Page 115 of An Unholy Affair
An awkward silence descended. Once again, she prickled with hurt and anger. His marriage proposal had come out of nowhere, presented as a done deal that benefited him and his children, and without any true consideration for her feelings or the reality of their relationship. Why couldn’t he see that? Why was he making thisherfault?
‘Eveline?’
She forced herself to smile. ‘Yes?’
‘I’ve given you space since our lunch last week so that you could pray on the matter and seek counsel from our Lord.’
Silence. Was she meant to respond?
He cleared his throat. ‘Are you aware that Nigel’s boy has been drinking to excess again?’
Adrenaline flashed through her. What? Why this sudden and strange segue? How dare he talk about the man she loved like that?
‘By “Nigel’s boy”, do you mean Jack Newton, the thirty-year-oldman?’ she replied, before any of her filters could moderate her words. It was true she hadn’t spent each night with Jack, but she hadn’t seen him touch a drop of alcohol since the funeral, and when he was with her, he seemed as happy as she was. ‘And what is your evidence that he’s been drinking?’
A thin smile stretched across Simon’s face. ‘I was in the supermarket two days ago and saw him deliberating over the wine selection. He left with two bottles. I take it he did not share them with you?’
Heat flooded Eveline’s cheeks. ‘What are you trying to insinuate?’
‘I’m well aware of your infatuation, but it’s naïve and immature.’
Nausea lurched in her gut. Did he know what had been going on? Or was it jealousy and conjecture after she’d turned him down?
‘In so many ways, Eveline, you’re an innocent,’ he continued. ‘Unprepared for someone like him, who’ll toy with your affections, then leave. Patricia confirmed that he has no plans to stay in Foxbrooke after the event at the Manor, so you’re only setting yourself up to fail by continuing this dalliance.’
‘I, I don’t know what you mean,’ she blustered.
He sighed. ‘My dear, I’m only concerned with your happiness. You’ll find companionship and contentment with me, not him. So, I’m giving you a second chance. Will you marry me?’
No! No! A thousand times, no!
‘Hi!’
Eveline’s head whipped around to see a woman waving at them from the car park.Amanda Haynes.
She turned back to Simon. ‘I’m sorry, but my answer remains the same.’
His face hardened. ‘So be it.’
She stared at him, shocked by his tone. Who was he, Emperor Palpatine?
‘I’m Amanda,’ the woman called out as she made her way towards them. ‘You must be Eveline?’
She shook Amanda’s hand. ‘Yes, and this is Simon Little, the church treasurer. He’s been helping with the application and speaks for most of our congregation.’
‘Fantastic! Nice to meet you, Simon.’
‘A pleasure, Amanda,’ he replied. ‘Shall we go inside?’
Eveline followed them in, her pulse pounding in her skull.God, please help me. I need to remain calm. This is too important.
Amanda smiled as she looked around the space. ‘This is fabulous.’
Simon cleared his throat.
‘Yes, we are very proud of Saint Saviour’s,’ Eveline interrupted. ‘And the main purpose behind the removal of the pews is to ensure it continues as a church for the foreseeable.’
Amanda pulled the application from her bag. ‘You’ve gone into detail about the financial benefits of replacing the pews with chairs, and your arguments are strong. My concern today is to assess the aesthetic impact, as well as community concerns.’
