Page 30 of The Happy Hour
‘It’s not so bad,’ Jess said. ‘You can invent your own history, if you want to: pretend you’re the daughter of film stars whose affair was secret and then scandalous, who couldn’t possibly keep you. Or that you were left on a church doorstep in a snowstorm, after your mum had an affair with the lord of the local manor. Maybe I’ll discover that I’m the progeny of a world-class opera singer, and that with some coaching I could have an incredible voice.’
‘You think that’s likely?’ Ash asked. ‘Because I am here for having a famous opera-singing friend. I’d want VIP tickets to all your concerts.’
‘If karaoke nights with my friend Lola are anything to go by, that might not be my origin story.’
‘Shame,’ Ash said. ‘And I’m sorry.’
‘What for?’
‘Despite your insistence that it gives you freedom, I don’t think being adopted can be all sweetness and light. All families have their issues – believe me, I know.’ His laugh sounded slightly bitter. ‘But adoption, I always thought it must add another layer of complication, of... rough edges, to the family dynamic.’
‘Like when people put crushed biscuit in tiramisu?’
‘Exactly like that. Who puts biscuit in tiramisu?’
‘Do you have a nonna who makes it for you? I bet proper Italian tiramisu is very different to what you get in Prezzo.’
‘My nonna died when I was little,’ Ash said. ‘I have had tiramisu in Italy, though. A long time ago.’ Jess watched him swallow, and then, a second later, he was on his feet, holding out his hands to her. ‘Come on, we haven’t got much time left, and I’m determined to get this kite in the air.’
Jess let him pull her to her feet, and this time she took the handle, making sure there were no kinks in the string as Ash walked backwards, holding the kite in both hands, its ribboned tail trying to wrap around his long legs. Jess didn’t blame it.
They tried again, Ash thrusting the kite into the air when there was a strong gust of wind, then darting out of the way when it came slicing back down, its sharp edges aiming for his head. He sighed at it, his hands on his hips, as if he was a forlorn parent who had been let down. Jess started laughing again, and this time she found it hard to stop, every gesture or expression Ash made setting her off again. By the time they were on their fourth try, she was struggling to focus, holding the handle limply, her gaze fixed firmly on him, so when the kite tugged and then lifted, she almost let go. She had to use both hands to get it under control, staring as the bright diamond soared up into the sky.
‘Yes!’ Ash punched the air and raced towards her, glancing back every few seconds to check it was still flying. ‘You did it!’
‘Wedid it,’ Jess said. He stood next to her, and they gazed up at their achievement, the ribbons dancing happily against the blue.
‘Here.’ Jess’s heart was in her throat as she took Ash’s right hand – the one furthest from her – and placed it over hers on the handle. It felt clichéd, like something out of a film, and it made his position awkward, unless he came to stand behind her, which was what he did.
‘This OK?’ he asked gently, bringing his left hand round her too, until she was cradled in his arms, her back pressed to his front, while they both held onto the kite’s handle. She tipped her head up, nestling against his chest. He smelled like coffee and chocolate, something dark and spicy underneath.
‘Yeah.’ It came out scratchy. She could feel her limbs softening, while everything inside her tightened, tingled, at the sensation of Ash’s strong body around hers, sheltering her from the wind. ‘Yeah, this is good.’
They watched the kite in silence for a few moments, then Ash said, ‘Can I have another one of your quotes?’
Jess inhaled. ‘You’re putting me on the spot. It usually takes me ages to come up with them.’ She didn’t tell him that her brain was entirely scrambled from being so close to him, even though she’d orchestrated it.
‘OK,’ he murmured, his breath warm against her head. Jess stared at his feet. He was wearing a pair of battered blue Vans, and she wondered how long he’d had them, where they’d been. To Italy, perhaps? Up and down the river a few times, certainly. And to his next appointment, which she still knew nothing about. ‘How about... Flying isn’t as hard as it looks; just make sure a part of you stays tethered to the ground.’
Jess smiled. ‘That’s pretty good, considering you just came up with it.’
‘Or... We all have superpowers, you just need to believe in yourself to discover what yours is.’
Jess sucked in a breath. She let go of the kite’s handle, and turned in his arms. ‘That one’sgreat. Please let me have it? Let me use it in my shop?’ She stared up at him, his jaw dusted with stubble, his grey eyes close to hers as he looked down at her, surprised. ‘We’ll seal the deal with this kiss.’
‘What?’ Ash swallowed. ‘Jess—’
Before he could say anything else, she pressed her hands into his chest, leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, brushing her lips against his warm, slightly prickly skin. ‘There,’ she said, feeling bold and terrified all at once. ‘It’s mine now.’
‘Really?’ he whispered. His eyes had dropped to her mouth. ‘You realise I almost let go of the kite?’
‘I would have bought us another one,’ Jess told him, and as Ash smiled down at her, some of the surprise leaving his face, she had to work very hard not to kiss him again, not to tuck herself against him and let his arms come properly around her, letting the kite fly off into the sky, no longer tethered to the ground. ‘For next time.’
‘Next time,’ Ash echoed, as he started to pull the kite in, letting it down gently. It felt like a promise.
Chapter Eleven
You look chipper,’ Peggy said, when Ash walked through the pristine white door and into the airy reception room, five minutes after leaving Jess at the gates of the park, twenty minutes after he should have been here. The space smelled unusual, and he wrinkled his nose. ‘Ah,’ Peggy went on, ‘Mrs McBride dropped a glass bottle of lavender pillow spray. I’ve dealt with the glass, but the lavender... we’ll be lucky if all our visitors don’t fall asleep.’
