Eve glanced at Edward who shrugged. ‘I’m old, so I have no opinion.’
Eve laughed.
‘Go on Myles,’ encouraged Edward.
‘We were talking in a therapy session about what to do now since our house burned down and Mom died.’
Eve felt Flora’s hand slide into hers and she gave her hand a squeeze of reassurance.
Flora didn’t talk about Amber to anyone but Hilditch, who had promised to keep everything confidential.
‘And we talked about what I thought I wanted, because Mom’s parents said I could go back to LA with them.’
Eve’s heart was in her throat at the thought of losing Myles but she tried to remain impassive.
‘And I thought, I don’t want to go there; I want to be here. With your brothers.’ He smiled at Eve.
‘And the school is really cool; I have new friends. And then I thought about Flora and she said she didn’t want to leave here either.’
Eve felt her throat burning and her eyes stinging.
‘And I looked at houses for sale. I thought about the right house for me and Flora and Edward.’ He waited for a moment and he looked at Eve. ‘And the house for you. Because we weren’t a family until you came to Cranberry Cross. And even though the house was too big and the gardens were weird and spooky, it felt better when you were in it.’
Eve swallowed but her tears started to fall.
Edward stepped forward. ‘Myles came and spoke to me and we started to look at houses and we would send each other ones we liked and one day, we sent each other this one at the same time.’
‘So we want you both to have a look at it, because you’re the most important people in Myles’s and my life, and we want to be near your family, Eve. You and they are amazing. You all saved us to be honest.’
Eve gulped and looked at the house and then followed him inside, Flora still holding her hand.
‘I know it’s smaller than Cranberry Cross but I really don’t want to be traipsing about to find you all. I miss you too much,’ he said.
To Edward it might have seemed smaller but to Eve it was a generous and spacious home with beautiful high ceilings and honey-hued floorboards. It was empty but Eve could see there had been an extensive renovation done with a gorgeous kitchen including an Aga and flagstone floors.
She followed Myles and Edward around the house, while Jimmi followed Flora who ran ahead.
‘There are bedrooms for everyone and two extras,’ said Edward. ‘In case anyone wants to stay, like Amber’s parents or mine.’
Eve nodded, choked up at his generosity.
‘And there are two smaller rooms downstairs,’ he said, taking them down again.
He opened one door and walked inside the elegant room with bookshelves lining one wall. There was a fireplace and a window seat.
‘This is a gorgeous study for you,’ she said looking around. The window looked out over the green lawn, surrounded by a walled garden.
‘Me? No, this is for you, my love,’ he said and he walked to her side. ‘I know you love your work and wherever you go next, maybe you can work from home and if you do, this has Eve’s spirit all over it.’
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
‘What about you?’ she asked.
‘Come,’ he instructed and they walked through the foyer to the other side of the house and he opened an almost identical room but with more bookshelves.
‘Matching studies,’ he said. ‘For all our important work. We can meet in the hallway for elevenses and kisses.’
Eve laughed as Myles and Flora wandered into the room.