‘He’ll be home soon. He’s out with the boys – they had a half-day today. He’s picking them up.’
‘Excellent, I really want Myles to meet them.’
‘Who?’ Myles asked, looking worried again.
If she could only soothe his worries away for a while, she thought.
‘My brothers, Nick and Gabe. They’re looking for a guitarist for their band.’
The small dog jumped up at Myles’s legs.
‘He wants you to pick him up,’ said Donna pointing to the small dog.
Myles leaned over and picked up the puppy who licked his face enthusiastically.
‘He likes you,’ said Donna fondly and to Eve’s delight she heard Myles burst into a peal of laughter.
His stepfather might be an idiot but Myles was a good kid, she decided. The least she could do was help him in her own small way.
19
Edward didn’t check his phone while he was writing. He had been so disciplined, he had even left his phone in the kitchen, away from procrastination and temptation. When he finished his session he went to the snug where Flora was still looking at her book, while her dolls were lined up like a creepy doll army along the wall.
‘Hello, darling, have you seen Eve?’ he asked.
‘Nope,’ Flora replied not looking up from her book.
Hilditch was out in the van, which wasn’t in the driveway, and then he noticed the car wasn’t in the driveway either.
He wandered into the kitchen and checked his phone.
Eve was out with Myles? Wonders never ceased.
He texted back quickly.
That’s great! Looking forward to hearing about it when you both return.
He saw she’d read the message and had started to type. He sat in his chair, smiling as he waited for her message but then the typing stopped.
He waited a bit longer and still nothing. He wasn’t sure why he felt disappointed she hadn’t replied but he did.
Stop being needy,he thought. She was doing a nice thing for Myles, not him.
He wandered back to Flora who was sitting at Eve’s desk in the snug, typing on her computer.
‘You shouldn’t be touching that,’ he said and walked over to shut the lid and saw an instant message from someone called Zara.
No news on Priest campaign. Think they are pushing the new author Serena is signing in NYC. Maybe she will sleep with him as well? LOL. Hope The Priest isn’t hitting on you. I know you have a soft spot for a silver fox. Zars xxx
Edward shut the machine.
‘Don’t touch Eve’s things,’ he said crossly.
‘I was helping,’ said Flora, her eyes filling with tears. ‘She’s so nice to me.’
Edward caught himself in the moment and reached out for Flora and pulled her into a hug.
‘I know you were, darling, and you’re such a good help but computers are silly things and very sensitive. How about we go into my study and I can give you a nice notepad, one of my good ones with the ribbon bookmark.’
