Edward lifted the lid of the cast-iron pot.
‘A lovely chicken cassoulet and some crunchy bread and chocolate pudding for dessert,’ Edward said. ‘I’ll be mother and serve.’
It was hard for Eve not to imagine what it would be like if this were her life. If these were her children or Edward were hers. She tried not to but it was as though her mind went to the place she shouldn’t, and she was suddenly fantasising about a life she would never have. She didn’t even want that life, did she?
‘Eve?’ Edward’s voice broke through her thoughts. ‘Plate?’
She handed him her plate and he served her dinner.
‘Can I see the twins on the weekend?’ Myles asked Eve.
She looked at Edward and then at Myles.
‘I have no idea. Can you see the twins on the weekend?’
‘What do you mean?’ Myles looked confused.
‘I mean, I can’t give you permission, only Edward can, and if he says yes, and the twins are free, then I guess you can, but I’m not the person to ask.’
Myles sighed and looked at Edward. ‘May I please go and see the twins on the weekend?’
Edward passed the bread around. ‘Sure, I can drive you,’ he said.
‘Oh, you don’t need to do that,’ Eve said quickly.
‘Why not? I should meet these boys he’s spending time with. God knows what their family’s like.’
Eve laughed. ‘Yes, they are certainly an unusual bunch. The older sister is a real piece of work I’ve heard.’
Edward laughed. ‘Why don’t we take him to your family’s house and then we can head into Leeds and do some Christmas shopping?’ he suggested.
‘Cool,’ said Myles, and he started to eat his dinner with some level of enthusiasm.
Flora nodded. ‘I need a new doll. My other one can’t be stuck together.’
Eve made a face. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Flora. ‘She had other problems as well. These things happen.’
Edward ran his hand through his hair and shook his head.
‘I see what you mean aboutThe Turn of the Screwthing now,’ he said to Eve in a low voice.
She smiled back and they held eye contact for a moment longer than Eve expected and she knew she was blushing. Why the hell did she blush so much around this man? He must think she had a faulty internal thermometer. She had told him she wasn’t interested in anything more than a professional relationship and he had said that was all it was, so why was she acting like a smitten schoolgirl around him?
Edward shifted in his seat and she felt his foot touch hers and then move away quickly.
‘Is Jimmi under the table?’ Edward asked, reddening.
‘No, he’s with me.’ Myles looked down at the dog under his chair. ‘Why?’
‘Thought I felt him,’ said Edward quickly and he and Eve ate in silence for the rest of the meal, while the children chattered enough between them for it not to be too noticeable.
After dinner, Edward took Flora to have her bath and put her to bed, and Eve cleaned up the kitchen and put on the dishwasher.
Myles sat in the kitchen, feeding Jimmi tiny pieces of chicken.
‘I think Edward likes you,’ he said.
