Festive Fling with the Single Dad

‘Don’t worry. It is.’

CHAPTER NINE

AKSEL WOKE UP the following morning feeling more refreshed from sleep than he had in a long time. It was a bright, clear day, and although his shoulder was a little sore, it was nothing that a hot shower and some stretching exercises wouldn’t banish. He was ready for the day, and the day seemed that much better for the possibility that it might bring another chance to see Flora.

He wasn’t disappointed. When he arrived at the clinic, after a morning’s work at the therapy centre, he found that Mette was absorbed in a learning game with one of the children’s therapy assistants. He kissed his daughter and told her that he wouldn’t interrupt, and then wandered aimlessly down to one of the patient sitting rooms.

He saw Flora sitting in one of the wing-backed chairs by the great fireplace, which had been made bright and welcoming with a

n arrangement of Christmas greenery. He recognised the sandy-haired man in the chair opposite. One of the children’s play leaders had told him that this was Andy Wallace and that he didn’t much like to be touched, in a broad hint that Aksel should steer Mette clear of him.

Flora was leaning towards Andy, and the two seemed to be deep in conversation. Aksel turned to walk away, but then Flora looked up and beckoned him over.

Andy didn’t offer to shake hands when Flora introduced the two men but nodded quietly in Aksel’s direction, clearly taking his time to sum him up.

‘We’re just having tea. Would you like to join us?’ Flora smiled at him.

There was no just about it. Flora had been talking quietly to Andy, no doubt discussing the next step of what looked like a long road back to full health. Andy’s leg was supported by a surgical brace and his eyes seemed haunted. But if Flora thought that it was okay for him to join them, then he trusted her.

‘Thank you. Can I get you a refill?’ He gestured to the two empty cups on the small table between them.

‘Not for me, thanks. Andy?’

Andy proffered his cup, and Aksel carried it over to the side table where coffee and tea were laid out. He put a fresh herbal teabag into Andy’s cup and reached for a coffee capsule for himself. Flora leaned forward, saying a few words to Andy, and he nodded. All the same, when Aksel operated the coffee machine, Andy jumped slightly at the noise.

‘Where’s Mette?’ Flora turned to him as he sat down.

‘She’s...got something going with the play assistants. Apparently I’m surplus to requirements at the moment.’ Aksel made a joke of it, but it stung more than he cared to admit.

Flora nodded, smiling at Andy. ‘Aksel’s not used to that.’

Andy let out a short, barked laugh. ‘I can identify with surplus to requirements.’ He nodded down at his leg, clearly frustrated by his own lack of mobility.

‘It’s nothing...’ The comparison was embarrassing; Andy clearly had life-changing injuries.

‘Don’t let Flora hear you say that. She has a keen nose for nothing.’ Andy gave a wry smile, and Flora grinned back at him.

‘Nothing’s a code word around here. Meaning something.’ Flora’s observation sounded like a quiet joke, and Aksel wondered if it was aimed at him or Andy. Probably both of them.

‘In that case, it’s something. And I’m handling it.’ Aksel’s smiling retort made both Andy and Flora laugh. He was beginning to like Andy, and Aksel pulled out his phone, flipping to the picture he’d taken yesterday and handing the phone to Andy.

‘Oh, she’s a bonny wee lass. What’s that she’s standing next to?’

Flora smiled. ‘Ted Mackie has an ice-sculpting stall at the carnival. With chainsaws. Aksel made the mistake of telling Mette that he’d sculpt whatever she wanted for her, and he ended up having to do a reindeer.’

Andy chuckled. ‘You made a decent job of it. Why is your daughter here?’

‘She was in a car accident, and she’s lost most of her sight. Anything that’s more than a few feet away from her is just a blur.’

‘You’ve done the best thing for her, bringing her to the clinic. They’ll help her make the most of what she has.’ Andy’s reaction was like a breath of fresh air. Someone who knew the nature of suffering but didn’t dwell on it, and who preferred to look at what could be done for Mette, and not express horror at what couldn’t be changed.

‘Thanks. That’s good to hear.’

Flora had leaned back in her chair, seemingly in no hurry to go anywhere. The talk drifted into quiet, getting-to-know-you mode. Andy had been in the army and had travelled a lot, and the two men swapped stories about places they’d both visited. Andy’s story about patching up a broken-down SUV from the only materials to hand struck a chord with Aksel, and the two men laughed over it. And Aksel’s story about the mystery of the missing coffee supplies made Andy chuckle.

Finally, Flora looked at her watch. ‘I hate to break this up, but it’s time for your physio now, Andy.’ She was clearly pleased with the way things had gone. And Aksel had enjoyed their talk. Andy had a well-developed sense of humour, and he’d led an interesting life.

Andy rolled his eyes. ‘Another chance for you to torment me?’ He clearly thought a lot of Flora.