‘Finishing work during school hours might have been,’ Sean said. ‘You should’ve cancelled your afternoon and gone to her. She’s sick; she needs one of us.’
Eve sighed. ‘Don’t be so dramatic. Leah’s with her. She adores Leah. She’s probably loving every minute of it.’
‘What time will you be finished up?’
Ben was propped on one elbow watching her.
Her heart skipped a beat. ‘I’m not sure. I’ve been brought in on a major development project in South Melbourne, and they want me involved in the planning stages.’
‘Fine,’ Sean said. ‘I’ll go home now and look after her.’
‘You don’t need to,’ she said. ‘Leah will manage fine.’
‘That’s not the point. I don’t want our daughter at home feeling miserable and not having one of us there. I feel guilty, and it amazes me you don’t. So you can relax and enjoy whatever it is you’re doing and not worry at all.’
‘That’s not fair,’ Eve said. Although looking around, he couldn’t have been more accurate if he’d tried. She crossed her fingers. ‘I’ve got a huge opportunity here, and I can’t afford for it to go to another agency. If you’re happy to play Father of the Year and race home then I’ll stay until the meetings are done. I’m not sure if they’ll be finishing with a dinner or drinks but if they are, I’ll text you.’
‘Don’t bother.’
She glanced at her phone. Sean had hung up.
‘Trouble?’ Ben asked.
‘Nothing we need to discuss.’ She slipped the phone back into her bag.
‘You look so sexy on the phone naked,’ he said. ‘Maybe you should consider that your new office look.’
She rolled her eyes. ‘That sounds appropriate.’
Ben pushed himself up and got out of bed and Eve took in the beauty of his full nakedness and swallowed.
He held out a hand and took her left hand in his, lifting it to his lips and kissing her ring finger. ‘You don’t have to take off your wedding ring when we get together. I know you’re married.’
‘I don’t. I said no to an engagement ring and the same to a wedding ring.’
Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘Really?’
Eve nodded. ‘Men don’t wear engagement rings. They give them to brand a woman, declare she’s mine so no other guys hit on her. It’s archaic. I guess there’s a bit of a feminist lurking in me.’ She held up her right hand, which was also bare, and grinned. ‘I’m not a ring person, unless they’re earrings of course. Earrings are always very welcome, diamond preferable.’
Ben laughed. ‘I’ll keep that in mind. Now, back to bed with you. You told your husband you’re working on a major development and we’ve got some planning to do.’
She raised an eyebrow as Ben hardened in front of her. ‘I take it that’s the major development?’
He nodded. ‘It’s definitely in need of your expert handling.’
Eve took his hand and moved back on to the bed with him. She wouldn’t wish illness on either of her girls, but today it’d turned into a bonus.
Leah was rummaging through the fridge to see what she could put together for dinner when Harriet came into the kitchen.
‘I put the card on the tray,’ she said. ‘Avie was still asleep.’
‘Good girl. Now’ – she pointed to the table – ‘I’ve made you a little plate of afternoon tea. Why don’t you have that while I work out something for dinner.’
Her niece’s eyes widened as she moved to the kitchen table. ‘Chocolate biscuits? Where did you get them?’
She laughed. She’d found an open packet of Tim Tams pushed to the back of the pantry. Leah remembered how much her sister loved them and assumed she’d uncovered a secret stash. ‘I magicked them here. The deal is, you must eat the fruit on your plate and the cheese and then you can have the treat.’
Harriet looked around the kitchen. ‘What if Mummy comes? She won’t let me eat them.’
‘This one time she will. Don’t you worry, you enjoy them.’
Her niece reached for the fruit, but her eyes were glued to the chocolate biscuits.
Leah continued her search for ingredients for a meal. She’d found mince and plenty of garlic, basil and tomatoes. She’d found pasta and the other items in the pantry she’d need to make her Bolognese. The girls loved spaghetti, so it was an easy choice. She could also make a salad. As she started preparing the ingredients, the sounds of the garage door caught her attention.
‘Oh no,’ Harriet said. ‘Mummy’s home.’ She pushed the plate of afternoon tea away from her. ‘I didn’t eat the biscuits, so it’s okay.’
Leah’s heart contracted. Her niece was scared about eating chocolate biscuits? She mentally kicked herself. She should never have given them to her.
They both turned as they heard the internal garage door open and shut, and footsteps approached the kitchen. Expecting to see Eve, Leah was surprised when her brother-in-law’s broad figure filled the doorway.
‘Daddy!’ Harriet leapt from the kitchen chair and rushed over to Sean, flinging herself at him.
He dropped his briefcase and scooped her up, swinging her around. ‘Hello, my beautiful poppet, how was your day?’
‘Great, but Ava’s sick. I made her afternoon tea and a card.’ Her face clouded over. ‘But she’s fast asleep, so she doesn’t even know yet. Aunty Leah has been looking after me.’
Gratitude filled Sean’s warm chestnut eyes. ‘Thanks so much. I only just heard from Eve that Ava was sick. If I’d known earlier, I could’ve picked the girls up myself. Court was cancelled.’
She smiled as Sean put Harriet down and loosened his tie. ‘No need to worry. Ava needs to rest, and Harriet and I are having a great time. Actually, I was getting some dinner organised. I’d be happy to stay longer if you’d like me to.’
‘You have to,’ her niece said. ‘You promised to run my bath and read my stories. Remember?’
‘Of course I did. But Daddy might have other plans?’
‘None at all,’ he said. ‘We’d love you to stay. Unless Grant’s expecting you?’
At the mention of her now ex’s name, a lump immediately formed in Leah’s throat. She took a deep breath, and hoped her face didn’t give away how rattled she was. Sean wasn’t the right person to confide in. ‘No, nothing planned for tonight.’ She leaned closer and lowered her voice. ‘Well, I did have one plan but I might need your help.’
‘Sure. Doing what?’
She winked at Harriet. ‘I magicked up a packet of chocolate biscuits, you see, and for being such a good helper I added two to Harriet’s afternoon tea. She’s eaten her fruit and her cheese, but she was worried she might get in trouble if she ate the biscuits. I need you to help convince her she’s earned a lovely treat.’
His eyes widened as he looked at Harriet. ‘A treat? A chocolate biscuit treat?’
The little girl nodded.
‘And you said no?’
Harriet nodded again.
Sean held her out from him and started to examine her. ‘You have toes that look like mine. Legs that look like mine.’ He turned her around. ‘Even your hair looks like mine. But saying no to chocolate biscuits? That confirms it, you can’t belong to me. It isn’t possible.’