“Is that why that’s missing?” I asked, pointing to the patch on the wall. She took a drink of her coffee.
“I wanted to get rid of some of the things that reminded me of Russell.”
“I suppose that’s almost everything in the house then, is it?”
She smiled wryly. “The house was his. I just moved into it. If I’m honest I won’t miss a single thing. I can be ready to leave for London soon.”
I nodded. She didn’t want to talk about it. That was fine. I was curious that she had taken down that picture and not the other two where Russell was not in the photos. It seemed she was getting rid of all traces of him. Kissing the past goodbye and who could blame her. I would hate to be him, having my wife scrub my very existence from my home after I passed but the man did it to himself. I was happy for her. “Can we take some biscuits for the road?”
She blushed, smiling. I would have killed an army of men to kiss her just then but of course, that wouldn’t have been appropriate. “Of course. Take as much as you want.”
“Why do you have a housekeeper when you can cook like that?”
“Oh, Prue? I need the help with Riley and she’s worked on the estate for decades now. I can’t let her go. She’s family. I like the outfit by the way.”
“It was the best I could do with what I was given.”
“You look right at home. Would you like the role of permanent caretaker here?”
“Are you hiring? No offense, I think you need the help out there.”
She laughed. “I don’t think I can afford you.”
“I think I’m cheaper than you think,” I said, winking.
“That makes sense. You probably haven’t done a day’s work in your life. I’d be getting what I pay for,” she said. I laughed. This was nice. This was the first time that we had spent time like this. It didn’t feel like a date. It wasn’t that. It felt more natural than that, more comfortable. It felt homey like I was part of the family. All we needed was the little boy with us and the picture would be complete.
I felt my pulse pick up. I had never experienced life in a family that felt like this. This was the way it was supposed to feel. This was the family experience that I always wanted. A group of people who loved each other unconditionally. I imagined that I hadn’t slept in the cottage, that I woke up with Eddy here in the house, in her bed. After that, we had breakfast together then took the little boy out to jump in all the puddles he wanted. We spent the day together, enjoying each other’s company, feeling love, companionship, everything I had missed out on all my life.
I had given some thought to having children but nothing too serious. Eddy’s boy, Riley, was it? He was adorable. It never hit me so hard that that was what I wanted. My reluctance in the past didn’t come from not wanting it, but not having anyone in my life that I wanted it with. I wanted this, all of it with Eddy.
Good job, I realized it on our last day together. After getting the watch back in London, what excuse did I have to see her anymore?
What about asking her to stay in London?
How was I going to do that? She was a widow now, but she didn’t seem torn up about it. She was free. She was still a young woman. Single for the first time in five years, why would she want to tie herself down again?
I needed this with her. I didn’t know that she didn’t want the same thing. I had to at least ask. I had to make sure before I counted myself out. I was doing it.
I was getting the girl.
18
Edwina
I peered out of the window, watching the world whizz by. Niall was in the driver’s seat absolutely flooring it. Could he drive any faster? He drove a sports car but this wasn’t the bloody Formula One.
“How long did you say it took to get to London again?” I asked.
“Hm? Oh, just about fourish hours. Less if I drive fast.”
“Oh, don’t do that. We aren’t in a hurry,” I said. The landscape was a blur outside the windows, he was driving so fast. We were still far enough outside the city that the roads were almost deserted. He was in violation of several traffic rules for sure. I wasn’t fearing for my life yet, more just nervous about what was waiting for us at our destination.
Niall was focused enough on driving that he didn't notice how stressed out I was. I was absolutely losing it. I had the money in my bag. As long as the plan worked out exactly the way I needed it to, then everything would be alright. That was easy enough to say right now, but once we actually got to London, I had to think on my feet. I was not going to the appraiser’s with him. I had to create some sort of diversion, tell him something so that he left me alone for as long as it took to exchange the ten thousand pounds for the watch.
“I never really get to test out this baby’s power, you know? Driving in the city all the time.” Oh, so that was it. He was living his James Bond fantasy right now and I was his prisoner.
“Riley would be having the time of his life,” I said under my breath.