Made In London

by Clare Lydon

  Eden still looked a little pained.

  “I’m not getting happy vibes from your face,” Heidi said. “Don’t tell me she’s a nightmare. I hate when that happens.”

  Eden shook her head. “She’s not, she’s really lovely. Very easy to get on with. I wasn’t sure what she’d be like, but she’s surprisingly down-to-earth.”

  Heidi grinned. “I love that she’s so out, too. How she’s still single is a mystery. If she ever does get married, I want to do her wedding. You think you can slip her one of my business cards?”

  Eden gave Heidi another jagged smile, nodding. “I’ll see what I can do.” Then she leaned forward, her eyes not leaving Heidi’s face. “Enough about India Contelli and Chocolate Delight. Let’s talk about us. It’s good to see you again. Thanks for saying yes. I wasn’t sure if I’d left it too long.”

  “I wasn’t sure, either. But then, when you texted, my initial thought was yes. I went with that.”

  “I’m glad.” The skin around Eden’s eyes crinkled. “I’m hoping today, we can start again. Wipe off our first date as a blip.” She took a breath. “Would that be okay?”

  Heidi stalled for a couple of seconds before replying. “We can to a certain degree. But the issue is still sat on my lap.”

  On cue, Maya twisted around, putting a hand on Heidi’s cheek. “Play, Mummy.”

  Heidi glanced out the window of the pub. The back garden housed a small kids’ playground and a bouncy castle. Maya had already spotted it out the window and was pointing now, wriggling to get off Heidi’s lap. If Heidi didn’t want Maya to cause a scene, she was going to have to go along with her request for now.

  She glanced up at Eden. “But just to be clear, I didn’t mean to force the issue today. Bringing Maya couldn’t be helped.”

  Eden shook her head. “It’s fine. She’s gorgeous.”

  Maya was on her feet now, pulling at Heidi’s hand. “She’s also very insistent when she wants something. Do you mind getting a drink and going outside?” Was Eden going to bail before ordering again? Heidi braced herself.

  But Eden shook her head, getting to her feet. “No problem. I’ll grab your bag and jackets, you grab her.”

  Outside, the weather had April stamped all over it. A chill wind blew, but Maya paid no attention as she raced over to the bouncy castle. Heidi paid the attendant cash and put Maya on, a knot in her stomach. She used to love playing on bouncy castles as a kid, but she was less in love with them as a parent. All she could see now were far larger children paying no heed to her daughter, their elbows at Maya’s head height, there to knock her out with no notice at all.

  A picnic table nearby freed up, and Eden took their coats and bags and put them on the table. “You want to sit?” She walked back to stand beside Heidi.

  Heidi shook her head. “I just want to keep an eye on her for a bit. She’s only little.”

  Eden dug her hands in her jeans pockets and watched, too. A few moments went by and neither spoke.

  “Did you go on these when you were little?”

  Heidi glanced to her left, before looking back. Maya was holding hands with another little girl about the same height. Heidi liked that. Safety in numbers. “All the time,” she said, not turning her head. “But now I’m the parent, I find it less fun. Especially when I hear about kids being catapulted off them and dying.”

  “You’d have to be very unlucky for that to happen.” Eden paused. “When I was a kid, my cousin fell on me when I was on one. I made sure not to get in his way again. Kids are pretty robust, and Maya looks like she’s got the knack of it.”

  Just at that moment, her daughter let out a shriek of laughter, then promptly fell on her bum. She bounced for a bit, but then managed to get up again. Heidi flooded with pride.

  “Maybe you’re right She’s more robust than I give her credit for.”

  “How about us? You think we’re robust?”

  Heidi turned to her. “We’ll see. This is a good test, though, right? For a non-child person.”

  “The ultimate. I thought it might be a joke, you arranging to meet me on April 1st.”

  Heidi gave a throaty laugh. “Nobody wants to get married on April 1st, so that’s why I’m free. I’m not superstitious. Are you?”

  Eden shook her head. “Nope. I believe life is driven by action, not chance. Which is why I asked you to meet me again. I didn’t want to leave that to chance.”

  Heidi glanced sideways and held her gaze. After a few seconds, Eden looked away, scanning the pub garden. Heidi followed her gaze, allowing herself a minute to take her eyes off Maya.

  The air was shrill with the sound of children’s voices, and to her left a young child was screaming, snot running down her face. It looked like she’d either fallen off the monkey bars or the swings, and Heidi felt for whom she assumed was the little girl’s dad. The little girl had worked herself up into a lather of tears and there was nothing her parent could do apart from comfort her and let it play out. Patience was something you had to learn more of when you became a parent, or you’d simply never survive.

  “That right there is the stuff I dread.” Eden pointed at the little girl. “Because I’ve no idea how to handle it.”

  “Neither did I, but you learn to.”

  “I’m not good with things I’m not in control of. My work, I have a handle on. My life, it runs how I want it to.”

  “So meeting me wasn’t in your plans then, was it?” Heidi took in her electric blue eyes; she definitely hadn’t planned for those.

  Eden bit her lip, before lifting her eyes to Heidi. “It wasn’t, but I’m open to curve balls.”

  “You weren’t when I dropped Maya into the conversation first.”

  “I know, but it was a shock. We chatted enough at the festival and I wasn’t sure why you didn’t tell me.”

  “Because I was afraid of a bad reaction?” Heidi raised an eyebrow at Eden.

  She bowed her head.

  Heidi hoped she took the point. “It wasn’t so much a lie, more an omission of the facts. I am sorry, though. Blame my sister for her little scheme.”

  “She has a husband, that much I know. And kids?”

  “Three kids.”

  “Wow. Her lie was three times as big.”

  “But it was mainly to herself.” Heidi paused. “You said you had an issue with single mothers, too. If you do, we still have a problem.”

  Eden kicked the ground, looking down. She shook her head. “I don’t. Not with you. Just with my mother. She was a single mum and let’s just say she wasn’t a great example.” Eden glanced up. “I’m sorry for putting that on you, too. I hope you can forgive me.”

  Heidi took a moment, before she squeezed Eden’s hand. The connection warmed her. “There’s a good chance.”

  They both gazed over at Maya bouncing again.

  “She’s going to be bounced out today. I took her trampolining this morning. She loved it. I think it’s our new thing.”

  Eden’s face fell.

  “What is it?” Heidi had no idea what she’d said. Something wrong again? This was like walking on eggshells.

  Eden shook her head. “Nothing.” She exhaled. “It’s just, I hardly think about my mum much, then I’ve mentioned her twice in as many minutes with you.” She frowned. “My mum used to take me trampolining. She loved it, too. It was the one thing we did together that she never begrudged.” Eden’s shoulders went up, then down as she sighed. “Anyway, that’s my sad, sorry tale. Enough about me.”

  The woman in charge of the bouncy castle blew her whistle, bringing their conversation to a close. Heidi wanted to ask more, but sensed this wasn’t the right moment. They moved towards the steady stream of children climbing off.

  “Is Maya the end for you, or are you planning any more?”

  Heidi ran her tongue along her bottom lip, wondering if this was another key question, one that might trip up their fledging relationship. But she could only answer it honestly. “I think the end, but never
say never.”

  Eden’s face gave nothing away as she nodded.

  Maya was adorable as she shuffled to the edge of the castle, her movements small and precise. Her nose was snotty as Heidi held out a hand to her. Heidi wiped it, then picked her up and walked back to Eden, who was sitting at their picnic table. Had they smoothed things over? She had no idea.

  “This table reminds me of our epic Saturday night.” Eden flashed her an unsure smile.

  Relief rolled through Heidi. Perhaps they were okay. “Apart from we’re dry. A miracle.” She paused. “I particularly enjoyed the end of that night. Did you?”

  Now Eden’s smile reached her gorgeous eyes. “It was a birthday highlight.”

  A worked-up Maya slapped the table with both hands.

  “I think she wants some attention,” Heidi said.

  Eden fished in her pocket and pulled out a bag of banana sweets. She leaned in to Maya. “I’m not sure if this is your thing, Maya. But one of my favourite things to do with chocolate spread is to smear it onto a banana sweet and eat both together. Like spreading it on your toast. What do you think?” She opened the bag of sweets and offered one to Heidi’s daughter.

  Heidi knew just what Maya would think. “Those sweets are her favourite, so your stock might just have jumped a notch or two.”

  Sure enough, her daughter took the offered sweet, then dipped her hand into the chocolate spread Eden was offering. She smeared it on her banana as instructed.

  “Like toast!” Maya gave Eden an impossibly cute grin, and Heidi sent up a silent note of thanks. Eden was finally getting cute, cheery Maya, not grumpy, grouchy Maya. Now she was nearing her terrible twos, Heidi was never sure what was going to happen.

  “What do you say to Eden for giving you chocolate and bananas?”

  “Like toast!” Maya repeated, holding out her hand for another.

  Eden obliged.

  “I was thinking more ‘thank you’, but close enough.” Heidi paused. “Well played, by the way,” she told Eden. “You’re better at this kid stuff than you think.”

  Eden blushed then, and Heidi melted a little. “I hoped it might get me onside. With you and her.”

  Heidi raised an eyebrow. “You’ll only get me onside if you give me a sweet, too.”

  They both laughed, as did Maya. Heidi relaxed into the moment, and for the first time, she wondered if this could work. Bringing her child on a date wasn’t optimal, but it wasn’t the end of the world. That was a revelation in itself.

  Chapter 17

  An hour later, Heidi and Eden had fresh drinks, and they’d shared some fish and chips, which had pleased Maya no end. What Eden was taking away from this brief encounter with a toddler was that distraction was key to controlling their behaviour, and the best way to do that was with a never-ending supply of food. So far, with the mix of banana sweets, chocolate spread and ketchup-covered chips, it was working a treat.

  Maya was playing with a friend from her playgroup now, setting up a tea party on a tiny picnic table in the play area, replete with mini plates, cups, a teapot and even some plastic bread.

  This date was far from her usual, but being here with Heidi was just as good as she remembered. Once they’d got past the thorny issues of what had been said and done, Eden relaxed. When she was around Heidi, she couldn’t help it. Somehow, Heidi made Eden click into place. Made her remember a version of herself she didn’t know existed. The one her gran had tried to shine a light on, but she’d shied away. The one Lib kept banging the drum about. The one that, if she was honest, Eden was just seeing for the first time.

  When Heidi had reacted so strongly to India Contelli earlier, it had thrown Eden. She’d almost come clean, but then she realised there was nothing to say. India was her client. India had asked her out, and Eden was going to turn her down. She and Heidi hadn’t been a thing then, so it wasn’t even connected. What’s more, Eden was damn sure India Contelli wouldn’t light her up the way Heidi did. Every time their eyes connected, Eden wanted to climb across the wooden table and kiss Heidi into next week.

  But she didn’t.

  Not yet.

  Heidi ate the last couple of chips, licking a spot of ketchup from her fingers.

  What she’d give to be that ketchup. “The chips were a hit.” She glanced at Maya, who was chatting to her friend. Yes, she was cute, but boy, was she messy. It had taken three wet wipes to clean her up.

  “Chips are a hit with everyone, aren’t they?” Heidi gave her a smile. “If anyone tells you different, they’re lying. You know those people who ask restaurants to replace their chips with a salad? Every time they do, if you listen really carefully, you can hear their souls weeping.”

  Eden laughed. “I take it you’ve never done that?”

  Heidi snorted. “If I ever do, you have permission to slap me. I can’t foresee a day where I turn down chips.”

  “You might develop some sort of weird chip allergy.”

  Heidi shuddered. “Now you’re talking the language of horror.” She popped the last chip in her mouth, and as she stared into Eden’s eyes, a flash of heat sailed down Eden’s body. When her gaze landed on Heidi’s mouth, it only intensified.

  “I just want you to know, it’s been good reconnecting. Meeting up again. I’ve thought about you a lot since the festival. Since that kiss.”

  Heidi tilted her head, wiping her hands on the final wet wipe. “That kiss was kinda special, wasn’t it? Although it seems a very long time ago.”

  “Too long,” Eden replied.

  “But I’ve thought about it, too. About how I’d like to replicate it, and perhaps more.”

  “More?” Eden raised an eyebrow.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Maybe the more could involve chocolate spread, too?”

  “Are you just trying to boost sales for your product?”

  “Would it work?”

  “Absolutely.” Heidi smiled, gazing into Eden’s eyes.

  Eden could have happily frozen that moment and stayed there for a while longer. However, as she was learning from today, romantic moments were harder when you were surrounded by children, as evidenced by the sound of two kids running by, one shouting “You’re going to die!” at the top of his voice. Yep, Eden could see how parents might have a hard time squeezing romance back into their lives.

  “I hope we can get to more,” Heidi added, gazing at Eden. “Probably not today, because I have my daughter, but sometime when it can be just the two of us?”

  “I’d like that a lot.” Eden licked her lips as her heart rate kicked up a notch. Heat spread through her under Heidi’s intense gaze. Maybe she could kick aside all her children and single mum hang-ups. For Heidi, she was ready to do most things.

  “You’ve got the most intense, gorgeous eyes. But I think you probably know that.”

  Eden smiled, squirming a little. “I also get embarrassed easily.”

  Heidi let out a bark of laughter. “If you’re going to go out with someone with children, you have to get over that quickly.” She paused. “You’ve never gone out with anyone with children before?”

  Eden shook her head, lowering her gaze to Heidi’s lips. “Nope. Never been a thing.”

  “And today hasn’t put you off?”

  Eden shook her head. “I thought it would, but I’m opening myself up to new possibilities. Your daughter is a part of you, and I want to get to know you.” She still wouldn’t describe herself as comfortable with it, but she was going with the flow. Which, for Eden, was a miracle. Going with the flow meant giving up control. Seeing where life took you. Was she prepared to take a deep breath and jump?

  “I want to get to know you, too. But I can’t change the fact that I have a child. Life with her is messy and unpredictable, so strap yourself in for the ride.”

  “I work with major executives, who I always say are a little like overgrown toddlers. Sometimes they throw their toys on the floor, sometimes they decide to make it about who can scream the loudest. So
I’ve had some experience.” She swallowed down hard. “I admit I don’t do messy very well, but I’d like to think I can take whatever Maya throws at me.”

  Heidi reached across, took Eden’s hand in hers and kissed it.

  Eden already knew she wanted those lips planted all over her body.

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Heidi replied.

  Eden glanced over to where Maya and her friend were smearing chocolate spread onto fake plastic pieces of bread. Good for branding was her first thought. Then she rolled her eyes at herself. She needed to impress on Heidi she was cool with her child, not pounce on her every move and use it for her own ends.

  Eden nodded to where Heidi was already looking. “Isn’t it cute they’re using the chocolate spread? I was just thinking I should be filming it for Instagram.”

  Heidi glanced Maya’s way, then frowned. Her movements went into overdrive as she scrabbled for the Chocolate Delight bag Eden had brought, and tipped out the tubs. “How many tubs were in the bag?” She stood up, almost shouting.

  Eden frowned. “What?”

  “How many tubs of the spread were in the bag?” More urgent now.

  “Three.”

  “There are still three here. So what’s she spreading on that toast?” Heidi was suddenly a blur as she sprinted over to the play area, shouting at Maya to stop doing what she was doing.

  But what was she doing? Eden could only see she was playing still. What was wrong with that? She stood up, craning her neck to see.

  The other parent had run over now, and both she and Heidi were taking the fake toast and cutlery from their children’s hands, before lifting both kids by the underarms, holding them at arm’s length as they walked swiftly towards Eden.

  Eden stood up.

  The chocolate was all over Maya’s hands and down her top and trousers, too — and just when they’d run out of wet wipes. She needed cleaning up. What was it Heidi had been saying about her being messy?

  “You taking her to the bathroom?” But Eden’s final word was clipped as a pungent smell hit her, causing her to stumble. She took a step back, before wrinkling her nose, and then her whole face. Oh. My. God. She breathed in again, then turned her head, before looking back at Heidi.