Page 27 of Only You

“Hi,” Ana said, looking up and smiling, her eyes shifting straight to Olivia. Ana washed her hands and came around the island towards them.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she said, motioning to the kitchen and food. “You said about making dinner, and I had some time to kill.”

Andrew grinned. “Please don’t apologise,” he said. “It smells delicious.”

Ana knelt to make herself eye level with Olivia, whose head tilted as she watched their interaction. “Hi,” Ana said, “You must be Olivia. I’m Ana.”

Ana held out her hand for Olivia to shake. Olivia locked eyes with Andrew, and he nodded to show that she should accept. Olivia held Ana’s hand, and Andrew noticed Ana’s joy when she gazed at his daughter. Olivia smiled back, clinging to his leg with her other hand.

If Ana noticed, she said nothing. She simply smiled as she let go of Olivia’s hand.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Olivia. I hope you like cookies?” Ana moved away, pointing to a large plate filled with cookies. Ana smiled at Olivia. “I wasn’t sure which you would prefer, so I made two lots. Some chocolate chip and some plain.”

Andrew held his breath as Olivia moved to stand in front of him.

“I like chocolate chip,” Olivia said, moving towards the island and Ana before climbing up onto the stool, “but daddy, he prefers plain.”

Andrew dared not move as he watched his daughter interact with a virtual stranger. Olivia never put herself forward. She always let others do the talking for her. They saidblood is thicker than water, but he had never had the chance to see it in action.

As if sensing this was a big moment for Olivia, Ana went back to straining the vegetables. “If you would both like to get washed up, then dinner will be on the table in five minutes.”

Olivia didn’t need to be told twice. She was out of the kitchen in seconds.

Andrew stepped forward but took a leaf out of his daughter’s book and got washed up. Taking the stairs two at a time, he changed out of his work suit and into some jeans and a jumper. Washing his hands in his bathroom, he made his way downstairs to find Olivia hovering outside the door.

When they entered, Ana was busy dishing up, having carved the chicken and placed it on a plate. The vegetables and roast potatoes were cooked to perfection, and his mouth watered just looking at it. The only roast dinners he and Olivia ate were at his mum and dad’s home. Cooking was one thing he had never mastered. It was why he paid Rosalind, his housekeeper, to cook on the evenings he and Olivia were going to be home. Fish fingers, mash and ready meals were about all he could throw together. This was a treat, and one Olivia was enjoying.

They all sat down together. Ana helped Olivia, asking how much and what she wanted. It shocked Andrew when Olivia answered unprompted.

“How was your day, Olivia?” Ana asked after they had sat in silence for several moments.

“It was okay,” Olivia said. Andrew choked on his carrot when she added, “We had art today. We are making a collage.”

Ana’s attention was fixed on his daughter. “Wow, what is your collage about?” Ana asked.

“It’s nature,” Olivia said. “We must use lots of different textures and things. The teacher puts a gigantic pile of stuff at the side of the classroom, and we can choose what we want to use. I used some foil for water.”

“Great idea,” Ana said, “I have to make a collage for my project.”

Olivia frowned. “Your project?”

Ana smiled. “Yes, my university project. I’m studying textiles and fashion.”

“Daddy went to University, and then he went to medical school,” Olivia chirped.

“I know,” Ana said, looking up and smiling at Andrew, his breath catching. She looked so much like Eva at that moment, although somehow more.

“What is your collage about?” Olivia asked, drawing Ana’s attention away.

“We have to make an item of clothing on architecture,” Ana explained. She told Olivia all about her project before asking her more about her own. Andrew sat in silence as he listened to them both share their day. Only when silence descended did he realise they had stopped and were staring at him.

Olivia giggled, “Daddy, you’re not paying attention.” He swore he heard a tusk in his daughter’s voice. “Ana asked how your day was.”

“Sorry sunshine, I was away with the fairies,” he said, embarrassed they had caught him daydreaming. “My day was good, thank you. It’s my quieter day because of my early start, but everything went well at the television station this morning and this afternoon. I caught up on my paperwork.” He looked through more application forms but thought he would never find the right person. The more he thought about it, Ana would be the perfect choice after what he had just witnessed. Would it fit in with her studies? That was the big question and something he hadn’t factored in.

After they finished, everyone helped clear up. Ana took on the role of the clean fairy; Andrew’s mind went back to her parents’ house. It had always been immaculate with not an item out of place.

The doorbell rang, and Andrew went to answer it, knowing it was his mother. He had asked her to come and sit with Olivia so he could take Ana to retrieve her stuff. He had not wanted Ana going back to the flat alone.

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