Part 122 (1/2)
”Mummy!” he complains. ”Feed the ducks.”
Nate hangs back as I delve into the plastic bag, take some bread, and pull it into small pieces. ”Don't just feed the ones at the front,” I say.
The greedy quacking continues and Josh giggles as a couple climb out of the water to our feet.
”s.h.i.+t!” says Nate as one approaches him.
Curiously, he stumbles backwards. ”Are you scared of ducks?” I ask.
”No, I just don't like them.”
Josh claps his hands; the startled duck waddles back to the water.
”I didn't think we'd be doing this,” says Nate.
”What did you want to do?”
”I dunno. Go to the movies.”
”Difficult to interact with Josh in the dark.”
Josh continues to focus his attention on the ducks and Nate wrinkles his nose. ”I'll wait on the bench until you're done.”
As he kisses me briefly on the lips and heads up the slope to the wooden seat, my heart sinks into my stomach. Not a great start. As my mind races with the possibilities over what happens next, I attempt to enjoy the duck feeding with Josh. I take a glance or two at Nate who sits examining his phone.
All the words from the other night fade into the shadows of my fears. We've been together a few times over the last week, Nate and Riley at odds with the world, but now Josh joins us, can this continue?
Then irritation creeps in. Nate isn't even trying.
Josh empties the crumbs from the bag onto the ground and shouts a goodbye to the ducks. We head up to Nate who looks up, tucking his phone away.
”Done?”
”We're taking a walk now,” I say.
Nate tips his head at my stiff voice. ”You okay?”
”Are you?”
”I'm here aren't I?”
Josh tugs at my hand. ”Can we get the ice cream now?”
”It's a bit b.l.o.o.d.y cold for ice creams, isn't it?” asks Nate.
”It's never too cold for ice creams,” I say with a laugh.
”I'll have yours,” Josh tells him.
Nate breaks into a grin. ”Is that right?”
”We're taking a walk first,” I tell Josh. ”Come on.”
I attempt to take Josh's hand but he charges off ahead. I huff and Nate curls his hand around mine instead. What do I say? Nate doesn't speak either as we follow the concrete path through the blossoming trees. Josh weaves around, and finds a new stick, which he then whacks against a bush.
”He's bored,” I say. ”He usually comes with a friend.”
”Uh huh.”
When I take the stick from Josh, he scowls at me. ”You didn't bring my football.”
”You know I can't play football, Josh.”
”I could've done,” Nate says. ”Better than feeding b.l.o.o.d.y ducks.”
”Yes! Mike plays football with me,” replies Josh.
”His friend's dad,” I add hastily. ”Next time, maybe?”
Nate doesn't reply.
With each pa.s.sing moment, the disappointment rises. I knew Nate couldn't do this.
Josh rushes our walk and makes a beeline to the pink and white ice cream van situated in the corner of the carpark.
”Jake!” I look over as Josh shrieks his friend's name and runs across the gra.s.s to a nearby family.
Jake walks along the nearby path with his parents, his mum pus.h.i.+ng Jake's sister in a buggy. I have no choice but to go over and say h.e.l.lo. Recognition crosses Marie's face first and I swear her mouth drops open as she glances between us. Simon halts next to her.
”Hi,” I say.
”h.e.l.lo.”
An awkward conversation about school and teachers follows, while Nate stares at the sky. This really isn't what I wanted for Nate's first introduction to my other life.
”Ah. Um. This is Nate,” I say.
Simon extends a hand and, for a horrible moment, I don't think Nate will take it. ”Hey, Nate.”
Nate nods as he shakes. ”Hey.”
Silence. OhmiG.o.d. A p.r.i.c.kling embarra.s.sment creeps through, and Josh's next move makes things a h.e.l.l of a lot worse. The boys charge around and there's a yell from Jake. He runs over to his mum crying and holds out his arm with a large, bleeding scratch along. ”Josh hit me with his stick.”
”Jos.h.!.+” I yell. ”Drop the stick now!”
A subdued Josh wanders over and stares at the ground. ”Say sorry to Jake.”
As he mutters an apology, I swear Nate laughs under his breath. ”I'm sorry.”
”Don't worry. Boys, hey?” says Simon with a grin at Nate.