Page 107 of Tabloid Princess
Daisy and I remained rooted in the hallway. It was perfectly square, but whereas the outside hinted at Georgian luxury and antique splendour—much like the warehouse by the Thames—the inside was vast, minimalistic, and smoothly modern.
A bright light bathed everything and when he guided us with an outstretched hand to the back of the house, I realised why. There was no back wall, just glass that stretched from one end of the building to the other, from roof to foundations.
“Wow.” I turned, taking it all in.
“You like it?”
“It’s hard not to like.”
“Where’s the park?” Daisy pouted a little.
“Ah, the park. I knew you wouldn’t forget.” He motioned for the back window and we followed him and waited while he pressed another button on the wall and the glass bifold doors smoothly opened. “Come on, let me show you, then I’ll organise us some lunch.”
“Oliver can make amazing toasted sandwiches,” I told her.
“It’s true. It’s a life skill.”
He shepherded us out onto an immaculate green lawn. I mean really, even the royal parks in London could have done with a visit from his gardener. Then I saw what the park was he’d brought us to. A giant adventure playground sat on a further lawn, separated from the first by a small brick wall.
Daisy screamed so loud it made a flock of wood pigeons take to flight. Oliver chuckled and offered her his hand so he could walk her down.
“You like?”
“It’s amazing.” She jumped inches off the floor, somehow walking and jumping all at the same time. “Do you play on it?”
He laughed loudly and squeezed her hand. “All the time.”
Irrational tears stung my lashes.
This was amazing. Everything. Why did it feel like it would just hurt me more?
The equipment was new. It hadn’t even seen its first drop of rain.
“This is too much,” I whispered to him once Daisy had run off and launched herself onto the monkey bars.
“It’s a big garden to not have much in it.”
“How did you know we’d even bring Daisy here?”
He shrugged, his gaze wistful for a moment. “I didn’t.”
My hand sought his, tangling our fingers tight together. “Thank you.”
He turned, the sun brightening the strong angles of his face “Leia. You are very welcome.”
“That’s a big surprise though. We are going to have our work cut out stopping her from blabbing to everyone.”
His smile dropped for a moment. “I’ve got more.”
“Oliver! You can’t keep spoiling her. Bribery is not the answer.”
He shrugged, but his smile played across his face. “I know, I know.”
“And you’ve still got to talk to me. This isn’t going to distract me for long.”
“Oh, I know that too.” He sighed. “Daisy, do you want to meet the other Daisy?”
My daughter hung upside down like a chimp, but she quickly righted herself and dropped to the grass.
