being a bit hard on yourself, aren’t you? I’d be devastated if my place were flooded.’
Cass shrugged. ‘I’m concentrating on Lynette and the baby. Bricks and mortar can wait.’
Jack nodded, sipping his tea.
‘So how about you?’ She seemed intent on changing the subject now. ‘You have children?’
‘A little girl. Ellie’s four.’
She smiled. ‘That’s nice. I’m sorry we’re keeping you away from her.’
If he was honest, he was sorry about that too. Jack knew exactly what it was like to have to come to terms with the idea that his father was never coming back, and he’d promised Ellie that he would always come back for her. Right now the storm and the floods made that impossible, and the feeling that he was letting Ellie down was eating at him.
Cass didn’t need to know that. ‘I’m concentrating on Lynette and the baby too.’ He received a bright grin in acknowledgement of the sentiment. ‘I’d really like to call my daughter to say goodnight, though. Would you mind if I borrowed your phone?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She stood up, handing her phone over. ‘I’ll leave you to it.’
‘That’s okay. Say hello to her.’
She hesitated and then sat back down with a bump. Awkwardly, she pointed to one of the icons on the small screen.
‘You could try a video call. She might like to see you.’
‘Yeah, she would. Thanks.’
Jack couldn’t remember his sister’s mobile number so he called the landline, repeating Cass’s mobile number over to Sarah. ‘My sister’s going to get back to us.’
‘Your wife works too?’
‘I’m a single father. Sarah has a boy of Ellie’s age and she looks after her when I’m working.’
‘Sounds like a good arrangement.’ She seemed to be getting more uncomfortable by the minute. If he hadn’t already come to the conclusion that Cass could deal with almost anything, he would have said she was flustered.
He didn’t have time to question why because the phone rang. Cass leaned over, jabbing an icon on the screen to switch on the camera and answer the call.
* * *
He was so in love with Ellie. Cass had reckoned that a wife and family would put Jack firmly out of bounds, which was the best place for him as far as she was concerned. But he was handsome, caring, funny...and single. She was going to have to work a little harder now, because allowing herself to be tempted by Jack was just an exercise in loss.
‘Daddeee!’ An excited squeal came from the phone and Cass averted her gaze. Jack held the phone out in front of him, his features softening into a grin that made her want to run away screaming.
‘Ellie! What are you up to, darling?’
‘We’re having tea. Then Ethan and me are going to watch our film.’
‘Again, sweetie? Doesn’t Auntie Sarah want to watch something else on TV?’ He chuckled as a woman’s voice sounded, saying that if it kept the kids quiet, she was happy.
‘Listen, Ellie...’ He waited until the commotion on the other end of the line subsided. ‘Ellie, Daddy’s got to work, so you’ll be staying with Auntie Sarah for tonight.’
Silence. Then a little voice sounded. ‘I know. Miss you, Daddy.’
Cass almost choked with emotion. When she looked at Jack, he seemed to have something in his eye. ‘I miss you too, sweetie. You know you’re always my number one girl. And I’ll be back soon to give you big hugs.’
‘How big?’
‘As big as a bear. No, bigger than that. As big as our house.’
A little squeal of delight from Ellie. Cass imagined that Jack’s hugs were something to look forward to.
‘As big as our house...’
‘Yeah.’ Jack was grinning broadly now. ‘Be good for Auntie Sarah, won’t you.’
‘I’m always good.’ Ellie’s voice carried a note of reproof.
‘Sure you are. Would you like to meet my new friend?’ He winked at Cass and her heart jolted so hard she almost fainted. ‘She’s a firefighter.’
‘She has a fire engine?’ Ellie was obviously quite taken with the idea.
‘Why don’t you ask her?’ Jack chuckled and handed the phone over to Cass.
A little girl was staring at her. Light brown curls and luminous brown eyes. She was the image of Jack.
‘Hi, Ellie. I’m Cassandra.’ She wondered whether Ellie was a bit young to get her tongue around the name. Child development wasn’t her forte. ‘All my friends call me Cass.’
‘You’re a fire lady? With a fire engine?’ Ellie was wriggling excitedly.
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘Do you have a ladder?’
‘Yes, more than one. And we have a hose, for putting out all the fires.’
‘Auntie Sarah...!’ Ellie clearly wanted to share this exciting news.
‘Yes, I heard. Tell Cassandra that you’ve seen a fire engine.’ The woman’s voice again, laughing.
‘I’ve seen a fire engine.’ Ellie turned the edges of her mouth down theatrically. ‘It was a long, long, long way away...’
Suddenly Cass knew exactly what to say to Ellie. ‘Tell you what. We’re having an Open Day at our fire station soon. We’re showing all the children around...’ She was about to add that Ellie would have to ask her father if she might come, but that seemed to be a foregone conclusion.
‘Yesss! Daddeee!’
Jack shot Cass a wry smile. ‘Do I get to come along too, Ellie?’
Cass thought she could almost see the little girl roll her eyes.
‘You have to take me, Daddy. I can’t drive...’
‘Ah, yes, of course. Looks like it’s the two of us, then. Say thank you to Cassandra.’
Jack leaned in, speaking over her shoulder, and Cass swallowed a gasp, suddenly aware that his body was very close.
‘Thank you, Cassandra.’
Ellie managed the name without even blinking, and Jack chuckled.
‘Time to say bye-bye now, sweetheart.’ Ellie responded by waving and blowing a kiss, then Jack took the phone from her to say his own goodnight to his
