‘Oh, Eve, that’s fantastic,’ he said. ‘You really are great and have such a good ear for dialogue and eye for detail. They absolutely have to give it to you.’
‘I hope so. I mean, it’s everything I have worked for.’ She paused. ‘But it might mean I come up on weekends or something. I don’t know how it would work.’
Edward looked at Myles and Flora laughing as Flora danced to the band.
‘I never thought I would have this,’ he said gesturing around him and to her. ‘You gave it to me. I want you to have your dreams also. I will fit in with you and your life. I want to be your support now.’
Eve shook her head and laughed again. ‘How is this happening?’
‘What?’ he asked.
‘This.’ She waved between them both. ‘How did this happen? We hardly know each other and we’re speaking like it’s inevitable.’
He shrugged. ‘Because it is.’
‘And what about the children? And their mother?’
She saw Edward’s shoulders straighten and his jaw twitch. ‘She doesn’t count anymore. She made her choice.’
Eve said nothing but knew nothing was that simple. Parents made mistakes. They made bad choices but it didn’t mean they didn’t love their children, nor that they couldn’t change.
Sitting in the market felt otherworldly. As though they were in their own personal romance novel, where none of the realities of the world existed. It would be easy to think that there would be no obstacles or troubles ahead. No pain or loss or struggles. But life wasn’t a Hallmark movie and Eve knew that Edward ignoring Amber couldn’t last forever.
‘I’m not their mother,’ she said suddenly, surprising herself.
‘Pardon?’
‘I’m not their mother.’ She looked at Flora and Myles. ‘They have a mum. And I don’t want to be their mother substitute. Whatever happens with Amber, they must have a choice also. You can’t decide for them; they need to be consulted.’
Edward was silent for a moment. ‘She says she’s changed.’
‘You heard from her?’
‘Hil did. She said she’s coming back.’
Eve nodded, feeling sick in her stomach. It was the right thing for her to want to see her children but it also felt upsetting.
‘I told her we’re away until new year and then we can talk but she can only visit them with me there.’
Eve let out a slow breath. ‘That’s good.’
‘Is it?’ Edward looked at the children. ‘Myles is coming out of his shell for the first time. Flora’s stopped burying dolls in the snow. I can write freely without half my mind being held hostage by Amber’s behaviour.’
Eve nodded. She understood, as much as she could, but she was also aware their lives were very different. She was on the career path and he was trying to keep his children safe.
Shaking the mood off her, she lifted her glass of the sweet liquid.
‘To better times ahead,’ she said and Edward lifted his and they touched glasses.
‘To us,’ he replied.
To us,she repeated in her thoughts. But how would an ‘us’ work in the future?
It seemed impossible and yet inevitable. She would have to wait and find out their ending.
31
It was Christmas Eve and Edward had been writing for days to meet his deadline. His bottom was sore from sitting for so long. He forgot to drink water, only realising when his lips were stuck together. He forgot to go to the bathroom until his kidneys hurt.
