Chapter 10
Atwinge of guilt ruffled Nick’s already broken calm as he hurried down the street.
He’d been responsible for his daughter for all of five minutes and already he was desperate to get away.
From the look of disapproval on Kitty’s face, she thought he should have stayed with Emily.
Someone had to go to the shop, though, and this trip could be the last time he’d have to himself for goodness knows how long.
He’d jumped at the chance to escape for a while.
As he pressed on, he pictured Kitty struggling up the staircase from the beach, Emily on her back.
If the tables were turned, he doubted very much Kitty would have taken the chance to escape the house.
He wasn’t on an errand, he was running away.
He chewed his lip. Knowing he was a coward wasn’t enough to stop him behaving like one.
The village was busy with holidaymakers, with a queue forming outside the ice-cream van and to get into the tiny gift shop.
All the tables outside the Bayview Café were occupied, and with the car park full, no end of idiots had parked half on the pavement, blocking the way for both pedestrians and anything but the narrowest vehicles.
Nick kept his head down, not wanting to engage with any friendly locals. He needed time to think, to try to make sense of the thoughts swirling around his head in a mess he couldn’t untangle. With a trembling hand, he pulled out his phone.
Luke answered after three rings. ‘Alright, mate? How’s your head after last night?’
‘Fine,’ said Nick. ‘I didn’t drink that much.’
‘No, I suppose not. Is everything OK?’
‘No, not really. Are you busy?’
Luke sighed. ‘Not as busy as I’d like to be. We’re waiting for a delivery before we can start our next job, but the lorry can’t get through with so many cars blocking the road. Why? What’s up?’
‘Have you got a few minutes for a quick chat?’
‘I have if you come to me. I can’t leave the site in case the delivery finally shows up.’
‘Where are you working?’
‘Forest Lane.’
‘I’ll see you in a minute.’
Nick hung up. He was forced to wait for a family carrying body boards to pass him before he could turn left at the café and head along a suburban street.
The crowds of tourists died away, no one interested in the real life of Saffron Bay, away from the pretty cottages and sandcastles.
Mind you, Nick wasn’t sure how much real life was about, with signs on every other gatepost advertising holiday rentals.
It didn’t take long to find the house Luke was working on. Covered in scaffolding, the once ordinary bungalow had been given a glow-up with the addition of an extra floor and balcony that would no doubt have far-reaching sea views.
‘Nice place,’ called Nick as he went to join his friend in the driveway.
‘It will be when it’s finished. Been a right pain to work on. We should have been finished six weeks ago.’ He turned from the house to Nick. ‘Anyway, you’re not here to talk about work. Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
‘It’s been an interesting day.’ Nick leaned against Luke’s van and ran a hand through his hair.
‘An interesting day? In what sense?’
‘Interesting like having a woman turn up on your doorstep claiming you’re the father of her child, then leaving said child with you for however long.’
Luke’s eyes widened. ‘What? This isn’t a hypothetical? This actually happened?’
‘Yes. About two hours ago.’
‘Bloody hell, no wonder you look ill. Are you sure this woman’s telling the truth? Did you recognise her?’
‘Yes and no. She looked familiar, but it took me a while to place her. We moved in the same circles for a while, but it’s six years since we hooked up, and it was only a one-night thing.’
Luke sighed. ‘Mate, I was always warning you to be careful. You broke enough hearts back in the day, but I thought you’d have at least thought to use protection.
I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you can be incredibly reckless sometimes, and it sounds like now your chickens are coming home to roost. Have you asked for a DNA test? ’
‘Yeah, of course. The thing is, though, as much as I don’t want it to be true, I can see myself in the kid. Kitty said so too.’
‘Kitty? What’s Kitty got to do with any of this?’
Nick sighed and began his story at the beginning, Luke’s eyes opening wider, his mouth dropping open the more he heard.
‘So that’s it.’ Nick drew a circle in the dirt with his toe. ‘I’ve got a daughter I knew nothing about, and now I have to learn to be a parent in the half hour I’ve sneaked out of the house.’
‘And you’ve wandered off and left Kitty to look after your child? Seriously, mate, you need to grow up.’
Nick shrugged, stung by Luke’s lack of sympathy. ‘There’s no food in the house,’ he grumbled. ‘I needed to go to the shop, not that there’s much money in my account to pay for it.’
‘And you couldn’t have taken Emily with you, or sent Kitty?’
‘Come on, mate, give me a break. My world has been shattered, and what, I’m not allowed half an hour alone to think things through?’
Luke folded his arms across his chest and fixed Nick with a stern look. ‘I’m not sure that’s how parenting works. You have responsibilities now, and you need to take them seriously.’
‘Why do you think I wanted to talk to you?’ Nick kicked the wheel of the van and huffed.
Shouldn’t Luke be on his side? Still, he had to admit his friend was right when he said Nick needed to grow up fast. And find a way to raise some funds.
‘I was wondering if the offer of some labouring work is still on the table?’
‘Sure, I can always use another pair of hands, but it sounds like you’re going to be otherwise engaged while you’ve got the girl staying with you.’
‘I don’t mean now,’ said Nick. ‘I’m talking about once Emily has gone back to her mum’s. I’m sure now she’s made contact, Carla will hit me up for maintenance payments.’
Luke narrowed his eyes. ‘What, and you don’t think she’s entitled to them?’
‘No, that’s not what I was saying.’ Why did Luke make him feel wrong-footed? Where was his mate who’d stick by him, whatever?
‘Good, because it sounded like you were complaining, and after raising Emily for five years with no help from you, I’d say Carla is entitled to whatever she asks for.’
Nick flew to his own defence. ‘It was her choice not to tell me she was pregnant.’ He had had enough and turned to walk away, but Luke called him back.
‘Don’t storm off. I’m sorry if I’ve been harsh, but I think you need a reality check.
Listen, Alice and I will support you however we can, but you also need to step up.
’ Luke ran a hand through his hair then waved toward the general store.
‘Get your shopping and then go back to the house. Let Kitty leave to do whatever she had planned before you roped her into babysitting, and spend some time getting to know your daughter. I’m at the end of the phone if it all gets too much. ’
‘Cheers, I think.’ Nick wanted to stay hanging out with Luke.
He wanted to crack open a beer and pretend nothing had changed, that he hadn’t turned into a father overnight.
He wanted his old life, where he didn’t have to worry about anyone except himself.
Nick’s phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out.
Where are you? We’re so hungry we might start eating the furniture if you don’t hurry up. This is Kitty, by the way. In case you hadn’t bothered to save my number.
Nick shook his head and replaced his phone in his pocket. ‘I’ve got to go.’
Luke pulled Nick into a brief hug and patted him on the back. ‘It’ll be alright, mate. Give me a ring if you need anything. I’ll check in with you tomorrow, whatever. And remember, you can do this. You’re a lot more capable than you give yourself credit for.’
Nick nodded, too choked up to answer, and set off towards the general store. He might be a crap dad, but the least he could do for his new daughter was buy her some lunch.