Cal pulls me back into the house, holding my hand between his palms.
Liv cries, lifting her messy hair on one side. “Dad, what am I gonna do? Can you fix it?”
“Steph will sort it for you, don’t worry.”
“Sit down, sweetheart. Let me take a look.”
She sits at the kitchen table, and I stand behind her, running my fingers through the left side of her hair that’s come loose. Cal walks back into the kitchen with a pink hairbrush and hands it to me.
“I thought your dad would have learnt how to do plaits by now, having two girls.” I glance at Cal and flash a smile.
“Dad can plait, but he has to put it in a bobble first.”
“I can’t do those French or Dutch things.” He waves a hand towards Liv’s hair and leans back against the worktop as I drag the brush through her hair.
“So what’s happening tonight?”
“It’s my rehearsal. It’s the show tomorrow.”
“I see. Is it a dance show?”
“Yes, I’m a butterfly.”
“Lovely. Does Beth dance too?”
Cal laughs. “She isn’t into dance. She’d sooner go to karate.”
I smile and plait Liv’s hair.
Cal puts the kettle on.
“Are you and Dad boyfriend and girlfriend now?” Liv asks.
“No, sweetheart.”
“But I saw Dad kiss you.”
I don’t know how to respond. Cal stirs the coffee, flashing me a smile, then takes two steps towards me. He wraps his arms around my waist from behind and kisses my cheek. “I want her to be my girlfriend, but she won’t.”
My skin tingles where the bristles on his jaw rub against my neck.
“Dad, that’s gross.”
He chuckles and moves back to the coffee while I finish the braid.
“All done, sweetheart. It’s as good as new.”
“Thank you.” She takes herself off to her room, and Cal hands me a coffee.
“What time’s the rehearsal?”
Cal looks at his watch. “In about thirty minutes. Do you wanna come?”
“I really have to get back.” I sip on my hot drink, wanting to stay, but my time is limited.
“So this is it, then?”
I take a deep breath and exhale into my drink, watching the ripples in the mug. “I hate goodbyes, you know that.”