Chapter Forty-Six
Babysitting two energetic four-year-olds wasn’t Brodie’s idea of a cosy date night at all.
He was sure it wasn’t Flora’s either and he hoped that bringing her along hadn’t been a mistake.
But, despite the constant interruptions and bickering over certain pieces of Lego, he and Flora had somehow survived it and managed to have fun too.
They played hide-and-seek, built many towers with the Jenga bricks and then finally, when the twins started to run out of steam, Flora had managed to persuade them to get their pyjamas on and brush their teeth before they had story time.
As the evening went on, Brodie was very glad he had asked her to come along and help.
Not just because it was a two-person type of job but because he was seeing a different side to her which made him like her even more.
When they all sat together on the sofa — the kids in between him and Flora — Brodie was practically ready for sleep, too.
He listened in awe as Flora read book after book to them from the huge pile they’d brought downstairs from their rooms. She deserved a BAFTA for the effort she put in to reading each story with different voices, wide-eyed expressions and dramatic pauses.
He didn’t think he would ever be able to read The Gruffalo again without hearing her voice or seeing her animated face.
She read to them like an acting pro and he’d never seen Gregor or Lucy quite so absorbed in a book or mesmerised by the person reading it to them.
He couldn’t blame them. He was so enchanted by her that his eyes fluttered shut and he imagined himself deep in a dark, peaceful wood.
It was only when Flora had gently nudged him that he’d opened his eyes with a start, realising he must have dozed off.
‘Oh dear.’ He looked at Lucy and Gregor who were also fast asleep next to him.
‘Were you quite enjoying story time?’ she teased.
He rubbed his bleary eyes and smiled. ‘I was actually. It was very relaxing. I must ask you to do that again sometime. You’ve got a lovely storytelling voice.’
She blushed. ‘Aw, thanks. I remember my grandpa telling me stories when I was small and I loved it when he put on the voices. I thought they might like it, too.’
‘They loved it, Flora. You were amazing. And I think they are well and truly bushed. Me too,’ he said, standing up with a yawn. ‘We should probably try and get them settled in their beds. Will you manage to carry Gregor up?’
‘Sure.’ Flora bent over and effortlessly scooped him up into her arms. He flopped his head onto her shoulder and Brodie couldn’t help but think how natural she was with kids.
And before he realised what he was doing, he started to picture Flora in his future.
He shook his head. What on earth was he thinking?
They’d only been for a couple of drinks at the pub and already he was planning their family. Had he lost his marbles?
After tucking them into bed, they went downstairs to the kitchen to warm the food Charlotte had left for them.
As they sat opposite each other at the breakfast bar, he didn’t know exactly what to say but he wanted to tell her how much he’d enjoyed tonight despite the chaos.
‘Maybe next time I could cook you dinner at my place . . . without the kids,’ he said, reaching over to clasp her hand.
She smiled, her eyes sparkling. ‘I’d really like that. I mean, this has been a lot of fun . . . but I would love a night just with you. Though only if you promise not to fall asleep before me.’
He laughed. ‘That’s a deal.’