‘This is the snug,’ explained Hilditch. ‘It was decorated for Mrs Priest but she never used it. Mr Priest did it up the way he thought she might like it but she didn’t enjoy it at all. Then she left and it’s been sitting here ever since.’ Hilditch looked around. ‘It’s a nice little room, and in the summer those bare branches are covered in white hydrangeas.’
Eve touched the back of the sofa and looked at the lovely William Morris cushions. It was a thoughtful, gentle room and she wondered if Mrs Priest had appreciated it the way Eve would.
‘This is perfect, thank you, Hilditch.’
Hilditch went to the door and then turned to Eve.
‘Best not to go exploring much around here. Some parts of the house can be confusing and some parts are still undergoing work.’
Eve smiled at her. ‘Of course. I’m here to do a job, not to be nosy.’
Relief seemed to wash over Hilditch. ‘Thank you. Sit tight and I will bring you some tea and you can get on with your work.’
After Hilditch delivered the peace offering in the form of an excellent mug of tea, Eve sat at the desk and looked at the emails from work.
Onwards,she told herself and she settled into the day, wondering how Edward was going with his writing. It was ten and he was due to get his work to her at midday.
She opened the door just in case he called her as she sipped her tea.
‘This is my mummy’s room,’ she heard Flora say.
Eve turned to the child who was standing in the doorway.
‘Do you think she would mind if I used it for a while? Just to help your dad with his book?’
Flora shrugged. She carried a backpack and wore a woollen hat and a nightgown.
‘I don’t think she wants to live here anymore so it doesn’t matter.’
Eve tried not show a reaction to the child’s honesty and obvious sadness.
‘You can come and play in here if you like,’ she offered. ‘I have a nice warm fire for you to defrost any babies in front of and the bookshelves would make excellent baby bunk beds.’
Flora peered around the corner and looked at what was on offer.
‘You won’t let Myles in will you?’ Flora asked.
‘No, not if you don’t want him here,’ Eve answered solemnly. She remembered the twins had each had an invisible friend, although they seemed friendlier than Flora’s imaginary playmate.
The child looked relieved at this news. ‘I might come then,’ she said and left Eve staring at an empty doorway.
Eve picked up her phone and dialled and waited. ‘Mum? Hi,’ she said as she looked at the dormant branches.
Flora deserved a mother like Eve’s mum Donna. Actually, everyone deserved Donna as a mum, she thought. Always ready to listen, not quick to judge, encouraging, creative, funny and kind to her friends, family and strangers.
Eve sat back and listened to her mum’s chatter and then saw a little figure in the convex mirror enter the room and sit by the gas fire, which was warming the room up.
She heard the sound of a zip and then a tumble of dolls falling onto the carpet.
Eve slowly turned to watch the little girl playing on the floor as she listened to her mum’s news from home and she wondered why on earth Amber Priest would leave this house and this child.
‘Did you ask your author if you can come home for Christmas?’ asked her mother. ‘We aren’t far from you now. It’s about an hour’s drive. I looked it up on the map.’
‘I didn’t ask, Mum, but he will be writing on the day, so I will have to stay here and edit. I set him a really strict schedule.’
‘Is he nice to you?’ asked her mum.
‘He’s okay,’ she said carefully. If she hinted at Edward being awful to her the first night she arrived her mum and dad would be up on the next train and bus to tell him off and drag Eve away.
