Page 103 of Love Thief

I sit and let Carrie wash over me. Let her take me out of this shitty reality, into Carrieville. Eventually I start to laugh. Carrie has the whole showroom in hysterics. But she’s bartered for two new kitchens, and when I tell her I need a new kitchen for John Clayton the DJ, she’s on it.

We spend the best part of the afternoon in there, we’re both in heaven. Even Tommy sighs, saying, “Most people spend hours in clothes shops, you two spend the afternoon in kitchen showrooms.”

I’m calm and feel more like myself. Thank goodness for friends who are on my wavelength. I definitely subscribe to Carrie's quality theory on that front. Quality over quantity.

We head out to go in search of yet more lemon muffins. We’re arm in arm again as we pass shop after shop, window shopping, and Carrie is talking, again.

I see a blur of colour in my peripheral vision, coming out of a small side street that’s more of an alley, moving fast. I hear Carrie shout and feel Tommy brush past my arm as I’m spun towards Carrie. She pulls me tightly against her body as Tommy grabs and wrestles something or somebody to the floor.

“They’re not his. You will not take him to court. You don’t deserve him, or his money. Lauren’s confirmed she’s got proof you cheated.” It’s the woman from outside the kitchen shop, and she’s screaming at me, struggling with Tommy to get to me, as he’s more or less sitting on her. “He can’t have children, it’s on the internet. You’re a liar.” The racket she’s making is drawing a crowd as Tommy phones Jonno.

“Call the police, Tommy,” I beg him. As my predicament hits me, my legs start to buckle and Carrie is the only thing holding me up.

“I got you. No one touches you on my watch. Take deep breaths, Evie. Breathe with me, my lovely.”

Carrie starts to take bigger breaths, as clearly I’d started panting with lack of oxygen and not noticed. A shop owner comes out and beckons Carrie to fetch me inside as Tommy restrains the screaming woman on the ground.

She’s getting louder, not quieter, as a police car pulls up. She’s spitting bile and hate my way. Clearly seeing me has triggered her. I just want to go home. She doesn’t quieten, so she gets carted off before Jonno can get here.

Oh god, this will be all over the papers, internet, entertainment sites.

Tears are streaming down my face as the realisation hits me—she wanted to push me into the road. She wanted me dead, to get rid of the imposter babies. I sit and I sob into Carrie’s arms.

Tommy comes and picks me up as a car pulls up. He lifts me into it, and we all head to Greystone house.

How could it have got to this? Words are the most dangerous thing on this planet. How could Lauren do it? Incite such hatred, weaponise people. And for what? I’m at a loss. I want my family, I want my husband, but he is not going to come. Will he even know what’s happened? He’s busy in oblivion, can’t get out of the place. I want him to come home. Oh God, how am I going to get over this?

Jonno, Carrie, and Tommy spend the rest of the afternoon calming me down. I just need to go home and chill, don’t dwell on what might have been. She was stopped, don’t go any further. Maybe now Lauren is back in the UK this will all die down. Surely she can’t still want him if he’s kicked them both out. But the voice in my head says, ‘You do. You still want him. So will she.’

I just need to keep a low profile. Yes, that’s easy. I’ll finish up in London and head to Devon. Obscurity here I come.

My plans for a low profile evaporate upon walking in the door to my London dockland apartment, where I find Kasey sitting with his best mate, Carter Maywood—Hollywood superstar, leading man, impeccable dresser—and Carter’s boyfriend, Gary.

“Evie, darlin’,” Carter croons in his very Texan drawl, “this place is superb. Would it be too much trouble if we stayed? Kasey is ravin’ about it. And you.”

I look around, wondering how to make it fit, and what am I going to do with them all? “Of course, Why not? I’ll get a room sorted for you both.”

“Kitten, is it okay? Are you sure?” Kasey asks.

He’s driving me a bit mad with the Kitten, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings. I get the impression he loves being part of our family, although he’d never say it of course.

I go to find Carol, my housekeeper, and tell her two more are staying.

“Evie, you’re a regular hotel, love. You need to say no,” she tells me.

“I know, but they’re Kasey’s friends Carter Maywood and?—”

“Carter Maywood is staying here?” I think she’s going to faint. “I’ll get him anything he wants. Where is he?” I point towards the living room, and she bustles off at a speed never seen before to help Carter ‘get settled.’

Wandering back at a more leisurely pace, I ask what they want to do for dinner. I vote for a quiet night in.

“Well, I think your husband needs a taste of his own medicine, darlin’,” drawls out Carter, “so we’re goin’ out. Kasey here has told me all about Vincenzo’s, so I’m gonna meet the man, then I’m coming to Devon to meet Marsh.”

“Kasey!” Honestly, the man takes liberties. Inviting people to Devon without asking me, he is a menace, and an exasperating one at that.

“What, Kitten? It’s great publicity for the yard. Marsh will love it. Well, Pinky definitely will,” he says, batting luxurious lashes over his stunning navy blue eyes at me.

I can’t stay annoyed with him for long. He means well, and only has my interests at heart.

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