He'll come through

Chapter 21 - On a road to nowhere

Chapter 21 

For all her bravado, Lilah found it so difficult to take all Quinn offered with the knowledge he was ultimately abandoning them, but she rationalised that it was better than not spending the next few days or weeks with him. So when he offered to accompany her and the children to London that evening she agreed. He was wonderful with Freddy, despite no contact with children he was natural and comfortable, and even after the debacle at breakfast, Maria was enthralled with him too.

Oh yes, she thought as she repacked Maria’s uniform into her school bag, he’s quite the charmer to all ages, and both sexes. This really was a hard weekend.

As usual she was borrowing her friend Mike’s car to take Maria back, she didn’t like leaving Freddy for too long so it was so helpful to not have to rely on her parents, or leave the baby. Also she couldn’t dream of driving their camper van! Mike was the town’s policeman, stationed at an adjacent village; but he still lived amongst them. Lilah knew him from school; he was a few years older than her. He’d been widowed two years earlier, Lilah had taught both his children over the last year, and when she noticed the difficulties he was having in getting the children organised with his uncompromising shifts, she had started to help with child care as and when she could. In return he loaned her his car for shopping trips, or occasional longer journeys like this. It was so much more convenient than public transport, and an agreement that suited them both!

This was the worst time of the weekend for Lilah, and as Maria was searching for the token home work she’d been given, and Freddy cried for his dinner, there was a knock at the door. Tossing the screeching baby over her shoulder she called up to Maria to check her school bag as she opened the door.

There stood Mike, dangling car keys in front of her, “sounds as hectic as my place!”

Lilah nodded, sharing a conspiratorial moment with a fellow single parent, ending with the usual ‘how do we do this all alone’, she thanked him profusely then waved as he jogged back up the road towards his home.

Lilah lifted Freddy from her shoulder, he was bright red from crying and there were actual tears on his cheeks, she cooed at him, promising food as soon as they returned to the home. As she made to close the front door, Quinn appeared in front of her, she couldn’t imagine where he’d suddenly appeared from.

                “Hey! Perfect timing! Your son needs calming; I’ve got to help Maria a minute.”  She noticed a half scowl as the baby was placed in his arms, but she didn’t have time to acknowledge that. Dashing up the stairs she entered Maria’s bedroom and a few shouts and complaints preceded the offending homework being found....under her pillow.

                “Right, clean your teeth, then we’ll call your grandparents really quickly, ok?”

With another round of disgruntled moans, Lilah made for the stairs, but she had to pause halfway down to take a deep breath, she loved Maria, but dreaded her becoming a teenager if almost eight was anything to go by.

Downstairs Quinn was pacing a very angry Freddy in his arms, and a snarl of anger marking his own face and confirming that he had been angry when he’d been at the door.

                “What’s wrong with you now? I haven’t got time for any more teenage paddies!” She snapped taking the baby, dropping into a chair and feeding him. Instantly the wail ceased and he suckled earnestly.

It was only then that she glanced at Quinn, he was shaking his head, the sight of her feeding Freddy had flummoxed him several times.

                “I can’t argue when you’re doing that!” he exclaimed.