‘He does,’ said Edward. ‘All three of my babies lined up, safe and secure.’
He saw Myles wince.
‘Not that you’re my baby anymore, Myles.’ He laughed.
‘I was never your baby,’ Myles mumbled but Edward heard.
He got into the driver’s seat and adjusted the rear-view mirror.
‘I know, that’s a big regret of mine – not knowing you as a baby. I think you would have been one of those wise babies, who came into the world knowing things already. Unlike your sister who is definitely a new soul.’
He could see Myles was looking out the window. ‘Shame we won’t ever know,’ Myles said and Edward wished he hadn’t brought it up. He was trying to let Myles know he loved him like his own flesh and blood but he couldn’t seem to do it very well.
Eve got into the car. ‘Gosh sorry, I had to send an email.’ Her face was flushed and she was breathless as she clipped her belt securely.
‘Sounds important,’ he said.
‘It is.’ She smiled mysteriously and wiggled her eyebrows at him and he laughed.
‘Is it about me?’ he asked and heard how pathetic he sounded.
‘Not everything is about you, Mr Priest.’
‘I know, it was a stupid question.’ He turned on the car and they drove down the driveway.
‘Myles? You want to choose the playlist?’ she asked.
Myles connected his phone and soon guitar music was playing in the car.
‘Who is this playing?’ asked Edward.
‘Santana,’ Eve and Myles said in unison.
‘You two are really into music.’ Edward laughed again.
Myles played his favourite tunes all the way to Leeds, and Eve talked about some of them to Edward: why they were important guitar pieces, when they were written and who was playing them.
Edward didn’t really care about the music as much as he wanted to hear Eve’s opinion on everything. He could listen to her read the election rolls, he thought as she clapped in time to some songs and sang along to others with no vanity or shyness. She had a good voice and sometimes she and Myles would sing loudly to a song they both loved and he could see Flora bouncing in her seat in time with them, keen to be a part of the car chaos.
At times Edward wondered if this was what it was like to be a family, remembering Amber did nothing with them. How many times had he wished to go out like this, and she would tell him she wasn’t up to it, or felt unwell?
They arrived in Leeds, and Eve directed them to her parents’ house.
‘Dad and Mum are both home today,’ she said happily as he parked the car.
Edward opened the door and what felt like nerves hit him. He hadn’t been nervous since he was a teenager but, now, he felt his stomach flipping and his muscles were tense. What was he nervous about? Meeting Eve’s parents? How ridiculous, he told himself as he helped Myles with Jimmi.
Eve was already at the front door of the house and then two people were hugging her.
He was jealous of them for an instant.
‘Edward, these are my parents, Donna and Sam Pilkins. Mum, Dad, this is Edward Priest.’
Sam Pilkins was a small man with a wiry frame and a nose broken long ago. Edward noticed his big hands when he shook one of them and the piercing look Eve’s father gave him.
Sam was probably fifteen years older than Edward but he looked like he could outdo him in any physical sport.
Donna was an older version of Eve with dark hair but cut short and an open heart-shaped face and a happy smile.
