Page 49 of Escape to the Country

‘But look at you, darling. You are beautiful, you are bright, you are kind, and you are everything I could ever want a daughter to be. I never thought I’d get the opportunity to meet you either. I felt like I gave up the right to meet you when I decided to stay with Jean, but when she died, she told me that I had to make my peace with you and try my hardest to find you if it was the last thing I did.

‘I wish you could see what I see. I see a person who is beautiful inside and out, someone who is kind and generous and who is helping out her best friend, and who wants her mum to be happy. Someone who is good and genuine and has a huge heart and someone who is giving a silly old man like me a chance to get to know her and to maybe have a second chance in her life.

‘Life isn’t about what you have, Madison; it’s about who you are. And I couldn’t wish for a more wonderful daughter than you and I am so incredibly grateful that you have allowed me to be a part of your life. I couldn’t be more proud of the person that you are.’

I kissed his cheek, hugged him and told him that I’d see him very soon. He waited to make sure I’d got in through my front door before he walked back to his car. As I went to shut the door, I hesitated. I opened the door and shouted after him.

My voice wobbled. ‘Wait!’

He turned towards me.

‘Goodnight,Dad.’

He beamed at me.

‘Goodnight,daughter.’

He blew a kiss and smiled. I beamed right back and closed the door.

* * *

So, that was Mum sorted. She and Theo were free to make a go of their relationship in any way they wanted. They had my blessing and they had to find their way forward the same way that Dad and I did. It still felt a bit strange to call him ‘Dad’, but it was good strange.

Now, it was my time.

Holding my breath, I dropped a text to Jamie, first thing the next morning, telling him that I’d like to see him that evening if possible so we could talk. Despite me asking him not to contact me until I’d made a decision and would get back to him, he’d been texting me on and off, asking me if I’d thought about his proposition. So I was quite surprised that it took him a while to text back, but when he did say he could be free, I asked him for his new address and said that I’d be there at 7p.m. tonight after I’d had my dinner. I didn’t want it to be any more than a chat at this point and I wanted to drive because I didn’t want to end up drinking and be persuaded to spend the night. I wasn’t ready to slip back into that just yet.

When I arrived, he buzzed me into the apartment, which was on the top floor of a four-storey block on a marina complex. He answered the door when I reached the top looking his usual dashing self, in a pair of beige linen trousers and a plain white t-shirt, designer of course. When he asked what I wanted to drink, I chose coffee; I wanted some time to look around this place while he made it and to get a feel for Jamie and his home. I wandered over to the window and the view was breathtakingly pretty over the marina, the canal boats gently swaying on the water.

The apartment was all black and cream, and it felt clinical. I thought about the muddy footprints that Baxter could have fun making on that carpet and smiled. I’d have to talk to Jamie about Baxter and see what he said. I couldn’t give him up now. He was my friend, furry or not.

Jamie returned and we sat facing each other across the coffee table.

‘Have you reached a decision, Maddy?’

‘I have, and yes, I’d love to come back and work for you, Jamie.’

He stood and punched the air. ‘Yes! Oh, Maddy, I’m over the moon. When do you want to start? I’m so excited that you’ve said yes.’

‘And us, Jamie?’

‘Oh, yes, and us too. I presumed that the two things went side by side.’

‘Well, perhaps they might one day. But I want to take things very slowly and see where it takes us. Is that OK with you?’

‘Of course, but please say that you’ll start your job anyway. I have so many ideas that we can work on together.’

‘Yes, I’ll sort out when Beth is going to be able to get back to work and we can firm up a date to suit us both. Hope that’s OK.’

‘Of course, I’m so excited that we’ll be working together, Maddy.’

His enthusiasm was infectious and he came around to my side of the table and took me in his arms. It felt a little forced, but I was sure I’d soon get used to it again before long. He went into the kitchen and I heard the fridge door open. He returned with a bottle of champagne and two flutes and popped the cork. ‘We must celebrate!’

‘Not too much for me, please, I’m driving.’

‘You don’t have to, Madison. You could stay.’

‘That’s not really taking it slow, is it, Jamie? I’m sorry but I’m not ready for that yet. And I have to get back to Baxter too.’

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