‘Sure, where are we going?’ Eve said.
‘I will show you when we get there,’ he said.
His strength was improving every day, and his commitment to recovery was evident with his muscle tone and breathing better than it had ever been.
There was no doubt he would make a full recovery but Eve was feeling unsure about their relationship. They hadn’t talked much about their future when so much of what was happening was present-focused.
Edward had organised a funeral for Amber, a small event with him, the children, her parents and Hilditch.
Eve didn’t attend as she thought it wasn’t appropriate but she had lit a candle for Amber’s spirit and had sat for a while in silence to wish her soul safe travels to whatever was next. Not that Eve believed in life after death but everything was energy, she had told her mum.
‘Life is too hard for some and they need to reset, I think, but what do I know?’ Donna had said.
‘You know a lot, more than most,’ Eve had said to her mum as they shared a pot of tea afterwards.
But Edward wasn’t talking about his writing, and she wasn’t asking. He hadn’t mentioned where he would be living, which she understood but she felt as though she was living between lives. She still had to pay her rent in London and she didn’t have a job. She wouldn’t ask Edward to support her in any way. She had always worked and would continue to, even if she was with him.
‘Gather your things; we’re heading off,’ he said. ‘We have to pick up Myles first though.’
Soon they were in the car and Myles and Jimmi were waiting at the front of her parents’ when they arrived.
Edward was excited as he pulled up. ‘Ah my trusted assistant is here,’ he said.
Myles was laughing and had a smug look on his face as he bundled Jimmi into the car between him and Flora.
‘Are you two planning something I don’t know about?’ Eve asked.
‘Yep,’ said Myles and Edward gave a pretend evil laugh.
‘Myles has been helping me with this; his opinion is very considered and his aesthetic is flawless.’
‘Gosh, this is exciting.’ Eve turned to Flora who was patting Jimmi.
Edward drove through the city and then turned off and drove through a lovely village that Eve knew vaguely but hadn’t spent much time in.
‘This is sweet,’ she said looking at the little white church in the centre of the village. There was a circular road that surrounded it and old gravestones dotted the green lawn. They went through the village, which was larger than Eve had thought, and then went past a small school with a pretty white picket fence that ran along the front.Selwood Primary School, read the sign.
Edward drove around the back of the school and then up a road and through an open set of iron gates with aPrivate Propertysign.
There were bare trees lining the short driveway that soon opened onto a longer gravel drive with a beautiful Victorian house with a slate roof and some sort of vine that was growing up the side. There was an ornate wooden awning over the front door with little seats on the inside, and ornate windows with stained-glass panels by the front door, which was painted in a pale, duck-egg blue.
‘What’s this?’ asked Eve as Edward stopped the car.
‘This is the Beecroft Vicarage,’ he said. He jumped from the car and headed around to Eve’s side to open the door for her and Flora. He did up Flora’s coat and pulled her woollen hat on her head.
‘It’s still cold,’ he said to her when he saw her about to protest.
Eve walked around the front of the house. ‘Ed, what is this?’
‘Myles? Would you like to do the honours?’
Myles stepped forward and Eve noticed his ear. ‘You’ve had your ear pierced,’ she exclaimed.
‘Gabe did it for me. It’s cool huh?’
Eve looked at the silver stud. ‘It is. I hope you’re twisting it daily.’
‘I am and Donna gave me an antiseptic spray to use.’
