Page 57 of Could It Be Magic?
‘I can understand that.’ Ed shook his head. ‘It was a gamble…’ He gave a nervous laugh. ‘Sorry, poor choice of words. I’m glad, in a way, that Ben took the initiative. It’s made things a bit easier.’
‘You think this is easy?’ Thea shook her head.
‘Not exactly, but it’s done now.’ Ed gave her a small smile. ‘I’d like to make the best of it, if you’re willing to do the same.’
Despite the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days, Thea could feel her anger starting to abate. Ed had obviously picked up the pieces of his life, and despite the lack of actual contact over the years, he seemed sincere now. It still felt unreal; when he’d left, penniless and in the grip of a gambling addiction that had bankrupted them, she had never wanted to see him again. But time was a reasonable healer, and now, it seemed, it was time to face the next phase of their relationship.
‘Let’s get through to the new year first,’ Thea said, surprising herself with how calm she now felt. ‘I’m sure we can work something out and get us all to meet. Cora’s great with young children, and I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to meet Maisie.’ She gave a brief smile. ‘And if Ben’s into football, he and Dylan will be fine.’
‘He’s a Bristol Rovers supporter, so I’m not sure if that counts!’ Ed quipped. ‘But hopefully they can bond over a couple of goalposts.’
Thea stood up again, once they’d swapped mobile numbers. ‘I’ll be in touch.’
Ed rose, too, and, taking another look in Tristan’s direction, he said, ‘I hoped your family would look after you after what I put you through. And I’m so sorry I haven’t been there for you and the kids.’ He paused and looked suddenly nervous. ‘I’d like to make it up to you all. The business I started a few years ago has been very successful. It’s about time I accounted for everything, financially as well as emotionally.’
Thea put up a hand. ‘We’ve done fine without you,’ she said firmly. ‘We don’t need your money now.’ Even if she’d been destitute again, she wasn’t ready to take Ed’s money. Not after all this time. The financial worries still ate away at her, but she’d find her own solution.
‘I understand.’ Ed met her unflinching gaze. ‘But there may come a time when that changes. I’d like to talk about how I can help, eventually. Please, Thea, promise me you’ll think about it.’
Thea nodded. ‘If you want to help, then give the money to the kids you walked out on. Open a savings account for each of them. I’m sure they’d appreciate that, when the time comes that they need the money.’
‘Sensible as ever.’ Ed smiled at her. ‘Some things never change.’
Thea tried not to smile back at him. She needed some time alone now to mull things over.
‘Speak soon,’ Ed said as he headed back towards the door. Thea watched as he nodded at Tristan, who gave a curt incline of his head back. Then, she let out a long, shaky breath.
Tristan was by her side in a trice. ‘Are you all right?’
Thea slid an arm around her brother’s waist and leaned against him. ‘I’m fine. I think it’s going to be OK.’
‘I meant what I said, Thea; if he dicks you around, he’ll have me to answer to.’
Thea gave a laugh at the protective vehemence of her twin brother’s tone. ‘I think he’s on the level. He seems to want what’s best for the kids – all of them.’
‘I hope you’re right,’ Tristan said, as they broke their hug. ‘For your sake, as well as theirs.’
As Tristan drove Thea back to her house, she felt grateful, not for the first time, that Tristan had her back. Her brother had always been there for her, and she felt stronger for it. She smiled as her phone vibrated with a WhatsApp, and her smile turned to a grin when she realised it was from Nick. Her head was still spinning from the maelstrom of the past few days, but Nick felt like another anchor in the storm. She was looking forward to seeing him, to update him on recent events.
50
Nick smiled broadly as he checked his phone. He and Thea had firmed up their plans for tonight and she’d asked him to come over after work for a bite to eat and a chat. He knew the kids would be around, so he’d have to curb his more passionate impulses, but he also felt hopeful that this might mean she was ready to introduce him to Cora and Dylan as someone other than just a good friend. He suspected they’d worked it out already, after the Midwinter’s Eve Ball, but it would be good to put things on a more ‘official’ footing with them. He set to completing his final jobs of the afternoon, so he could make a quick getaway when the shop closed.
As he was tidying the shelves and doing a last date check on the fridges, the shop’s bell tinkled and in walked Tristan.
‘Happy New Year, mate,’ Nick called, ‘if it’s not too early to say that!’
Tristan wrinkled his nose. ‘Might be, a bit. Where are we, 28 December?’
They exchanged pleasantries for a minute, before Tristan made a firm subject change. ‘Just a heads up, Nick, Thea’s a bit wobbly right now. If you’re seeing her over the next few days, be aware of that.’
‘What’s happened?’
‘Thea met up with that bastard ex of hers today at the pub. She’s agreed he and his new kids can meet Cora and Dylan, and they’re supposed to be working out some logistics so they can do it soon.’
‘Christ…’ Nick’s head spun. ‘I thought he was well out of the picture?’
‘Not out of it enough,’ Tristan muttered. ‘According to Thea, he’s in recovery, in a relationship and has a couple of new kids. Thea, for some godforsaken reason, thinks that means the kids should meet each other.’ He paused. ‘Cora’s been in touch through social media with Ed’s other son.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘She reckons if they don’t manage things between them, then the kids’ll do it anyway, eventually.’
