Sweet Child of Mine (9 page)

Leila was suspect and it didn’t take Liam long to catch on to what she was doing.

“Stop making faces at each other!” she hissed when he pulled her to the side, away from the kitchen where Abigail was making them all lunch on her insistence. The woman was impossible to make relax. It gave him a minute to talk to Leila.

“Is that all you’re seeing? Faces? Child,” he sighed, “that’s Jedi Adult Mind Communication.”

“Oh, so I wouldn’t get it because I’m not as old as you two? It’s just rude.”

“No, being rude is placing yourself in every single conversation or demanding to know what me and Abigail are talking about,” he corrected. “I thought you were going to talk to me about things?”

She pressed her lips together, fighting to control herself. “You’re leaving me out. Just like Mum did.”

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

Leila huffed. “When Mum moved out and you basically pushed me out to go and see her, we’d always be with her friends.”

“What friends? Men?” he demanded. Leila sent him a look of assent. Fu-huck! The hell!

“And she’d just ignore me. I could have stayed at home for all the attention she paid me.”

“This isn’t the same.”

“No, but it starts like this. And then it’s you and Abigail and not me.”

He took a deep breath before speaking. His child was ultra-sensitive to situations now, and he had to take care not make it any worse. “That’s not what’s going to happen.”

“It will if you get married and you have kids. No one will think about what I want.”

“You are racing ahead of me in this imaginary future.” A lovely one, one he’d given serious thought to, but an imagined one all the same. “Think of it this way. You know how you love your grandparents? My parents and your mum’s parents?”

“Yeah, but...”

“Do you love one set more than the other?”

Leila made a moue with her mouth. “Is this before or after I heard...?”

God help him. “Baby, it’s a straightforward question!”

“No. I think I love them both the same.”

“You can love many people in different ways at the same time. It doesn’t diminish your love for one person or mean you care more for another.”

She stared at him. “What’s going on? Do you love Abigail or something?”

Yes.
“All I’m saying is that you can share.”

“It’s not...”

He spoke over her before she could say anything more. “It is the same thing. It doesn’t mean I love you any less because I’m talking to Abigail or she’s talking to me. We, the three of us, can have a good time together. You don’t have to keep us separate. I’m not going anywhere.”

She didn’t look convinced. “All right. Fine. How long until we find out about the results?”

“Tomorrow maybe. The hard copy is going to our house.” Nothing about that paperwork made him feel particularly comfortable. Either way, they would both know and they could work from there. Speculating would only cause both of them harm.

“Leila,” he insisted, “no one’s pushing you out. Just relax, okay? That’s all we’re here for.”

“Don’t forget me,” she reminded him. Abigail’s call from the kitchen sent them back for her attention. Handing them plates, she sent him a wink and a smile. Leila’s question, or interrogation rather, had all his feelings bubbling to the surface. It was too soon. But this, them, together, with Leila, who managed to raise a smile at her huge plate of food, only made him wish that imaginary future was all the closer.

***

A languid day that only saw them rouse for lunch rather than breakfast eventually led them all to the beach with surfboards and wetsuits. Liam watched Abigail help Leila with her own and ensure the board was properly waxed before they took to the waves together. Abigail was just like a water nymph. Almost as if she and the board were one as she rode the peaks of the sea, all the while keeping an eye on Leila, who had improved since their last trip. Leila jogged back and collapsed next to him on the blanket.

He handed her a bottle of water and she gulped at it. “Good?”

“She’s so good at it!” Leila huffed in amazement. “Suppose she’s been doing it for years since she’s so old.”

“Oi,” he reproved, “she’s younger than me.”

His daughter made a face of disgust. “Hardly. You both need help in a nursing home.”

“You know your granny was trying to set us up? Me and Abigail?”

Leila wrapped a towel around her hair. “Really? Why?”

“What do you mean why? Why else does your granny do anything?”

She sat down next to him. “Granny did say you needed to not be on your own. Since I’m so mean to you all the time.”

He ruffled her hair. “Nice of her to say so.”

“She likes you,” Leila said quietly, twisting the towel in her hands.

“Your granny? I’d hope so, she gave birth to me, it’s the least she should do.”

She sent him a look of disdain. “I meant Abigail. I think she likes you.”

Liam kept his face neutral. “What makes you say that?”

Looking smug, Leila stood up again. “I can tell.”

“But she’s your friend,” he reminded her. “Won’t that cause problems?”

“No,” she admitted. “’Cause she likes me too. I don’t mind. Maybe you should ask her out. Before you get older. And she finds someone younger and more fit. Like Harry Styles. He went out with that older woman from the
X Factor.
And Abigail’s much prettier.”

His daughter was comparing his love life to that of a horny eighteen-year-old boy. Nice. “She is very pretty,” he agreed. “Go back in the water, before it starts raining.” The clouds were starting to grey over, turning the water a similar sludgy shade.

“Alrighty.” She zipped her suit back up and took her board back to the water. There was his proof that he knew his daughter. By tomorrow, she’d be convinced that anything that happened between him and Abigail was all her idea and orchestration. Credit where credit was due.

Abigail came back from the surf, water pearling on her tight curls. “That was the best. Are you going out? I’ll look after our things.” She unzipped her wet suit, revealing a simple black and silver bikini. “What are you staring at? You saw all this and all uncovered last night.”

“I did, and I’m enjoying how lucky I am,” he teased, getting to his feet, fully intending to let his palms recall how good she felt. She batted him away.

“Child watching.” She nodded to Leila who was on the edge of the surf, peeling seaweed from her hair.

“Oh she’s told me she wants me to ask you out before you turn into a puma and start chasing members of One Direction.” He yanked up the zip on his suit and gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Enjoy that image for a minute.”

Her laughter followed him into the water.

***

Abigail removed her wet suit and wrapped up in one of the many towels they’d brought with them. At the very least, a weak sun kept her warm against the wind rolling from the sea. She loved surfing. The exhilaration of the waves and the freedom of controlling her movements was nothing she really experienced any other way. Except with Liam. Naughty man. Trying to get them both into trouble by catching a cheeky feel.

Stretching her arms above her head, she closed her eyes for a moment. She heard Leila approaching, by the movement on the pebbles and sand. Lifting an eyelid, she smiled as the girl sat next to her.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“Not to worry. We haven’t been robbed while I’ve been inspecting the back of my eyelids?”

“Nah!” Leila laughed. “Everything’s still here.”

“Good. Your dad’s pretty obsessed with his phone. I wouldn’t want to take the blame if someone did nick it.”

“You know a lot about him,” she asserted. Abigail kept her eyes closed. “Did you know each other?”

“Not really. Just praises from your granny at church.”

“Would you want to go out with him? My dad?”

She opened her eyes and sat up. “Why ask?”

“I dunno. I mean, you’re on holiday with us. And I know he likes you. He said you’re pretty.”

No one can see you blush
, she told herself, even as Liam’s words the night before rained in delicious repeat over her body.
You’re so fucking beautiful...
“Why are you selling your father, like he’s on the shelf in Tescos?”

Leila giggled. “I’m not. Don’t you like him too? You look at each other like you do.”

Erm... “That’s adult Jedi mind talk. I wouldn’t read too much into it.”

“He said the same thing! I’m just saying,” She interrupted, “I don’t mind. Only because I know where you work and I can throw heavier things than eggs.”

Abigail lay back down again, almost reassured by the girl’s words. “You know that’s conspiracy to criminal damage, by admitting that to me, right?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the girl claimed. Abigail made a moue with her mouth. As long as that made Leila feel better, what was a threat between friends?

The fire on the beach was blazing now. Abigail was handing over the marshmallows to Leila sporadically, and his daughter skewered them to hold over the flames.

He’d set up the wireless speaker and to Leila’s endless disapproval, old-school drum and bass played in the background. “Wait,” Abigail assured her. “A couple more years and you’ll be sneaking into clubs to listen to sweet tunes like these.”

“Why are you corrupting my child?”

“Thought I might get in early,” Abigail teased. “Complete the job you’re so clearly going to do.”

“Hey,” Leila protested. “I am here.”

“Corrupted!” Abigail sing-songed. “What’s going on with the music?”

He reached for his phone and connected another playlist. Closing the app, he noted that the number of emails awaiting his attention had leapt from thirty-eight to thirty-nine.

Probably more to do with work. Nothing that couldn’t wait until he got back home, but concern made him look. The email was from DNA National.

His gaze instantly went to Leila. She was oblivious, instead taken by trying to convince Abigail that they were listening to noise and not music. He opened the email and scanned it. Pages of legal information assaulted his eyes until he realised there was an attachment. Opening the PDF, he searched for what he wanted to see. Tears blurred his eyes and he clapped a hand over his mouth.

“Dad?” Leila asked. “What’s wrong?”

He couldn’t speak, his voice too choked by emotion. Abigail came to kneel next to him, her hand on his shoulder. “Liam, what’s happened?”

“Leila, come here,” he insisted, putting the phone into Abigail’s hands. “Do you know why you’re going to love this music? Because you’re my daughter.”

She blinked. “Well, that doesn’t mean I’m going to...” It took her a moment to connect what he was saying, and it was only after Abigail burst out, “Oh thank God!” that Leila launched herself into his arms.

“Are you lying?” she wept, her words almost incomprehensible.

Abigail gently rubbed her arm. “Look.”

“I don’t understand what this even means!” she wailed.

“This here means they are 99.99 percent certain that you are my biological child. They’re posting the hard copy to us but if I tell you you’re grounded, you can yell at me that you hate me but I’m your dad.”

She curled against him, squeezing him tighter. He caught Abigail by the hand and pulled her into the circle of the embrace. “Why would Mum do this?” Leila asked eventually. “Why would she hurt us like this?”

Abigail answered for him. “People do hurtful things when they’re hurting. All that matters is you’re loved.”

Liam felt Leila nod against him, and he caught Abigail’s gaze.
Thank you
, he mouthed. She smiled softly and snuggled further into the hug. For a long time they stayed that way, the three of them, until Armand Van Helden burst onto the stereo.

“Listen, get up,” Abigail insisted. “We have to dance to this.”

Carried away by a level of absolute relief, Liam regressed to his twenty-four-year-old self and popped his limbs in rhythm to the beats. Leila followed his movements, her face glowing with happiness. Abigail’s relief echoed his own as they circled the fire in unison. Unable to help himself, he caught Abigail by the arms and kissed her.

“That’s fast,” Leila murmured. “I only said ask her out.”

“Shush,” he warned. “Carry on dancing.”

Abigail cupped his face for a brief moment and continued the march around the fire. At that moment, he couldn’t have asked for anything more in his life.