‘Myles said I can use this as an indoor lead,’ she announced, ‘and since he’s spending the night at the twins’ house, Jimmi is going to sleep in my room with me.’
Eve patted the dog on the head. ‘Jimmi will love being in your room. Where will you put his bed?’
She and Flora walked towards the snug, the dog leading the way.
Edward’s door opened, and their eyes met.
‘All okay?’
‘All is fine,’ she said with a smile. ‘Go and write or there will be no supper.’
Edward growled at her and closed the door.
‘Any babies buried in the garden today?’ she asked Flora as they went into the snug and Jimmi jumped onto the sofa.
She thought about telling him off but the sofa was very comfortable and got the best of the light in the morning.
‘I haven’t buried any babies lately,’ said Flora. She sat on the ground facing Jimmi, stroking his head. ‘I think I’m growing out of that now.’
Eve nodded and turned her head away so Flora wouldn’t see her smile.
‘I understand. I was really into horses for a while and then one day I woke up and thought, Horses, schmorses, who cares?’
‘What did you like instead?’ asked Flora.
Eve thought for a moment. ‘The guitar. And books.’
Flora sighed. ‘I don’t know what I’m into now but I like being inside more than I used to, especially when I hang out here with you and since Myles has been nice to me. And also because of Jimmi.’
Eve understood Flora even if Flora didn’t understand herself yet.
No child should feel unsafe in their own home, yet Flora had for so long.
Eve checked her emails and answered a few, but there was nothing from Serena about her application. Not even an acknowledgement of receipt. And Serena had stopped asking to read the pages. Something else had diverted her attention and it nagged at Eve. Something was going on and she wasn’t sure what but with Serena, it was rarely good.
She wondered if she should send off an email to human resources and ask them how the vetting of the candidates was going but she thought that would be too pushy.
‘We should take Jimmi outside to go for a wee,’ said Eve, needing to get away from her computer.
‘He did a wee before, in the hallway. Hil was cross but then she patted Jimmi and said that sometimes when you have to go you have to go.’
Eve laughed and moved to the sofa with Jimmi.
Flora climbed up onto Eve’s lap and curled up, her breath blowing onto her neck.
Jimmi rolled onto his back, his big feet dangling in the air.
Eve closed her eyes for a moment. This was peaceful, she thought, and wondered if she was feeling content or sleepy or both until she didn’t have to ask herself. She was asleep.
*
Edward read through the chapters Eve had edited. It was cleaner than his original version and she pushed him to write in detail, the sort of writing he liked, walking the reader through the red herrings, the murders, the evidence, the fake alibis and false witnesses.
He had the ideas and could put the words into order to tell a story, but Eve made it come alive.
Picking up his phone, he dialled a number on speed dial.
‘Serena, how are you?’
