Patrick served the food to the table as it was cooked. The aroma made Lauren's stomach grumble. There would be enough leftovers to keep her fed for a week, but it was worth all the effort. Making a fuss for her family made her feel good.
"This was such a great idea," Cassie said. "Thank you to the chefs."
"You’re very welcome," Patrick said.
"This is amazing. Every time I do this, I wonder why I don't just cook on the barbecue every night. It's not like it's that far away."
Patrick laughed. "It is easy. Although maybe try not to feed an army next time."
Lauren slapped him on the arm. "I thought it was better to have too much food than not enough."
"Of course you are right."
Lauren looked over at Cassie to see how she was doing. Cassie looked at her with a confused look in her eyes.
Shit. She thinks I'm flirting with him.
She shook her head before returning to the food. Keep eating, and don’t look at either of them. That should do it.
As she was cleaning away the plates, she could hear Cassie and Patrick arguing about something to do with Sophie.
"Get your stuff together, sweetheart, and we'll get going," Cassie said.
"But it's early, Mum."
"And the night chill is setting in. I want to go home and warm up the house before it gets too cold."
"Yes Mum," she said glumly.
Sophie hugged Patrick. "I have to go."
Patrick kissed her on the cheek. "We'll see each other again soon, I promise."
"Go out to the car, Sophie, I'll be out in a minute."
Sophie grumbled as she walked away, leaving Cassie and Patrick looking at each other.
"I'm going inside," said Lauren, kissing Cassie on the cheek. "I'll leave you to say goodbye."
She resisted the urge to watch them through the curtains, and it wasn't long before Patrick joined her inside.
"Everything alright?" she asked, noting his glum expression.
He shrugged. "I told her I want us to be a family. She told me to wait. This is driving me crazy. I feel like that eighteen-year-old again with all these raging hormones and emotions I don't know how to deal with. I just love her so much."
Lauren looked at him. He stared at the front door, in the direction where Cassie had gone. No guesses as to where his mind was.
"Do you want a drink?" she asked.
He shook his head. Lauren smiled.
"How about a coffee?"
Patrick nodded. "I'll do the dishes, Lauren. It might help keep my mind off things. Thanks for inviting me."
"You're welcome any time," she said. "I'll dry the dishes if you want to wash."
"Sounds good to me."
He was gone in the morning, and she wondered if he'd gone home or to Cassie. Either would make sense. She hoped he had gone to Cassie.
Lauren kept herself busy with the housework, torn between calling Cassie and leaving it alone. There was no point upsetting her further. She'd been courteous enough, but it was clear she wasn't impressed by Lauren inviting Patrick.
She poured herself a drink, something to get her going for the day. A bit early, but who was counting? As she sat down, her mobile buzzed from the text that had just come through.
I’m with Cassie
She smiled, hoping that meant what she thought it meant. It had to be a good sign.
As in, you're together, together?
Yes. Will talk to you later. Thank you, Lauren. I owe you one.
She threw the mobile on the couch beside her. No chance of scoring him for herself now. Cassie would be happy, though—she had to be to take him back. That was what mattered.
Maybe next weekend could be party weekend. Time to find a man of her own.