Page 10 of The Six-Week Single Dad
“You moved the bed?”
“Yeah, it was Laura’s idea. Is that okay?”
I pushed the door open fully and checked it out. The new arrangement made the space look even bigger and when it was light, there would be a great view out of the window. “I’d never thought to put it like that. There seems to be so much more space.”
“I think we’re going to have to apply that logic to Alfie’s room.” Bea wrinkled her nose as she looked around the tiny area. “I’m not sure we’re going to fit everything in.”
“I guess the bookcase can go into storage.” I scratched my head. “If we have the cot and dresser in here, I could put the wardrobe in my room.”
“Or you could put it in mine. I don’t mind having it there.”
“I don’t want you to think you have to. Alfie’s my responsibility really.” I thought I saw her face fall when I said that. It was difficult, trying not to make out that we were a couple, even though we were doing one of the things that couples did. “My room is the biggest so there’s more space there. Not much more, mind.” I grinned, trying to get her back on side.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I keep bashing my shins on the chest of drawers, as it is.”
“Then it’s settled. We’ll get the cot and dresser in here and the wardrobe in my room.”
We worked methodically, Bea scampering backwards and forwards between Alfie’s room and the living room, trying to find the missing screw or Allen key that the instructions demanded. After around forty minutes, the cot bed was finished. Okay, so there might have been a tiny wobble, but I tightened up one of the screws and it all seemed sturdy. Between us, we wrestled it into the corner and stood back, proudly admiring our work.
“Come on, we’ve got the changing table to do next. After our first triumph, how hard can that one be?”
An hour later, I wished I hadn’t been so cocksure. The changing table fought me at every step, refusing to line up, definitely missing bits and generally frustrating me to hell. Bea soothed me every time I wanted to throw the screwdriver out of the window. I couldn’t help but compare her to Maddy. If it had been the two of us doing this, we’d have been screaming at each other within minutes, each blaming the other one for the failure of the task. Not for the first time, I was totally grateful to have Bea there.
“Finally!” I blew out a loud breath as the last piece fitted in without any issues.
Bea yawned. “Sorry, I’ve never been that good at DIY; Tom can vouch for that. I was forever getting him to come to my student digs to fix stuff.”
“You’ve been amazing,” I said, not for the first time. “Hey, it’s getting late; did you want to head off to bed and I’ll finish this on my own?”
“Not likely! I don’t want to hear you swearing the whole time. I’ll never get to sleep then.”
“Shit, and we need to do that online shop too, otherwise there’s nothing for Alfie, unless Maddy can give us some stuff.”
“I’m sure she will do that. Maybe we could pop out first thing and get a couple of bits instead? Then sort something out later? I’m not sure I can stay awake to do that, unless you want six boxes of washing powder.”
“With Alfie around, we might need all that.”
“Good point. Now let’s get this thing finished.”
The experience with the changing table made the wardrobe far easier. Once I’d shifted the bookcase out into the living room, where I suspected it would probably end up staying, the pieces slotted into place like a dream. It was assembled within twenty minutes. Carefully, we carried it into my bedroom and set it in place where the bookcase had been.
“That wasn’t as bad as I thought.” I stood, hands on hips, surveying my handiwork.
“That’s a new record, surely?” Bea perched on the end of my unmade bed, trying not to look around her.
Now I knew the real reason why I hadn’t invited her in the previous evening. Every part of my body wanted to wrestle her onto the bed and kiss her until neither of us had any breath left. It was a dangerous train of thought that I had to stop before it got totally out of control.
“We make a great team.”
Stop it!
“Do you mind if I head off to bed now? I think tomorrow’s going to be a pretty long day.” She stood up and stretched, before making her way to the door.
I caught hold of her just before she could leave and pulled her close to me, enveloping her in a brief hug. “Thanks, Bea, sleep well.” I kissed the top of her head, then let her go before I did anything I might regret.
Chapter Six
Bea
