Page 96 of Not in a Million Years

‘Right.’ He was smiling properly now, almost laughing at the absurdity of it. ‘What is it?’

‘I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,’ I countered.

‘Ladies first.’

‘I’m no lady, Daniel. You ought to know that by now.’

‘But a gentleman never tells,’ he argued.

‘And you’re no gentleman.’

‘You’ve got me bang to rights.’ Grinning, he closed the van doors. ‘Anyway, it’s a peace offering.’

‘Funny, that. Mine is too,’ I said, adding humbly, ‘It’s a cake. I made it for you.’

‘A cake?’

‘Yes. It’s like, you cream butter and sugar together, add cocoa powder, flour and eggs, a teaspoonful of vanilla extract, stick it in the—’

‘I know what a cake is, you crazy woman.’

‘I thought you might, if I jogged your memory. So I brought you one. Here.’

He took the tin from my outstretched arms. ‘Thank you, Kate.’

‘Don’t mention it. Can I ask – were you on your way to bring me your’ – I gestured to the van – ‘thing? What is it?’

‘It’s a stepladder,’ he muttered.

‘A stepladder?’ I parroted.

‘You know, they’re pieces of furniture you need to use when you want to reach high things.’

I burst out laughing. ‘I know what a stepladder is, you crazy man.’

‘It’s antique Italian walnut,’ he said. ‘And library steps, strictly speaking. So wider than normal, and the treads have got leather on them so they’re not slippy. It folds up so you can put stuff on it when you’re not using it.’

‘It sounds like the kind of stepladder I’d want, if I wanted a stepladder.’

‘I think you’ll find you do. Tell me about the cake.’

‘It’s chocolate with raspberry filling. It’s in the shape of a’ – I felt myself blushing – ‘a heart.’

‘That sounds like the kind of cake I’d want, if I wanted a cake.’

‘Come on, Daniel. Everyone always wants cake.’

‘This is true. But there’s something else I want more. Come inside for a second.’

I followed him into the spacious, echoey workshop. The familiar beams of dust-filled light slanted from the windows, spilling in their regular squares on the floor. The air was cool and still. I could see the back of Daniel’s T-shirt darkened with sweat from his work and smell the clean fragrance of his hair.

He put the cake tin down on the workbench and turned to me, his arms outstretched. ‘Come here.’

Easily, as naturally as if I was coming home, I stepped into his arms. He pulled me close, so I could feel the whole, hard length of his body against mine, his back moving beneath my hands as he breathed.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I misjudged you. I never knew it was you who got Andy to go to NA. I thought I was the only one doing right by him, when actually you were, too. And I didn’t realise…’

‘Didn’t realise what?’

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