Page 121 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“How did they…oh, it must have been Kelly’s they went to. And she’s really OK?” I asked him. “You’re not just saying that? What did they say?”
“She’s fine, Scarlett. A bit shaken up, but once you’ve spoken to her and explained I’m sure all will be well again.”
How did Sean always know how to make everything right?
“You look frozen, Scarlett,” he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Why don’t you go upstairs and put something a little warmer on? I’ll make you a cup of tea and then you can deal with your father. Five more minutes won’t hurt, will it?”
I nodded at him gratefully. “You’re too good to me, Sean, do you know that?”
“Yes,” he said, smiling, “I do.”
I began to climb the stairs and then I turned back. “Wait, you said before you and David had been workingtogetherto keep Dad calm? How did that happen?”
Sean shrugged. “I guess we both had something in common for once.”
“What’s that?”
“We both love you, Scarlett,” he said, looking up at me for a moment before he disappeared into the kitchen. I heard my father’s voice from the lounge, and David replying, so I quicklyran up the stairs to my bedroom, dissecting Sean’s last comment as I went.
What did he mean—love? Did he mean love as in “care about”? Or love as in “fall in love”?
I rubbed at my forehead. Now was not the time to be throwing even more complex questions into my pounding brain. I knew there were going to be plenty of those later.
Thirty-Five
When I’d got changed and tidied up I ventured downstairs again. I stood in the hall, taking deep breaths to calm myself. David emerged from the bathroom while I was standing there. He jumped when he saw me. “So you decided to come back?”
“Yes, and I’m really sorry for storming out the way I did earlier…So, how’s Dad?”
“He’s a bit shaken after seeing your mother, which is understandable. But I’ve been keeping him calm with the inside of your friends’ liquor cabinet—so you may have to replace a few items before they return home.”
“Sure, I will. Thanks, David…for everything. I know it can’t have been easy for you being here tonight with Sean.”
“Hmm, that…I think we have a lot to talk about, Scarlett—and soon. But right now you have a more important issue to deal with waiting for you in the lounge.”
I hugged David. “What was that for?” he asked, holding me in his arms and looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“For putting up with me and understanding. You’re too good to me, David, do you know that?”
“Yes,” he said. “I do.”
I froze, realizing that I’d just said the same thing to Sean a few minutes ago.
“But that’s all right,” David continued. “Because I love you—and I know once this is all over everything’s going to return to normal again. These hitches are only temporary ones.”
I was about to ask him what he meant by temporary hitches, when Sean appeared from the kitchen carrying two mugs.
Quickly I wriggled from David’s embrace.
“Scarlett,” Sean said, not looking me in the eye. “I’ve told your dad you’re back, and he’d like a word when you’re ready.`
“Ah, right,” I said, looking with trepidation toward the lounge door.
“You’d best take these,” he said, passing me the mugs, one of which was my tea and the other a mug of black coffee. “He might be needing it.”
I took the mugs from Sean as David dived for the lounge door to open it for me.
“Good luck, sweetheart,” he said as I passed him.
