It's All About Him (45 page)

'Look at you lot, all tanned and gorgeous,' the woman marvelled. 'Where were you?'

'We were in Spain visiting Neil, Sam's dad,' Dee told her.

'I've got a new baby brother,' Sam boasted. 'He's Spanish and he's called Luis, that's Spanish for Louis.'

'That's wonderful, Sam, congratulations.'

'Is he going to come and live with you on the farm?' Tom asked.

'No, he lives with his mum, Benita, and Neil in Spain but they'll come to visit us and we'll go and visit him, won't we, Mum?'

'Absolutely.' Dee rolled her eyes at Pam.

'He seems to have adapted well to the situation,' Pam murmured as Conor and the boys moved ahead of them on the narrow path.

'I know, it's amazing. He was a bit nervous the first couple of times he met Neil but after that he just took it in his stride. Then I was afraid he might be jealous of the baby, but as you've just heard, he's as proud as punch.'

'It probably helps that they live so far away,' Pam said.

'Maybe; whatever the reason, I'm not complaining.' Dee smiled. They had come a long way since that first, nerve-racking meeting in the park. Sam, initially cautious and full of questions, had quite quickly come to grips with the situation and had welcomed Neil into his life as easily as he would a new child in the crèche.

They arrived outside the school and Dee crouched down so she could look into Sam's face. 'Okay, sweetheart, have a lovely day and remember, your nana is coming over to tea later to hear all about it.'

'Great!'

Dee smiled. 'Okay, then, are you ready?'

'Ready. Bye, Mum!' Sam said and sped off without a backward glance, Tom hot on his heels.

'This isn't quite the way I imagined it,' Pam said, tearfully. 'I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm glad they're both so happy and confident, but a hug would have been nice.'

'Sam, wait!' Conor shouted, brandishing his camera. 'I have to get a photo.'

Sam stopped and looked back. 'But—'

'Back here, please,' Conor said firmly. 'You too, Tom, we have to have a photo so that we have something to tease you about when you're eighteen.'

The boys came back, Sam groaning dramatically. 'Sorry, Tom, my dad is just
so
embarrassing.'

Dee and Conor exchanged a stunned look.
Dad
? Conor recovered first and organized them all into little groups, snapping away, a wide grin on his face.

'Okay, you can go now,' he finally told the children.

'Just one minute,
Dad
.' Pam grinned as she took the camera from him. 'Now it's your turn.'

'Oh, man!' Sam grumbled.

Conor and Dee crouched, one each side of him, and smiled at each other over his head.

'Okay, everybody, look this way and say cheese!' Pam ordered.

Sam put an arm around each of their necks and giggled. 'Gorgonzola!'