'I followed you,' he admitted.
'What the hell are you playing at? Do you think I'm going to let you near my son if you start stalking me?'
'I'm not stalking you, Dee.' He held up his hands. 'Look, I'm sorry. I just need to know, one way or the other, what's going to happen. All this hanging around is doing my head in.'
She sighed, wearily. 'I do realize that it must be hard for you, Neil, but it's not exactly easy for me either. Look, I've decided to let you meet him.'
Neil's face lit up. 'Really?'
She smiled. 'Yes, but before you get too excited, it's not going to be today or tomorrow. I need to work out the best way to handle this. I'll need to prepare him, but also, you have to understand, there will be conditions.'
'Of course! Oh, Dee, I am so grateful. You won't regret this, I promise you.'
'I hope I don't.'
'So what happens next?' he asked, trying but failing to stop smiling.
'We need to sit down and talk about what we're going to tell him; you, me and your mother.'
'My mother ?' He frowned.
'Yes, Neil. She's going to go from being his aunt to his granny overnight so she needs to be involved.'
'Right, okay. So, when?'
'I don't know yet, I'll call you.'
Neil looked at her impatiently. 'Please don't leave it too long, Dee,' he begged.
'I won't. Now I have to get back; I'll call you. And Neil?'
'Yes?'
'Don't follow me ever again or the whole deal is off.'
'I won't,' he promised. 'Thanks, Dee.'
As soon as she was in the car, Dee phoned Peggy to tell her of her decision. Her words didn't get the reaction she was expecting. 'Peggy? Are you okay?' she'd asked finally.
'Yes, sorry, I'm just in the middle of something and it's hard to talk.'
'Sorry, I won't keep you but will you meet me next Wednesday? I'd like to talk to you before we meet with Neil.'
There was a moment's pause and then came Peggy's voice again, slightly stronger. 'Yes, Dee, I'll meet you.'
After they'd agreed a time and place, Dee had rung off but she couldn't shake the feeling that Peggy hadn't really wanted to meet. Nor had she seemed that excited about the prospect of Neil finally getting to meet his son. Perhaps she was nervous about how Sam would take the news that Peggy was not a distant cousin but his granny. Yes, she decided, that was probably it.
Dee wasn't so worried any more, thanks to Vi Valentine's words of wisdom. She believed her relationship with her son was strong enough to withstand the situation and that she had the strength to deal with it and with Neil if necessary.
Dee stood in the kitchen, her hands in a bowl kneading bread, her thoughts miles away. The only time she really got to think these days was when she was alone in the car or baking bread. This morning, her thoughts had turned to Vi Valentine and her own revelations about her past. Dee thought it was an incredibly sad story and she was amazed that something so terrible had happened to such a seemingly happy person. It was a testament to her courage and strength that she had survived, never mind become a talented artist.
Though they had met up a couple of times since that night, they hadn't revisited the subject and, Dee realized, they probably never would. But there was no doubt that their bond had been strengthened by the exchange and Dee was glad of that. Vi had become a good friend and Dee was grateful that she'd come home to Banford. It couldn't have been easy, the town must have many painful memories for Vi. It must be something about the air here, Dee mused; we all come back eventually. Ronan, Conor, Vi, and Dee herself, of course.
She couldn't escape Banford and her family home quick enough all those years ago but now she was back and happy and she didn't think she'd ever leave again. She couldn't help thinking that her mother would be glad with how things had worked out.
'Dee?'
She started as she heard Martha call her. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and went to the door. 'Yeah?'
'The staff loo seems to be blocked again.'
Dee sighed. 'Okay, I'll ask Conor to have a look at it.' This happened from time to time and Conor could usually sort it but she knew she would need a plumber sooner rather than later. She might have come to grips with this house emotionally but there was no doubt that it was a financial nightmare.
As she was ahead of schedule, Dee decided to call up to the farm on her way to the café. Perhaps if she bribed Conor with some muffins, he'd be more willing to get to work with his plunger.
She went in to Lisa to tell her she was off and to steal a quick hug from her son. As usual, he was engrossed in play; Tom, like glue, at his side.
'What are you making?' she asked as they were surrounded by Lego.
'A rocket,' Tom told her, not even looking up.
'Very impressive.' She crouched down and pulled an unwilling Sam into her arms.
'Mum!' he groaned.
'Sorry!' She grinned at Lisa and stood up. 'I'll be stopping off at the supermarket on my way back, do you need anything?'
'No, I don't think so.'
They walked out into the hall together and stopped outside the dining-room door. They could hear Yvonne singing nursery rhymes with the children inside and couldn't resist peaking in.
'How's she doing?' Dee whispered.
'Really well,' Lisa enthused, 'I don't know how we managed without her.'
'She seems very sweet-natured.'
'She is, but she's good fun too.'
Dee softly closed the door again. 'I'd better get going. I want to drop by the farm and ask Conor to fix the loo.'
Lisa rolled her eyes. 'Any excuse.'
'True,' Dee admitted, laughing.
Twenty minutes later she was stepping out of her car and breathing in the sharp morning air. It was still a little cool for April but there was a definite air of spring about the place. Conor's farm was only a ten-minute drive from the town but when she came out here she felt as if she were in the middle of nowhere and loved the feeling of peace that descended on her.
She wandered around the side of the house, but there was no sign of Conor or Boxer so she called him on his mobile.
'Hey, you.'
'Hi. Where axe you?' Dee asked.
'At home.'
'Yes, but where? I'm in the yard.'
'Oh, have you brought me something nice for my elevenses?'
She grinned. 'I might have.'
'I'm in the bottom field, give me five minutes.'
Dee hung up and walked down the track. Within seconds she could hear the tractor's engine and shortly after, the vehicle rounded the bend slowly and she waved. A brown figure charged ahead like an Exocet missile and as she braced herself for Boxer's welcome she was glad she was wearing the old duffle coat that she kept in the boot especially for her visits to the farm. 'Hello, Boxer,' she said, patting him lightly and then firmly lifting him off her. 'Down, boy, good dog.'
Rummaging in her pocket, she found the biscuits she'd brought for him and threw them across the track. Boxer scampered after them and she hoisted herself up on the fence to wait for Conor.
She sighed happily as she looked around her at the rolling hills, a checkerboard of browns and greens dotted with sheep that looked more like little clouds from this distance and in the fields nearer, the magnificent Aberdeen Angus cattle that were Conor's pride and joy.
It would be good for Sam to spend some time up here with Conor. He was surrounded by too many women mollycoddling him all of the time. Still, now he was getting older that would all change. He would start school in September and that would give him a new feeling of independence. While she was nervous about school from a health perspective she had no such concerns about her son fitting in. The plus about growing up with a crèche in his home was that Sam was well used to being surrounded by people of all ages and he'd always seemed to love the interaction. Also, his best friend Tom would be starting school, too, so they would be able to support each other as they adjusted to the new routine.
'Hello there.' Conor pulled up beside her, switched off the engine and swung himself down. 'This is a nice surprise,' he murmured pulling her to him.
Dee put her arms around him and kissed him. 'I can't stay long,' she said, finally drawing back with regret.
'Are you sure?' he said, pulling her back for another kiss.
Dee laughed and pushed him away. 'You'll have to settle for a muffin.' She held up the bag she was carrying
'Fair enough,' he agreed, grabbing the bag off her and shoving a cake into his mouth.
She shook her head, pretending disgust. 'You'd better not eat like that when you're minding my son. I don't want him learning bad manners.'
'It's a compliment to your wonderful cooking,' Conor assured her, leading the way into the kitchen and putting on the kettle.
Dee stopped in the doorway and looked around her.
He looked back at her, expectantly. 'Well? What do you think?'
Dee realized that Conor was waiting for her reaction but she was lost for words. The faded three-piece suite that Conor had inherited from his parents was gone and had been replaced by a dark green leather armchair and a two-seater sofa. The marked, brown lino that curled at the edges had been removed and the floorboards polished and now a large, brightly patterned rug lay in front of the stone fireplace. The rest of the kitchen was the same but cleaner and, Dee realized, completely free of clutter. Conor had always used the kitchen table as a makeshift desk and the worktops as a filing cabinet but there wasn't as much as an envelope in sight. The final touches were a mug tree with six colourful mugs, flanked by a gleaming new stainless-steel kettle and toaster, and brightly striped curtains adorned the large window.
'Well?' Conor repeated impatiently.
'It's fantastic,' she said, hugging him quickly before crossing the room to touch the soft leather of the armchair. 'Beautiful.' She sat down and wriggled into the seat. 'It's all beautiful.'
'I thought the leather would be a healthier option and the rug is polyester; it can be shoved into the washing machine. Dad helped me with the floor and Mum bought the other bits and pieces.'
Dee felt her eyes fill up. 'Did you do all of this just because Sam's coming to spend one night?'
He smiled. 'Well, I was hoping that it might be a more regular occurrence and that maybe sometimes his mum would come too. Let's go upstairs; I want to show you his room.'
'His room?' she echoed, following him upstairs. There were three bedrooms upstairs; Conor slept in the largest, kept the second as a guest room and the third was piled high with junk. But now he was leading her past his room and past the guest room and to the door of that very room. He grinned at Dee before throwing open the door with a flourish. 'Ta da!'
Dee stepped in and stared around her at the freshly painted blue walls, the Star Wars border, the matching duvet and curtains and the polished floor boards. 'Conor, I don't know what to say,' she said as tears stung her eyes.
'Do you think he'll like it?'
'I think he'll love it. What little boy wouldn't?'
'I was going to get a football duvet but I wasn't sure which team—'
She put a finger to his lips. 'It's perfect, Conor. I am completely in shock. How on earth did you get the time to do all of this?'
He shrugged modestly. 'It didn't take that long. I ripped up the lino and threw the suite out in the yard the night you told me about Paula bringing the dog hair into the house.' He shook his head, his face grim. 'I'd never forgive myself if he got sick while he was here with me.'
Dee stared at him, completely lost for words. How had she not realized how much this man loved her son? How had she ever doubted him? She turned away and crossed over to the window.
'What is it, what's wrong?' He came to stand beside her and slid an arm around her shoulders.
'I just don't know why you bother with me,' she sniffed. 'I don't deserve you.'
He grinned. 'Does that mean I can have more than just muffins for elevenses?'
'No, sorry' – she looked at her watch – 'oh, crikey, look at the time!' Dee pushed past him, allowing herself just one last glance at the beautiful little room. 'I'm sorry, but I really have to go, I have your dad's delivery in the car.'
'Phone him and tell him you're running late,' he urged, pulling her back and kissing her.
She returned his kiss hungrily before pushing him away and running downstairs. 'Sorry, can't let my biggest customer down.'
'You're no fun,' he said, following her.
She laughed. 'I am, and I'll prove it to you if you want to come over tonight.'
'You're on.'
'It's all really beautiful, Conor,' she said again, waving a hand around her as they walked back through the kitchen.
'And I'm not finished yet,' he told her. 'I'm converting the back room into a proper office; I've already bought a desk and a filing cabinet and I've ordered a new PC and printer. And,' his eyes twinkled down at her, 'my new king-size bed is being delivered tomorrow.'
'Have you won the lottery or something?' she asked as they went outside to her car.
'You could say that,' he said lightly.
She whirled to face him. 'You're kidding!'
'I am, but I have had a bit of luck. I'll fill you in tonight.'
She groaned as she climbed into her car and wound down the window. 'Conor, you can't make me wait until then.'
'You'd better hurry, your customer will be waiting.'
'You are so cruel,' she grumbled, starting the car and putting it into reverse.
He laughed 'I know.'
She smiled tip at him. 'Thank you so much, Conor.'
'For what?'
'For the room, the sofa, the floor.' She shrugged, her eyes shining. 'It's all amazing, thank you.'
He ducked his head in to kiss her. 'You're welcome.'
She was still smiling when she arrived at the café. Seeing Ronan through the door, restocking his shelves, Dee set down her load on the counter, went into the bookshop and, throwing her arms around him, planted a noisy kiss on his cheek.
'Oh! What was that for?' he asked, putting his hand to his face. 'Not that I'm complaining!'