‘It is,’ she said. ‘God, what a relief. And he doesn’t care about Serena. He told me he went to university with her and she used to pay smarter people to do her essays.’
Edward’s face froze. ‘Are you talking about Jasper Harris?’
She nodded. ‘Yes, why? That’s who the job is with.’
Edward started to laugh and cough simultaneously.
‘Don’t tell me he’s bad. I mean I met him and he seemed lovely. And lots of people told me he was great,’ she said.Please don’t let him be another Serena,she thought.
Edward put his hands on her shoulders.
‘I am about to tell you something and I need you to not react immediately. Okay?’
‘I feel sick,’ she said.
‘Okay?’ he pushed.
‘Okay.’ She threw her hands up at him. ‘What?’
‘When you brought Tom to the hospital, we talked about the deal and I hadn’t signed the papers, so I have decided to leave the existing books with Henshaw and Carlson.’
‘Right, I know,’ she said, impatient with him.
‘But the detective novel, Tom wanted to shop around. We wanted a new publisher – someone who would edit it properly, who would work with me closely and help me establish myself in commercial crime fiction but with difficult subject matter.’
‘Oh no,’ said Eve, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
‘Tom said he was going to Jasper and I signed yesterday. That’s why the offer’s there for you, because they now have the author and they now need the editor.’
Eve couldn’t speak for a moment. ‘And you didn’t know I was talking to him?’
He shook his head. ‘He didn’t mention you at all and I didn’t mention you because I know this is so important to not use my reputation to boost your career in any way. Which I think is silly because I’m not that important really, but I also respect your feelings.’
‘So you’re going to Jasper Harris’s house and so am I, and I think he’s pairing us together without knowing any of this?’ She gestured to the house, to the children, to each other.
‘I think it’s what the writers call fate,’ he said.
‘I think it’s more serendipity,’ she replied, putting her arms around his neck.
‘Oh do you, Miss Pilkins, editor at large?’
‘I do, Mr Priest, writer for hire.’
He kissed her as she heard Flora calling Jimmi from the garden below and Myles telling them he was going to go for a swim.
They both pulled apart.
‘You’re not going for a swim,’ they both cried at him.
She looked back at Edward.
‘You know, you will be a Priest living in the vicarage. That’s a happy little accident,’ she said.
‘I won’t be the only priest,’ he said. ‘Myles has agreed to let me adopt him.’
She couldn’t believe how lovely this news was – better than anything else that had happened so far.
‘That’s so wonderful, really,’ she said.
