A Walk in the Park by Jill Mansell

over.”
    Flynn gave a nod of approval. “Good for you.”
    â€œI know. He’s going out with someone else now. She does everything he tells her to do. Go on then, what was your last girlfriend like?”
    Lara saw the flicker of a smile at Gigi’s bluntness. “Truthfully? She didn’t last long. She was very nice. Intelligent, kind to small animals, knew how to use a knife and fork… close to perfect.”
    â€œExcept?”
    â€œShe thought she was perfect too. And she wasn’t,” Flynn said drily. “She had no sense of humor.”
    â€œWhat, none at all?”
    â€œNot an iota. I didn’t know that was possible, kept waiting for it to appear.” He shrugged. “But it couldn’t because it didn’t exist.”
    â€œGood job you got rid of her then. Have you had many girlfriends?”
    â€œI’ve had my share. I hope you aren’t expecting me to count them,” said Flynn. “Which A-levels did you take?”
    â€œPsychology. Math. French.”
    â€œWell done.”
    â€œYou don’t know if I passed them yet.”
    â€œDid you pass them?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWhat grades?”
    Lara waited, secretly bursting with pride; they’d only received the results the other day. Thrilled to have done so well, Gigi had screamed and hugged her and she in turn had cried maternal tears of joy.
    And now, for the first time, Gigi was able to share the news with her father. Pretending to be completely laid-back about it, she said casually, “AAB,” then flushed with pleasure when Flynn, evidently impressed, said “Bloody hell, that’s brilliant. Really well done.”
    â€œThanks.” Gigi beamed, then leaned forward. “So, can you ice-skate?”
    Lara went inside and made cups of tea. In the living room, Evie was watching TV.
    â€œHow’s it going?”
    â€œGreat. They don’t need me at all. I feel like a spare part.”
    â€œStay here then. Leave them to it.”
    â€œI think I will. Gigi’s set a time limit, anyway. Another twenty minutes and then he’s out of here.”
    â€œWhy?” said Evie.
    â€œIt’s so they don’t run out of things to say.”

Chapter 12
    You could see by the sunlight streaming through the gap in the curtains that it was set to be another hot day. Lying in bed, with just a sheet covering her, Lara checked the time on her phone. Ten to seven. She’d come upstairs at eleven last night, exhausted by the move and all the settling in. When she’d said good night to them, Gigi and Flynn had still been sitting outside in the garden. What time had he left?
    The next minute she heard a low murmur of voices coming from downstairs and realized he hadn’t; he was still here.
    Lara threw on jeans and a T-shirt, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. On her way down she heard the kettle coming to the boil in the kitchen. In the living room, Gigi was sitting cross-legged on the sofa. Her eyes were huge and she looked simultaneously happy and shattered.
    â€œHey, Mum. Good sleep?”
    â€œYes, thanks. Have you been up all night?”
    Gigi nodded and yawned widely. “He’s just making another cup of tea. We haven’t stopped talking. I’m getting a bit tired now though.” She yawned again; all the excitement might have carried her this far, but her body was now visibly craving sleep.
    She broke into a slow smile as the door was pushed open by Flynn holding a mug in each hand. “Mum, look. My dad’s just made me a cup of tea. How cool is that?”
    It was evidently very cool indeed, in Gigi’s eyes. And already she was calling him Dad.
    â€œSo much for time limits,” said Lara.
    â€œIt would have been stupid. We’ve just had so much to say.” Another enormous yawn gripped Gigi before she could take the mug from Flynn.
    â€œGive it to me.” Lara took it from him. “Sweetie,