Eva took the magazine back from her and focused on the pictures in front of her. ‘I think they handled it really well. It’s not distasteful at all. At least I don’t think so, and it’s wonderful to have a record of what life was like the moment before it all changed.’
‘Oh!’ Anna said. ‘I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad about that.’
‘It is what it is.’ Eva forced a smile. ‘I didn’t mean to make you maudlin. I like the pictures. In fact, I think they’re brilliant, which is why I asked you here.’
‘Go on.’
‘I want to document my recovery on Instagram. I want people to know that, as devastating as losing a limb is, it’s not the end. I will recover from this and I will go on to do bigger and better things.’
Anna was speechless. She was astounded by Eva’s bravery and determination. Eventually she found the words. ‘I have absolutely no doubt that you will.’
‘And the favour I’m asking, is will you photograph it for me? I’ll pay you of course.’
‘No!’ Anna said, and then realising Eva could take her response the wrong way, hastily added, ‘I mean, yes, of course I’ll photograph you, but I wouldn’t dream of taking any payment.’
‘But you must.’
‘No. I want to do this for you and I’ll be offended if you even mention money again.’
Eva nodded. ‘Fair enough.’
‘So, when do we start?’
‘How about tomorrow? I’ve got a physio session to help me develop strength in my upper body. That should be a laugh.’
Anna smiled at Eva’s self-deprecating humour. It would mean putting her Cheshire plans on hold, but she really wanted to do this. More so, sheneededto do it.
‘Tell me when and where, and I’ll be there.’
Chapter Twenty-One
‘So, does that mean you won’t be coming up this weekend?’ Daniel asked when Anna phoned him later that afternoon.
‘I’m sorry. I wanted to, but I couldn’t say no to Eva.’
‘Of course you couldn’t. I understand that.’ And he did, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t disappointed. ‘I’ll miss you.’
‘Me too.’
After they said their goodbyes he switched off the phone, aware of two pairs of eager eyes watching him.
‘Anna’s not coming?’ Ben asked, his voice full of disappointment.
‘No, I’m afraid not.’
Lucinda, who’d brought Ben round to stay for the weekend, snorted. ‘Letting you down already, is she?’
Anger rose at his ex-wife’s comment. ‘No, she’s not. There’s something important she needs to do. It’s a work thing.’
‘That’s what you get when you give your assistant ideas above their station.’
‘Lucinda! Please!’ He glanced at Ben to warn her not to behave like this in front of him. She’d been tetchy since he’d arrived back in Cheshire. He wondered if she was annoyed with him wanting to see more of Ben — perhaps it was upsetting her routine. But on a more cynical level he thought she might be jealous. He’d come clean to both of them the previous night about Anna and him being together. He’d thought it best to tell them when Anna wasn’t around, give them time to get used to the idea before they saw her next. Ben had been delighted at the news. Lucinda not so much.
‘Right, well, I’ll leave you to it,’ Lucinda said.
‘Can you come and see my room first, Mum? You’ve never seen it before,’ Ben asked. Lucinda looked to Daniel for approval and he nodded. While they were gone, Daniel put the kettle on tomake some coffee. It didn’t bother him if Lucinda was jealous of him and Anna. In fact, he understood it — he’d felt the same way when she’d first got together with Axel. But her snide comments were something he wasn’t going to put up with. Despite their differences, they’d always worked hard to put Ben first, and he didn’t want that undermined just because the dynamics had changed.
‘Mum loves my room,’ Ben said when the pair of them came back downstairs.
