Read Online What Remains by Garrett Leigh - Free Book Online Page B

millisecond to see Rupert was as nervous as he was.
    “I’ve been trying to call you,” Rupert said. “Indie’s childminder is ill, so I’ve got her for the day. I’m sorry. I tried to let you know.”
    “’S okay.” Jodi bent to Indie’s level and held out his hand. “I was coming past anyway. I’m Jodi. Nice to meet you. What’s that on your T-shirt? A fairy?”
    Indie took Jodi’s hand and looked down at her T-shirt with the confusion of a child who’d put on whatever clothes they’d been told to that morning. “I think it’s a mouse-dancer.”
    “A mouse-dancer, eh?” The cartoon character was more like a hippo to Jodi, but what did he know? “What are you two up to? Anything fun?”
    “We’re going to the park,” Indie said. “You come too?”
    Jodi glanced up at Rupert, who shrugged. “We’d love you to, but I won’t be offended if you have better things to do.”
    “Erm, looks like I’m coming, then.” Jodi squeezed Indie’s tiny hand. “On one condition, though.”
    “I already brushed my teeth and I didn’t make a mess.”
    “Oh.” Jodi pretended to think hard and tried to ignore the faint shadow of guilt that darkened Rupert’s features. “In that case, you’ll have to push me on the swing instead. That cool?”
    Indie giggled. “You too big for the swings.”
    “That right? Oh well, you can give me a crunchy cuddle when I fall on my bum, then.”
    “Cwunchy cuddle?”
    “Yeah, one with tickles. We can practice on Daddy.” Jodi lifted Indie up onto his shoulders and caught Rupert’s surprised gaze. “Ready?”
    “Erm, okay. Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t—”
    “Shut it,” Jodi said. “I’m coming.”
    A while later, Jodi found himself at the top of a steep slide with Indie on his lap. “It’s a long way down. Sure you don’t want Daddy to catch you at the bottom?”
    “No! Let’s go! Let’s go!” Indie banged her fists on Jodi’s thighs.
    Jodi laughed. Indie was a sweet girl, but her chubby cheeks and slender bones belied the rambunctious daredevil who’d been tearing around the park and run both him and Rupert ragged. He pushed off the slide and sent them zooming to the bottom where Rupert plucked Indie from Jodi’s lap and swung her over his head. His grin was a mile wide, and Jodi was transfixed by the pair of them, identical in all but eye colour. Had he ever seen anything as innocently beautiful?
    Not that he could think of, and the sight of Rupert and Indie dancing around the park in the sun reminded him that he’d crashed their playdate. “I’m gonna chip off,” he said. “Call me later?”
    Rupert set Indie on the roundabout. “Gotta get back, eh? Work to do?”
    “Always. I’m home tonight, though, if you fancy a Skype chat?”
    Rupert rolled his eyes. Jodi had been trying to persuade him to get Skype since they’d met, but he held firm. Apparently, technology was wasted on him. “I’ll call you. Indie? Jodi’s going now.”
    Indie hopped nimbly from the roundabout and climbed up Jodi’s legs until she was safe in his arms. “Can we go ice skating next time?”
    “Next time?” The thought of seeing her again was more heartwarming and appealing than he’d ever thought possible. “Sure, but you’ll have to stop me falling on my arse—er—bum, okay?”
    Rupert coughed, hiding his grin, and pried Indie back. “That makes two of us you’ll have to supervise, kiddo. Say bye to Jodi.”
    They said their good-byes, and Jodi left them to it, fighting the urge to glance over his shoulder as he walked away. Kiddie time in the park wasn’t how he’d expected to spend his afternoon, but he’d loved every moment, and though he really did have work to do, going home was the last thing on his mind. He caught a bus back to Tottenham. As Harringay disappeared behind him, he pulled out his phone and sent a text to the one person in the world he loved as much as he was coming to love Rupert.
    Fancy some pie and