"So go on, Mike ... what's the verdict?"

Michael looks to Sean, maintaining a flawless poker face. He isn't quite sure whether he's doing it to build suspense, or whether it's because he's immature — but watching his friend's demeanour, almost tense with anticipation, gives Michael an unexpected kick.

"C'mon, man ... put me outta my misery already."

Michael wants to drag out the reveal as long as he can, but he knows he won't be able to save face for an extended period of time. Finally cracking under the playful pressure, a large grin falls across his face.

"I got the job, Sean!" he exclaims, unable to control his excitement.

"I knew it!" Sean brings Michael in for a hug, patting at his back encouragingly. "I just knew you had it in the bag, my man."

Michael laughs as he catches his breath. "But do you know what the crazy part is?"

Sean folds his arms across his chest, leaning his back against the wall. "What?"

"Laurie works there, too. She saw me during my interview. She kinda swayed Allie's decision ... just a little. But to be honest, I'm fairly sure Allie likes me anyway."

Sean chuckles, shaking his head. "I shoulda known something like that would happen. I knew she worked in town, but I didn't realise you went to the same place."

"I'd like to see her again, Sean," Michael says. "I want to thank her for being there today, even if it was unplanned. She really helped give Allie the push to secure the job for me."

Sean nods. "You want me to call her and invite her over here tonight?"

"That sounds fun," Michael answers. "If she does come, I'll let Casey stay up a little later tonight, so that he can spend some time with her too."

Sean silently acknowledges what Michael has said, before making a beeline to the telephone in the hallway, just out of sight. Michael takes this time to venture to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. As he turns the tap on, he hears Sean dialling Laurie's number, then after a few moments, he hears him conversing. Judging by Sean's responses, it seems like the plan will be going ahead, but Michael doesn't like to assume anything until he has heard it direct from his friend's mouth.

Upon returning, Sean confirms. "She said she'd love to come over. She's only just gotten home from work, though, so she needs to get changed and stuff first. She said she'd be an hour-ish."

"That's awesome," Michael replies, quickly taking a sip of water before continuing to talk. "I'll go tell Casey what's going on. He's gonna be so happy. He got on so well with Laurie when they met last week."

"Didn't he just?" Sean elbows Michael, hinting at something or other. "Hey, what do you reckon you and Laurie could end up getting along nice?"

Michael glances to him. "As friends?"

As Michael takes a large gulp of his drink, Sean cackles, amused at the naïvety. "No, man. I mean, like, getting along ni-ice." To emphasise his point, he wiggles his eyebrows seductively. "Real nice."

Michael spits the water right in Sean's face, almost choking on a combination of shock and hilarity. "You gotta be kidding me, man. There's no way."

Sean snaps up a tea towel from the kitchen counter, to dab at his wet face from Michael's reaction. "Thanks for that. Let me tell you, Mike — you may get away with doin' that to me, but I'd advise heavily for you to never soak a woman's face like that ... with any kinda liquid."

"You're disgusting." Michael's face scrunches up in horror. "I'll have you know I'm a gentleman. And I'd never date Laurie. She's too ... feisty."

"Feisty?" Sean scoffs. "You gotta be shittin' me. Laurie's name doesn't even belong in the same sentence as "feisty". She's just an average chick; an average person like you and I, Mike."

"Didn't you see how overly confident she was the first time I met her?" Michael asks. "I was just lettin' her carry the entire conversation, because I was so nervous and she just ... wasn't."

"And a single conversation determines the kinda person she is, huh?" Sean raises one brow in doubt. "She isn't that confident. Or maybe I'm just used to the way she is."

"Maybe." Michael sets his glass down on the counter, to free his hands so he can rest them on his hips. "Besides, you never told me what went wrong when you guys had your little thing."

"I told you that we were better as friends," Sean corrects him. "We get on great as buddies, but our personal interests and hobbies are far too different. We wouldn't have been compatible long-term."

"So what makes you think she'd be any better suited to me?" Michael asks. "Me and her are too different, too. We'd have nothing in common."

"Well, sometimes opposites attract, don't they?" Sean says. "In my case, perhaps not. But you never know — maybe Casey will have a new step-mama before he hits six years old."

"Now that would be moving way too fast, even if the idea of Laurie and I ever did seem even remotely plausible," Michael laughs. "Which it won't, because I don't have any kinda crush on her. I barely know her."

"She got your kid to sleep within minutes of trying," Sean reminds him. "And he seems drawn to her."

"And what about it? Kids are drawn to anybody who doesn't yell at them or scold them," Michael answers. "It was their first time meeting, anyway. Maybe his perception of her will change, the more they see each other."

"Casey could do with a mother figure in his life," Sean comments. "I'd be surprised if you don't at least try with Laurie."

"I told you, man, I'm not ready for any kind of dating or relationships or attraction yet. I've been divorced for practically no time at all," Michael says. "Maybe when the time is right, I'll start broadening my perspective on it. I've only been in England for a week and a half so far. I have the rest of my life yet."

"That's true." Sean shrugs, not wanting to frustrate his friend with the concept of finding a new love interest too much. "But if anything happens naturally, don't ignore it either. You don't wanna miss the best thing to happen to you — besides Case, of course — just because you thought it was "too soon" for you."

"I'm sure that once I know, I'll know." Michael gives a saddened half-smile, not truly believing the words that come out of his own mouth. "And I'm sure Casey will feel it, too. He could do with a good mother figure in his life; you're right."

"It'll happen, and you'll get there." Sean pats Michael's arm comfortingly. "Even if I have to play Cupid for you to help things progress ... naturally, of course."

Michael scoffs at the juxtaposition of Sean's statement, remarking sarcastically. "Of course. And anyway, what about your love life? You're so focused on my nonexistent one, that you aren't even talkin' 'bout your own nonexistent one."

Sean snickers, defeated. "You said it yourself, man. It's nonexistent. I've had girlfriends on and off, here and there, but ... it never lasts, man. I'm startin' to think I must be gay, or somethin'."

"Hey man, there's nothin' wrong with that." Michael tries to fend off the smile that's fighting its way onto his face at his friend's lack of success with romance. "But, real talk — have you ever considered dating a guy?"

"I was jokin', man," Sean answers. "I'm very attracted to girls. Plus, have you not read the news lately? There's kind of an epidemic goin' on. I'm not about to double my chances of catching anything by broadening my horizons sexually."

"You may have a point," Michael sighs. "It's probably best to stick with one person in this day and age. That's why I'm not in any rush to start playing the field." Michael decides to close the conversation, heading towards the staircase. "I'm gonna go and see Casey, anyway. He's probably wondering why I haven't spoken to him yet."

"Alright." Sean lets Michael go and do his thing without protest, instead opting to enter the living room.

"Casey?" Michael calls from the doorway of their bedroom, once he arrives upstairs. "I'm back home."

Casey smiles at the sight of his father. "Hi, Daddy."

"So, listen buddy. I got some stuff to tell you about what happened today, and what it'll mean in the future." Michael approaches his son, sitting down on the mattress by his side. "So I need you to listen carefully to me, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"Okay." Michael turns his body so that the pair of them are facing opposite one another, to ensure he has his child's undivided attention. "So, today, Daddy went to a place in town, to talk to someone about getting a job. The lady I spoke to, she was a very nice lady, and she told me I could have a job at her cafe. So, uh, that means that Daddy will be earning money soon. And you know what that means? It means that someday, we will be able to find a place of our own, and you'll be able to decorate your bedroom however you wanna. Remember, we talked about that last week?" He observes as Casey nods his head, before continuing to talk. "Right! So, I'm not sure how long it'll take to earn enough money to do that, but we are a step closer to it now that I have a job to go to. So what's gonna happen is, when Daddy is at work, Uncle Sean will be lookin' after you. And then, when Uncle Sean is at work, you and I can go out and have some fun before you go back to school in a few weeks. How's that sound?"

Casey bounces up and down in his seat. "Yeah!"

"Oh — and there's one more thing," Michael teases. "Remember Uncle Sean's friend that we met last week? Laurie?"

"She has the funny stories."

"Yes," Michael answers. "Well, guess who's coming over to visit us tonight?"

Casey squeals, realising what his father is suggesting. "Lorry, Lorry, Lorry!"

"But you gotta be on your best behaviour," Michael warns him. "And if you're good, you can stay up a little later and spend the time with us."

"I'll be good, Daddy." Casey adjusts his posture, sitting as straight as possible, as though just this action deems him as being well-behaved.

Michael chuckles at the boy. "I'm glad to hear it. She'll be arriving in about an hour."

He wouldn't ever admit it out loud, but Michael is very much looking forward to the evening ahead of him. Of course, Laurie — in his eyes — is a very independent, headstrong woman, but there's also a down-to-earth quality about her that he finds endearing. This trait she possesses was made evident for the first time during her interactions with Casey last week. It took Michael by surprise after sitting awkwardly with her and Sean, going through the conversational motions for two hours solid.

Almost everything he'd thought he'd learned about Laurie in that period of time was erased the moment her eyes locked onto his son. Her kindness was organic and authentic towards Casey; she genuinely wanted to brighten his mood — and that in itself earned her Michael's respect.

Despite Sean's jibes just a few minutes ago, the idea of ever perceiving Laurie romantically seems extremely foreign to Michael. From what he has observed, they are far too different from one another, only sharing a common ground with their jobs and their doting on Casey. Michael isn't sure what he wants to do with his life even at the age of almost thirty-one; yet Laurie seems to have at least some aspects figured out. To her, working at the cafe is a dead-end job and her goal is to pursue writing — yet to Michael, serving customers and taking orders is an ideal stepping stone to much bigger things.

Besides, as he has already said to Sean, he isn't ready to move on from Valerie entirely just yet. He knows that their marriage is over, and he wouldn't wish for it back in his lifetime — but even so, whenever he merely considers the idea of finding love again, his chest tightens and an undeniable ache fills his bones because he would still feel as though he is betraying Valerie.

He never wanted their bond to break irreparably. He never wanted her to fail as a mother or a wife. He never wanted to have to move to England to try and forget her. He never wanted to take his son away from the life they always knew. He never wanted to become a burden to his lifelong best friend by invading his personal living space. He never wanted to have to start a new life, when all he wanted was for the old one to thrive.

He never wanted any of this, and yet he has no choice but to keep going on — and all he can do is pray that the bleakness eventually fades.

• • •

Chapter six! Hope you're still enjoying. xx