Page 29 of A Very Happy Easter

“Lychee truffles?”

Heath shrugged. “They were out of avocados.”

I hadn’t seen him since the art show, although he’d kept up with the memes. And photos. Views from France and Italy, although he hadn’t told me what he was doing there, beyond the fact it was a work trip. Even his birthday had been spent on the job, but he didn’t seem to mind.

I’d spent the weeks he’d been away on the same old, same old. Three helpline shifts worked, one grant obtained, seven more women into refuge spaces. Jazzi was being extraordinarily brave in pressing charges. I’d visited her again, plus spoken with her on the phone three more times. She had family in Bradford, but her husband had been calling around, trying to find her, so she didn’t feel confident in going to see them for the moment. A restraining order was in place, but I’d seen so many of those breached that I couldn’t in good faith encourage her to rely on it.

Still, she was safe. Her ribs and her fractured cheekbone were healing, her unborn baby was alive, and the police said her husband was looking at a prison sentence.

“Lychees outrank avocados.” I ran a finger down the lapel of Heath’s tuxedo. “Did you go to the rental place I suggested?”

“Figured I might as well buy it. You said you wanted to do this for a year, right? If you skip out on me early, I can always cosplay the Phantom of the Opera at Janie’s next Halloween party.”

He’d bought a tux to go to parties with me? That signified real commitment, something I hadn’t expected from him, but when my chest tightened, I realised just how much I appreciated the gesture. A year of fake dates? I’d sleep better at night knowing I had one less thing to worry about.

“I’ll reimburse you, of course.”

“No, you won’t.”

“But—”

“I can buy myself a suit, Edie.”

I opened my mouth to say there was no need, that he shouldn’t be out of pocket, but firstly, I didn’t want to start an argument, and secondly, I didn’t want to dent Heath’s pride by suggesting he couldn’t afford a suit. Instead, I forced a bright smile.

“It’s a nice one. Maybe you should cosplay James Bond instead?”

He returned my smile. “I’ll need to save up for the Aston Martin.”

“I have an Aston Martin. Guess we’ve just found our couple’s costume.”

“You’re going to wear a Bond Girl bikini? Isn’t it a bit cold for that?”

“Xenia Onatopp is more my style.”

“A fighter pilot who gets off on crushing men’s heads with her thighs?” Heath’s eyes widened comically, and he took a large step back. “I’ll follow you in the limo.”

He made me laugh, which was no mean feat these days. “I actually like your Phantom of the Opera idea. I could go as Christine.”

“Sounds like a plan. Nice dress, by the way. The colours suit you.”

My satin halter-neck gown started off orange at the neck before graduating to yellow and then finally blue. I’d picked out the fabric myself. Black feathers at the neck formed a focal point that drew the eye away from my chest.

“Thanks, it was inspired by Ranitomeya amazonica. I watch a fair few wildlife documentaries.”

“Ranitomeya amazonica?”

“It’s a species of poison dart frog. I’m hoping predators will stay away.”

Heath’s chuckle turned into a full-on belly laugh. “I think I just became a conservationist.”

“Can I interest you in a drink before we go?” I checked my slim gold watch. “Jerilyn won’t be here for another twenty minutes.”

“Wouldn’t say no to a coffee. Sorry if I yawn—it’s been a long two weeks.”

“I was worried you weren’t going to make it back.”

“So was I at one point.”

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