Chapter 9 #3
The deft switch in conversation took her mind off the stress of the last forty minutes, which was no doubt Will’s plan.
A short while later, a police patrol car passed them and they watched it begin to slow.
It went out of sight, disappeared for a couple of minutes, and then it must have done a U-turn to catch up with them.
An officer approached, established that they were linked to the broken-down car, and advised that they’d put out some traffic cones and a warning sign.
The tyre van arrived soon afterwards. Will drove along to speak with them.
It didn’t take long for the two guys to ascertain that the Mini’s whole wheel was knackered, confirming Cath’s hunch.
Changing a tyre was not going to be enough, so the next step was to call out the breakdown team.
The lads offered to take the Mini’s keys and said they’d coordinate the recovery, advising Cath that it was fine to go on home.
They confirmed her mobile number with her and promised to provide an update later.
*
Arriving back at Tilldale village felt like coming home, and was such a relief after the trials of the day. As they passed the first cottage of the main street, Will asked Cath if she’d like to come in to his for a cup of coffee. He sounded caringly protective after all she’d just been through.
He always made good coffee, having a fancy machine that frothed the milk and everything. It seemed like just what she needed. ‘Thank you, yes, that sounds great.’
‘Oh, and Sophie’s here. She’s been up for the weekend,’ he added casually.
‘Oh, Will, you should have said. You’ve been away hours sorting all this out for me. I hadn’t realised. I must have spoilt your day together.’
‘Hey, of course you haven’t, these things happen. I couldn’t have just left you there at the side of a busy road. It’s fine. Sophie will have been okay by herself for a while. Probably glad to get me out from under her feet.’ Will pulled up kerbside, in front of his house. ‘Come on in.’
Cath felt a little nervous walking up the path, hoping she hadn’t spoilt the day for dad and daughter, especially knowing that Sophie could be bristly at times.
She put on her best smile, however, as she stepped forward into the house.
Will held the front door open for her, calling out, ‘We’re home, Soph. ’
Cath wondered how the ‘we’re’ bit was going down, right now.
Sophie appeared in the hallway.
‘Hi, Sophie, your dad’s been brilliant today. Sorry if I’ve messed up any plans,’ Cath brazened it out.
‘S’okay.’ Sophie didn’t look that happy about it, to be frank. But her words weren’t too harsh. They were going to have to learn how to get along. Both of them wanting Will’s company, time and love. Better that they moved forward as a team. But that was easier said than done.
‘Thanks for being so understanding, love,’ added Will.
‘Thank you,’ Cath confirmed.
Sophie gave a small tight nod. If Sophie had been a hedgehog, her bristles would have been right on end, Cath mused.
‘I’ll go make that coffee,’ said Will, leaving the girls alone.
Sophie was a bit sharper, however, once Will was out of earshot. ‘Well, that’s the afternoon almost over. Dad had mentioned about going to the pub for lunch, too,’ she muttered sourly.
‘I’m sorry, Sophie. I hadn’t realised you were home, or that the two of you had plans. Your dad didn’t say …’
‘Well, that’s typical,’ came the young woman’s retort.
Dammit, she’d evidently landed Will in it too, now. It must have seemed like Sophie’s visit wasn’t important to him.
But actually, after the afternoon she’d had, Cath was beginning to feel cheesed off with this.
She loved Sophie’s dad, and she wasn’t going anywhere.
This wasn’t a twelve-year-old she was dealing with; Sophie was twenty-one.
‘Look, Sophie, I’ve said I’m sorry. This wheel blow-out was bloody awful and dangerous for me.
Your dad’s been great, and I’m really appreciative of that.
It’s a shame it’s spoilt your lunch plans or whatever, but please don’t take it out on me … or him.’
Sophie looked up, somewhat startled.
‘I know this isn’t easy for you, me coming into your dad’s life but we’re a couple, and I’m in this for the long haul, Sophie. So, we may as well try to get along. It’ll be very difficult for your dad otherwise, and I think after everything, he deserves more than that.’
Sophie didn’t get time to respond, as Will came into the front room where they were, right on cue, with a couple of mugs of coffee. ‘I made one for you too, Soph,’ he said as he passed them over. ‘You girls, okay?’ He must have sensed an atmosphere in the room.
‘Ah, yeah, fine, Dad,’ came Sophie’s response, as she managed to glance rather guardedly over towards Cath.
It might make the young woman think about their situation anyhow, mused Cath, who gave a small friendly smile, whilst hoping this might be the verbal kick-up-the-bum Will’s daughter needed.
She’d very much been the princess of the family, the youngest and ‘daddy’s girl’.
It was time to grow up, step up and learn some respect. Enough said, thought Cath.
‘Thanks, Will.’ She took her coffee gratefully, at this point rather wishing it might morph into a gin and tonic.