Angie turned to look at Maggie and raised an eyebrow. Maggie looked mystified too, so Angie supposed that her question had been audible.
‘No,’ said Romany eventually, and Angie switched her attention back to her daughter. ‘I don’t mind, it doesn’t bother me, and I’m not interested,’ she added.
Angie felt her heart soar, vindicated by those few words, not that she had ever thought, until that moment, that Romany had reason to blame her for anything. She and Jax had never made any particular decision about it. There had been no deeply held conviction that he should, or indeed, should not, be involved in his daughter’s life.
It just hadn’t happened.
Angie knew that Romany would have been well within her rights to be angry with her, to hold her mother responsible for her father’s lack of contact. It had been Angie, after all, who had let the connection drop by not sending a forwarding address when they moved to the current flat.
However, Romany was unconcerned; or so it appeared, at least. Angie had been confident that Romany was not angry, but it was nice to have it confirmed.
‘In fact,’ Romany continued, speaking slowly with large gaps forming between her words, as if she were thinking through what she was saying just moments before the words came out, ‘I would go as far as to say that if I were given a choice – to meet him or not to meet him – then I’d choose not.’
Angie’s relief was palpable, but she tried not to let it show.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘That’s good.’
Then Romany sat up, a sudden movement that made Angie jump, and started looking around her at the people buzzing backwards and forwards. ‘Why? He’s not here, is he? That’s not why we’ve come here, to meet him?’ Her head spun one way and then another, her face such a picture of anxiety that Angie reached out and hugged her.
‘No, no,’ she said soothingly. ‘He’s not here.’
Romany disengaged herself and continued to survey the surroundings, albeit in a less frenzied manner.
‘No. I don’t have any contact details for him,’ Angie said. ‘I mean, I’m sure I could track him down if you wanted me to . . .’
‘I don’t,’ said Romany firmly. ‘I’m fine. We’re fine as we are. We don’t need anyone, do we?’ Her voice wavered a little towards the end and she looked at Angie as though seeking some confirmation.
‘No. You’re completely right. But I just thought I’d check.’
Romany settled herself back down on the grass, drama seemingly all passed.
‘Romey,’ said Maggie. ‘Would you be an angel and go and buy me an ice cream from that kiosk over there? Get one for yourself and your mum, too, of course. I’d like a cone, please, just plain. Ange? Do you want one?’
Angie shook her head. ‘No thanks,’ she said.
Maggie got a ten-pound note out of her purse and handed it to Romany.
‘Thanks, Auntie Maggie,’ she said, and then strolled off in the direction of the kiosk.
Maggie looked straight at Angie. ‘What on earth was that all about?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know,’ replied Angie. ‘I saw those photos, all with dads in them, and suddenly it felt like I had to ask. I’m sorry. I probably should have waited until we got home.’
‘Don’t worry about me,’ Maggie said. ‘Romey seems pretty clear on what she wants.’
Angie laughed. ‘She does, doesn’t she?’
‘She’s definitely your daughter! But he’s not here, is he?’ Maggie’s eyes narrowed as she searched Angie’s face for any sign of a lie.
‘No. No, he isn’t. I haven’t heard from him for years.’
‘Good. Because that would be really bad, if you suddenly brought him back into her life when she’s just said that she doesn’t want him.’
Angie nodded. Maggie was right. And yet . . .
‘I hope she changes her mind, though,’ Angie said. ‘When she’s older, I mean. He wouldn’t win any prizes for Partner of the Year, but he’s not a bad bloke. Not deep down. It would be good for them to get to know each other eventually.’
‘Possibly. But she’s only fifteen. There will be plenty of time for all that when she’s worked out who she is. And, as we know,’ Maggie added, ‘that can take quite a long time.’
Romany was coming back across the grass with a cone in one hand and a long bright orange lollipop in the other.
‘Thanks, Maggie,’ said Angie.