Page 31 of The Secret We Keep
“Well, it looks like I’ll get the coffee if you’re happy to keep a hold of him?”
“Of course.” My lips curve into a soft smile.
By the time Siobhan returns, Kevin has settled on my lap.
“Looks like you’ve got a new friend.”
My insides twist at the incredibly sad notion that my newest friend can’t even talk back to me. “Seems that way.”
“What’s your secret?” She places the coffees on the table, then takes a seat.
Kevin stirs but soon closes his eyes again.
“Uh, no secret. He just, seems to like me, I guess.” I must zone out because when I look up from Kevin, Siobhan is smiling at me. “What?” My gaze glances left and right.
I note the expression on her face. The smooth lines under her eyes. The tender way she tilts her head when she smiles at me.
“Nothing, dear. It’s nice seeing you happy.”
I’m not sure when someone other than my parents last told me that. Years, maybe. “It’s nice having something that makes me happy.”
She clears her throat at my truth. Rather than ask me what I mean, we enter a polite conversation about our days. I tell her all about my ridiculous interview, and she tells me about trying to get Kevin used to new sights and sounds.
Before long, my coffee is almost finished. Admittedly, it’s not sweet enough, but I’m grateful for the kind gesture all the same.
“Thank you for the coffee.”
Siobhan’s deep chestnut eyes glow the same way as Paddy’s. “You’re welcome. And good luck with the job, dear. It sounds like it could be good for you.”
I suppress my sigh. “Thank you.”
Looking down, I wonder how best to hand Kevin back to her. “I’m not sure how to do this without waking him up.”
Siobhan chuckles, the sound barely above a whisper. “Maybe you should come home with me, walk him and care for him.”
“Paddy would love that.”
“Pardon, dear?”
Shaking my head, I slowly stand, managing not to wake the warm puppy. “Oh, nothing. It was just something Paddy said.”
“What did I say?”
It takes my mind a second to catch up with my eyes. My body stills. For a heartbeat, I just stare at him, frightened that if I blink he might disappear again.
Why is he back here? He only just left.
Standing just a few feet away, he looks different. His face is pale, eyes rimmed with exhaustion like he hasn’t slept in days. I want to ask if he’s okay, but my heart stutters, caught between relief and something close to sadness. I’ve never seen him like this, so quiet, holding himself like he’s trying not to fall apart.
As if reading my stunned expression, all he does is stare at me, holding his mother’s puppy. I want to explain why, yet again, we’re in this situation, but he blinks, leaning forward to kiss his mother on the side of her head. “Hi, Mum.”
She leans into his kiss. “Hi.”
I have to swallow and avert my gaze to Kevin.
“This looks a lot less stressful than last time,” he says, tone light, not at all matching how tired he looks.
Siobhan tuts, grabbing her bag off the back of her seat. “You should have seen him half an hour ago. He made a jump for poor Morgan. Thank goodness she caught him.”
