Nancy walked away from Cameron clutching the booklet in her hands, in a daze. His gift had come as a complete shock. She hadn’t realised how much Cameron had taken in from their conversation that night so for him to have spent time doing this was hard for her to comprehend. She spent so much of her time defending Jack from judgement that it was difficult to adapt to someone’s kindness. As she approached the bench where Jack was sitting, she noticed Harriet talking to Jayne. The two of them seemed completely in their own little world, sitting close to one another. Jayne looking stunning in her floral pink dress that was nipped in at the waist showcasing her slim, up and down figure. It was a pale pink colour and had sort a sheer layer over the top of the material, meaning her shoulders were on show but still covered up. She was beautiful and just radiated warmth and happiness, and Nancy was glad Harriet was giving her the time of day now. Harriet, on the other hand, was looking chic and stylish in a pair of black and white stripy shorts and a fitted, white, one-shouldered top with a frill over one shoulder. Her tanned legs went on for miles in the short shorts and tan wedges, showcasing the most perfect of figures.
Nancy looked down at her own legs, which she had hidden away under her lightweight all in one jumpsuit. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her legs, but she was so slim right now she felt self-conscious that she appeared to be all skin and bones. She had lost a lot of weight since Pete had left and she hated it, her stress showing visibly on her body.
Reaching the bench, she sat down next to her son and gently placed her hand on his arm, gaining his attention from the iPad. He pulled his headphones off and looked at her.
‘Alright little man?’ He nodded. ‘What you watching?’
He turned the screen to show her. ‘Grand Designs.’
She smiled. He loved his building programmes. ‘Is it a good one?’
‘Yeah, they are putting a big balcony on this house right there.’ He pointed at the screen. ‘And then they are going to open up the roof bit there and put a big window in so they can see the stars!’ His voice was full of excitement and wonder.
‘That sounds incredible.’
‘I wish I lived there – can we live there?’
‘What about our house? You like our house.’
‘Yeah but there isn’t a balcony, or a big window.’
‘True, but there is a garden with a cool treehouse.’
Jack’s face lit up. ‘Yeah, my treehouse!’ His face dropped. ‘I miss my treehouse, can we go home now?’
Nancy put her arm around him. ‘Oh sweetheart, not yet darling. Soon we will be going home. Right now, we are having fun on holiday … aren’t we?’
She watched his little face as he put his headphones back on and shrugged out of her grasp. ‘I guess so.’
She put her hand on his forearm again and he looked at her questioningly. ‘I have something to show you – I hope you like it.’
‘What is it?’
‘You remember that boy that keeps coming over to you and talks to you – and I talk to his daddy?’
He shook his head. ‘I don’t like it, it makes me feel funny.’
‘Is it because you don’t know who they are – because they’re new?’ A nod. ‘Well, this might be something that can help.’ She handed him the booklet and he studied the front cover for a good minute before turning to her and saying;
‘What is it?’
‘It’s a special book for you to read – for us to read together.’
‘I like reading.’
‘I know you do and do you know why this book is so special?’ He shook his head. ‘Because it is a friendship book.’ He looked at her in confusion. ‘This book is about that boy who comes and talks to you and about his daddy who talks to me.’ She paused for a moment and watched him turn the booklet over in his hands, analysing the drawing on the front.
‘Who is that?’ he asked, pointing to the picture.
‘That’s a picture of the little boy and his dad – the boy drew it for you. Isn’t that nice?’
Jack nodded. ‘I like his drawing.’
‘I like it too.’ Nancy’s heart swelled with happiness. She tried hard not to get excited but even she had to admit that this was going rather well. ‘Do you want to look inside?’ He nodded and opened the first page:
All about me: Aiden
My name is: Aiden
I am seven years old
I have brown hair and brown eyes.
I really like … swimming, reading, playing superheroes with my dad
I don’t like … angry voices, Brussel sprouts
Nancy read out all the different sections for Jack and he listened intently. This was ingenious!
‘He doesn’t like angry voices?’ Nancy shook her head. ‘I don’t like angry voices either.’
‘I know. That’s something you both have in common – it means you both have something similar. And that’s what friends are – they’re people who are similar to you and enjoy the same things you do.’
‘He says he enjoys swimming, but I don’t like water.’
‘Yes, but that’s OK, because we are all different, that’s what makes us special.’ She smiled at him as he nodded. She often told him he was special and that it was OK to be different.
‘Keep reading, Mummy.’
Nancy turned the page:
My favourites page:
My favourite colour is: Orange
My favourite book is: Horrid Henry
My favourite TV show is: Horrid Henry
My favourite film is: Horrid Henry
Jack gasped. ‘My favourite film is Horrid Henry too!’
Nancy took in his shocked face. ‘Isn’t that wonderful?’ A sizzle of excitement was bubbling up inside her. She saw out of the corner of her eye, over Jack’s shoulder, that Cameron was watching them from over by the bar. When he saw her looking, he gave her a thumbs up sign. Nancy smiled and nodded in response, to indicate it was going OK. He smiled and winked in return and she pulled her eyes back to the booklet before she started blushing.
She turned the page:
I don’t have a mummy but my daddy is like my mummy too. Here is a bit about him too.
All about me: Cameron
My name is: Cameron
I am 38 years old
I have blond hair and blue eyes.
I really like … going for walks, going to the cinema and reading
I don’t like … getting up early, spiders and when Aiden is sad
‘His daddy is older than you are.’
Nancy nodded. ‘Yes he is, but only by a few years.’
‘Six years.’ Nancy nodded. ‘Why doesn’t he have a mummy?’
‘I don’t know sweetheart. But it is kind of the same thing with you, you don’t see your daddy, and he doesn’t see his mummy. That’s another thing you have in common – do you see?’
‘Oh yes!’ He pondered on the thought for a minute. ‘Carry on reading, Mummy.’
My favourites page:
My favourite colour is: Green
My favourite book is: Jack Reacher
My favourite TV show is: Countryfile
My favourite film is: Taken
‘I don’t know what any of those things are except the colour.’
Nancy laughed. ‘That’s because you are a lot younger than me and Cameron. Those are good choices, I can tell you that.’
‘His favourite book has the same name as me.’
‘So it does, that’s funny.’ Jack nodded and turned the page.
My job is to look after babies when they are born and to make them better when they are poorly – my job is called a NEONATAL SURGEON. I am a special doctor for babies.
A smile crept across Nancy’s face as she read this part. She found his job fascinating. She felt it showed a lot about his personality and the type of person he was. Any man who chose to work with children instantly found himself bumped up the attraction list, in her opinion.
‘Wow, he’s a doctor. I see lots of doctors.’
‘Yes, you see the doctors at the hospital and the clinic, don’t you? They help you with how you’re feeling and with school and stuff don’t they?’ He nodded. This booklet had created a basis for Nancy and Jack to talk. She was getting to know Aiden and Cameron, but more importantly, she was getting a little insight into Jack too.
‘So you see, he has an interesting job, hey? And Aiden seems like lots of fun?’ Jack shrugged. ‘Do you think maybe one day you would like to talk to Aiden?’
Jack shook his head and Nancy’s heart sank. It hadn’t worked. ‘Why not?’
‘I still don’t know who he is.’
‘But you know a little bit about him now. You know that he likes some of the same things as you and that he doesn’t like angry voices so he won’t be loud around you.’
She so desperately wanted this to work, but it seemed like a long shot now. As the excitement wore down and reality set in, Nancy realised just how disappointed she was that she wouldn’t get to spend more time with Cameron. ‘It’s OK sweetheart, if you don’t want to talk to him, that’s fine. But keep the booklet and look at it whenever you like – you might feel differently on another day.’
He took the booklet from her but then placed it down beside him. ‘Can I watch the building again?’
Nancy nodded and exhaled as he placed the headphones back on his head. Cameron held out his hand for a verdict and she sadly shook her head. Cameron responded with a sad smile and Nancy turned around on the bench and looked out to sea.
Why was it so hard – all she wanted was a son who was like everyone else. She instantly hated herself for thinking it and shook the thought from her mind. Just her and Jack – it would be fine.