Page 148 of An Unholy Affair
‘Jack, are you alright?’
‘Yes, yes, fine. How are you feeling?’
A flicker of distress crossed her features, and he noticed a faint sheen of sweat on her forehead.
‘Super-duper,’ she said with enthusiasm.
‘No, she’s not,’ Estelle butted in, leaning over. ‘She nearly fainted earlier, and asked if the rectory was hot, which means she’s either got a fever or is in advanced stages of hypothermia.’
Jack reached to touch Eveline’s forehead. ‘Angel, you’re burning up.’
She huffed. ‘I’m not ill, I promise. It must be just the start of a cold or something.’
He pushed back his chair. ‘Let me take you home.’
‘No! Absolutely not! I’m staying to support you.’
‘It’s all in hand. It doesn’t need me. I want to be there for you.’
‘And I want to stay!’
In the pause that followed Eveline’s shout, she clapped her hand to her mouth, looking as shocked as he felt.
Her eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m so sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean to yell.’
‘Hey, hey, it’s all good. We can stay. Whatever you want.’
She dabbed at the corners of her eyes. ‘I don’t know why I’m so emotional right now.’
Jack reached into the centre of the table. ‘Let me get you some water.’
‘Are yousureyou’re not pregnant?’ Estelle asked her.
The bottle slipped out of his hand, falling to the table and knocking over several glasses with a crash.
‘Fuck!’ He grabbed the bottle and tried to mop up the spill with his napkin.
Estelle helped him out. ‘Steady on, butterfingers. If you’re going to be a daddy, you need steadier hands than that.’
Panic and fear sliced through him. ‘Not fucking funny, Stelle,’ he growled.
She raised her hands. ‘Jesus, Jack, it’s only a joke. She’s already assured me she’s not up the duff.’
His gaze shot to Eveline.
‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered. ‘I’m not pregnant.’
Despite her attempt at a smile, he could see how upset she was.See that? You did that. You made her unhappy.He glanced at the bottles of wine on the table and her eyes followed his.Fuck!
The waiting staff appeared with their first course and diffused some of the tension. Jack tried to relax, but everything inside kept coiling back up, tighter and tighter.
I need a drink.
He felt Eveline’s hand on his.
‘It’s okay,’ she said quietly. ‘You’ve got me. You’ve always got me.’
Taking a deep breath, he poured himself a glass of water, then downed it. Tonight was meant to be the start of something new, but right now it felt like he’d dug his own grave and was standing at the edge, waiting for the inevitable.
