Page 21 of An Unholy Affair
‘No Libby?’ Jack asked him. ‘I was looking forward to meeting her in person.’
Henry’s face lit up at the mention of his girlfriend. ‘She wanted to give us a chance to catch up first without having to stop and explain all our inside jokes.’
‘We have jokes?’ Connor asked. He was a nurse, and Henry and Estelle’s stepbrother.
Finn snorted. ‘The four of us are about as funny as a hole in the head. Stelle’s amusing, but mainly when she’s bawling someone out or farting inappropriately.’
‘Libby says I’m naturally funny,’ Henry said proudly.
Jack gaped at him. Out of all of them, Henry had been the shyest and most reserved. Now it appeared he’d been saving his smiles for the moment he fell in love.
‘Wow,’ was all he could manage.
‘Yep,’ said Finn. ‘Welcome to Henry Foxbrooke version two-point-zero.’
Jack finished his pint. ‘I’m getting another round in. Who wants what?’
Connor stood. ‘It’s my shout. Same again?’
He nodded. ‘Cheers.’
As Connor left, Henry leaned forward. ‘How’s your mum doing?’
Jack’s guts twisted. He needed more alcohol to dull the pain of the day.
‘Deranged. She spat in the vicar’s face.’
Finn choked on his beer. ‘What the fuck?’
‘Mum accused her of killing Dad.’
‘How?’ Henry asked, his mouth hanging open.
‘Apparently she wants to get rid of the pews and that was enough to give Dad a heart attack.’
‘Fucking hell,’ Finn muttered. ‘Poor Eveline.’
A hot spike of jealousy stabbed Jack in the stomach and he forced his voice to stay level. ‘How well do you know her?’
Finn shrugged. ‘A bit? We’ve chatted about me buying the pews and repurposing them if she’s given the go ahead to get rid of them. Stelle’s closer to Eveline than anyone. She keeps trying to set me up with her.’
Adrenaline roared through Jack’s body as his fight to the death reflex kicked in.
‘You?’
‘Don’t sound so sceptical. I’m not that bad.’ Finn rubbed his scruffy beard. ‘But it’s never going to happen. She may be the nicest person in Foxbrooke, but she’s not my type and I’m not hers, either.’
Jack thought of the insipid man Eveline was currently having dinner with. ‘Does she have a boyfriend?’
Finn shrugged. ‘Don’t think so. Stelle says she’s desperate for marriage and kids. But can you imagine being married to a vicar?’
Jack could not. Eveline was a woman of God and he belonged in hell.
‘Why?’ Finn asked. ‘Do you like her?’
He forced his head to shake. ‘Nah. And anyway, what’s the point? I’m leaving as soon as I can.’
Connor returned with a tray of beers and another double whisky.
