Page 44 of Faking It (and falling in love)

“You are terrifying when you put your strict voice on,” said Alex with a grin.

“That’s the general idea,” said Philippa. “It’s the only way, sometimes! Now, I’m going to leap into the shower and emerge serene and ready for the day.”

“Any chance I can join you?” asked Alex with a wink.

“No chance, unless you want to give me yet more difficult explanations to provide for my daughter,” said Philippa with a laugh. “But I must confess to liking the idea.”

“Then we can book that in for a future date,” said Alex, who was busy organising her hair in the mirror on Philippa’s bedroom wall.

“A future date?” asked Philippa, her heart leaping. She hadn’t wanted to ask Alex what might be next, but she desperately hoped this might become something more than just one night of amazing sex.

“If that’s what you want,” said Alex. “I mean, I know it’s what I want.” She turned her head to look at Philippa.

“I do,” said Philippa, smiling back at the woman who had somehow managed to ingratiate herself into several parts of Philippa’s life.

“Then go and have your solo shower, safe in the knowledge that this is not a one-time thing,” said Alex, moving towardsPhilippa and kissing her. “In the meantime, I’m going to organise this child’s costume.”

“You’re my hero,” said Philippa.

“No,” said Alex, looking serious for a moment, “actually you’re mine.”

Philippa smiled and made her way towards the shower. The steaming water felt refreshing against her skin. She closed her eyes and allowed it to rinse away all the activities of the night before and that morning, safe in the knowledge that she would never forget them.

By the time Philippa got to the kitchen she was greeted by Dottie and Alex, who appeared to be eating pancakes. “Pancakes?”

“Yep,” said Alex. “The cereal situation was serious.”

“Very serious,” confirmed Dottie.

“So I made pancakes while Dottie got me a few things for her costume,” Alex was dishing up piles of fluffy American-style pancakes for each of them, Philippa silently acknowledging that they would go down a treat given all the recent energy she had expended.

“Very industrious of you both,” said Philippa, taking a sip from the coffee cup Alex proffered.

“Thank you. Now, I have a question for you – can I cut a hole in this bed sheet?” asked Alex.

“It looks like an old one of Dottie’s, so go ahead,” said Philippa, sitting down to tuck into her pancakes, which had been served with Nutella and chopped banana. She really was going to have to get on board with chocolate spread.

Philippa scrolled through her phone, preparing herself for the work day ahead, while all around her was a hive of activity – a mixture of pancake eating and costume designing. She took a moment to absorb just how natural Alex was with Dottie, and was struck by the injustice of the distance Jess had put betweenAlex and Seren. It felt so unfair and unnecessary. She reaffirmed her personal resolve to improve the situation in whatever way she could.

“Ta-dah!” said Alex, presenting Dottie, who was wearing a simple tunic Alex had styled from the old sheet. Her school tie had been repurposed into a belt round her middle, and an old red pashmina Philippa hadn’t worn in years was around Dottie’s shoulders in place of a cloak.

“Amazing,” said Philippa. “And if you get the jelly shoes we bought you for the beach last summer, they can be your Roman sandals.”

“Yesssss!” said Dottie, running up the stairs to her bedroom.

“Thank you,” said Philippa. “Really, thank you. You are so creative. I’d never have been able to work out how to make something as good as that.”

“You’re entirely welcome. Dottie’s a fabulous person. I am sure, given the chance, Seren would love to get to know her properly,” said Alex. Her face clouded for a moment.

“I can see you’re a brilliant mum,” said Philippa, her voice soft. “And we will sort it so you can see Seren more. I know we can do that.”

“Thank you,” said Alex with a small smile.

Chapter Thirty

The sun shone through the blossom on the branches, and through the windows into Philippa’s office. She could have used the blinds, but today she felt like letting the sun in, even though it got in her eyes at certain angles. She smiled out into the world. So this was what it was supposed to be like. She wanted to open a window and shout at everyone who could hear that she finally understood what all the fuss was about. It had only taken her forty-six years. But she had arrived. And she had grand plans to stay.

In the back of her mind, she knew that she and Alex hadn’t talked about what the future looked like. There was a lot to talk about. Their lives were increasingly intwined. This was evident when she opened her inbox to find an email with designs in from Fletcher Design Co. She had to consider the best approach for Alex’s ex-wife as well. And what about their children? How would any relationship – if they were in one – play out for them?

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