Page 33 of An Unholy Affair
‘I want to apologise for my behaviour in London a year ago.’
Oh…
He sat up straighter, his expression serious. ‘I was meeting a woman for the first time, and thought you were her.’
She’d guessed as much, but didn’t know how to reply.
‘I can’t really explain why I called myself Jasper.’ His gaze slid away to the floor. ‘Sometimes I hide behind that name.’
Eveline thought of what she knew about his childhood. How unhappy he must have been. How he must have wished he was somewhere and someone else.
‘It’s okay,’ she replied. ‘I understand.’
He huffed out a bitter laugh and shook his head.
‘No, Jack, I do. I know how it feels to wish you were a different person.’
His eyes found hers. For a second, he looked so anguished it was like a spear to her heart. Then he hid the emotion away.
‘How did your date go?’ she asked, trying to appear cool.
He picked up his mug and stared into it. ‘As expected.’
‘Is she your… Your girlfriend now?’
He huffed out another empty laugh. ‘No. I don’t have a girlfriend.’
She swallowed and bit the inside of her cheek to keep her excitement at bay.He doesn’t have a girlfriend!But what should she do now? How should she act?God, what’s the right way forward? What should I say?
She jumped at the bang of the front door and Jack looked up.
‘Something smells good!’ Simon called through. ‘You must have known I’d drop by.’
Jack’s brow furrowed. ‘He doesn’t knock?’
Eveline pulled a face and lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. ‘Most people don’t.’
‘And is the kettle on?’ Simon’s voice was getting louder.
She stood as Simon entered. Jack stayed seated, lounging back in his chair.
Simon’s cheeriness disappeared, to be replaced with confusion.
‘Hi Simon,’ said Jack.
‘What areyoudoing here?’ Simon asked, his gaze travelling to the mugs of tea and crumb-covered plates on the table.
‘Jack and I were about to discuss funeral arrangements for Nigel,’ Eveline said, trying to appear at ease when she was anything but.
Simon ignored her, his attention still on Jack. ‘Why aren’t you with Patricia? She can’t be left on her own.’
Jack’s body language was relaxed and open, but it seemed to Eveline that he had the readiness of a tiger preparing to pounce.
‘My mother,’ he replied, his tone placid. ‘Is sleeping. She’s asked me to deal with everything, so I am.’
‘Humph.’ Simon turned to her. ‘Could you rustle me up a bacon sandwich, dear? I’m rather peckish.’
‘I—’ she began.
