Adam got to his feet and nodded thoughtfully. He was going for it.
‘I reckon Cassie deserves to be pampered a bit after all she’s been through,’ Kim said, giving him a little more incentive.
‘The Boots thing, you mean?’ His eyes narrowed as he turned to look at her.
Kim glanced down. ‘That, yes,’ she said, nodding sadly. ‘It must have really shaken her. I was thinking more of Josh, though, which was obviously what sparked the whole awful incident off. You should book a spa weekend,’ she hurried on. ‘Tell you what, I’ll google some hotels and you could book it now. I bet Cassie will be thrilled. I know I would.’
‘But what about you?’ Adam asked worriedly.
He really was a sweetie. ‘Well, it’s lovely of you to ask, but don’t you think three might be a crowd?’ Kim teased. Noting his awkward expression, she backtracked. ‘I was joking, Adam. I’ll be fine. My dad doesn’t know where I am, I promise.’ Guessing that was what he was concerned about, she stepped towards him and gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. ‘My sister’s invited me to stay with her at their cottage in Wales, in any case. I was going to take Jack with me for company, but then I wasn’t sure whether to go, because I didn’t want Cassie to worry.’ She paused, and went on hesitantly, ‘Don’t get me wrong, Cassie’s lovely, really kind and attentive, but…’
‘But?’ Adam eyed her curiously.
‘To be honest, I would really appreciate a bit of space. She’s, um,’ Kim took a breath and then took the bull by the horns, ‘a bit house proud, isn’t she?’
Adam looked taken aback for a second. Then, ‘It’s just because she cares,’ he said with a small smile.
‘I’m not complaining. I understand why she would be,’ Kim said quickly.
‘Don’t worry, I get it,’ Adam assured her. ‘She’s been worse than ever since…’
Seeing his eyes darken, the way they did whenever he talked about Josh, Kim felt her heart squeeze for him. ‘All the more reason to take her away,’ she urged him.
‘Are you sure you and Samuel will be okay, though?’ Adam searched her eyes. His really were striking – kind, steel blue and full of concern.
‘I’m a big girl, Adam,’ she assured him. ‘We’ll both be fine. I’ll call you if I need to.’ Debating, she hesitated for a second, and then reached to give him a firm hug. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured, appreciating him even if no one else seemed to, ‘for everything. I’d be lost without you.’
Adam smiled awkwardly. ‘No problem,’ he said, and then, ‘Shit,’ he muttered, his gaze shooting towards the door
Cassie coughed pointedly. ‘Your son was crying,’ she said, as Adam stepped smartly back and Kim turned apprehensively to face her. ‘I thought you might have heard him.’ Her gaze ice cool, she looked between the two of them. ‘But you were obviously otherwise occupied.’
Twenty-Eight
Cassandra
‘You’ve booked it? Without asking me?’ Cassie stared at Adam in astonishment. She couldn’t believe that he’d gone ahead and made arrangements without discussing it with her first.
‘I thought you’d be pleased.’ Adam’s look was somewhere between crestfallen and frustrated. ‘You need a break, Cas. It’s a spa weekend. It will do you good. Do us both—’
‘But there’s no way I can go away for a whole weekend and leave Kim on her own,’ Cassie pointed out, feeling confused and panicky as she went to turn off the oven timer, which was pinging manically and driving her to distraction.
‘Why?’ Adam asked shortly.
‘Because…’ Cassie wasn’t sure why. Why the hard knot of fear that was constantly lodged in her chest kept tightening. She felt as if she were waiting for a guillotine to drop, that she needed to be constantly on alert. ‘I know she’s doing her best,’ she went on, sounding as flustered as she felt, ‘but you must see she’s not that competent yet. She left him crying, for goodness’ sake.’
‘Babies cry, Cassie,’ Adam said tiredly.
Cassie’s heart sank. He obviously thought she was overreacting, that she was being overbearing and overemotional. Kim clearly did too, since they’d apparently organised this together, thinking she was in need of a break after the shoplifting incident – which in their minds she was guilty of. ‘He was due his feed,’ she said, sure that she wasn’t being any of those things. Her only concern was for Samuel. ‘He needed changing. I can’t go, Adam. I’m sorry, I just wouldn’t rest.’