The Garibaldi biscuits were always her favorite, and the ritual of dunking them in strong tea was a small joy she rarely allowed herself. The currants held the biscuit together, giving it a good five seconds of structural integrity before it began to crumble, far superior to a digestive or a rich tea. “Where does the ginger snap fit in? ” George asked, holding another biscuit up.
“I’d still vote for the Garibaldi,” she said, smiling. “We’ll have to do a proper dunk-off. ”
She felt lighter than she had in weeks. After the chaos of yesterday, the missed marathon, the self-loathing, the way Theo had picked her up and made her feel like she was worth something again, she was ready for a fresh start.
She announced she was going to set up social media accounts for the business. “I’d rather steer clear, after everything that’s just happened,” Dev said, looking uncertain. “But we need more business,” she insisted. “People look at social media a lot more than they look at websites these days.
”
Dev softened. “I think you’re right. I think that’s a very good idea, love. ”
“It’s so lovely to see you so upbeat, especially after yesterday,” Dev added.
“Sometimes things happen for a reason,” she replied with a shrug. The coffee machine at the cafe was working, and Theo arrived with a tray of cappuccinos. He looked at her, and there was a warmth between them that hadn’t been there for months. She realized she hadn’t told anyone about their reconciliation yet.
“Have you told them yet? ” Theo asked quietly. “Not yet,” she admitted. “Sorry, I’m not trying to pressure you.
”
“You’re right. They deserve to know. ” She turned to George and Dev. “We’re back together.
”
George’s eyes widened. “That’s lovely news. ”
“Is there any chance you could take him in with you? ” Dev asked George.
“Me? I’ve got a client meeting at eleven. ”
“Oh,” Dev said, disappointed. “I thought you were on late.
”
“No, darling, that’s tomorrow. ”
George, who wasn’t going into college that day, offered to take Theo in. Theo gratefully handed over the diaper bag and left with her. Dev and Todd were left alone, and Dev suggested they could hang around together to save money.
“I don’t really want you two looking after the baby,” she said, overhearing. “Why not? ” Dev asked. “I see you do it a hundred times.
Surely it can’t be that hard. ”
“She needs regular feeds. And what if you have to change her nappy? ”
“The pool’s only around the corner.
We’re only going to be a couple of hours. ”
“I’d just rather she was with you. ”
“Are you saying you don’t trust your only daughter? ” Dev asked, a little hurt.
George returned. “Don’t you two start ganging up on me. ”
The doorbell rang, and it was Dylan, who was more than happy to babysit. The matter was settled, and everyone headed out.
At the cafe, Todd and George had a quiet word. George had been trying to convince Todd to see a counselor, but he resisted. “I don’t need a counselor. ”
“I think it could be useful.
Someone you can talk to, honestly, let your feelings out. ”
“If you think I’m going to tell him that me and Megan have been in a relationship, then you’re wrong. ”
“I want you to be able to tell him the truth, whatever it is,” George said gently. “I’ve told you the truth.
”
“Fine, but I still want you to see them. ”
“There’s no point. ”
“I’ve booked an appointment. Just come with me.
If you decide you don’t want to go back, that’s fine. ”
Todd eventually agreed to one session, and George was relieved. Later, at the cafe, Todd and Theo were openly affectionate. George commented on how few men would hold a coat out for a woman these days.
“My motives are entirely selfish,” Theo replied, grinning. “Gives me a chance to get close to you. ”
“Get a room,” Dev muttered. The social media page was up and running, and the tagline read: “Shuttleworth’s.
Every life deserves a beautiful goodbye. ”
“Rather poetic,” George said. George pressed Todd about the reconciliation. “So, you and Theo are back together then?
”
“Yep. ”
“Do you think that’s such a good idea? You know how much you missed him. That’s natural after a breakup, but don’t forget why you broke up in the first place.
”
“We broke up because he ended it, not me. ”
“But you admitted you were in a bad place. You have been for a while. ”
“I won’t deny we had our ups and downs.
But he’s a complicated man. That’s probably partly why I love him. ”
“I just don’t think he was good for you. ”
“I disagree.
”
“You lost your sparkle. You were a shell of yourself. ”
“No, I was a shell of myself without him. Yesterday, when I missed that marathon and hated myself, it was him who picked me up and made me feel worth something.
”
“I’m glad Theo helped. But there’s no need to rush back into a relationship. ”
“I don’t care what you think. We’re back together, and that’s that.
Like it or lump it. ”
The conversation ended sharply. Todd went into Shuttleworth’s, where Alfie greeted him. Todd said, “If this is about yesterday, I won’t be taking it any further.
”
“It’s not, Alfie. I’ve had a memory flashback to when I was attacked. I remember who it was. ”
Alfie told him to take a seat.
Sam arrived, asking if the police had been in touch. “They’re still trying to get enough evidence together to charge Miss Walsh. I’ve already given my statement. ”
“If there’s anything else you can think of, anything that might help, please be honest.
It’s important that she’s punished. ”
“I’m pretty sure I told them everything. ”
After Sam left, Alfie asked what that was about. Todd explained that Sam was fishing, trying to find out what Todd knew to feed back to Miss Walsh.
“Just don’t tell him anything,” Alfie advised. Todd agreed. Then Theo arrived and asked what was wrong. Todd admitted George didn’t think they should be back together.
“He thinks you’re rushing into things. ”
“What did you say? ”
“I told him I’ve been miserable without you and that we love each other and we’re going to give it another go. ”
“Thinks I’m bad for you, huh?
”
“He just doesn’t want me getting hurt. ”
“Maybe I should have a word with him. ”
“Don’t go in all guns blazing, please. ”
“I won’t.
I swear. I know I’ve been like a bull in a china shop in the past, but this time is going to be different. ”
At the cafe, Dev and George discussed Mel and the previous day’s confrontation. Then Dev’s phone rang.
It was the police. Todd had identified Dev as the man who attacked him. The call was from Lisa at the station, summoning Todd. Meanwhile, Theo took George and Christina to lunch, hoping to win them over.
“I know how much it would mean to Todd if we could get closer. He loves you so very much. ”
George and Christina agreed, reluctantly, to a meal. The conversation turned to Todd’s date with Raymond.
“Maybe the date wasn’t a ten out of ten, but Chrisy’s right. Todd was moving on. ”
“While you say that you and Todd were in love,” Theo said carefully, “I hurt him. I had so much trauma and baggage, and I didn’t always handle that well.
But Todd knows how sorry I am, and things are going to be different. ”
“All I want is for him to be happy,” Theo insisted. “It’s all I want, too,” George replied. “I’m going to make him the happiest man in the world.
You have my promise. ”
When Todd arrived at the station, Lisa was waiting. “I shouldn’t be giving you the heads-up, but I didn’t want you to be blindsided,” she said. “You said it was Dev who attacked you.
”
“Dev? ”
“I know this is going to be difficult for you, what with him being Bernie’s husband. But obviously we’ve got to go by the book. ”
Dev was arrested at the cafe in front of everyone.
“Our Robert claims you’re the one who attacked him on the 25th of February. The attack that put him in a coma. I’m arresting you on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. ”
“Well, that wasn’t me,” Dev protested.
“Are you going to make this easy or difficult? ”
Bernie was horrified. “No, don’t worry, darling. I know you didn’t.
”
Back at home, Theo and Todd had a quiet moment. The baby was finally asleep. “Finally, we’ve got some time to ourselves,” Theo said. “What do you want to do?
” Todd asked. “Well, can I kiss you? ”
“Yeah. ”
Theo leaned in, then Todd pulled back.
“Ew. ”
“What? ”
“You’ve got baby sick on your collar. I can’t kiss you if you smell of baby sick.
It feels wrong. ”
“What do you want to do about it? ”
“You could take it off. ”
Theo began unbuttoning his shirt when George and Christina burst in.
“What the hell’s going on here? You’re meant to be looking after her. ”
“We were. Except she’s crying and you two—having sex?
”
“We weren’t. ”
“He was getting undressed, wasn’t he? ”
“Yeah, I can explain that. ”
“Don’t bother.
” George scooped up the baby. “That is the last time I offered to babysit. ”
“It’s the last time you’re going to be asked. ”
“Good.
”
“Good. ”
After they left, Todd and George had a serious talk. George believed the best course was to appear supportive. “If we take against Theo, it’s just going to push Todd away.
We just have to keep an eye on things. ”
Todd confessed the counseling session had been a waste of time. “I told him the exact same things I told you,” he said. “I had a crush on Megan.
Nothing happened. ”
Then came the update on the digital forensics from Will and Megan’s phones. There were plenty of messages, but nothing indicating physical intimacy. “See, I told you,” Todd said.
“Well, they must have deleted it. Surely you can recover deleted messages. ”
“We did. So either nothing happened or they’ve been using different phones.
”
“Of course they have,” George said, frustrated. “No, we haven’t,” Todd insisted. “Why won’t you guys just believe me? ”
Dev’s family closed ranks.
Bernie insisted her husband was innocent. Mel, who had been the one to accuse him, was nowhere to be found. Theo took Todd out for dinner to celebrate their reunion. “While I’ve got you, can we have another bottle of wine?
” Theo asked a passing server. Later, George and Christina joined them. “Theo’s been very generous,” Christina said. “And I’ve told him, reassured him, no more drama, just joy and happiness for the man I love.
”
“That’s all that we want,” George added. Theo raised his glass. “Great news. Cheers to you both.
”
After the meal, Todd stepped outside and saw a missed call from Megan. He dialed again, but there was no answer. “Hey, Megan, this is me again. Could you just give me a message or something?
Just let me know you’re okay. It’s just I miss you more than you could know. ”
Theo found him. “Are you crying?
”
“No. ”
“Yes, you are. Do you want a hug? ”
Todd nodded.
“Mom said that you weren’t having a very good time at school. ”
“School’s fine. They just think there’s something wrong, but there’s nothing. ”
“So, why are you crying?
”
Todd eventually admitted, “It’s a girl. She’s being mean to me, but I think she really likes me. ”
“She should like you. You’re ace.
And if she can’t see that, show her the hand. ”
“You know what? You’re ace, too. ”
“I know.
”
The next morning, Dev was at the cafe, angrily arguing about the rota for the pre-Madonna shifts. He called Sam, the barman, useless and threatened to sack him if he didn’t show up. “Your holiday hasn’t mellowed you, has it? ” Ernest asked.
“There’s no room for mellow in business. ”
Just then, Andrew Alahan walked in. Dev tried to interest him in two-for-one baked beans. “Stick them in a bottle of brown sauce, give it a certain je ne sais quoi.
”
But Andrew had other business. “Dev Alahan, I’m arresting you on suspicion of grievous bodily harm. ”
“What are you talking about? ”
“Robert Preston claims you’re the one who attacked him on the 25th of February.
The attack that put him in a coma. ”
“Well, that wasn’t me. ”
“I’m afraid you’re going to have to come with us. ”
The cafe erupted.
“No, Mel is saying I’m the one who attacked him last month. No, he didn’t,” Dev shouted. But the arrest went ahead, and Dev was led away in handcuffs. At lunch, Theo gathered his friends.
“You’re like a son to me, Todd,” George said, offering his support. “You’re like a father to me,” Todd replied with warmth. Theo raised his glass. “Double winner.
Cheers. ”
“Well, made up for you, mate,” Dylan said to Todd. “It’s a shame you cancelled the wedding, though. ”
“Actually,” Todd said, “I didn’t.
”
“You what? ”
“I never cancelled the registry office booking. It’s still open. We get wed tomorrow.
”
“Yeah? ” Dylan looked at him. “Is he on board? ”
“I was thinking of surprising him.
”
“You old romantic at heart. ”
“Listen, mate,” Todd said. “If I did, would you help and, I don’t know, be a witness? ”
“Oh, yeah.
Course I’ll be a witness. ”
Todd smiled softly. “I love him so much, you know. This time tomorrow, we’ll be bound together forever.
”
