Page 81 of Love Me Till Wednesday

‘Time for bed, sweetheart,’ Lisa said.

But Sophie had other ideas. ‘It’s too early. I’m not tired!’

‘It’s nearly seven, and I’ve just seen you yawn,’ Lisa said.

Sophie tried to stifle another yawn. ‘Ok then. I’ll go to bed but only if Grandpa reads me a story. Please, Grandpa?’

Nick seemed happy to be asked. ‘What shall we read?’

‘You can choose between “The Gruffalo” or “Fay the Farty Fairy”.’

‘I’ve not heard of Fay.’

‘Sam wrote it for her,’ Lisa said.

‘It would make a very funny film.’ Sophie said. ‘So we should read that, then your film company can make it in America.’

‘Grandpa’s an actor. He stars in films. He doesn’t make them.’

Nick cleared his throat. ‘Actually, Sophie’s right. I do have a production company.’

‘See,’ Sophie said. ‘Daddy told me. So will you turn Fay’s story into a film?’

Nick appeared to be giving Sophie’s idea serious consideration. ‘Fay does sound fun, but I can’t promise anything until I’ve read it. And I’m not sure how that would fit with our usual sci-fi offerings.’

Sophie looked offended. ‘She has a spaceship!’

‘Well, in that case, let’s give it a try.’

Lisa laughed. ‘You’re honoured. You normally only let Daddy read that one to you, don’t you, Soph.’

‘But he’s Daddy’s daddy, so that’s allowed,’ Sophie said as she grabbed her new giraffe and headed out into the hallway.

‘I’ll give you a shout when she’s in bed,’ Lisa said as she followed Sophie out of the kitchen.

Lisa finished loading the dishwasher. Nick had been reading to Sophie for ages. She better rescue him. Sophie would keep him reading all night otherwise.

As she walked up the stairs, she could hear the murmur of Nick’s voice coming from the bedroom. Lisa hung back on the landing for a moment, taking in the scene. Sophie was tucked up in bed with the enormous giraffe while Nick was sitting on the floor next to her bed, his face illuminated in the glow of the bedside lamp. Both of them were engrossed in Farty Fay’s story. Sophie was giving him detailed instructions on how to voice one of the characters. Lisa felt a pang of regret. This was how it should’ve been with Jim.

They noticed her watching.

‘She’s the toughest director I’ve ever worked with,’ Nick said.

‘But we have to get it right.’ Sophie held out her arms to Lisa for a hug.

Lisa obliged. ‘I think Grandpa needs a break now. And you need to get to sleep.’

‘Just ten minutes more,’ Sophie pleaded.

Nick didn’t look keen to stop reading either.

‘Alright, but no more than that.’ She left them discussing whether farts were a reliable means of jet propulsion in space.

Lisa headed back to the kitchen to wait for Nick. She sat on the sofa, running over what she was planning to say to him. Five minutes later, she heard his footsteps as he descended the stairs. By the time she’d stood up, he was leaning on the kitchen doorway, looking thoughtful, his thumbs hooked through the belt loops on his jeans.

‘We’ve left it with Fay landing on the moon. It’s a good story. Sam should do something with that,’ Nick said.

Lisa was glad he liked it, but she didn’t want to discuss Sam’s potential writing career now. ‘I really enjoyed today.’

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