Page 75 of The Surrender
“I’m a woman.”
“You’ll always be my little girl.”
I sigh, but I smile. “I love you, Dad. Even though you’re trapped in the Middle Ages.”
“And I love you, darling, even though you’re a headstrong pain in my backside who swore at me.” He pauses a beat. Sighs too. “But I wouldn’t have you any other way. Keeps me on my toes. I hope this new guy knows what he’s signing up for.”
I grin like an idiot. “I’ve got to go. Jude’s made me dinner, and I’ve got to help him clean up.”
“Oh?” Dad says, quiet and interested. “Jude, eh? Where does he live?”
“Oxfordshire.”
“How the flaming heck are you getting home from Oxfordshire?”
“Driving.”
“What?”
“I have a car now.”
“You do?”
“A Jaguar.”
“Well,” he says, kind of surprised, kind of impressed. “You really are doing well, aren’t you?”
“I am, but I didn’t buy it.”
“What?”
“It was a gift from Jude. Bye!” I hang up and leave that with him, smiling at the thought of him yelling Mum’s name, stalking around the house looking for her so he can tell her. I quickly put a call in to Abbie. “Hey.”
“Evening.”
“Where are you?” I ask, hearing a busy background, guessing she’s in a restaurant.
“On a date.”
I scramble up, shocked to my core. “Who with?”
“Vince Hightower.”
“You know I don’t know who that is. Wait.” I quickly go to my screen and hook Charley in, even though I’m technically not speaking to her. “Did you know she’s on a date?” I ask when her face appears.
“Shhh,” Charley hisses, directing her camera down. Ena is asleep in her arms. “A date?” she whispers.
“Yes,” I whisper back.
“Who with?”
“Vince Hightower.”
“Is that a superhero’s alias?”
I snort.
“Fuck off,” Abbie whisper hisses. “He came into the florist earlier and ordered some flowers.”
