‘It was you who said people should be with the people they love on Midsommar’s!’ he retorted furiously.

‘Oh! So this is my fault?’

‘You know what I mean! I’ve already lost out on too much with him.’

‘Bell?’ Linus’s voice carried over to them and they turned to find him walking hesitatingly back towards them, his hands filled with pebbles.

‘It’s fine, Linus, we’re just coming!’ she called back with false cheer, beginning to walk too. He couldn’t see them fighting like this.

Emil matched her stride. ‘This won’t work!’ he insisted through gritted teeth.

‘Well, it’s going to have to.’

They marched in silence, arms swinging angrily in time, and she could sense his anger and resentment growing beside her.

‘Well, don’t think that what happened between us is—’

She stopped walking with a scoffing laugh. ‘Oh, I don’t. As far as I’m concerned, it’s already forgotten.’ She stared at him with mutinous eyes. ‘It was a terrible mistake – let’s just leave it at that.’

Chapter Fifteen

‘There. That wasn’t so bad, was it?’ she asked, tucking the thick linen sheets back into the side of the bed, holding him firmly. The little red Corvette car was on his bedside table; he’d put it in his pocket whilst they went exploring, his fingers running over it nervously like a lucky charm as he and his father exchanged their first words.

Linus stared back at her, his hair splaying on the pillow. ‘Not as bad as last time.’

‘Exactly.’ She sat on the side of the bed and smiled down at him. ‘So what do you think about him now?’

He shrugged.

‘I think he seems nice enough,’ she said lightly, still aware of the small vibration in her bones at the way he’d talked to her earlier. But it wasn’t up to her to make this relationship work, only to allow it space to grow – safely. ‘He found that nice-shaped stone on the way back for you.’

‘He thought it looked like a mammoth’s tooth.’

She heard the wry note in his voice. ‘Didn’t you?’

‘No. Anyway, it’s babyish looking for stones. I’m ten, not two.’

‘Well,’ she sighed. ‘Give him a chance. At least he’s trying. It’s bound to take him a while to get used to how big you are. Remember, for him, you were only two when he saw you last.’

They were both quiet, the enormity of what had happened – what had been taken, from both father and son – settling upon them.

‘I – I don’t know what to call him.’ Linus’s voice was hesitant. ‘I don’t care what Mamma says. He’s not my pappa and he never will be.’

She smoothed a hand over his hairline again. ‘No, of course not. No one’s expecting you to let him take Max’s place.’ She gave a sad smile, looking into those anxious green eyes which were usually so clear. ‘Don’t worry, little man, it will all become apparent in the fullness of time. Just do what feels right for you. Emil is a grown-up. He knows this can’t be rushed.’