Human beings can get used to anything.

This was one of Jamie’s mother’s favourite sayings. Jamie hadn’t given it much thought before, but the truth of it struck her now. She had got used to having a stalker. It no longer kept her awake at night, or had her glancing over her shoulder every time she left the house. She had stopped second-guessing herself online. She shared everything she wanted to share without worrying about who might be reading.

The TV interview had rattled her, coming so soon after hearing his voice on the radio. She’d wondered if she’d ever be able to spend a night alone in her own house again. But that hadn’t lasted. Just a few weeks later, she had to concentrate hard to recapture that sense of dread. The fact that there’d been no contact from her stalker since had helped.

She was even getting used to being in a relationship. She and Tom saw each other almost every day. They had got into a routine of eating dinner together at his place. Either Jamie cooked or Tom picked up a takeaway. On his nights, they had stir-fry, sushi, pizza or fish and chips. On her nights, she used his kitchen to try out new recipes. Their evenings consisted of food, conversation and sex. They did not consist of sleeping in the same bed.

They’d come close a few times when they’d both fallen asleep by mistake. But so far, Tom had always woken up in time to hustle Jamie into her clothes and out the front door, watching her let herself into her own house before rushing back up the stairs to Ben.

Which was fair enough, Jamie decided. He’d laid down the ground rules from the beginning. It would be “too confusing” for Ben to wake up and find Jamie in his father’s bed. Or in the house at all. So she left, and didn’t make a fuss about it.

It was fine. In fact, she approved of the policy. Single fathers who let their kids wake up to a different woman every morning were irresponsible. It was good that Tom wasn’t like that.

The fact that it made her feel like a call-girl sneaking out the house every night was her own problem. Tom was just being a good father. She couldn’t fault him for that.

She just wished their evening routine could have included Ben. But Tom made sure Ben was always fed, bathed and put to bed before she arrived. The babysitting incident had not been repeated. Jamie got the impression Tom wished it had never happened.

The other thing Jamie was adjusting to was Pumla’s pregnancy. Every time she looked at her friend, it gave her a shock to see her swelling belly. She was only four months along, but looked more like six months, given that she was carrying twins. On her petite frame, there was nowhere for the bump to go but outwards. Being pregnant seemed to have swept her away into a world of grownups that Jamie had no passport for.

When the door to Delucia’s burst open one afternoon and Ben came bombing into the restaurant, Jamie could only stare. Tom followed at a more moderate pace.

“Mima!” Ben squealed and flung himself at Jamie’s legs.

She crouched down to scoop him up, ignoring his father’s gaze.

“Hi, Ben! Hi! It’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you so much. You’re getting bigger every time I see you. Are you eating your veggies every night?”

Ben pulled an icky face at the word “veggies”, and wriggled to get free. As soon as his feet touched the ground, he was off again, dashing to say hello to Pumla and then launching himself into a chair at his favourite table.

“Chino!” he ordered his father, swinging his legs backwards and forwards.

“What’s the magic word, dude?”

“Pweez!”

“That’s better. We’ll have a cappuccino and a baby chino, thanks, Pumla.”

As Pumla went off to fill the order, Jamie wandered over, keeping her voice casual.

“This is a surprise. You don’t usually come in so late in the afternoon. What’s up?”

“Not much. We were picking up some stuff at Spar when Ben begged to come in here. This is one of his favourite places on earth.” Jamie knew from Pumla that Tom and Ben were regulars for breakfast on Friday mornings, but Tom was careful never to come in when Jamie might be there. She decided not to overthink it. The universe had given her a lovely surprise, and she was going to enjoy
it.

The coffee shop was quiet. The teatime crowd had moved off and there were only a couple of tables with patrons relaxing over sundowners. The serious happy-hour crowd went across the road to the Earl & Badger. The last half hour of the day was usually spent in cashing up, cleaning the work stations and getting ready for the next morning.

“One cappuccino,” said Pumla. “And one baby chino. Enjoy!” She put the mug of frothed milk with chocolate sprinkles onto the table in front of Ben. Then she signalled to Jamie to follow her to the bakery counter.

“This is a good sign, right?” she said. “He never brings the kid in when he knows you’re going to be here.”

“I don’t know. He says Ben begged him to come. Maybe he just didn’t feel like saying no.”

“That man isn’t some kind of wuss who can’t say no to his own kid. If he hadn’t wanted to come in here, he wouldn’t be in here. I’m telling you, it’s a sign.”

“Of what?”

“That he’s starting to mellow. That he’s willing to let you into the kid’s life.”

Jamie pulled a face. “That’s a lot to read into one restaurant visit.”

“I’m telling you, he’s cracked the door open. Now all you need to do is step through. Look how chilled he looks today.”