CAL
The following summer
“Daddy, Grandad’s here,” Bethy shouts, running up to my dad and Helen outside the church. Livvie follows. They’ve spent more time with him this last year in Australia than I ever did as a kid. Priya wanted to continue the relationship even without me there. I think having her own parents pass away made her treasure what grandparents the girls have left.
With Caleb in my arms, I follow the girls. “Dad. I’m glad you could make it. When did you get here?”
“Only yesterday.” He smiles at Caleb and takes his small hand in his. “You must be Caleb. It’s good to meet you.”
Caleb smiles back, looking ridiculous in his cream shorts, white shirt and matching cream dickie-bow. Steph’s idea obviously to dress him up like something from a period drama for this occasion.
Helen holds her hands out to him. “Well, aren’t you just the cutest little ankle biter I’ve ever seen?” She takes him from me, pulling faces and chatting away, keeping him entertained.
“Why didn’t you call me? I’d have picked you up from the airport.”
“No need, son. You have enough on planning the Christening. We’re just glad to be invited here, and to be in his life. Plus, we’ve missed seeing the girls since Priya moved back to England a few months ago, so we felt it was about time we came to visit.”
It was bittersweet when Priya moved back to the UK after her mum passed away. She’s had a tough time of late. I think Steve missed home too, so was glad to come back, mainly to stop my constant nagging.
“There you are. We’re going inside soon.” Steph slips her arm through mine, holding onto the white shirt she made me wear.
“Dad, Helen. This is my girlfriend, Steph.”
She squints her eyes at me for some reason, then smiles at Dad and Helen. “Lovely to meet you.”
Dad steps towards her and pecks her on the cheek, taking her by surprise as she hesitates which side to move.
When I turn back to Helen and Caleb, he’s not in Helen’s arms anymore, but nestled against a pair of… “Danni. I didn’t know you were here as well.”
“Hi, Cal, I would not miss this one’s Christening.” She bounces him, making everything else bounce with her, drawing my eyes to the v of her dress.
“Your girls?” I force my head up. “I mean, your kids. Are they here?”
“Only Harper. She wanted to see Olivia. Their dad has Jack back home.”
“This is my girlfriend, Steph.”
She gives me a snarky look, making me pinch my eyebrows.
“I’ve heard so much about you, Steph. Callum never stopped talking about you in Australia.”
Steph smiles. “It’s nice to meet you, too. We’d best get inside and take a seat.” She takes Caleb from Danni and everyone enters the large wooden doors of the local church.
We hang back, letting everyone enter before us, and I put my arm around her. “What’s wrong?”
Steph shrugs. “I haven't been anyone's girlfriend in a long time. It just sounded odd, like I’m a teenager again. I’m not introducing you as my boyfriend. We're too old for those titles.”
I chuckle. “So call me your partner.”
“Ew, no. That's not even halfway to how much you mean to me.”
“So call me your lover, then,” I whisper in her ear and feel her shiver next to me.
She giggles. “I’m not introducing you as my lover.”
“I don't care what you introduce me as but you’re my woman, and I want everyone here to know you’re mine.”
She flashes her dimples at me. “Your dad’s kinda hot for an old man.”