Page 24 (2/2)

She nodded “I want to”

“Okay” I looked at Luke who’d finished his scra with his head propped on his hand, his eyes half shut “Oi, Narcoleptic Cool Hand Luke, let’s get you to school before we lose you to the land of nod”

His eyes didn’t open all the way

Beth grinned atsmack of a kiss on his cheek

“Blech!” He ju at his cheek

I alerated expression of disgust on his face

“I’ets hoet his school bag

As I walked around the island I held h five

“So is it true Will, Bray, Sophia and Jarrod are staying tonight?” she said as we followed Luke out of the kitchen and into the hall

We set about putting on our boots and coats “Not for the whole night But for most of it, yes You okay with that?”

“I a

He would be Ellie’s son Will was only a year younger than him and the two of theled

“It’s fine” Beth gru as I don’t get left with the babies”

“Yeah” I just stoppedmy eyes “Because it would be responsible of me to leave my nine year old to look after a six month old”

“I could do it,” she said, contrary “I just don’t want to”

“You are so ht a car and a parking per that had changed as Braden and I becaer rely on public transportation to get us around the city It was too inconvenient when you had kids and rew into parenthood

“I’ll help with Jarrod though,” Beth said as I pulled away and started driving down Dublin Street toward their primary school

“And why Jarrod and not Bray and Sophia?”

“Because they’re toddlers now They can handle life themselves Jarrod’s just a wee baby”

I grinned at her reasoning but decided not to correct her “Okay, then we have a deal You’ll help out with Jarrod tonight”

“Yeah, but only until my bedtime”

“Gotcha But you know Jarrod’s bedtime is before yours”

I glanced out of the corner ofafter him until his bedtime then?”

“Nappies and all”

“Ugh” She stuck out her tongue like a frog “No thanks I’ll take Sophia”

“I thought you rin “We’ll just give Nappy Jarrod to your dad”