Single Dads Collection. Lynne Marshall
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rolled his eyes. ‘I won’t know what to do with myself,’ he drawled, and Bryony gave him a sympathetic smile.
‘You hate this time of year, don’t you?’
‘I’ve just seen too many kids with burns after handling fireworks,’ he said grimly, scribbling something on his pad. ‘OK, so Blondie and I are officially off that night, but if you need us you can call us.’ He looked at Bryony. ‘Would you be able to come in that night if we needed you?’
Bryony nodded. ‘After eight. I’m taking Lizzie to her bonfire party.’
Jack stared at her, his body suddenly unnaturally still. ‘What bonfire party?’
‘Her friend is having a few sparklers in the garden. Nothing dramatic,’ Bryony assured him, but he shook his head.
‘No way.’ His jaw was tense. ‘She shouldn’t be going.’
Bryony sighed. ‘She’s seven, Jack. She wants to be with her friends.’
‘So? Invite them all out for a hamburger.’
‘It’s just a few fireworks and drinks for the parents. It will be over by eight.’
He let out a breath. ‘All right. But I’m coming with you.’
‘Jack—’
‘I’m off and I’m bored.’ His blue eyes glittered dangerously. ‘It’s that or she doesn’t go.’
‘You’re not her father, Jack!’ Suddenly remembering that Sean was still in the room, Bryony coloured with embarrassment and shot them an apologetic look. ‘Sorry, you guys.’
‘No problem,’ Sean said easily, ‘and I’m sure we won’t need you here so just go and have a good time.’
‘Great. That’s what we’ll do, then.’
Jack ran through the rest of the rota and Sean left the room.
Bryony looked at him. ‘So what are you planning to do? Bring the fire brigade?’
‘When you’ve spent as long working in A and E as I have, you won’t let your daughter go to domestic firework parties,’ he said tightly. ‘It’s fine. I’ll come, too. And you can tell Lizzie’s friend’s mother that I want a bucket of sand and another bucket of water handy.’
‘Why don’t we just have an ambulance on standby, just in case?’ Bryony suggested tartly. ‘Anne’s mother will think I’ve gone barmy.’
‘Better barmy than burned.’ Jack strode to the door. ‘What time does it start?’
‘We’re getting there at five-thirty for tea and then fireworks,’ Bryony said wearily, and Jack nodded.
‘Right. I’ll pick you both up at five-fifteen. And I want Lizzie in gloves. She’s not touching a sparkler with her bare hands.’
Bryony stood up and followed him out of the staffroom, wanting to argue but knowing that he was only being cautious.
He had dealt with a huge number of burns on Bonfire Night, all of which could have been avoided.
And he did adore Lizzie.
Deciding that she should be grateful that he was so protective of her daughter, she picked up a set of notes and called the next patient from the waiting room.
And secretly part of her was excited at spending an evening with Jack. Even if it was in the company of half a dozen parents and their offspring.
It would be lovely to have him there, even though nothing was going to happen.
Reminding herself that Jack was not the man she was dating, she sat down in her chair and waited for the patient to arrive.
THE NIGHT of the bonfire party was freezing cold and Bryony pulled on her jeans and thickest jumper and wore her long black coat.
Lizzie was wearing a bright pink hat, pink tights and a pink fleece, and Jack blinked when he arrived to pick them up.
‘How are my girls?’ He picked Lizzie up and planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘You’re looking very pink, angel.’ He spoke in that lazy drawl that sent butterflies flitting through Bryony’s stomach. ‘Do you have any pink gloves to go with that outfit, sweetheart?’
‘Somewhere.’
Jack smiled and put her back down. ‘Find them for me, there’s a good girl.’ He looked at Bryony and she smiled, determined to have a nice evening.
‘Is my dress decent enough for you, Jack?’
For a moment he didn’t react and then he laughed. ‘Exactly the way I like it. None of you showing.’
Bryony rolled her eyes and tried not to be offended that he didn’t actually want to see any of her body. Obviously she was lacking in something, or he would have pounced on her long ago.
Lizzie came back into the hall, holding her gloves, and Jack nodded.
‘Good girl.’ He opened the front door and led them towards his car. ‘Now, Lizzie, tonight when the fireworks start, I want you to stay by me. The whole time. OK?’
‘But what if I want to play with my friends?’
‘You can play with them before and after,’ he said firmly, strapping her into her seat. ‘But during the fireworks, you stay with me.’
Lizzie’s eyes were huge and solemn. ‘Are you very afraid of them, Jack? Will I need to hold your hand?’
Bryony smothered a giggle but Jack’s expression didn’t flicker. ‘I’m terrified of them, angel. And I’m relying on you to be beside me.’
‘I’ll be there the whole time,’ Lizzie assured him, and Bryony rolled her eyes as she slid into the passenger seat, knowing that Jack had got his own way.
Lizzie’s friend Anne lived in a house with a huge garden and they arrived to find that the trees had been decorated with fairy lights and everyone was gathered round, laughing and waiting for sausages to cook.
It felt wintry and cold, and delicious smells wafted through the freezing air.
‘Hello, Lizzie.’ Anne’s mother greeted them warmly and drew them into the garden, introducing them to people they didn’t know.
‘Where have you stored the fireworks?’ was Jack’s first question, and Bryony put a hand on his arm and smiled at Anne’s mother.
‘Jack is a consultant in A and E,’ she explained hastily, ‘and we doctors are always a bit nervous of fireworks. Take no notice.’
‘Anne’s father has it all under control,’ the woman assured them, waving a hand towards the bottom of the garden. ‘The children won’t be allowed near them. Apart from the sparklers, of course.’
Bryony saw Jack’s mouth open and quickly spoke before he did. ‘That’s great,’ she said cheerfully, her fingers biting into his arm like a vice. ‘Those sausages smell fantastic.’
‘Well, we’re just about ready to eat.’ Anne’s mother led them to a table loaded with food. ‘Grab yourself a roll and some ketchup and tuck in!’
She walked away and Jack scowled at Bryony. ‘You just made holes in my arm.’
‘I was trying to stop you embarrassing Lizzie,’ she hissed, smiling sweetly at one of the mothers who passed. ‘Now, eat something and relax. Try and remember that you only see the disasters in A and E. You don’t see the normal, happy bonfire parties that everyone enjoys.’
There was a long silence and then, to her surprise, Jack sucked