Page 69 of Last Dance, Second Chance

Nathan laughed, and joined her under the duvet, spooning around her. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine,” he said. “We’ll pick them up and go to the park with the dogs. Then we’ll drop the dogs off and take them to McDonald’s for lunch and to the supermarket to choose some sweets before going to the cinema. I’ve booked tickets for the two o’clock showing.”

“You looked up the showings for me!”

“Yeah. I figured you’d be freaking out so thought that was one thing I could organise.”

“Thank you.”

“So that’ll take us up to about four o’clock. We’ll come back here to get the dogs, and Molly said they all really like crafts so we can do some of that.”

“We can’t just ‘do crafts’,” pointed out Jessica. “We need craft materials.”

“I have two nieces, remember?” said Nathan. “And they come to stay occasionally. I have a full craft cupboard in the spare bedroom upstairs. I added mug painting kits for us all.”

“Oh my goodness, you are amazing!” cried Jessica.

“Yes, I am. And then they can play LEGO Star Wars on the Xbox while we make them some pizza for tea. See? Nine hours filled up no problem. Now, I’ve got a little something I want to do to you before the madness begins,” he said.

* * *

Jessica was exhausted and her foot ached, but she had to admit Nathan had been right: the day had gone by really quickly, and everyone had had a good time. Peter, Emily and Sophie were playing video games with Nathan while the pizzas cooked and Jessica made a salad which the children would no doubt ignore, but she would enjoy.

Nathan appeared in the doorway. “They seem happy in there so I thought I’d come to check on you. Do you need any painkillers?”

“I’ve already taken some, thanks,” said Jessica. “It’s not too bad and it’s been a brilliant day.”

“Good. They’re great kids.”

“You’re fantastic with them.”

Nathan shrugged. “I’ve spent a lot of time with my own nieces.”

“How old are they?”

“Four and six, like Emily and Sophie.”

“What are they like?”

“Mia, she’s six, is just like my sister. She can talk anyone into anything. Her little sister, Rosie, follows her around everywhere.”

“Do you want children?” Jessica found herself asking. She wasn’t sure why she did or if she even wanted to know the answer. It was no business of hers anyway. She was leaving soon. It’s not like she was ever going to have his babies.

“Yes,” said Nathan.

“That’s very definite,” said Jessica.

“I want a family. For me, that’s important. Do you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Jessica admitted. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it properly. It was always something I might do at some point.”

“It’s a pretty big ‘something’,” commented Nathan.

“Yep. The thing is, I’m not even sure I’d be a very good mother,” Jessica shared. “I’m a pretty useless aunt.”

“The kids seem to like you.”

“Yeah, because I took them to McDonald’s and the cinema!”

“I saw Sophie climb up onto your lap during the movie.”

---