Page 35 of An Unholy Affair
‘Nigel’s boy!’ she cried, her eyebrows lifting before crashing back down. ‘Oh, my dear child, I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. How is your mother doing? I’d like to visit, but I don’t want to overstep.’
‘She’s not great,’ he replied. ‘I’m sure she would appreciate the company.’
Beryl nodded. ‘I’ll visit later. Would you like a cup of tea?’ She gave his hand a squeeze in both of hers, then dropped it and bustled past Eveline to the kettle. ‘Looks like it’s just boiled. Oh, look at that cake. Is that for the Parish Council meeting? Do you think they’d notice if a slice was missing?’
Eveline bit back a scream. ‘Beryl, Simon, I was in the middle of discussing Nigel’s funeral arrangements with Jack.’
‘But don’t you need to set up for your “special” meeting in ten minutes?’ Beryl asked.
Oh, for goodness sake!Her use of actual air quotes just drew even more attention to it.
‘Can I help?’ Jack asked.
‘Well—’ Eveline began.
‘Don’t you have to assist your mother with her eyedrops?’ Simon interrupted.
‘Oh, yes, her second cataract op,’ said Beryl. ‘How did it go? How many weeks before she’s allowed to drive?’
Jack glanced at the clock. He looked stressed to the point of snapping. ‘I—I need to go.’
Eveline stepped forward and touched his arm. ‘I’ll see you out.’
He followed her into the corridor and she shut the kitchen door behind them.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she whispered. ‘We didn’t get a chance to talk about anything to do with the funeral.’
He shrugged, his face tired and strained. ‘Can I come back when you next have a moment?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She bit her lip as she mentally scanned through her overly full diary. ‘Can I text you?’
They reached the front door, and he passed her his phone. ‘If you put your number in, I’ll send you a message so you’ve got my contact details.’
She put hers in and handed it back.
He tapped on the screen, then put it in his back pocket. ‘Done.’
They stared at each other in the silence of the dark hallway.
‘Thank you—’ she began.
He stepped back and opened the door, breaking the moment.
‘I’ll see you soon.’ He gave her a brief nod, then left.
8
Jack: This is my number.
Eveline: Thank you for everything you did to help today and sorry about the interruptions. I’ll look at my diary as soon as I can and let you know the next time I’m free.
Jack: No worries. And thank you.
Eveline: I know it’s late, so I hope this doesn’t disturb you. Tomorrow is a bit of a busy day, but I’m free between six and seven-thirty in the morning. Does that work?
Eveline: Sorry, it is a little early for most people. I keep forgetting as I’ve usually been up an hour or so by then.
Jack: Just got message been pub with Finn. Lock-in. Half two now sorry. Need sleep. Sorry.
