Five Years from Now by Paige Toon

Author:Paige Toon [Toon, Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2023-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

• • •

Nick is not at work the next day—he’s gone surfing with Max—and I find myself missing his banter. He was quiet when he dropped me home last night—like, weirdly quiet. Not on a Dad or Van level, but for Nick it was definitely out of the ordinary.

Theresa comes over for a chat after the lunchtime rush has passed, before the early birds appear for dinner.

“How was the film?” she asks with a smile.

She’s lovely, Theresa. I’ve always liked her. We’re about the same height—her boys tower over both of us—but she’s quite voluptuous, with long, dark hair that she usually wears down. She’s glamorous, but warm with it, not aloof or in any way full of herself. And she has her sons’ eyes: Castor bottle-green.

“Brilliant,” I answer her question. “Very entertaining. You can’t really go wrong when it comes to Brad Pitt with his top off.”

“Did Nick enjoy it?” she asks.

“I think so. Not for the same reasons as me, though.”

She gives me an appraising look and I’m curious to know what she’s thinking.

“I shouldn’t interfere,” she starts to say, and that little voice inside my head goes, Uh-oh. “But you do know that boy is smitten with you?” she finishes.

I stare at her, stunned.

“I haven’t seen him like this before,” she divulges, clearly in two minds about whether to say anything. “He’s a different person on the days you’re not working.”

“In what way?” I’m taken aback.

“He’s like a bear with a sore head,” she reveals.

“You mean he’s even worse when I’m not working?” I ask with alarm. The poor staff!

“Oh, sweetie,” she says with an indulgent smile. “He only gives you a hard time because he’s trying to get your attention. ‘Bear with a sore head’ is the wrong analogy. When you’re not here, he’s as meek as a mouse.” She gives me a helpless shrug. “I know I’m his mum and I should stay out of it, but I’ve known you for a long time, Nell, and I love you to bits. You’re such a good girl. He’d kill me if he knew we were having this conversation, but I hope you don’t write him off. He’s done a lot of silly things over the years, but if you could find it in your heart to give him a chance, I think he might surprise you.”

I don’t even know what to say once she’s finished spilling her son’s secrets.

She pats my shoulder and leaves me to ponder her words. And ponder them I do.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.