Page 115 of The Puck Stops Here

‘There’s also the shots with the wee lad Aiden brought back. I don’t know whether they’d be any?—?’

‘Kid?’ She halted. Turned. ‘What kid?’

‘Some lad called Leo. Aiden brought him home.’

‘Aiden brought a random kid to aphotoshoot?’

Fin chuckled. ‘Not random at all. The twins knew them – Leo and his mum Chantelle. She was there too. They all seemed quite chummy.’

‘How do they know each other?’

He shrugged. ‘Beats me. But it got Blake smiling again. Enough to get some great shots. I just don’t know whether they’re what you want.’

She walked back over, glanced at the new photo spread. ‘Oh my!’

‘Good, right?’

Good was one word for it. Magic was another. Seeing Blake interacting with a lad of about seven – talking, laughing, tickling, fist bumping… the warmth, the charisma, the affection.

Whowasthis boy?

‘And his mum was happy for him to be photographed?’

‘More than.’

‘They’re… they’re perfect.’

But the question remained, who was he?

And more importantly, could they use them? Could she write about them?

She picked up her mobile and messaged Aiden.

Astrid

Great photos! Who’s the kid?

Aiden

You’ll have to ask Blake.

She frowned. Reopened her message with Blake. Kinda hard to ask if he wasn’t even reading what she’d sent…

‘Keep it in the shortlist and I’ll do some extra digging.’

‘Will do, boss.’

18

‘You going to tell me what’s got into you?’

Blake sent his brother a look that said it all.

‘Come on, buddy, ever since the photoshoot yesterday you’ve been crankier than Coach on a losing streak.’

Blake adjusted his earphones and leaned back into the airplane seat, closing his eyes and praying his brother would get the message. It was only ten in the morning but if he wanted to sleep, he’d bloody well sleep.

‘I thought you’d be happy to see Chantelle and Leo.’

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