better off with me,’ she said determinedly. ‘A mother’s love is the best thing he can have in life, after all. I couldn’t live with myself knowing he would think I’d turned my back on him.’
‘No.’ Cassie swallowed visibly and dropped her gaze.
‘Who chose the name Samuel?’ Adam enquired. He was looking at her curiously when Kim turned to him, but there was no suspicion there, she noted. He was probably trying to imagine how Josh had felt, how involved he’d been, whether he’d been excited at the prospect of fatherhood. Josh had been right about him. Despite their bumpy start, Kim could see he was a caring man.
‘I did,’ she told him proudly. ‘Josh and I thought of a few. We liked Zach and Ethan. But I thought Samuel suited him more. I wanted him to have a strong name, like Josh’s. I always thought his name reflected his character.’
‘It’s perfect,’ Cassie murmured. Her expression a combination of sadness and longing, she glanced at Adam and then back at Kim. ‘I understand what you mean about wanting your own space, Kim. And what you said about wanting him to have a stable family environment. We could be that family… if you wanted us to be. We could make sure that Samuel has all he deserves in life – computers and bicycles and trainers; everything a little boy might need as he grows. A father figure in his life, too. I’m sure Adam would want to be that, for now, at least.’
She looked at Adam. Kim could feel her willing him to agree.
Adam’s forehead creased briefly into a frown as he considered, and then, ‘I think that’s what Josh would have wanted,’ he said, smiling.
‘Kim?’ Cassie looked at her hopefully.
Kim felt her heart leap. This was perfect. Now she could make plans. She should have spent the rest of her life with Josh. Instead, she would spend it fulfilling the promise she’d made him. ‘I’m not sure what to say.’ She emitted a tearful laugh.
‘Say yes,’ Cassie urged her. ‘We’ll help you move, get you set up with everything you might need. And if the property you’re moving into needs any renovation or redecoration, Adam’s your man. Right, Adam?’
‘It doesn’t look like I have any choice.’ Adam sighed expansively, and then gave Kim a reassuring wink.
‘In that case – yes!’ Kim agreed excitedly, and then, hesitating for only a second, she reached to give Cassie a hug.
Eight
Joshua
December 2018
He wasn’t sure Kim would be there the next morning. It was possible he was mistaken, but he’d been sure it was her he’d seen hurrying away from his school, and he was perplexed. She might have had a perfectly valid reason for being there that was nothing to do with him – they were just passing acquaintances, commuters on the same train, after all – but still, it seemed odd. Checking his watch, he kept an eye out for her. The train was coming into the station when she flew down the steps and along the platform.
‘Hey,’ he said, opening the carriage door as she reached him and allowing her to climb aboard before him. ‘I see you ditched the killer heels.’ He couldn’t help noticing as he followed her to their usual spot. It possibly hadn’t been a good idea to comment, though, noting the curious look she threw him as she sat down.
‘They were watermarked,’ she said, giving him a timid smile.
Josh returned the smile, reminding himself to engage his brain before opening his mouth. She was nice, naturally pretty, and she did have great legs. In other circumstances… He sighed inwardly. He’d told her his situation was complicated. She probably wasn’t interested anyway, and bearing in mind what she’d said about her own relationship history, he didn’t want to cross any lines.
Wondering whether any of his many texts or calls to the woman he’d thought he had a future with had been returned, he pulled out his phone and checked. There was nothing, communicating her message loud and clear. She didn’t want him. He should just forget her, but it wasn’t going to be easy.
‘They obviously weren’t suitable for wearing in mud and slush,’ Kim went on, jarring him from his thoughts.
Josh glanced back at her, confused, and then remembered they’d been talking about her boots. ‘Kind of makes you wonder what the point of them is then,’ he said, amused.
‘Going out in, getting dressed up,’ she said, mock-po-faced. ‘Not that I go out very much since splitting with