Page 25 of In at the Deep End

She smiled knowingly. “Take care of him.”

Matt blinked, a faint crease appearing between his brows.

Owen coughed. “Okay, it’s time we went to IKEA.”

“I’ll walk them to the car,” Callum told Cyn.

Owen went through the hall and out into the sunshine, Matt following.

He’s known Cyn for less than twenty minutes, and somehow he already feels like part of the conversation.

Some people had that gift. Jeff had been one of them.

Maybe the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree after all.

He hugged Callum. “Don’t forget. You have an open invitation to visit.”

Callum laughed. “You might regret that.” He patted Matt’s arm. “I’ll see you again. Keep Dad out of trouble?”

Matt chuckled. “Okay, two things about that. Is he likely to get into any? And what makes you think I could stop him?” He opened the car door and got into the passenger seat.

Owen went around, pausing before getting in. He snorted. “I spent three years trying to keep your father out of trouble. I have no intention of swapping one Daley for another.”

Callum grinned and headed back inside.

Owen waited while Matt buckled his seatbelt. Cyn’s words lingered.

You laughed.

He really hadn’t noticed.

Then again, he’d spent the morning in the company of a young man who could make almost any subject interesting—from gardens and history to old photographs and student pranks.

Owen smiled to himself.

Maybe IKEA wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Owen glanced at Matt’s phone. “How’s the list doing?” They’d noted the numbers of the wardrobes, bookcases, and a few other items, to be collected from the warehouse section.

“I think we’ve got everything.” Matt shook his head. “It always gets me about IKEA. They make you follow a path so they have more chances to hook you into buying something else.” He glanced at Owen. “Can I ask a personal question?”

“Sure, you can ask.” He had to wonder what was coming.

“What made you retire so young?”

“Because I could.”

Matt laughed. “That’s not an answer.”

He thought about it for a moment. “I spent thirty years working because I thought one day I’d have time.” He paused. “Then I realised life has a habit of changing your plans.”

Matt said nothing.

They passed through the children’s department, and a plaintive wail filled the air. A little boy was having a spectacular tantrum, and there didn’t seem to be a parent in sight.

Matt went over to him, knelt down, and picked up the soft toy the child had thrown. He handed it back without saying a word, and the boy stopped crying.

His mum appeared, visibly flustered. She took one look at the child, and mouthed “Thank you.”