were all I’d thought about. I was desperate to see you, and to make Blythe understand how sorry I was. If she still had feelings for me, I thought I might be able to persuade her to change her mind, give me another chance. So I came round to the house and that’s when I saw you for the first time. It was incredible. You were ... well, it’s not something you ever forget.
You were beaming at me, with your hair in a funny little curly topknot and Ribena stains on your white T-shirt. But your mother wasn’t open to persuasion, she said she’d never be able to trust me. She also said I’d put her through hell and if I had an ounce of decency I’d leave the two of you in peace, because no father at all would be easier for you to deal with than a lying, cheating, untrustworthy one. She fmished off by saying if I really wanted to prove how sorry I was, the best thing I could do was disappear. And you know what?’ As they waited for the traffic lights to change, he gave Lola a sideways look. ‘She meant it.’
‘Hey, it’s the white rabbit!’ someone bawled out of a car window ‘Where’s Alice?’
The lights turned green. Together they crossed the road. ‘So that’s what you did: said Lola.
Notting Hill tube station was ahead of them now
‘I didn’t want to. But I was the one who’d messed up. I felt I owed Blythe that much. So I said goodbye and left.’ He waited. ‘That was the worst day of my life.’
Crikey, this was emotional stuff.
‘I keep feeling as if I’m listening to you talk about some television drama.’ Lola shook her head in disbelief. ‘Then it hits me all over again; this is actually about me.’
‘Oi, you in the fur,’ roared a bloke zooming past in a van. ‘Fancy a jump?’
‘My flat’s down here.’ Loftily ignoring the van driver, Lola turned left into Radley Road. ‘I’ve still got loads more questions.’
‘Fire away.’
‘Have you been in trouble with the law since then?’
Nick shook his head. ‘No, no. Apart from three points on my licence for speeding. I learned my lesson, Your Honour.’
‘Are you married?’
Another shake. ‘Not any more. Amicable divorce six years ago.’
‘Any children?’
He broke into a smile. ‘No other children. Just you.’
Lola swallowed; God, this was really happening. Wait until she told her mum about tonight.
‘Well, this is where I live.’ She stopped outside number 73; they’d walked all the way from Soho.
‘Nice place.’
‘Thanks.’ The events of the evening abruptly caught up with Lola; one minute she’d been strolling happily along, the next she was so bone tired all she wanted to do was lie down and sleep for a week. But this man – her father – had just spent the last hour walking her home .. .
‘Right then, I’ll be off.’ Nick James watched her yawn like a hippo.
‘I feel awful, not inviting you in for a coffee.’
‘Hey, it’s fme. I’ll get a cab.’ He raked his fingers through his hair. ‘It’s been a lot to take in.’
Lola nodded; gosh, and now she didn’t know how to say goodbye. This was even more awkward than the end of a disastrous blind date. Was she supposed to hug him, kiss him, shake hands or what?
Nick James smiled and said, ‘Tricky, isn’t it?’
‘Yes, it is.’ Relieved that he understood, Lola watched him take out his wallet. ‘Ooh, do I start getting pocket money?’
‘I was thinking more of a business card.’ The smile broadened as he handed over his card. ‘I don’t want to put pressure on you, so from now on I’ll leave it up to you to get in touch with me.
That’s if you decide you want to.’ Turning, he began to walk back down the street.
Lola watched him go, a lump forming in her throat. What a night, what a thing to happen out of the blue. Tucking the rabbit’s head under one furry arm, she delved into her bag for her front door key.
Nick James was about to turn the corner when she cleared her throat and called out, ‘Um ...
Nick? I will be in touch.’
He paused, turned to face her and raised a hand in acknowledgement. ‘I hope so.’
Chapter 19
At four o’clock the following afternoon the taxi pulled into Radley Road. Gabe said, ‘It’s the blue and white house up there on the left.’
OK, he was back.
When the cab had disappeared he hauled his luggage up the steps and let himself in through the front door. Leaving the cases in the hall, he made his way upstairs.Then, bracing himself, he knocked on Lola’s door.
So much for bracing. No reply.
Well, it wasn’t as if she was expecting him. As far as Lola was concerned he was still on the other side of the world.
Gabe went downstairs and fetched his cases, piling them up outside Lola’s. Then he crossed the landing and knocked on the door of his own flat.
