Page 28 of Eden's Comfort Kitchen
‘God, yes, like best friends. Not even two years between us – she was the oldest. Before she died, she made me promise I’d take on the twins. As if she needed to ask – I would always have done that.’
‘What about their dad?’
‘Oh, he’s never been interested, not since the twins were born. We did get in touch to see if he might feel differently with Zoe’s death, but all he did was visit once or twice. He sends a Christmas card when he remembers, but that’s about it. Maybe one day when they’re older they’ll try to build some kind of relationship with him – that’ll be up to them, I suppose.’
‘Wow, that’s harsh, considering they lost their mum.’
‘Maybe, but there was no way we would have given him custody without a fight, even if he’d wanted it. Luckily he didn’t, and I was allowed to adopt them.’
Eden’s eyes widened. ‘So they’re yours?’
‘Legally, yes. Mum wasn’t sure, but it seemed like the best thing to me, so we went ahead.’
‘But they don’t call you mum.’
Livia shook her head. ‘Why would they? They had a beautiful mum and they lost her. I don’t want to take her place; I just wanted to be their legal parent so there’d be no question over who would take care of them, make decisions about what’s best for them. Until they’re eighteen, it’s down to me.’
‘That’s kind of amazing.’
‘Is it?’
‘God yes! What are you, like twenty-five, twenty-six?’
‘Twenty-seven.’
‘And you’ve been looking after them for the last four years? Even adopting them? I don’t know anyone back in London who’d have done something so…well, not at that age. I don’t think I could have even looked after myself at that age, let alone two children.’
‘I didn’t see it that way. There was never any question – I was always going to care for them. Those two are everything to me, just like they would be if they were mine. And they are mine now. They don’t call me mum, but they’re my children.’
‘You might not think it’s anything to be proud of, but I think it’s amazing. They’re lucky to have you.’
‘They’d have been luckier to have their mum, but thank you.’
The time had passed so quickly that Eden didn’t realise they’d already reached the ice-cream parlour.
‘I’d better get back to work,’ Livia said. ‘I’ve been longer than I meant to be. So don’t forget, if you want to walk up to schoolwith me, be back here in’ – she looked at the clock on her phone – ‘about an hour and a half. No pressure, of course.’
‘That sounds nice. I’d like to see Nancy and Levi.’
‘OK, so I’ll see you then.’
Eden grasped the hand of each child tightly, aware with every fibre of her being of just what she was being trusted with and determined to repay that trust. Livia had already told her that Nancy and Levi were everything to her, but after picking them up from school, she’d allowed Eden to take them off for an hour. The children had been beyond excited by this new and unexpected turn of events, which had made Eden feel happy and wanted.
Nancy was chattier than Levi, fascinated by everything but mostly by the novelty of their situation and with Eden herself. Her questions were endless, and barely had Eden given an answer than there was a fresh one to contemplate.
Have you got a little girl? Where do you live? What’s in that bag? Who’s your best friend? Do you have a dog? Do you like ice cream? What’s your favourite sweet? Do you eat burgers? Are you Livia’s friend? Do you work at the Dolphin?
Levi was quieter, humming to himself and content to let his sister do the talking, but from time to time he’d chime in with something of his own:Can you swim? Do you have a car? Who’s your favourite – Batman or Spider-Man? Have you ever seen an alien?
If she’d been less stressed, Eden would have found their interrogation funny. If they were always like this, then it was no wonder Livia loved spending time with them. They were both bright and lively and lovely company, but then, knowing Livia as Eden was beginning to, that was hardly surprising. It made Eden wonder what Livia’s sister – their mum – had been like. Howmuch influence had she had on the children in the short time she’d been with them, and how much of who they were now was down to Livia and Julia?
As soon as they arrived at the beach and stepped onto the sand, both children bent to kick off their shoes and socks, dumping them on a nearby rock.
‘Can we paddle?’ Nancy asked.
‘I suppose so,’ Eden said, taking off her own shoes. But when she looked up, both children were watching her. ‘It’s all right – go ahead.’
‘You have to come with us. We can’t go to the water without you – Livia said so.’
