Page 71 of An Unholy Affair
‘Again?’
‘I enjoy his company.’
‘I don’t trust him.’
‘Simon!’
He held his hands up as if he was just the messenger carrying self-evident truth. ‘He spends all day touching women in tight-fitting clothes. Take off the hippie pyjamas and he’s just a man, Eveline.’
She took a deep breath. ‘Isaac is a yoga teacher, not a sexual predator. He’s one of the most upstanding men I know.’ Angry fire scorched her insides. ‘And besides, he would never pursue a romantic relationship with me or any other woman.’
‘Gay, is he?’
‘No, he’s not. He’s—’ Eveline stopped talking. She didn’t know who else knew about Isaac’s vow of chastity, but she didn’t want to be the first to spread gossip.
‘A eunuch?’ Simon shook his head. ‘I know that kind of thing still goes on in India, but good grief. Is that what he did to himself over there?’
She briefly closed her eyes. ‘No. He’s not a eunuch.’
‘Then what is he—’
‘Tomorrow lunchtime. I’m free then. Shall I come over around twelve-thirty?’
‘Er, yes.’ Simon nodded. ‘That would work.’
Patricia fiddledwith her wedding ring as she perched on the edge of the armchair. Her gaze kept flicking to a tablet that lay on the table next to their mugs of tea.
‘Jack said you were quite tired. Are you sure I shouldn’t leave you to rest?’ Eveline asked.
‘No, I’m fine. Thank you for yesterday.’
‘It was my pleasure.’
‘I must apologise about Jack.’
‘Jack?’
‘His behaviour at the wake. I don’t know if you saw, but he was—’ Patricia swallowed. ‘His friends had to help him home.’
Eveline’s heart squeezed with compassion for Jack, feeling his pain as if it were her own. She would do everything in her power to help him.
‘It was a difficult day for him.’
Patricia shrugged.
A thought came to her.God. Did you also send Jack to me so he could help with the mural?
‘Has he told you about the project he’s involved in at Foxbrooke Haven?’ Eveline asked.
Patricia frowned. ‘Simon says it’s causing a lot of disruption.’
She put on her most reassuring smile. ‘In the best possible way. The residents are very excited about it.’
‘Gladys Little isn’t.’
‘I had no idea Jack had such a talent,’ Eveline said, deflecting the conversation away from Simon’s mother. The woman could meet Jesus and tell him his sandals were scruffy and his hair needed a wash.
Patricia looked confused. ‘Talent?’
