“She was. Tess and her mum came along with us.”
“No, I remember it clearly, Madison,” Ryan said in a decisive tone. “It was you who refused the paella, because I remember thinking to myself how strange it was that my own daughter wouldn’t eat a bite of the very best food we had on that whole holiday.”
Madison looked appealingly at Dylan, but he just shrugged. Cassie expected her to keep arguing back, because she was usually as tenacious about her opinions as a bulldog with a bone. But to her surprise, Madison just lowered her head and devoured her second helping. She didn’t look happy, but she didn’t speak about the incident again, and after a short silence, Cassie filled the uncomfortable gap in the conversation by asking what the program was for school tomorrow.
“We’re both in the school play and there’s a dress rehearsal at the town hall after school,” Madison said.
“Where must I fetch you from?” Cassie asked.
“We can catch the bus back,” Madison said. “It runs right past the town hall.”
Intrigued by the mention of a performance, Cassie asked, “What’s the play about? What are your roles?”
“Dylan is backstage crew, but they appear on stage, they wear these shirts saying “Crew” and run on and change the scenes.”
“It’s a very important role,” Dylan added. “We have to be fast, but at the same time we also have to look like factory workers while making the audience laugh, so we’re actors too. There are five of us, and they only picked people who were tall and strong.”
“I can see you’re crucial to the action,” Cassie agreed. “What about you, Maddie?”
“I am Veruca Salt.” Madison looked proud.
“That’s one of the main characters, isn’t it?” Cassie said, trying to remember the book, which she’d read as a child.
“Yes, it is. I’m the spoiled brat whose father gives her everything!”
Ryan laughed, shaking his head.
“And I’m the youngest person to have a speaking part,” she continued.
“That’s incredible. When’s the play itself?”
“It’s on Saturday afternoon.”
Madison scraped her fork across the empty plate to get the last of the sauce, licked it, and put it neatly down.
“I have tickets,” Ryan said.
“And don’t forget, we have a cast sleepover that night,” Madison reminded him.
“What’s that?” Cassie asked.
“They’re performing the play the following morning as part of an inter-school arts festival in Canterbury. So the cast are traveling to a hotel after the Saturday show, and staying overnight. Then they’ll be dropped back at school later on Sunday,” Ryan explained.
“I’ll put it on the timetable and be there to pick you up when you get back,” Cassie said.
*
In the morning she awoke to find the first winter storm had arrived.
A massive cold front had blown in, bringing with it howling winds and driving rain. Cassie was woken by the gusts of rain drumming against her window, and realized as soon as she got out of bed that the temperature had dropped sharply. Suddenly the low setting of the central heating seemed uncomfortable, and she rushed to get dressed, putting on thick socks and several layers of clothing.
Concerned about the children standing outside in this icy, blowing rain, she drove them to the bus stop and waited until the bus arrived. Then they made a run for it, sprinting through the rain and leaping over puddles before reaching the bus doors.
Arriving home cold and wet after the short run from the car to the house, Cassie headed to the kitchen to warm up by the fire. Here, she was surprised to see Ryan making a pot of tea.
“Good morning, lovely,” he greeted her and she felt herself flush with the pleasure of the compliment, and the prospect of being able to spend some unexpected time with him.
“Is everything all right?” she asked. “I thought I heard you leave earlier.”
“I only stayed at work long enough to make a call on the weather. There’s no repair work going to be done today with this storm. I’ve postponed the new crew. It’s supposed to clear for a while this afternoon, but we can’t get any work started till tomorrow.”
“Oh dear. That must be playing havoc with your timing.”
“I always factor in a few non-operational days this time of year, so it’s not a catastrophe. The main problem was the previous repair crew’s schedule. Thankfully we have some extra time now, with a new team on board.”
“What are you going to do today?” Cassie asked, pouring the tea.
“I’ve got some paperwork to catch up on, but it won’t take long. So if I can give you a hand doing anything, let me know.”
“I will,” Cassie replied, delighted to have Ryan to herself for the day.
The paperwork seemed to take him no time at all, and he helped her with the chores she’d become used to doing—tidying the rooms, emptying the dishwasher, putting on a load of laundry.
“You know, this really does feel like domestic bliss,” he commented jokingly. “I’m sure chores become mundane and annoying when you do them every day, but once in a while, and especially with such pleasant company, I’m finding this fun.”
“You think you’d be a good house-husband?” Cassie joked, then blushed crimson as she realized how forward the comment must have sounded. But Ryan winked at her before replying in a serious tone.
“I think I’d be a brilliant one.”
By lunchtime, all the chores were done and the house was tidy.
“I have to admit, as an outdoor person, this weather gives me cabin fever,” Ryan said. “Do you want to head down the pub for lunch? We’ll get absolutely soaked on the walk, but they have a roaring fire there so we can eat, dry out, and have a pint or two—and then do the same thing all over again on the way back if it’s still raining. I know it will be fun, and I’d love to do it with you.”
“That sounds wonderful,” Cassie said, thrilled to be going on an outing with him, and thanking her lucky stars that the children
