protested Libby, but she too was smiling, amazed that her dad was making jokes. Perhaps they really had turned a corner at last, she thought.
‘Listen,’ carried on Ethan. ‘I’ve called a family meeting tonight over dinner to discuss the Christmas train and would appreciate your input. As you know, time is getting a bit tight.’
‘Me?’ replied Libby. ‘But I’m not family.’
Ethan rolled his eyes. ‘As good as,’ he told her. ‘So how about it? Ryan’s doing the cooking, if that’s what you were worried about. You’re welcome to come as well, Philip.’
But Libby’s dad shook his head. ‘That’s very kind, but I’m a little weary tonight. You two go.’
‘Are you sure, Dad?’ asked Libby, concerned. ‘If you’re tired, I can stay here with you.’
‘I won’t be going too far, my dear,’ he replied. ‘So don’t worry.’
After she had sorted out his dinner, Libby wandered along to the old school. Although Ethan had told her that the meeting would be held in Ryan and Katy’s apartment, she was anxious to see how the house was looking after a couple of days of cleaning and so had invited herself along early.
She had just followed Ethan inside when she stopped short. ‘Wow,’ she spluttered. ‘You have worked hard.’
She looked around but could see the walls had all had a new coat of paint. There was none of the acrid smell that her friends had told her about. But there were other changes as well.
‘You’ve got cushions and lamps,’ she spluttered, somewhat amazed.
He nodded. ‘Katy made me order them,’ he told her, with a roll of his eyes. ‘Apparently I’ve got to act like a grown-up now.’
‘That would be a first,’ she said, following him into the kitchen.
She turned to apologise again to him about almost destroying the place when she found that he was pointing to the ceiling. She followed his gaze and saw that there was also a brand new smoke alarm fitted.
‘Just in case,’ he said, with a smile.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she told him.
‘Like I said, I don’t care about all that,’ he replied.
‘Well, the place looks great.’
‘I’m glad you like it.’
‘I do,’ she told him, nodding.
The new oven caught her eye. It was silver, double fronted and looked expensive.
‘Wow,’ she muttered, heading over to have a proper look at it.
‘Will it do?’ she heard him ask.
Libby spun around. ‘Do? Do for what?’ she asked.
He gave a shrug of his shoulders. ‘I’m not likely to use the kitchen apart from to make my morning toast and coffee,’ he replied. ‘I figured you were going to be making your chocolate again at some point, so why not have the perfect oven for your cocoa beans?’
‘You did all this for me?’ she asked him. ‘Why?’
‘Because I wanted to see your face light up like it’s doing now,’ he said, taking a step forward so that they were almost touching. ‘Because chocolate means so much to you. Because I liked having you in my kitchen those weeks when you were here and I’ve missed you ever since.’ He took a deep breath. ‘And because I’ve missed you these past fifteen years too. I miss my best friend.’
Now it was Libby’s turn to take a deep breath. She stared up into the face that she knew so well. ‘Me too,’ she told him.
‘And if I’ve learned anything this week, it’s that everyone can have a second chance to make amends,’ he said, reaching out to hold her face in his hands.
She gulped, trying to concentrate on what he was saying, but the feel of his fingers on her skin was so good.
‘I figure it’s time,’ he told her.
‘I suppose fifteen years is long enough since the prom,’ she said, with a small smile.
‘My thoughts exactly.’
He was so close now that she could feel the pulse jumping in her throat. But just when she was thinking and wishing that he was going to kiss her, his phone buzzed with a text and he gave her a rueful smile.
‘Dad’s ready to be picked up. So this is to be continued,’ he told her softly, before letting go of her face and walking away.
Libby was left standing in the kitchen feeling breathless. She could deny it no longer to herself. She had wanted him to kiss her. And she had wanted to kiss him right back. She found herself hoping that they might just have the second chance that Ethan was talking about after all.