Page 156 of Mistaken Impression

I mulled it over for all of about two seconds, deciding I liked the sound of it. “Is that your godfather’s name?”

“Yes.”

“Have you told me that before?”

“I might have done. I can’t remember now.”

“Tell me about him,” I said.

“He’s always been there.” Mac’s voice was wistful, and I slowed the car so I could concentrate on what he was saying. “He was my dad’s best friend, and when my parents were killed, he became… I don’t know… a kind of surrogate dad.”

“Someone you could turn to?”

“Yeah. When I… when I got back to London in November, I didn’t know what to do. I was practically broke and had nothing to look forward to,” he said and I reached over, putting my hand on his leg. He placed his on top, caressing my knuckles. “So, I called Henry, and he gave me somewhere to live… someone to talk to.”

“Is that where you’ve been ever since?”

“Yes. In his basement flat. To be honest, I’d have been lost without him.”

I was tempted to say ‘sorry’, but we’d agreed to stop apologizing, so instead I took his hand and placed it on the bump. “Say hello to Henry.”

Mac shifted in his seat, twisting around so he was facing me. “You’re happy with the name?”

“Yes.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m positive.”

He chuckled. “Henry’s going to love this…”

We haven’t told him yet. Mac had to call him when we got back to Newport, to ask if he’d arrange to ship all his things over, but didn’t mention the baby’s name. He’d decided to wait until after the baby’s born. I think he was worried Henry would try to talk him out of it. I haven’t met him yet, but I’ve seen him on FaceTime. Mac talks to him regularly, updating him on the baby’s progress, and how his books are going. He says he’ll come for a visit when the baby’s born, and I can’t wait to meet him… and thank him in person for being there when Mac needed him.

I focus on my laptop screen again, trying to concentrate. I’ve been working on a cookery book since Mac’s return, and it’s so nearly complete. Drew’s taken the photographs for me, and they look fabulous. I’ve written all the recipes, having tried and tested them on Mac, Hunter and Livia, Pat and Mick, and even Livia’s mom and dad, who’ve settled in well after the trauma of their move down here.

Now I’ve just got to finish the introduction, if I don’t melt first. Delilah promised to look at it once it’s done, so I just need to polish off this last paragraph…

“Is your brother coming down tomorrow?” Mac asks, just as I’m about to start typing again, and I look over at him. I love sharing our work space. We’re good at it, and rarely interrupt each other, although neither of us minds when it happens.

“Which one?”

“Hunter.”

“Yes, I imagine so. He hasn’t said he won’t be. Why?”

He turns in his seat, spinning it around so he’s facing me, a smile etched on his lips. “If he and Livia are coming down early again, we should take advantage of having the pool to ourselves this afternoon… especially as Pat and Mick are away, too.”

“We can use the pool when they’re here, you know?”

He nods his head. “I know, but we have to wear swimming costumes.”

I chuckle, and his smile widens. “In that case, I’d love to have a swim.”

“Good. Why don’t we stop in… say, half an hour?”

“Okay. I’ve just got the last paragraph of my introduction to write, and then I’m done.”

“I won’t hold you up any longer, then.”

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