Page 102 of An Unholy Affair
Placing plates of food in front of them, Eveline looked at him in surprise. ‘You’re not eating with us?’
He forced a smile. ‘No, I’m going to head over to Foxbrooke Haven and spend a few hours there. Then I’ve got some calls to make about the Winter Ball.’
‘Best he clears off,’ Simon said to her. ‘We shouldn’t be discussing confidential church matters in front of him, anyway.’
Jack’s stomachgrowled and his mouth was sour as he strode towards Foxbrooke Haven. The five hours he’d been up so far had included unexpected manual labour without the sustenance to underpin it. But there was no way he was going to make the uncomfortable situation for Eveline worse by sitting down with that prick, Simon.
What’s his fucking problem?But even as Jack asked that question, unease stabbed at his gut.WouldJack Newton ruin Eveline’s reputation?Washe bad for her? As he passed a small supermarket, his feet itched to take him inside, straight to the aisles of booze. He ground to a halt outside the entrance as the automatic doors opened to welcome him.
His head was ringing, and he kneaded his scalp, trying to soothe it away.Do I really have a problem?He let the question sit, listening to the excuses and explanations that popped up, already perfectly formed in his mind. He knew he’d been under intense stress, but was alcohol now a crutch?
‘Excuse me?’
‘Sorry!’ He leapt out of the way as a woman pushed a double buggy through the doors.
That was what Eveline wanted. Marriage and kids. Two things he never saw in his life.
Turning away from the supermarket, he walked on, faster and faster, as if he could outrun his thoughts. He could leave his job and life in France behind for her, but could he ever provide the happy-ever-after she deserved? Each day he was back in Foxbrooke, old memories flashed up, reminding him with brutal clarity how crappy his upbringing had been. How could he take the risk that he might turn out even a little bit the same?
‘Jack! Has the world ended?’Erica greeted him as he pushed through the front doors into the warmth of Foxbrooke Haven.
‘Do I look that bad?’ he asked with a smile.
She drew him in for a hug. ‘Just a touch cold and thunderous, but nothing we can’t solve.’ She pulled back. ‘Is everything alright? Eveline?’ His stomach grumbled loudly and her eyes widened. ‘Aha!’
‘I’m afraid I haven’t had breakfast yet.’
‘Bugger breakfast. It’s almost lunch.’ She grabbed his arm, propelling him along the corridor towards the kitchen. ‘A strapping young man like you can’t go that long without food.’
He smiled, his heart lifting. ‘A couple of biscuits will do me fine, honestly.’
‘Nonsense.’ Erica entered the kitchen, where one of the staff members was chopping vegetables. ‘Hi Lacey, love, I’m just feeding up our resident starving artist before he dies of consumption or cuts off his ear in desperation.’
The young woman giggled. ‘Hey, Jack. Help yourself to anything in here.’
‘Except the staff!’ Erica said, as Jack’s cheeks warmed.
She pushed him into a chair. ‘Don’t mind us, it’s nice having a bit of man candy around. Now let me see what I can rustle up for you.’
Half an hour later,Jack’s stomach was full, and his mind had settled. Being at Foxbrooke Haven felt like a hug from the perfect grandmother. It was warm, cosy, and smelled of cornsilk powder, cleaning products and overcooked food.
Simon’s mother, Gladys, may have been watching him from across the main lounge like a fossilised hawk, but her presence was almost entirely negated by the other residents. They’d arranged their chairs in a semi-circle around him, facing the mural.
‘You know,’ Jack said, raising his eyebrows. ‘I thought you all wanted to help?’
‘Oh, we do,’ Shirley replied. ‘But it’s almost lunch so we’re watching the master at work first, then we’ll eat and come back, raring to go.’ She gazed along the line of women. ‘Isn’t that right, girls?’
They nodded.
‘This is like the television, but better,’ Doris added.
‘It’sinteractive,’ said Ada.
‘Ooh, get you with your fancy words,’ Shirley said, and the women dissolved into laughter.
The door to the lounge opened and Robert entered, glancing towards the women. Shirley smiled at him.
‘Robert,’ Jack said, beckoning him forward. ‘Will you join us?’
