Page 16 of Secrets of the Eternal Flame

‘She’s a horny chicken,’ Maddie muttered darkly. ‘That’s what she is.’

I worked hard to suppress my laughter but a snort still slipped out.

When we walked back into the sitting room, Ernie was looking uncomfortable; he was studying the curtains as if they held the answer to the mystery of life – anything rather than look at Maddie. Yanni was sitting ramrod straight, chin up, expression confrontational. She was ready to lock horns.

If I’d walked in on them, I would have wanted to forget about it as quickly as possible; there’s a lot to be said for brushing things under the carpet. But Maddie seemed to want answers. ‘So let’s start at the beginning,’ she said coolly. ‘How long has this been going on?’

They both cleared their throats but it was Yanni who spoke. ‘Not that it’s any of your business,’ she said crisply, ‘but not long. I think this was only our seventh time.’

‘Eleventh,’ Ernie muttered.

Yanni sent hima flat look; he wasn’t helping. ‘Look, I really don’t understand what the big deal is,’ she continued. ‘You asked me to guard the house so people didn’t find out that the Flame had gone, which I did, but I needed help. I couldn’t rope in justanybody, I needed somebody who knew what had happened. I didn’t have that many options.’

‘I’m sorry? Are you saying that it’sourfault that you two were shagging on our sofa?’ Maddie shot back.

‘Don’t be facetious. I’m simply explaining how the situation arose.’

I snickered again. Yanni glared at me then continued her tirade at Maddie. ‘And can I remind you about the kitchen table incident with Jonah Crest? I was much calmer about that than you’re being about this, and weateon that table afterwards.’

Maddie paled slightly.

I remembered the kitchen incident with Jonah Crest all too well because it had been the final straw to get me to move out. At the time, Maddie seemed to be making it abundantly clear that she was moving on with her life in a way I couldn’t – or wouldn’t. With a decade’s worth of distance, I knew now that the incident had nothing to do with me and everything to do with her teenage hormones.

‘We’re not talking aboutme,’ she retorted, flustered. ‘We’re talking aboutyou.’

‘Fine.’ Yanni sighed. ‘One evening after I finished my shift, Ernie and I shared a bottle of wine, got talking, and ... one thing led to another.’

‘It’s not all about the sex, though,’ Ernie added. ‘I want you to know that my intentions towards your grandmother are honourable, Madelyn.’

‘Is that what you call it?’ Maddie said huffily. ‘Because, trust me, you don’t bend people over like that when you’re being honourable with them. And I don’t see a ring,’ she added stridently, then muttered, ‘except the one I wish I could un-see.’

I burst out laughing and she glared at me. ‘You’re not taking this seriously.’

‘I am! I am!’ I promised. ‘But I think you’re overreacting a little.’

‘I amnot! If anything, I amunder-reacting! I haven’t tossed a potion at anybody.’

‘Your restraint is admirable,’ Yanni said drily.

Ernie cleared his throat for the umpteenth time. ‘I know this might come as a shock to you, Maddie, but we have feelings for one another. This isn’t just sex, it’s companionship.’

That word struck a chord in me because I had felt a deep loneliness from both Yanni and Ernie. I lowered my shields a little to feel their emotions; though they were coloured by a good amount of embarrassment, there was happiness there, and excitement. And neither of them had a jot of loneliness left in them.

Maddie sighed. ‘Well, we’re home now so I’d be grateful if you could carry on with your – companionship – elsewhere.’

Yanni stood up. ‘I have to go to work.’

Ernie pushed himself up too and turned to me. ‘The Flame?’

‘It’s complicated,’ I admitted. ‘But there’s something we can try. I’ll fill you in later.’ Now wasn’t the time to discuss what had happened, not when Maddie was still so upset you could almost see steam coming out of her ears.

As they reached the door Eva slipped in, happy that both the confrontation and the risk of seeing any naked bodies were over. I glared at her. ‘You know what you did,’ I muttered. She grinned back at me, her doggy tongue lolling out. Yeah, she knew.

I followed Ernie and Yanni outside. Ernie offered me a weak wave before Yanni hustled him into the police car. As the door slammed shut, Maddie yelled after hergrandmother, ‘And just so you know, you’re paying for the dry cleaning on that sofa!Premiumdry cleaning!’

Chapter Eleven

‘I know you think I’m overreacting,’ Maddie said before I could speak, ‘but it was a shock seeing all that naked old-person’s ass. The whole thing will take some getting used to. That’s all.’

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