“That still doesn’t solve the access issue.”
Nick screwed up his face. “To use counselor-speak, ‘I hear that you’re not ready to accept Leo.’”
Optimism flickered. “Thank you.”
“I’ve got an idea. Promise you won’t freak out.”
If he was asking her that, she probably would. She steeled herself. “I’ll try.”
“What if the girls and I spend time with him?”
No! Categorically, no. But Indi’s cry of “I want Leo” in the craft tent tonight was booming in her head. In the ongoing fog of her own grief, she hadn’t considered that the sudden severing of ties with Jess and Leo would negatively affect the girls. Karen’s offer came back to her, along with her mother’s obvious disappointment of her rejection of it. Libby tried hard to silence Nick’s accusation that her attitude toward Leo went against everything she’d ever believed in and she was punishing an innocent child, but the weight of the claim crushed her. Despite the abhorrence that scuttled through her every time she thought of what that child represented, she could no longer withstand the tide of disapproval.
“I’ll agree to you and the girls spending time with him only if you never see her. Mom will do the pick-up and drop-off.”
Appreciation lit up his eyes. “That’s a great solution. What about Alice?”
“I’m not asking Alice.”
“Okay …” By the look on his face, he clearly wanted to ask her why, but he didn’t. “My parents will happily help out too.”
Her heart tore at how much Rick and Rosa wanted to see that child. “They have to understand the rules. They can’t be emissaries for her.”
“They won’t be. Believe me, I wear their disappointment in me almost as much as yours. How about we sit down with Karen and Peter and Mama and Papa and discuss how we want this to be handled?”
Libby knew she should feel some relief that they were managing to cooperate, but access was an unwanted obligation pressing in on her from all sides.
Nick rubbed his jaw—a clear sign he was wrestling with something. “Um … can Leo come here or is that too much?”
It was too much. She’d just made a huge concession by allowing him to see the child. How many more compromises would she be forced to make? And where did she draw the line? Just say no.
But despite the heartache pulsating through her, she surprised herself by not going straight to punishment. Nick could certainly entertain a toddler elsewhere, but did that leave him open to Jess intercepting him? Libby had the girls to consider too. They needed to be protected and she could already hear them pleading for Leo to come and play at Burrunan like he’d so often done in the past.
Tension stiffened her spine. “Thursday afternoons and no sleepovers.”
“Your long day?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
But she didn’t want his thanks. She wanted his acknowledgement that he understood her position. “Let me be absolutely clear, Nick. He’s one hundred per cent your responsibility, not mine. I’ll come home after he’s left.”
Despite the dismay on Nick’s face, he didn’t argue. “I get it.”
“Good.”
“And I’ll book us into the next available course.” He kissed her cheek. “I love you, tesoro mio.”
But as much as she wanted to say it back, something about the unevenness of the compromise stopped her.
Chapter Fifteen
July
“You’re gorgeous.”
“Um, thank you.” Alice withdrew her hand from the table in the corner of the coffee shop and placed it in her lap as Killian tried to grab it.
“As soon as you’ve finished that coffee, let’s take a selfie by the river. Together, we’ll make an amazing photo.”
Alice kicked herself. She’d seen Killian’s Instagram feed—handsome guy in stunning places—but she’d allowed herself to be seduced by his banter, convincing herself there was more to him than just looking beautiful. Wrong again, Alice! A selfie of them together would be the equivalent of the old notch on a belt. Although Alice wasn’t against sex, she already had that base covered with Dan. Dating was supposed to be all about meeting a life partner, not attaching herself to a self-obsessed man.
“Actually, Killian, I think I’ll pass on the photo.” And the rest of this coffee date.
A wrinkle creased his brow. “Never pass up the perfect photo op, Alice.”
She could see he was struggling to absorb her message. “That’s the thing, Killian. There’s more to my life than a photo op.”
He shrugged and to Alice’s relief he stood and left, saving her from having to say, “This isn’t going to work.” Sadly, she was becoming very good at that statement.
“Another dud?” Zadie, the waitress, cleared the table.
“It’s a numbers game.”
Zadie glanced at the door. “Oh, is this your next one? He’s cute in a shaggy dog sort of a way. He could be a project.”
“I don’t want a project! I want a fully functional man.”
Alice’s next date wasn’t due for ten minutes, but she peered around Zadie anyway just in case Devon, whose photo declared him to be well groomed, had arrived early. It wouldn’t be the first time a man had used an out-of-date profile pic or even someone else’s photo.
“Hi Zadie. Can I have a latte, please? Oh, hello, Alice. What are you doing over this side of the river?”
Alice was suddenly battling a ridiculous flash that was racing heat across her skin. It couldn’t possibly be because of Harry. Zadie must have the heater up too high.
“Speed dating.” Zadie filled in the blank.
“Really?” Harry glanced around the almost empty café.
“I’m on a ten-minute break.” Alice downed the glass of water she would have loved to pour over her head.
“How’s it going?”
“Yeah, good,” she lied.
“So good that you’re six miles out of town?”
“Neutral territory.”
Harry looked bemused. “I’ve only seen this sort of stuff on sitcoms. Do you have a friend who calls you after half an hour?”
She gave a wry smile. “Ten minutes.”
“Crikey! A bloke has to make a fast impression.”
“It’s not like I’m meeting anyone cold. I trade a few texts before I decide to either ditch or meet.” Watching Harry standing while she
