Page 49 of Lost In Someone

“Manners, Miss Willow,” Drew reminds her.

She pushes her hair from her eyes. “Pease, Bodie.”

I scoop her up and sit her on my knee. “I have to go home soon, Willow. I’ve got to look after Milo, but I can stay while your papa and Drew put the shopping away.”

“’Kay. Look at my dolly.”

I don’t go straight home. There’s something I need to do first. Something I should have done in January, something that made me a hypocrite. Merrick calling me out has brought my guilt to the surface. I’m going to ring my parents.

I can hardly do it from Merrick’s driveway, but I know a quiet place. I get behind the wheel and drive down the hill until I reach the turning before the town and follow the narrow lane leading up to Drew’s cottage.

I park on the side in the scruff, keeping the pathway clear for anyone going to the beach. With my phone in my hand, I stare out towards the sea, trying to think of what to say. Hey, Mum, Dad, I just thought I’d let you know I’ve met someone, and it’s serious, and it’s a man. Oh yeah, he has a four-month-old baby too.

That’s not going to go down well. My parents have never given any opinions on homosexuality, and they love Merrick. Will they think the same about me loving a man? The only way to find out is to call them. I turn my phone over and over in my hand.

With a deep breath, I open my contacts and scroll down, and before I can bottle it and go home to Ivan and Milo, I press Call. Here goes nothing.

It rings three times before my mum’s soft voice answers with the burr of an east-coast Scottish accent. “Broderick, how lovely to hear from you. Are you well?”

“Hi, Mum. Yeah, I’m good. I just haven’t caught up with you in forever. How is everyone? Is Dad still driving you mad?”

She laughs. I can see her face lighting up and her eyes sparkling. “He is. He’s got a new ride-on mower. I’ve never seen the grass so short. What about you? How’s work?”

I breathe in again and let it out slowly.

“Broderick, is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is good. Actually, it’s great. But a lot has happened, and I’ve not told you about it. I’ve met someone, and I’ve quit my job and moved to Devon. Do you remember me telling you Merrick moved here? It’s amazing down here, such a slower pace than I’m used to, and it’s given me the time to breathe and take stock of my life and what I want to do.” Well, that’s the first hurdle taken.

“Good grief, lad, that’s a lot to take in. What about your wee home? You love that house. Who’s this person you’ve met? What’s she like? Is she down there with you? I’m so happy you’ve finally found someone. I bet she’s beautiful. You always had such good taste.”

Time to spill all the beans and come clean. “I sold the house, Mum. And I bought an old farmhouse here and renovated it. It has two large barns I’ve got permission to convert into a gymnasium. I’m thrilled to start my own business. And my partner’s name is Ivan, and yes, he lives here too. We live together.”

“You said he. He lives with you? He? You’re with a man?” The surprise in her voice is to be expected, but then she lets out a long sigh.

“Yes, Mum, and he’s incredible. I’ve never been so happy. He just found out he has a four-month-old son too. We’re raising him together. They’re what’s been missing from my life. I want you to meet them.”

Silence.

Complete silence.

When Mum finishes winding Milo, she passes him back to me. Whether she senses I need to hold him close to me or she knows she’s hogged him to herself for too long, I don’t know, but I’m grateful to have him back.

Silence settles between us, but the annoyance and disappointment have vanished. I rock Milo gently until he drifts off to sleep again. Where’s Brodie? If only he would come home. I want him to get to know my mum better. I should call him, ask him to come back.

“How would you feel about me coming back here to live? I could help you with looking after Milo when you work. I’m not going to get under your feet or take over. Trust me, you can have all the parental struggles and strife. I want to be the happy nana, the one to spoil him.”

Well, that pulled the rug from under my feet. Drew was right after all. He said she’d be back here in a flash. Maybe that was one of my reasons for keeping Milo to myself for a little longer.

It’s a great idea, though, and I’m not going to turn down her offer of help. It may even give Brodie and me some grown-up time every now and then. The memory of last night floods my mind, and the need for us to connect again flares up. I don’t want to have to leave it as long before we can do that again.

“When do you think you’ll be here?” I laugh, the vibrations making Milo stir and open his eyes. “What do you think, my boy? Do you want your nana here?”

Milo gurgles as he smiles, and I bend down to kiss his forehead. “It’s a yes from him.”

“I’ll have to give Stacey a call. She’s still an estate agent, isn’t she?” Mum asks.

“Why? You’ve got our house.”

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