Page 108 of The Thief
“Thanks. How’s things at the club?” I asked, and she turned to glance at Will.
“He loves being the boss. He was made for it. It gets a bit lonely sometimes, rattling around upstairs on our own in the day, but I won’t complain. Colton and Shelley come around most days, and we see the others loads too when they’re on shift. Besides, Tiny loves the field out the back. She could stay out there running around all day.”
Bryony and Will were the last ones standing. They still livedat The Sanctuary, and Will oversaw the day-to-day running of the place. She might’ve said they got lonely sometimes, but neither of them had mentioned anything about wanting to move out. He liked being the boss. Tyler had told me that Will had always been in Colton’s shadow, before he met Bryony. Maybe that’s why he was flourishing now. He was standing on his own, being his own man with the love of his life beside him. He didn’t need to be anyone’s shadow. He shone bright enough on his own.
“Tiny is adorable,” I said, watching her leap up and down on her hind legs, trying to get Ava’s attention.
“Adorable and a menace. I fear for Liv’s cushions when Tiny gets her teeth into them.”
I went to sit down on the sofa next to Bryony, but Liv announced, “Don’t get too comfortable. I have a picnic packed up, blankets and sunscreen. I figured we could head straight to the beach and make the most of the day. There’ll be plenty of time later to come back here and finish off the wine and beer. Keep the party going. Apart from me, that is. I’m still breastfeeding, so I’ve bought some mocktails for me and Ava.”
I thought about asking for a mocktail too, seeing as we were trying for a baby, but I kept quiet. Today was about Ava and Tyler. I didn’t want baby talk to overshadow that. I’d just quietly sneak one into my glass later.
“Come on.” Liv clapped her hands. “Ladies, gentlemen, kids, babies, dogs. Grab something to carry. We’re heading to Costa Del Coney Sands to party.” And everyone stood up, picking up boxes and bags.
“Can I hold Tyson’s lead?” Ava asked Liv, as Bryony put a harness on Tiny, and Liv clipped the lead to Tyson’s collar.
“Of course you can, princess. I don’t think Tyson wouldwant to walk with anyone else.”
“Are you a man?” Colton sidled up next to Ava as we walked across the street towards the beach.
“No, silly. I’m a girl.” Ava laughed in response, and Colton frowned, his eyes volleying between Ava and Tyson.
“But a dog is a man’s best friend, and he hasn’t left your side since you turned up today. You must be a man.”
“Uncle Colton.” Ava’s eyes were slits as she stared at him, and I knew she was getting ready to scold him. She always did, and he loved it. “That’s sexist. You’re not allowed to say things like that anymore. Dogs can be a girl’s best friend too.”
“Ignore Uncle Colton,” Shelley said, sliding her arm through Colton’s and smiling down at Ava with a twinkle in her eye. “He talks rubbish. If you tell him his brain is an app then he might start using it.”
“My brain is a highly skilled weapon,” Colton shot back, his eyebrows raised provocatively, trying to give himself an air of mystery like he was channelling his inner James Bond.
“What weapon is that then?” Devon chimed in from behind. “A wooden sword, a papier mache gun?” He winked at Ava, leaning his head to say, “If his brains were dynamite, he wouldn’t have enough to blow his hat off.”
“I don’t wear hats.” Colton shrugged, a shit-eating grin on his face like he’d got one over on Devon.
“That’s because they don’t make them big enough to fit your big head.” Devon’s response was as quick as lightening, and he jogged off, heading for the sand, making sure he’d gotthe last word in. Which wasn’t always an easy thing to do where Colton was concerned.
“How’s the art gallery?” I asked Shelley as Colton muttered something under his breath about big heads. I really didn’t want to know what he’d said, because when it came to Colton, all bets were off. And you could also bet it wouldn’t be suitable for a four-year-old’s ears.
“It’s going great,” Shelley replied, her face alight with joy as she spoke. “I’m having an event in a few weeks to showcase some new young artists. You both have to come. You too, Ava.”
Colton and Shelley lived in an apartment above the art gallery that Shelley owned. I knew her sisters were both involved in helping out and running the place, but Shelley impressed me. She was a girl boss, the kind of role model I was proud to have around Ava.
“Can we go, Mummy? Please?” Ava begged, clinging onto Tyson’s lead as he pulled her from the street to get to the sand.
“Of course. I love Aunty Shelley’s gallery,” I told her.
“I’m going to have my paintings in there one day,” Ava announced, puffing her chest out. “Daddy said my pictures are the best he’s ever seen, and I won that competition at the café. I got loads of Lego for it.”
I dipped my head, unable to keep the smile off my face. Yes, the Lego... the prize that Tyler secretly ordered from Amazon. I’d take that secret with me to the grave.
“You can have a place on my wall any day,” Shelley replied, reaching out to stroke Ava’s curls as we made our way down the steps to the sand.
The beach was busy, but not so crowded that we couldn’t find a private spot to set up camp. Liv and Leah May started tospread the blankets out, then Liv took baby Poppy out of her pushchair and lay her on one of the blankets.
Tyler came up to me, kissed me on the cheek and asked me if I was okay.
“I’m more than okay,” I replied, sitting on the blanket next to where Liv, Poppy, and Leah May sat.
