‘You’re amazing, Eve, thank you.’
She looked up at him.
‘I’m just doing my job.’
He frowned at her.
‘Are you okay?’
The truth was Eve didn’t feel okay. Finishing the book meant their time together was over, at least in this form. At Cranberry Cross she didn’t need to navigate the tube or stand in a packed train to get to work. Didn’t have to deal with running around after Serena and her petty requests, or watch her take credit for Eve’s work.
‘Fine, just tired.’
‘Did you want to have a rest? I think Hil’s out so we could grab the children and head into Crossbourne for a late lunch?’
Eve nodded. ‘I might actually. And hopefully we’ll hear back from Serena tomorrow and she’ll love it.’
‘From your mouth to Serena’s ear,’ he said as she held her hands out for him to pull her to her feet.
‘I will have a nap and a shower and come down at one-ish?’
‘Perfect,’ he said and then hugged her.
‘Thank you, Eve, for everything. I adore you.’
She laid her head against his chest for a moment and then pulled away.
He hadn’t made any real overtures about their future yet besides the suitcase, but she wanted to have the conversation. How would it work? What if she won the promotion? How would that affect them?
The questions whirled in her head as she headed upstairs to nap in her bed.
She’d been spending her nights in Edward’s bed but now she needed to have her own space.
Within minutes of lying down, she reminded herself to check her phone was turned up as she felt herself falling asleep. Perhaps she had already turned it up, she hoped, as she slipped into a deep sleep, her eyes feeling relieved to be closed and not staring at a screen.
*
Eve woke with a start. She heard something outside. It wasn’t the sound when she first came to Cranberry Cross, it was more obvious and very female.
‘You lying piece of shit,’ she heard and she rushed to the window and looked out to see Amber Priest smashing Edward’s car with a hammer.
Where on earth had she found a hammer? Eve wondered, watching as Edward stood to the side and Hilditch was talking on the phone.
Calling the police, Eve assumed.
She was in two minds as to what to do. She should try and find the children and see they were okay and not near the drama, but she had the feeling she should stay away from Amber and her hammer.
Thankfully the children made their own decision and her door opened.
‘It’s Mom,’ said Myles, his face stormy and drawn, Jimmi trotting in behind him. She hadn’t seen that look in him since he had met her brothers and then Jimmi brought extra light into his world.
‘Why is she so angry?’ Flora asked, Christmas the kitten in a small basket lined with baby blankets.
‘I don’t know, darling,’ said Eve, gesturing for them to sit on her bed.
She went back to the window and peered out again just as Amber looked up and saw her. Their eyes locked, then Eve stepped back from the window but it was too late.
‘Who is that?’ screamed Amber.
