Page 90 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
Mila’s reply was so cool, Ottilie knew that her answer was genuine. ‘You know why I’m here. I’m doing what you wouldn’t.’
‘How did you even know where I lived?’ Ottilie asked. ‘Is it you who’s been?—’
‘Yes,’ Mila cut in. ‘If you’re asking if I’ve been here before then yes, but you’re never bloody here.’
Ottilie paused as she eyed Mila with suspicion. Heath’s ex hadn’t given an answer to the question of how she’d found Ottilie’s house, but Ottilie could guess that it hadn’t taken much to figure it out. People around here would give that away without even realising, especially if they didn’t know who Mila was. And it wasn’t a huge place – Mila would only have to skulk around a bit to work it out for herself.
‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’m here now. So what do you want?’
‘I need you to?—’
Heath stepped forward. ‘No, Mila, don’t?—’
‘I have to. You’d do it if you were me.’
‘I wouldn’t because there’s no point. Ottilie can’t…It’s out of her hands – surely you can see that. She couldn’t do anything to help if she wanted to, and if I were her I wouldn’t anyway. Please, Mila, don’t?—’
‘What?’ Ottilie cut in, a deep sense of alarm now searing at her guts. She stared at Heath, trying to read him, fearing now what she’d find. They’d clearly discussed something. Something about her. Mila had wanted something from her and she’d gone to him to get it. What?
And then it all made sense. Mila had been here before, snooping around. It had to be her – the time Chloe had seen a woman, the time her plant pot had been upturned. Ottilie’s thoughts raced. Were there other occasions? Flo had called one morning early to check on her. And she’d issued a warning before about trusting Mila.
‘If she goes’ – Mila tossed her head at Lavender – ‘I’ll tell you.’
‘Charming!’ Lavender huffed. ‘Should have let you rot here with your bad ankle.’
‘Well, nobody asked you to stick your nose in!’ Mila fired back.
‘Lavender…’ Ottilie gave her an apologetic grimace. ‘Would you mind…?’
‘I’m late for the party anyway, so whatever.’ She glared at Mila again before turning back to Ottilie. ‘Phone me if you need me.’
‘I will, thanks.’
Ottilie waited for a moment until Lavender was a way down the lane before returning her gaze to Mila. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘I’m listening.’
Mila shot a look at Heath, and in it was triumph. Ottilie had already been unsettled, but now she was really worried. What the hell was about to come out of this woman’s mouth?
‘Mila, I’m asking you to think about this,’ Heath began, but that only unnerved Ottilie more. He knew what was coming, and it was so bad he sounded scared. What could be that bad? And if he knew what was coming, how long had he been keeping it from Ottilie?
‘I have,’ Mila said. She looked at Ottilie. ‘So I suppose he hasn’t told you who my cousin is?’
Ottilie stared at her, forehead creased in a deep frown. That wasn’t how she’d expected this conversation to begin. ‘Your cousin?’
Mila nodded and Heath groaned.
‘Ashton Steele.’ Mila allowed a beat for it to sink in. ‘You know who that is, right?’
Ottilie stared, unable to form a response. She knew the name all right. That name would be burned into her memory for as long as she lived. The man responsible for destroying all her happiness; the man who’d taken her Josh from her.
‘Oh, I know,’ Ottilie said, unable to decide whether she felt sicker with fear or rage. ‘He’s a murderer, that’s who he is.’
‘Innocent until proven guilty,’ Mila corrected, and for the first time her features softened. ‘He didn’t do it. He was set up.’
‘Is that what he told you?’
‘The police set him up. They needed a result, and he was a prime candidate.’
Ottilie shook her head. ‘You would say that – he’s your cousin. Birds of a feather and all that.’
