Page 55 of Rider Forbidden
I go into the kitchen and do our drinks and hear them both chatting away. It's so sweet. I know Elijah will be starving about now, so I start to plate up the pasta - we have a little dining table in the kitchen, so I set it for the three of us. It feels strange setting it for three . . . nice strange.
I shout them through to dinner and we sit down.
“This looks gorgeous Danish, I'm starving.”
Eli looks puzzled “Why do you keep calling her Danish? Her name is Robyn you know - her real name when she’s not mummy.”
Jack laughs “I know, but when I first saw your mummy she was buying a cake called a Danish and now every time I see one of those cakes I just think of your mum, so it pops out of my mouth to call her Danish.”
Eli nods looking satisfied with his answer. “So I should call you motorbike because when I see you I think of motorbikes?”
Jack nods his head. “If that’s what you want to call me, I will answer to it.”
“Cool!” Eli tucks into his food - he’s such a good eater - got a feeling my food bill is gonna be quite big in a few years.
Its comfortable while we eat - we laugh and chat. There’s nothing like a young child to keep the conversation flowing, and honest conversation at that.
I bring out the apple pie - which has turned out amazing for a first attempt - I hope it tastes as good as it looks. Jacks eyes widen and he rubs his stomach. “You know I have to stay fit for the track right?”
I laugh “What about all the beer?”
He waves his hand, “I don't drink as much as you think I do.”
I shrug “It's fine if you don't want any - more for Eli and me. isn't that right kiddo?”
Eli looks upset. “You don't want any of my pie?”
Jack realises that he’s on the verge of upsetting Eli, especially when I know he was only messing around anyway - he totally wanted my pie. “Of course, little dude - I'm just messing with your mum - there is no way I'm turning down this pie.”
I heat the custard and dish it out. It is yum. Wow, do I look like a domestic goddess or what? He doesn't need to know it's my first time making it.
Jack tastes it, “Oh my god Eli - this is the best apple pie I’ve ever tasted in the world.”
Eli's eyes widen “Really?”
He nods earnestly, “Oh yeah, it can win competitions.”
Eli beams “Mummy says I'm the best cook ever.”
Jack glances at me, his gaze soft. “Mummy is right.”
After we've finished, we go into the living room. I know there’s something Jack wants to talk to me about but it's not like he can talk to me in front of Eli. Eli's bedtime soon comes around. “Mummy, can Jack read my story tonight?”
I look at Jack, unsure he’ll want to do it.
“I would love to read your story - as long as it’s a good one - what are we reading?”
“I think we're onSuperwormtonight,” I say to Jack, with a smirk on my face. We have all the Julia Donaldson books - Eli is obsessed with them so we take turns - I wasn't making it up - it really isSuperworm’sturn.
“Really? Well come on -Superwormit is.”
We all go upstairs, there is a bathroom and Eli’s bedroom on the first floor in a converted roof space. It's cute, not too big. I decided to give him this room and not the downstairs one because then when I put him to bed, he can't hear me watching TV. He’s not disturbed up there. Even though he’s four I do have a baby monitor still in my bedroom so that I can hear him upstairs in the night.
“Wow, Eli - this bedroom is seriously cool.” It really is - it has windows on one side looking over a field with a lake in the distance. It is painted in all creams, so I decorated as best I could with his football team colours and duvet set - it's cool - for a four-year-old boy . . . and obviously Jack.”
“You like it? You want to come for a sleepover one night?”
Jack laughs “We’ll see. It's cool though.”
